Westfield’s Alex Brown (24) elevates over the East Longmeadow defense Wednesday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
EAST LONGMEADOW – With their backs to the wall, the Westfield High School boys’ basketball team took care of business.
Westfield scored over 70 points for the second straight game, stunning host East Longmeadow 73-61 Wednesday night. The Bombers received huge contributions from several players – four players reached double-digits and another fell one point shy – to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“We got a pulse,” said a jubilant Westfield head coach Bill Daley. “We’re getting better from Day One to now. It’s really been fun to coach these guys.”
Later in the evening, Westfield was eliminated from postseason contention when West Springfield defeated Chicopee 76-62.
Westfield (8-11) opened the night with a 17-point halftime lead before East Longmeadow stormed back to tie the game at 57-all with about five minutes remaining in regulation. The Bombers quickly regained momentum through a collective effort.
Isaiah Headley and Demetrius Rogers led Westfield with 14 points apiece. Bombers’ Richard Barnett and Alex Brown finished with 11 and 10, respectively. Teammate John O’Brien made 3-of-3 from 3-point range to finish with nine.
East Longmeadow’s Luis Rodriguez finished with 30 points. He was 12-of-13 from the free throw line.
Westfield was coming off a 77-69 win over Chicopee, a game in which Headley pumped in 25 points.
Daley said no matter what the end result – playoffs or not – this Bombers’ team will finish the season a champion at heart.
“This is one of the most improved teams I have ever coached,” Daley said. “They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them. We have seniors that have showed up every day. They are high character individuals who lead by example.
“There’s been a willingness to sacrifice for the good of the program,” he said. “Now if we had only won those close games earlier in the season. Those three games we didn’t win – we would win them right now.”
Westfield will have one more opportunity to leave a lasting impression out on the court when the Bombers travel to Northampton in the regular season finale Thursday night at 7.
Gateway 53, St. Mary 31
Calvin Dowers (15 points) and Curtis Dowers (13) led Gateway to the road victory at Westfield Middle School South.
St. Mary’s Sam Thresher scored a team-high 14, and Brendan Mickalay had nine.
