Nick Garde (2) goes airborne for the St. Mary High School boys’ basketball team Thursday night at Pathfinder. (Photo by Chris Putz)
PALMER – St. Mary’s ran into a brick wall, hitting yet another roadblock Thursday night at Pathfinder. The Pioneers ran out to a 32-14 first half lead en route to a 59-39 win over the Saints.
It was St. Mary’s fourth straight road game.
“We couldn’t finish – that’s a sign of a young team,” St. Mary coach Joe Molta said. “We were physically beat up rebounding the ball.”
Andrew Roman and Teddy King combined for 37 of Pathfinder’s 59 points. Nick Garde led St. Mary with 14 points. Saints’ Steve McKenna had eight, and Jake Butler, 7.
St. Mary played a much stronger second half. Pathfinder outscored the Saints by just two points over the final two quarters, 27-25.
“We’re trying to get better all the time,” coach Molta said. “This is our fourth road game in a row. Every game we played, I see something better.”
St. Mary’s will eye another step toward improvement Monday when the Saints host the Holyoke Catholic Gaels at Westfield Middle School South at 6 p.m.
Bombers silence Panthers
Westfield 64, Cathedral 39
Westfield improved to 6-2 with one of its best defensive efforts of the season. The Bombers held Cathedral to just 23 points over the final three quarters after trailing by nine points early in the second quarter.
Westfield senior forward Nick Hall was instrumental in spearheading the defense, holding Cathedral’s strong post player, Anthony Reynolds, to just six points. Hall also finished with 10 rebounds.
Isaiah Headley led Westfield with 17 points. John O’Brien and Richard Barnett each had 12.
