THREE RIVERS – Like the Little Engine That Could, the Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball team kept climbing and climbing that mountain on the road only to stall out in their season opener.
Westfield Technical Academy fell behind by 12 points early, rallying to within two points or a tie multiple times, but could never get over the hump on the road Tuesday night at Pathfinder Regional High School. The Tigers fell 67-57.
Pathfinder’s size advantage came into play late in the second half, by dumping the ball inside for some easy baskets.
Mateo Sanchez (3) dribbles the ball up the floor for Westfield Technical Academy Tuesday night at Pathfinder Regional High School. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“I am not disappointed at all by our efforts,” Westfield Tech boys basketball head coach Kyle Dulude said. “We were just a little outmatched with height. If our guys continue to learn and improve, I am very optimistic for the future.”
Westfield Tech (0-1) produced three players with double-digits in the scoring column.
Darrien Wilson-Grant led Westfield Tech with 16 points. Tigers’ Dave Tikhonchuk and Brody Zabielski finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
“We are young and I feel we will be just fine in time,” said coach Dulude, noting that this chapter in the program’s history is just beginning. “The guys just need to stick together and push each other every day.”
Once they think they can, a seemingly impossible task might likely become possible.
Carey’s double-double downs Rams
Frontier 59, Southwick 46
Carson Carey recorded a double-double, scoring 23 points and hauling in more than 20 rebounds to lead Frontier. Kalen Evans and Owen Morse scored 13 points apiece. Morse made three 3-pointers.
Southwick’s Connor Roy scored a team-high 10 points. Devan Parrow and Cade Billings each had eight for the Rams (0-1), who battled to a 28-all half before falling behind in the third quarter. The Rams netted just five points in the fourth quarter.
“I thought we played really well, really hard,” Southwick boys basketball head coach Peter Fiorentino said.
“Frontier was big, long, and athletic,” he added. “We have a lot to learn and a lot of room to grow.”
Terriers chase Bombers
West Springfield 65, Westfield 41
West Springfield’s Nick Toma and Nicholas Moche finished with 21 and 15 points, respectively, to hand Westfield its second straight loss.
Tony Torres scored a team-high eight points to lead Westfield, which held West Springfield to just 27 points in the second half.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bombers net second straight win
Westfield 43, Amherst 33
Olivia Hadla (18 points) and Kaela Mochak (15) combined for 33 of Westfield’s 43 total points. Bombers’ Emma Peolzky had eight.
Mochak also had a monster effort on the boards, grabbing several rebounds.
Westfield (2-0) delivered a solid defensive effort, forcing more than a dozen turnovers and holding Amherst’s top scorer Erin Klaes (8 points) well below her average.
“We’re playing hard,” Westfield coach Cyndi Fillion said. “We’re playing aggressive and coming into our own. Now we’re just trying to polish things up a bit.”
BOYS SWIMMING
Bombers sink Hurricanes
Westfield 132, Amherst 31
Three swimmers (Cole Viamari, Matt Morash, Jack Beaulieu) won two events apiece, and the Westfield boys swim team posted a convincing victory at home.
Viamari won the 200 freestyle (2:09.93) and 500 free (5:37.89), Matt Morash finished first in the 200 individual medley (2:14.64) and 100 butterfly (59.69), and Jack Beaulieu took gold in the 100 free (54.69) and 100 backstroke (1:03.24).
Other individual Westfield winners included: Patrick Lurgio (50 free, 25.40), Dominic Navarrete (1:12.40), and diver Kevin Hayes (240.60).
Westfield’s medley relay team – Beaulieu, Navarrete, Morash, Lurgio (1:50.96), 200 free relay team – Morash, Lurgio, Viamari, Matvey Hancharonak (1:41.73), and 400 free relay team – Beaulieu, Viamari, Navarrete, Patrick Callahan (4:02.20) also each won.
O’Connor, Fraser boost Bombers
Westfield 101, Amherst 82
Westfield won a closely-contested meet, thanks in large part to Kathryn O’Connor, who not only won the 50 freestyle (28.02) and 100 free (1:00.08), but also teamed up with Lizzie Fraser, Emily Dion, and Emily Langlois to take first in the 200 free relay (1:53.60), and, Emily Mihalek, Dion, and Chloe Schumacher in the 400 free relay (4:07.91).
Fraser was also instrumental, winning the 200 free (2:08.48), 100 breaststroke (1:14.48), and teaming up with Langlois, Mihalek, and Shumacher for a winning medley relay swim (2:04.28).
“The girls … had a little bit of a fight,” Westfield head swim coach Tom Lewis said. “Amherst stuck around for a very, very long time in this meet.”
Dion won the 500 free (5:54.39) and diver Jordan Bannish finished first with 180.40 points.
