Westfield, Northampton renew title rematch
By CHRIS PUTZ
Staff Writer
WESTFIELD – March Madness has arrived, one month early.
The Westfield High School boys’ basketball team finds itself smack dab in the middle of the Western Massachusetts tournament chase. Unlike previous years when Westfield dominated the competition, the Bombers are now simply tasked with just staying above .500.
Westfield won its second straight game Monday, a 51-44 victory on the road at Longmeadow. But, more importantly, the Bombers (6-5 overall) improved to 2-0 in the Suburban League. A first- or second-place finish in league play, or a .500 or better overall record is required for a postseason berth.
“We’re learning how to fight,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said. “Everybody is starting to pay attention to detail and helping out. …And we’re that much closer to the magic 10.”
On Monday, Justin Crosby (16 points) and Joe Meade (15) provided the offense, while Crosby and Matt Krutka helped shut down Longmeadow’s attack. Brendan Abad and John Basille had combined for 47 and 43 points against Westfield during the 2010-11 season, but the two were limited to just 13 total points this time around.
Krutka was coming off a career-high 14-point effort against East Longmeadow last Thursday, a 61-56 victory. Meade scored 21 points, to go along with 17 rebounds and five blocks in that game.
“We’re not giving up the extra shots, everybody is understanding what we do best, and we’re getting better at picking and choosing our spots,” coach Daley said. “And like any good team, you need to have three guys to worry about.”
Westfield will have three players to focus most of its attention on this evening when the Bombers host Northampton (7-7, 1-1) tonight at 7.
Northampton’s Jarrod Neumann enters the game having scored 254 points. Teammates Jared Murphy and Jake Ross have 119 apiece.
It is a rematch of last season’s title game.
“They still have Neumann, they’re still the defending champs – that’s sitting on our craw,” Daley said.
In other boys’ hoops games, Southwick-Tolland (5-9) hosts Gateway (3-10), Westfield Voc-Tech (4-6) hosts Smith Voke, and St. Mary’s (2-9) hosts Pathfinder at Westfield South Middle School. Each local team is in desperate need of a victory to keep their postseason hopes alive. Tip-off for each game is 7 p.m.
GIRLS’ RIVALRY GAME: On Friday, the Lady Tigers of Westfield Voc-Tech travel to Westfield North Middle School to take on the St. Mary’s Saints in yet another key Tri-County League matchup.
Voc-Tech (6-6) and St. Mary’s (5-8) are both looking to improve its postseason chances. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
Gateway, at 10-1, is seeking to improve its chances of a higher seed in the Division III tournament with a win at Smith Voke on Friday.
Elsewhere Friday, Southwick-Tolland (9-3) travels to Sabis, and Westfield (2-11) hosts Chicopee Comp.
