WESTFIELD – There are always two sides to a coin. It is a fact.
For one local high school boys’ basketball team, Wednesday night’s contest proved to be, in fact, a thriller. For the other, it appeared to be a heartbreaker.
Gateway got a key stop and a big rebound but Andrew Illnicki stole the ball and buried the game-winner with 12 seconds remaining to defeat St. Mary 44-42 Wednesday night.
Westfield Tech’s Faith Young tries to hold on in a sea of Gator arms. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Jake Butler scored a team-high 18 points to help propel St. Mary. Gateway’s Brett Turban netted a game-high 19.
“It was a pretty decent game,” Gateway coach Kevin McVeigh said, recognizing St. Mary’s heroic efforts, “but Illnicki had the play of the game.”
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
White-wash
Southwick 32, Palmer 19
McKinley White led the way with 10 points, and Southwick smothered Palmer at home. The Rams delivered suffocating defense, holding Palmer to just nine points.
Gators silence Tigers
Gateway 43, Westfield Technical Academy 3
Gateway spoiled Westfield Tech’s home game, winning big on the road.
St. Mary’s Kenny Bonney jams the Amherst defender, looking for a loose puck Wednesday night at Amelia Park Arena. (Photo by Bill Deren)
Both teams will have little time to reflect on the outcome as they return to action at home Thursday night. The Gators host the Commerce Red Raiders at 6:30 p.m. The Tigers welcome the St. Mary Saints at 6.
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY
Hurricanes topple Saints
Amherst 6, St. Mary 1
Jake Balderston and Nico Cardoropoli scored two goals apiece, and Amherst won at Amelia. Hurricanes’ goalie Clayton Bowser turned away 20 of 21 shots.
Shaun Gezotis collected the lone St. Mary goal, a second period shot. Saints’ goalie Matt Brady finished with 26 saves.
