WESTFIELD – There have been some big men at Westfield High School within the last decade or so who have found success in the paint for the Bombers’ boys’ hoops team. Players like Manuel “Manny” Diaz, Alex Frazier, Adam Rivera, Aaron Rogers, and Spencer Phillips.
But there have never been as many Bomber brutes poised to dominate the paint in one season as there are now for the red and black.
Six-foot, six-inch senior forward Bobby Paul joins 6-3 junior forward Devin Wells, 6-7 junior forward D.J. Florek, and 6-7 forward Joe Meade to form a formidable inside force never seen in the program.
“We’re going to be strong, physical and try to pound it inside this year,” said Westfield coach Bill Daley, whose previous teams often excelled in an up-tempo offense. But with lightning-quick guard Jordan Santiago and 1,000-point scorer Alex Garstka having graduated last spring, the shift in the team’s offensive game plan may be a welcome change.
Still, with another true warrior at guard returning for his final season, senior Billy Smith, the Bombers may not have to slow down the tempo all of the time.
“Billy’s a guy you win with,” Daley said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid who never got the minutes because of Jordan and Alex. But this season, he’s going to be the glue that holds us together.”
Then there’s the team’s star-in-the-making, 6-2 junior guard Justin Crosby, who needs to make his Kobe-esque plays within the framework of the team game for Westfield to make another championship run.
“He’s a physical specimen – athletic and strong,” Daley said of Crosby. The Bombers coach said Crosby and Wells’ success thus far could be attributed to an entire offseason of basketball play.
Whether the team solely showcases its talents this season or brings it all together as a team will be the big question mark surrounding this year’s Bombers’ team.
Westfield has finished runners-up in the D1 title game each of the last two seasons, losing to Northampton at the end of 2010-11 and falling to East Longmeadow two years ago. Maybe the addition of not one, not two, not three, but four big men will be the difference come tournament time.
“This year, we will be deep,” Daley said. “We have four guys who can really play down there. We’re going to wear teams down if we can get the ball in the half court.”
One of the best stories this season though might be the unheralded rise of senior guard-forward Matt Karetka.
According to Daley, Karetka was nearly cut his freshman and sophomore years, played junior varsity as a junior, continued to work hard and dedicated himself to the sport, and now, finally, will start on the varsity team.
“Matt has put as much effort into it than anybody I have ever coached,” Daley said. “He has earned the respect of his peers and the coaching staff.”
Westfield will be tested early and often.
The Bombers open up the season with a tough three-game road trip beginning with Malden Catholic High School on Dec. 16, Taconic (Dec. 20), and Putnam (Dec. 23) before holding the home opener Dec. 28 against Central. Tip-off for each of the games is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“We don’t have those big names coming back like a lot of schools do,” said Daley, explaining that this fact will be reflected in a lot of subdued predictions for Westfield. “Our guys will prove them wrong as long as we go about business the right way. I think we’re going to become a tough team come February.”
That’s when the best teams begin their postseason march.
