Westfield’s Devin Wells, right, sets for the shot as Taconic’s Drew Scace, left, moves in during the third quarter of last night’s game. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The third quarter was the charm for the Westfield High School boys’ basketball team as the Bombers outscored Taconic 25-6 in the period to secure a 73-53 victory in their season tip-off Tuesday night.
“It was a good opening night,” said Westfield coach Bill Daley.
Devin Wells scored 23 points, and Connor Sas had 23 with four 3-pointers to lead Westfield (1-0). Wells and Sas had 36 of the team’s 46 points in the second half.
Sophomore Isiah Headley played well in his first varsity action at the guard position, and seniors Casey Wiley and Kyle Murphy delivered solid defense. Wiley and Murphy shut down Taconic’s leading scorer, Shaq Ardrey, who was averaging 28 points per game before the two Bombers limited him to just 15.
Ardrey had 40 points against Westfield in the teams’ meeting last season.
Westfield next plays Malden Saturday at Westfield State University at 3 p.m., preceded by West Springfield-Medford at 1.
HOCKEY
Chicopee 6, St. Mary 2
Chicopee led 5-2 after two periods, and tallied a sixth goal in the opening minutes of the third period to secure the victory Tuesday night at Amelia Park Ice Arena.
St. Mary killed off a 5-on-3 power play for Chicopee in the final period. The Saints had a power play chance of their own, 5-on-4, but came up empty.
Andrew Booth and Zach Slepchuk each scored for St. Mary. Six different players scored for Chicopee.
A HEARTFELT GESTURE: St. Mary’s coach Mike Goodreau accepted a defibrillator donated by the Kevin Major Youth Sports Foundation in between the second and third period of last night’s game. Susan Canning, the mother of the late Kevin Major, presented the portable AED machine, alongside her partner, Shannon Small. The defibrillator can be used to monitor the heart. Donations collected at the September 8 screening at the school were used to purchase the machine. Another screening will be held next spring.
GIRLS’ HOOPS
St. Mary 26, Dean Tech 21
St. Mary’s scored a game-high 13 points, and Jeannette Peretti chipped in eight points (two 3-pointers). Hannah Sullivan had a strong game defensively for the Saints.
Southwick 46, Westfield Voc-Tech 21
Jackie Maziarz scored eight points to lead Southwick. Rams’ Haley Parker (4 points) scored her first varsity points.
JV GIRLS’ HOOPS
Southwick 30, Westfield Voc-Tech 13
Amber Nobb was the top offensive player for Southwick, which had all but one score in the game. The Rams ran out to a 22-2 lead at the half.
Monday, Dec. 17
BOYS’ HOOPS
Hampshire 73, Gateway 40
Zach Mackechnie scored 10 points to lead Gateway. Two players netted 18 points for Hampshire.
