By Allison Goldsmith
 |
Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Ryan Trainor tries to take the ball past a Nauset defender during Friday's home loss. |
I&M Sports Editor
After reducing a 16-point deficit to two in the final minutes Friday, the middle school boys basketball team lost its first game of the season to Nauset 48-42 at home. The Whalers also defeated Wixon 39-26 last Wednesday.
Nantucket, which fell to 4-1 overall this season, is scheduled to host back-to-back home games against Lighthouse Charter and Provincetown next Friday and Saturday afternoon.
Against Nauset last Friday, the Whalers were playing for the first time without three members of the team who were dropped due to academic ineligibility. The toughest loss was leading scorer Larry Bo Woolfolk, who averaged 18 points per game for Nantucket so far this season.
Without the explosive fast break
the Whalers had relied on so much this season, the squad struggled to find a rhythm until the fourth quarter.
“The other kids stepped up. It just took some time to get used to playing without them. When we decided to play, we were the better team, but we just had too little, too late,” head coach Jeremiah Splaine said. “I was real proud we didn’t quit. We just couldn’t get over the hump and they caught a couple breaks.”
The Warriors led for most of the first half, as Nantucket trailed 14-12 at the break. In the third quarter Nauset came out firing on all cylinders and opened the lead to 16 points at 32-16 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter Nauset seemed to relax a little on offense as the Whalers quietly crept back into the game. With 5:21 left on the clock Carlton Hue nailed a three-pointer to pull the Whalers within seven at 34-27 and swing the momentum in their favor.
 |
Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Matt Bulmer took over the ball-control duties to leaed the Whalers' comeback in the second half. |
“We started to get more confidence in each other. In the first half they were hoping someone else would do it,” Splaine said.
Ryan Trainor, Jake Molloy and Matt Bulmer all hit key baskets down the stretch to pull the Whalers within two points. But Nauset caught a couple of breaks, hitting a basket inside and a couple of fast-break layups to stay in front and protect the lead.
Bulmer led with 11 points and solid ball-handling for Nantucket. Hue scored 10 while Trainor added seven points and eight rebounds. Molloy scored five points, all in the fourth quarter, and pulled down seven rebounds, including key boards down the stretch. Kadeem McCarthy collected eight rebounds to go along with four points.
Nantucket was five-for-16 from the free-throw line.
Against Wixon last Wednesday the Whalers rebounded from a slow start to wrap up the 13-point victory.
“It was back and forth. No team led by more than four. When we finally solved their press, we were able to open up the game,” Splaine said.
Trainor, Molloy, Mack McGrath and Jacob Martinson all rebounded well and played solid defense against a taller Wixon squad, Splaine said.
Woolfolk scored a team-high 14 points, while Hue added 12 to lead the Whalers. Trainor scored a season-high nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Bulmer contributed with two points, six rebounds and four assists.
Reach Allison Goldsmith at sports@inkym.com |
