A pair of Rams attempt to pry the ball from a Saints’ ballplayer, left, Friday night in Southwick. (Photo by Chris Putz)
HUNTINGTON – The Southwick-Tolland Regional boys’ basketball team may have a new head coach, but the Rams are not showing any signs of a struggle in the wins and loss column in the early going.
Southwick’s Mark O’Neill scored 16 points, Dylan Grunwald had a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds), and the Rams outscored the Gateway Gators 16-4 in the third quarter en route to a 54-43 road win Friday night.
The Rams improved to 3-0.
Calvin Dowers (11 points), Mike Arel (10), and Ryan Fisk (8) led Gateway, who, despite an 0-4 start, have managed to cut its deficit in each successive game.
“We’re playing better and better,” said Gateway coach Mike O’Connell. “We’re getting closer. …We came out slow.”
Southwick opened the game with an 8-0 run.
“I’m really happy with the guys,” Southwick first-year head coach Andrew Burkholder said. “They’re just really receptive. I’m just happy with them, and we’re not even close to where we can be.”
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Southwick-Tolland 48, St. Mary 14
Morgan Harriman scored eight points, and Megan Jensen and Katelyn Sylvia finished with seven apiece for Southwick, which bounced back from an opening night loss in grand fashion at home.
“We played better tonight than we did last Friday,” said Southwick coach Mike Gill.
All 13 players scored for Southwick (1-1). Jackie Maziarz, Stephanie Devine, and Ashley Shea netted their first varsity points. It was Sylvia’s first varsity start.
Lindsay Hunter had St. Mary’s best offensive effort.
Westfield 38, West Springfield 32
Westfield delivered a solid defensive effort, stifling West Springfield to improve to 2-1.
Lexi Minicucci (8 points) and Alicia Arnold (7) fueled Westfield’s offensive attack, and Sydney Cloutier and Keri Paton dominated in the interior, each hauling down double-digit rebounds.
“It was just a tremendous defensive effort,” said Bombers’ coach Ralph Loos, whose team was without one of its primary ballhandlers, Alyssa Clark, who was sidelined by illness. “We handled the press well.”
Makayla Barba led West Springfield with 11 points.
JV BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Southwick 51, Gateway 29
Nick Peterson had a team-high 13 points for Southwick, and Rams’ Jon Collins finished with 10 points, 11 steals, and six rebounds.
STM-EASTHAMPTON HOCKEY NOTES: In other games, the St. Mary High School hockey team hosted Easthampton Friday night at Amelia Park Ice Arena. The Saints got off to a high-flying start, scoring two early goals and led 3-2 in the second period. The final result was not available as of press time.
