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By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Westwood High School boys varsity basketball team was the cream of the crop in the TVL throughout the regular season, putting together a 20-2 record and earning themselves the No. 2 seed in Division II South.
Entering the postseason on a 17-game winning streak after last losing to Hopkinton on January 3, the Wolverines are arguably the hottest team in the state. With that recent success, however, an obvious target has been put on their backs. Senior forward Dan DeLorey knows this and says he and his teammates must take this postseason run game-by-game and not overlook anybody.
“We need to take it one game at a time,” said DeLorey. “We need to trust the system that we have had success with all year.”
When it comes to the road they have paved for themselves, DeLorey says he and his teammates are excited to get the chance to play in front of their home fans multiple times if all goes according to plan.
“Getting a preliminary round bye was good but honestly we were more happy with getting a top-four seed to secure two home games,” said DeLorey. “We love playing with our fans behind us so that was good.”
In 2019, Westwood’s season came to an end with a 58-44 defeat to New Mission in the South quarterfinals. In 2018, the Wolverines fell, 88-45, in the first round to TechBoston. If the Wolverines are able to take care of business in their first-round contest against No. 18 Oliver Ames, they will take on the winner of No. 7 New Mission and No. 10 TechBoston. Either way, Westwood will get a shot at one of the two teams that have ended their season each of the last two years. Before any of that can happen, however, Westwood needs to get to the quarterfinals. DeLorey and his teammates understand this, but if and when the time comes, they will be ready.
“We know that in order to get to that revenge game, we need to get past Oliver Ames first,” said Delorey. “Obviously, we have that second round game in the back of our minds, but we have work to do before that. It starts in practice, working hard every rep because in the playoffs there can’t be any excuses.”
The Wolverines will host Oliver Ames in the first round on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as game highlights, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
