Westfield’s Richie Barnett, right, attempts to flip a shot around the outstretched arms of Leominster’s Derek Franks, left, in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 boys’ basketball quarterfinals Thursday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
LEOMINSTER – The Westfield High School boys’ basketball return to prominence was cut short Thursday night, but with a valiant comeback the Bombers have restored its program’s relevance in the basketball world in the western half of the state.
No. 5 Westfield rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, pulling to within four late before surrendering to fourth-seeded Leominster 59-46 in a Western Massachusetts Division 1 quarterfinal Thursday night.
Leominster’s Jamie Gonzalez (22 points) and Derek Franks (18) combined for 40 points. Westfield (13-8) had three players reach double-digits — Isaiah Headley (11), Aric Laplante (11), and Manny Golob (10).
Colin Dunn (3) handles the point for Westfield in Thursday night’s postseason game at Leominster High School. (Photo by Chris Putz)
They may not have been the Crazies from Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium, but the high-flying Blue Devils from Leominster played a frenetic, frantic pace that had the sea of blue shirts in the bleachers jumping for joy.
Leominster established an early first-quarter lead, and led by as many as 17 at the half, 38-21.
Westfield cut the lead to 10 by the end of the quarter, 48-38, setting the stage for a nice fourth quarter run.
Westfield’s Isaiah Headley (15) tries to go up and under the arm of a Leominster player. (Photo by Chris Putz)
It was an inauspicious start for Westfield to begin the fourth quarter. The Bombers whiffed on three straight possessions, a missed lay-up, a 3-pointer that rimmed in and out, and a floater in the lane that clanged out.
With 6:28 remaining in the game, Westfield’s John O’Brien hit a 2 to pull the Bombers within, 48-40. Headley drove baseline for a lay-up to make it 48-42 with 5:26 left. O’Brien made a long jumper to cut the lead to four, 48-44.
The rally-killing moment came shortly thereafter when Leominster missed a free throw, but rebounded the ball. The key rebound led to a Franks’ and-one. Headley fouled out a few moments later.
Leominster salted away the victory over the final three minutes from the free throw line.
“I thought we had them on the ropes,” Westfield coach Bill Daley said. “We did a good job rebounding the ball in the middle of the game, but we didn’t rebound at the start, and we didn’t rebound at the end.”
“We clawed and fought all the way back … I just feel bad for our seniors who just played hard.”
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY
WMASS D2 TOURNAMENT OPENER
Cathedral loses heartbreaker
No. 11 Notre Dame 4, No. 22 Cathedral (WHS Co-Op) 3 (shootout)
Notre Dame outshot Cathedral 2-1 in the shootout – Brenna Hoar netted Cathedral’s lone goal – in a Western Massachusetts’ Division 2 girls’ ice hockey thriller.
The game was tied 3-3 at the end of regulation.
“What an amazing season for such a young team,” Cathedral assistant coach David Pelletier said of his Panthers.
Cathedral shot out of the gate from the outset with Madison Pelletier netting her first of two goals with a quick shot off the post. Hoar and Mackenzie Pelletier assisted.
After Notre Dame tied the game early in the second, Madison Pelletier tipped in Jillian Beaullieu’s shot to regain the lead.
Notre Dame plucked the puck from beneath Cathedral goalie Lexi Levere’s pads to tie it again.
With time running out in the second period, Hoar took a pass from Amanda Rabideau and put the Panthers up 3-2.
Notre Dame tied the game midway through the third period. Cathedral mounted a late rally but could not get the winning goal past the goal line.
Cathedral and Notre Dame had chances to win the game in both overtimes, but the defenses stood tall.
Levere delivered one of her finest efforts of the season, making 36 saves. She stopped a flurry of shots several times throughout the game.
Mackenzie Pelletier and Brittany Kowalski had a few saves of their own, blocking shots in front of the net.
Westfield’s Colin Burns, center, battles for the puck during Thursday night’s tourney game against Minnechaug. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY
WMASS D3 SEMIFINALS
Defending champs prevail
No. 1 Westfield 5, No. 4 Minnechaug 2
The defending Western Massachusetts Division 3 champion Westfield Bombers, the tourney’s top seed, rallied from a 1-0 deficit, cruising past fourth-seeded Minnechaug Thursday night at the Olympia Ice Center in West Springfield.
Mario Metallo scored two goals to lead Westfield, and Chris Sullivan had one. For Sullivan, it was his 100th point.
Westfield will meet No. 2 Agawam in a much-anticipated finals next Thursday, March 5 at the Olympia, beginning at 8:30 p.m.
