Gateway senior boys’ basketball player Tyler Kornacki is joined by family and friends at half court as part of the senior night pregame ceremony Thursday night in Huntington. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – The St. Mary and Gateway Regional high school boys’ basketball teams have struggled to remain above .500 this season, and both have been shut out of the postseason, but their final game of the regular season provided an emotional evening with several highlights Thursday night.
Brett Turban (14 points) and Peter Kowal (11) produced double-digit scoring efforts, and Adrian Dzierzgowski chipped in a career-high nine points to lead Gateway past St. Mary 53-46.
But, even more importantly, Gateway senior Tyler Kornacki was allowed to convert a staged uncontested lay-up, a la Nykesha Sales, after the opening tap.
Several cheerleaders from Gateway Regional High School enjoy a heartfelt moment on senior night for the high school boys’ basketball team Thursday night in Huntington. (Photo by Chris Putz)
While Sales’ “free” lay-up allowed her the chance to set the scoring record for the UConn women’s hoops’ team, Kornacki’s bucket was a bit less controversial.
Kornacki, who missed the entire season due to a knee injury, immediately exited the game after scoring the free pass. He received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Gator Pit.
“It was a fairly entertaining game with some really nice moments and good sportsmanship,” Gateway coach Mike O’Connell said. “With (St. Mary) coach (Joe) Molta letting our injured player get on the court tonight, that was nice.”
Nick Garde and Jake Butler led St. Mary with 12 points apiece.
WHS seniors own night
Westfield 73, East Longmeadow 48
Westfield outscored East Longmeadow 44-24 in the second half to post a convincing victory on the season’s final day. Seven seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony.
Westfield seniors Manny Golob (20 points), Isaiah Headley (18), Richie Barnett (15), and Colin Dunn (14) combined for 67 of the team’s 73 points. Dunn made four 3-pointers. The Bombers finished with 12 threes.
Westfield improved to 13-7, and now likely face a first round postseason matchup against Leominster.
“This was a good way for our seniors to go out,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said. “Our players like to say that we’re getting our shwag back. I just call it mojo.”
Mojo, “shwag,” or what-have-you, a newfound confidence is sure to help a team that has missed the last two postseasons, but is now poised once again to make noise.
GIRLS’ HOOPS
Bombers soar into tourney
Westfield 49, East Longmeadow 37
Alicia Arnold scored a team-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers, and Karly Mastello recorded a double-double (10 points, 20 rebounds) to lead Westfield to a victory on the final day of the regular season.
“It was just a really solid team effort,” Bombers coach Karly Mastello said.
Westfield, which closed out the regular season with a record of 13-7, will next play in the postseason. The entire tournament field will be unveiled Saturday.
Tigers season ends with strong Start
Smith Voke 41, Westfield Voc-Tech 17
Stephanie Start scored a game-high 21 points to lead Smith Voke. Westfield Voc-Tech’s Caitlyn Torres had five.
The Tigers close out the regular season with a record of 2-14.
“It was not a great season record-wise,” Westfield Voc-Tech coach Matt Seklecki said, “but nonetheless we had some fun.”
Saints defeated, still alive
Pioneer Valley Christian 34, St. Mary 14
Dominique Jordaan scored a game-high 12 points to lead Pioneer Valley Christian past St. Mary. Saints’ Alissa Easton and Karissa Foley finished with four points apiece.
While St. Mary finished the regular season well below .500 with a 5-15 record, the Saints tied for second in the league at 5-3, ensuring them of a postseason berth.
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY
Shrewsbury blanks CHS
Shrewsbury 2, Cathedral (WHS Co-Op) 0
Lexi Levere netted 26 saves in goal for Cathedral, which fell to Shrewsbury. The Panthers finish the regular season with a 10-8-2 record, good for third place in the division behind Shrewsbury and Algonquin, and will next appear in the playoffs.
The 2014-15 Cathedral High School (WHS Co-Op) girls’ ice hockey team, pictured above, consists of Westfield high schoolers Lexi Levere, Brittany Kowalski, Madison Pelletier, and Mackenzie Pelletier. (Submitted photo)
