By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
As an athlete, each season is about working towards being the best you can be, it’s about your growth as a team, and it is about your resilience. The Walpole boys’ basketball team has showcased the perfect example of growth through this 2023-2024 season. Through ups and downs, the Timberwolves have been resilient and will play until the very last second. The team’s second match-up of the season against Braintree was the exact replica of what it means to give your all until the time clock buzzes the last call of the night. It was a thrilling and nail-biting competition for the Timberwolves as they faced Braintree last Friday, and it all came down to a one-point score. Despite their best efforts, the Walpole boys would be just one shy from making the score null, closing the night 46-47.
Walpole exploded as they stepped out onto the court at the beginning of the first half, sparks beneath their feet as they ran. Timberwolves’ senior Kyle Jordan snagged the ball into Walpole’s possession and quickly passed the ball on their offensive end. Sophomore James Patey, and junior, Peter LaRusso rapidly moved around making holes in Braintree’s defensive wall and effortlessly moved around their blocks. Walpole took a narrow three-point lead in the first quarter, 17-14.
As the second quarter began, Braintree stepped up to fight back against the Timberwolves impressive defense. Both sides of the court were electric, as they competed. Walpole’s offense continued to challenge Braintree. Senior Jamal Abdal-Khallaq, Will Hendricks, and the Timberwolves worked hard to gain more points for the half and took in another eight. However, Braintree was looking to take the lead away from the Timberwolves, in which they snuck in 16 points to close the first half.
Walpole was down by five at halftime 30-25, and the team dispersed to discuss the second half.
As soon as the time clock began, the Timberwolves went straight back to action on the court. The boys were relentless and never backed down to Braintree’s challenging defense. It was a heated quarter, Walpole tied the game with just under a minute left, but Braintree answered back quickly gaining two points in hopes of taking a narrow lead. Walpole was yet to be done yet, as they made smooth passes to one another down the court to their offensive end. The boys would swish another two points into the net to tie the game with just 15 seconds left to the third 37-37.
Fans cheered as Walpole regained momentum for the fourth quarter, treating it as if the game was 0-0. Both teams battled into the fourth quarter, tallying up points left and right, eager to secure the winning title of the night’s competition. The crowds were on the edge of their seats when Braintree bounced back from a narrow score deficit, and take lead once more over the Timberwolves. A timeout was called, and both teams moved swiftly to speak with their head coaches. There was immense tension in the air, spectators questioning what could happen next, children cheering for their siblings. The teams gathered back on the court and it was showtime, for the last few moments of the match. Walpole took possession and tried everything in their power to get two points to take the lead, the ball seemed repelled to the net and fans anxiously awaited. As the final second ran and the timer sounded, Walpole shot far in every last hope, and the ball went into the net! Fans erupted with cheer, but the referees were quick to make the crowd go into a quiet hush as they deliberated with Walpole’s head coach. In a blink of an eye, the teams headed back out onto the court and the time clock went back up to 1.4 seconds on the board. Fans were to find out later on, that the TImberwolves’ head coach had called a timeout just before the game clock ran out. Here, the boys would try their best in that final second but were blocked by Braintree’s defense, finalizing the score to 46-47.
Sophomore Ryan McDonald led the team with 10 individual points. Not far behind, senior Will Hendricks picked up 9 and junior Quinn MacNeil pocketed 8 points for the team.
Head coach Jenna Galster shared the grit of the boys and explained the called-off basket: “They are always putting in their full effort, from start to finish. I’m very very happy with what they did. It didn’t go our way, we had some tough turnovers when we wished we didn’t. We forced some shots when we really wished we didn’t, but that’s the way basketball works sometimes. I was trying to call a timeout and the referees didn’t hear me, there’s some would’ve could’ve should’ve’s, if I hadn’t maybe it did count (the last-minute basket) or maybe it didn’t, we don’t know,” said Galster.
The Walpole boys will host Natick High on Friday, February 9th at 6:30 PM.
