Southwick-Tolland Regional tips off its final game of the regular season at Granby last night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Southwick's Mark O'Neill dishes off a pass. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Granby's defense tries to get in the face of Rams' Joe Kucienski, who follows through on a shot. (Photo by Chris Putz)
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Gateway Regional's Austin Cook (40) puts up a shot against host Monson last night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Calvin Dowers dribbles the ball up the floor for Gateway. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Gateway coach Mike O'Connell stands alongside the Gators' bench. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Cook sweetened Gators’ pot
By CHRIS PUTZ
Staff Writer
MONSON – For one local senior, the end was not bittersweet – nor bitter.
Gateway Regional lone senior boys’ hoops player, Austin Cook closed out his high school basketball career on a semi-high note.
Cook recorded his 10th double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and collecting 10 rebounds in Monday’s 59-43 loss at Monson. He also had four blocks and three steals.
It was the final game of the regular season for the Gators (5-15).
“I love what Austin Cook brought to the table,” Gateway coach Mike O’Connell said. “He had a lot of youth and inexperience behind him.”
Cook played alongside three juniors, five sophomores, and a freshman this past season – all with no regret.
“I loved playing with them,” Cook said of his teammates. “We had fun. We got better as (the season) moved on. I put my heart into it. Even though we were losing, I was going to play as hard as I can.”
Cook, who managed to net a pair of triple-doubles this season, had his best scoring output of the year on senior night in the Gator Pit. He finished with 21 points.
Rather than dwell on the fact that Gateway will not advance to play in the Western Massachusetts Division III tournament, Cook gave a fine nod to his fellow teammates.
“They have the potential to be an awesome team next season,” he said.
One of those budding stars is sophomore Curtis Dowers. Curtis, who, along with his brother, Calvin, routinely contributed on offense all season. He scored a team-high 14 points on Monday.
“We’re a small school, but we have a lot of athletes,” coach O’Connell said. “We have some outstanding All-Star soccer and baseball players. Hopefully, some of our players will pick up a ball between now and the day after Thanksgiving.”
O’Connell said he expects the recreational and Suburban league programs will continue to produce good, all-around basketball players to help the program excel in the future.
Granby 71, Southwick-Tolland 37
Mark O’Neill and Tim Schmidt scored eight points apiece in Southwick-Tolland Regional’s final game of the regular season.
Northampton 49, Westfield 48
Northampton senior sensation Jarrod Neumann kicked the ball out to a Blue Devil teammate, who nailed a five-footer with seconds left to lift the home team to a key Suburban League victory. Neumann finished with 21 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter.
Billy Smith hit a runner with 30 seconds left to give Westfield (11-8) the late lead. The Bombers missed a buzzer-beater at the end.
“It’s just a game we probably should have won,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said, “but hopefully it will make us better for the tournament run.”
Devin Wells had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Westfield, who led at the half (22-16) and at the end of the third quarter (34-27). Bombers’ Joe Meade added 11 points.
