By Owen Ziegler
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The Westwood Wolverines boys’ basketball team, in their home opener, faced the Archbishop Williams Bishops and secured a close 64-60 victory. Westwood entered the game with a 1-2 record, while Archbishop played its season opener. Missing key players, including captain Matt Preti, Westwood leaned on captains Eli Ifrah and Mekhi Dickerson, along with coach Ryan Douglass, to lead the team and energize the home crowd.
The first quarter was a physical battle filled with charging fouls and blocks. Junior Robert Liriano-Alejandro led Westwood’s offense, scoring 17 points and sinking multiple three-pointers to secure an early 13-12 lead. Foul trouble for Ifrah led to sophomore Adrian Ortiz stepping up at guard, dominating on offensive rebounds. Despite their efforts, Archbishop finished the quarter ahead, 15-13.
The second quarter mirrored the first, with Liriano-Alejandro dazzling as he scored on fadeaways and broke through defenders. Ifrah returned to the court and immediately made an impact, hitting a three-pointer to regain momentum. Alongside senior captain Dickerson, who controlled the paint with 11 points, Westwood ended the half ahead, 29-26.
In the third quarter, Westwood’s offense exploded with one-on-one plays and three-pointers. Highlights included two impressive “Jelly” layups and a three-pointer from Chase Longoria, propelling Westwood to a 39-28 lead midway through the quarter. However, Archbishop regained their footing after a timeout, narrowing the gap to 49-43 by the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter introduced a new standout, Ty Pindell, who scored eight crucial points. With six minutes remaining and Westwood clinging to a 51-50 lead, Douglass called a timeout to rally the team. Pindell responded by sinking a three-pointer, and the game became a nail-biter as both teams traded fouls and defensive stops. With 34 seconds left and Westwood leading 58-57, Liriano-Alejandro delivered the play of the game: a clutch putback layup to extend the lead. Archbishop attempted to salvage the game by fouling, but Ortiz’s clutch free throws sealed the 64-60 victory.
In their second win and first home game of the season, Westwood showcased resilience and standout performances, especially from Liriano-Alejandro, Pindell, and Ortiz. The Wolverines look to build on their momentum in upcoming games.
