By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
The Westwood Wolverines hosted the Belmont Marauders on Monday, February 19, for their final game of the regular season. Westwood diminished their two-game losing streak against Belmont as they sealed off the night 58-50. Westwood’s junior Eli Ifrah led the team with 18 individual points, not far behind was sophomore Robert Liriano-Alejandro who knocked in 16 points himself. Alongside Ifrah and Liriano-Alejandro, sophomore Jack Mullins pocketed 7 points for the team.
Westwood’s Amari Ashley centered himself in the middle of the court for the tipoff, looking to gain control of the first possession of the game. Instantly, both teams were in action as the ball flew high into the air and Westwood and Belmont reached to gain possession. Westwood bolted to their offensive end of the court and began working on their press. The Belmont boys were denying any of Westwood’s attempts and two minutes into the first quarter, the game was still null 0-0. Maneuvering around Belmont’s overwhelming defense, the Wolverines continued to try and slip through the cracks. A whistle pierced through the air calling a penalty on Belmont and Westwood’s Amari Ashley put the first two points on the board, making his free throws. Westwood’s offense then catapulted, making shots at different angles of the net, and closed out the quarter 17-12.
In the second quarter, both teams seemed fairly giving the same effort on the court. Westwood’s Ashley, Ifrah, and Liriano-Alejandro looked to make shots but Belmont was fast to snag the rebound. Once having the ball back in possession Belmont antagonized Westwood’s defense and discovered ways to add more points on the board, hoping to slim Westwood’s lead. Belmont’s actions were successful, the Wolverines would close the first half adding 15 more points to the board and Belmont would tally up 16 thinning Westwood’s lead 32-28.
Belmont threw in the ball to kickstart the second half. Throughout the half, the teams continued to battle. Westwood attempted to make shots on the net but the ball would repel away from the rim and back into the grasp of Belmont. Inching up the scoreboard, and less than four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Belmont fired up the competition with a one-point game 44-43 Westwood just barely ahead. The Wolverines were washed over with a sense of urgency on the court. Senior Oliver Gannon, senior Vic Ganson, Liriano-Alejandro, and Ifrah were determined to secure the win for the Wolverines. Passing back and forth around the net, Westwood broke down Belmont’s alarming defense and closed the game accruing 14 more points. Fans and the Wolverines celebrated their last regular season game 58-50.
Head coach Ryan Douglass shared his thoughts on the game and how the boys still have more work to be done as they head into playoffs: “We really used tonight as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs, that’s how we came into it,” said Douglass.
