By Allison Goldsmith
 |
Photo by Jim Powers
Evan Hourihan defends against South Shore Tech's Steve Nichotera during Saturday's 65-43 victory over the Vikings. The Whalers are 3-1
this season. |
I&M Sports Editor
After losing its opening game of the season last week, the boys varsity basketball team reeled off three straight wins, including two this week against West Bridgewater and South Shore.
The Whalers man-handled South Shore 65-43 at home on Saturday, the day after topping West Bridgewater on the road, 64-48. Nantucket (3-1) will take a brief hiatus from the court for the holiday break before returning for the annual Cape & Islands Tournament in Mashpee on Dec. 28 and 29.
Nantucket has looked strong in the early going, a time of year when Whaler boys basketball teams in the past have typically struggled. This season’s Whalers have kept opposing teams under 50 points in every victory so far this season, relying on their defense and a deep bench to earn the wins.
“We are hustling back and making a stand. We are contesting every shot, we block out and rebound and then we go on our fast breaks, so those are really key. That way we can fatigue our opponents. If we make them work hard we can get them in a high-paced game. Our subs can come in and give those other guys a breather without missing beat,” head coach Beau Almodobar said. “A goal of ours is to keep teams to 26 points a half. If we can do that, we know we can score.”
The Whalers reached their defensive goal against South Shore on Saturday, holding the visiting Vikings to only 16 points in the first half. Delroy Lawrence had three blocks and six points, while captain Jordan Ferreira picked up 11 points, including three three-pointers to help the Whalers to the 34-16 halftime lead.
In the second half the Whalers stretched the lead to as many as 27 points at 51-24 after Jordan Beans put back an offensive rebound midway through the half.
Nantucket posted 12 different scorers against South Shore. Ferreira led the way with 15 points. Lawrence scored 13, pulled down 10 rebounds and swatted four blocks in his third double-double of the season. Josh Butler scored six and added 10 rebounds, while Evan Hourihan scored seven points. Adam Spencer had seven rebounds and one block.
Chris Pinto led South Shore with 13 points and Steve Nicotera contributed with 12 points in the loss.
Off and running
Against West Bridgewater on Friday the Whalers opened on a 17-5 run and never looked back. West Bridgewater’s Matt Harris had eight points in the first half to keep the score close for the Wildcats, but the Whalers still led 34-22 at the break.
“We moved the ball real well and were really aggressive, but so were they. They were a real scrappy bunch,” Almodobar said.
In the second half the Whalers were able to double-team Harris, but teammate Gary Pigeon picked up the slack and scored 12 points to keep his team in the game. The Wildcats, however, could not catch the streaking Whalers. Andriquez Farmer scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, including six in a row, all on fast breaks.
Ferreira led the Whalers with 20 points, including two three-point shots. Butler picked up 13 rebounds and scored five points filling in for Lawrence, who was in foul trouble early. Spencer added nine points in the paint.
“We had nine people in the scoring box (against West Bridgewater). I haven’t had that in a while. Usually I have five guys that can score. Now I have nine, 10 players putting numbers in the box and that’s key,” Almodobar said.
Pigeon led West Bridgewater with 15 points, while Harris chipped in with 14.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com |
