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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
After falling 61-58 in their season opener at home against Norton, the Westwood High School varsity boys basketball team traveled to TVL rival Medfield last Tuesday night looking to climb into the win column for the first time this season.
Behind a stout collective shooting performance in the second half by the likes of Jack Terzian (11 points), Reed Wilson (14 points), and John Gaffney (17 points), as well as a team-high 26 points from senior captain Nick Anderson, the Wolverines (1-1) outlasted the Warriors 74-64 to spoil Medfield’s home and season opener.
Medfield forward Christian Higgins (20) gets ready to rush into the paint for a potential rebound on a free throw attempt late in the game.
Both teams traded blows to begin the game, and following multiple runs and lead changes throughout the opening two quarters, the Wolverines entered halftime with a five-point lead at 35-30.
A three-pointer by Reed Wilson extended Westwood’s lead to 42-34 two minutes into the second half. However, Medfield responded right back with a 7-0, run thanks to a three-pointer by Jake Dubbs (25 points), a drive and lay-in by Mitchell Gonser (14 points), and fade-away jumper from the foul line by Dubbs, cutting the Westwood lead to one at 42-41 with four minutes to play in the third.
Medfield forward Mitchell Gonser (5) moves the ball up the floor past a Westwood defender before driving to the basket for two of his 14 points on Tuesday night.
Following the run by the Warriors, Westwood called a timeout to settle things down. After the timeout, the Wolverines caught fire from beyond the arc as a pair of three-pointers by both Wilson and Gaffney resulted in a 12-1 run for Westwood and extended the lead to 11 points at 53-42 with 1:53 to play in the quarter. Anderson then swished home a jumper along with a three-point play on a layup, and the Wolverines entered the fourth quarter with a 59-47 lead.
Five straight points by Gonser to begin the fourth quarter cut the deficit to six for Medfield at 59-53, but unfortunately for the Warriors, Westwood’s response would prove to be the dagger.
Medfield guard Stephen Williams (4) gets ready to slip off a screen midway through the third quarter.
A 9-0 run by the Wolverines that included two three-pointers by Gaffney and one by Terzian extended Westwood’s lead to 15 points at 68-53 with just under five minutes to play. Medfield cut the deficit down to 10 at 70-60, but that’s the closest the Warriors would get from there on out, as the Wolverines prevailed by a final of 74-64.
Westwood will look to stick to its winning ways when they host Ashland on December 22, while Medfield will try and get back on track when they travel to Bellingham that same night.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
