St. Mary’s Seamus Butler (35) takes a shot as Gateway defends the play. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – Peter Kowal scored a game-high 23 points to help propel Gateway past St. Mary, 66-43, in a high school boys’ basketball game Tuesday night at Westfield Middle School South.
Shane Mastello chipped in 19 points for the Gators.
Drew Collins led St. Mary with 18 points. Saints’ Seamus Butler (10 points) and Nick Garde (8) also contributed on the offensive end.
“This was as well as we’ve played all year,” St. Mary coach Joe Molta said. “We sort of got worn down. Gateway is very tall and physical, and has a couple of nice players. They killed us inside.”
Santos’ buzzer-beater lifts WVT
Westfield Voc-Tech 60, Smith Voke 58
Luis Santos beat the buzzer with a put-back as time ran out to lead Westfield Voc-Tech to a thrilling win at Smith Voke Tuesday night.
Xavier Haskins, who was filling in for an ailing Matt Wood, made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.
Luis Ruiz also missed Tuesday’s game, due to illness.
Voc-Tech’s Tim Shevchenko scored a team-high 20 points. Santos, who replaced Ruiz in the starting lineup, finished with 11.
Together, Santos, Tyler French, and Alex Stepanchuk made seven of 10 shots from the free throw line.
Dennis Legodukh provided key defense off the bench after Kenny Flores fouled out.
With the win, the Tigers improved to 4-4.
Said Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude: “We’re now … in the middle of the pack, hoping for a strong push in the second half of the season.”
Westfield’s Nick Hall (44) goes up strong with the ball against Amherst’s Jamie Carey (3) Tuesday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Siegel, Hurricanes blow past WHS
Amherst 64, Westfield 56
Isaac Siegel scored 31 points, including 20 of his team’s 32 first-half points to lead Amherst (9-1) to the road win.
Isaiah Headley (17 points) and Richie Barnett (14) led Westfield (7-3, 0-1).
The Bombers trailed throughout much of the second half.
“It seemed like every time we got to the rim late, (Amherst) always came up with a block,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said.
“I’m happy with the effort. We just did not execute all game. Our strength is for us to share the ball. We’ve shown that we can play with the best teams. We just need to trust each other more than we did tonight.”
Westfield will get another crack at playing better team ball Saturday when the Bombers host the West Springfield Terriers at 6:30 p.m.
Marchena leads Red Raiders
GIRLS’ HOOPS
Commerce 64, Westfield Voc-Tech 31
Breanna Marchena scored 22 points to lead all scorers, and pave the way for a Commerce victory Tuesday in Westfield.
Westfield Voc-Tech’s Katie Nesmelova recorded a team-high 20. Tigers’ Taya Allen added nine.
