Westfield’s Devin Wells watches the ball travel through the air after passing it to a teammate in the post area. (Photo by Chris Putz)
AMHERST – Call it February Madness or Rage near the Cage. But whatever the Westfield High School boys’ basketball team wants to call Monday’s game, the outcome left a buzz ringing in everyone’s ears long after the final shot swished through the hoop.
Hurricanes senior Tyler Peake hit a 3-pointer as time expired, a classic buzzer-beater, to stun Westfield, 48-46, Monday in Amherst.
Amherst inbounded the ball with 10.6 seconds remaining, but Westfield played terrific defense shutting down any good looks at the basket and cutting off any easy trips through the lane. By the time the ball trickled out to Peake beyond the arc, all the senior had time to do was heave up a prayer as he faded to left. The ball hit nothing but net, and Hurricanes fans stormed the court in celebration.
“That play didn’t work out like it was supposed to,” said Leake, whose only other points came on a 3-pointer, 3 minutes, 55 seconds before. But it was the last second that counted. “I got kind of lucky and made the shot.”
Westfield coach Bill Daley agreed.
“The kid made a lucky shot,” Daley said. “We didn’t lose that game. We did, but we didn’t.”
Westfield (8-10) hung tight with Amherst (13-5) throughout the entire contest. The Bombers trailed by two points at the end of the first and second quarters.
After a tremendous effort from seniors Devin Wells and D.J. Florek in the third quarter – the two players combined for 13 of the team’s 16 points in the quarter – the game was tied 34-all heading into the fourth. Florek hit a nice baby hook, and dunked the ball in traffic. Wells’ highlight reel shots included a tough fade-away jumper with a defender in his face, and a 3-point shot.
The Bombers’ dynamic duo continued to shine early in the fourth quarter.
Wells scored a basket in the low post to begin the final eight minutes. Florek followed with a 3 to give Westfield a 5-point lead with 7:09 remaining.
On the ensuing possessions, both teams traded baskets with Amherst’s Nicholas Johnson and Leake hitting 3s. Westfield’s Richard Barnett made two free throws, Connor Sas converted an and-one, and Wells scored on a breakaway to give the Bombers a 6-point lead, 46-40, with just over two minutes left.
Amherst went on an 8-0 run to end the game.
Noris Cuevas Nova (14 points) made 1-of-2 from the free throw line with 1:58 on the clock, and scored shortly thereafter on a 2. Thomas Cook hit a putback with 57 seconds left to bring Amherst within one. Neither team scored until the final buzzer.
“We got a little bit tired at the end of the game,” coach Daley said. “We didn’t substitute as much in the second half – that’s on me.”
“We gave up two offensive rebounds in the last minute. That cost us the game.”
St. Mary’s Matt Plasse, left, leaps for the ball with Gateway’s Zach Mackechnie. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Wells scored a game-high 16 points. Florek finished with 12, and Sas had nine. Amherst’s Malik Ford had 10.
With the loss, Westfield must win its final two games. The Bombers travel to East Longmeadow to take on the Spartans Tuesday night at 7 before returning home for senior night Thursday against the Sci-Tech Cybercats. Tip-off for that game is also at 7.
“They’re seniors,” Daley said. “Hopefully they’ll bounce back and be ready to go.”
St. Mary 56, Gateway 39
Justin Crosby scored 22 points, and added 16 points to lead St. Mary (15-5), which now awaits seeding in the Division III tournament.
Anthony Garde hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first half for the Saints, who went on an 18-5 third-quarter run to pull away.
Calvin Dowers and Ryan Fisk scored 10 points apiece for Gateway. Gators’ Zach Mackechnie had eight.
