Win – and in
Bombers’ hoops team beats Spartans; one win away from tourney berth
By CHRIS PUTZ
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – Senior Night will take on a new meaning this year for the Westfield Bombers’ hoops stars – win and they’re in.
The Westfield High School boys’ basketball team routed East Longmeadow last night to win its ninth game, a 79-58 drubbing at home to improve to 9-7. The Bombers will seek their tournament-qualifying 10th win of the season in their final home game Thursday against Longmeadow. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
“The sooner we get it over with, the better,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said of win No. 10.
Westfield got their ninth win with relative ease last night, distributing the ball among several players. Senior Joe Meade, who after missing much of last season with a broken jaw, continued to dominate the paint. He made several trademark dunks and finished with 16 points. Junior Justin Crosby led all scorers with 21 points, and junior Devin Wells had 13.
“Coach said share the ball,” said Meade, whose teammates are still learning how to jell after losing a couple of premier guards in Western Massachusetts to graduation last season.
“We need to keep running, rebounding, playing defense, and staying humble,” Meade added. “If we keep playing hard, it will all come together.”
It appeared to come together for Westfield late in the first half when the team crashed the offensive boards on a series of foul shots, quickly building a 41-33 lead. Meade and Wells made some strong inside post moves early in the second half to spark an 8-0 run. Crosby provided the Bombers with their largest lead through three quarters, 57-42, with a late third-quarter 3.
Crosby earned a well-deserved rest midway through the fourth quarter, along with some other starters, after helping the team take a 21-point lead.
East Longmeadow closed its deficit to 16 late. But 6-5 forward Bobby Paul reeled off seven straight points for Westfield, including a rim-rattling dunk that brought the players on the bench to their feet.
Luis Rodriguez led East Longmeadow with 15 points. The Spartans sophomore scored 13 of those points in the first half, but Crosby held him scoreless in the third quarter and limited him to just two points the rest of the way.
