Doubleheader nights are always a cool experience. The pep-band often is on hand, as they were on this night. And, by the way, under the direction of Spencer Klein, they are superb!
Doubleheaders usually bring a good-sized crowd, which of course adds to the atmosphere. And given the relative strength of Raiders hoops over the years, you can typically anticipate two entertaining and competitive games. Well, the night lived up to expectations for a game and a half, and then the wind went out of the sail.
In the opener, the Girls led most of the night, went cold early in the fourth, found their way late, gave up the tying basket at the buzzer, and then won it in overtime thanks to a Brooke Lambo layup as the buzzer sounded. Final Score Watertown 37 Burlington 35. The Boys, 1-8 in league play, stayed with Burlington, 8-1 in league play, for a half, but hit the wall early in the third period and never found their way back into contention, losing to the Red Devils 56-42.
The Girls …
There are many cliches in sports, one of them “winning ugly.” Well, that’s what the Raiders did Friday night in the 5:30 time-slot. Don’t get me wrong, both teams played hard, competed and did some good things. But, scoring was hard to come by from the outside for both teams most of the night, there were turnovers galore, and both teams struggled at times solving the defensive pressure of the other. For Watertown it was its first game without freshman point guard Natalia Keuchkarian, as she recovers from a finger injury that will likely keep her out for a few weeks, if not longer. Freshman Natalie Haley was tasked with bringing the ball up most of the night, and she did well and will surely improve given the opportunity she has been given.
The team in general struggled dealing with Burlington’s half-court traps. Over and over Raiders’ players dribbled themselves into trouble, or picked up their dribble too soon or didn’t anticipate and opt for the quick pass ahead of the approaching trap. Live and learn for another day, of course, but a lot of programs throw one type of trap or another, so this is something the young Raiders team needs to figure out.
Remember I mentioned scoring was hard to come by? It was 4-2 after one period. Say no more. Both teams picked things up in the second, each scoring ten. Junior Aisling Brennock found her range for a short bit, hitting back to back threes. Even though the Watertown never trailed, and led by four entering the four period, the game had the feel of a dramatic figure. Burlington found a spark early in the fourt courtesy of a 3-pointer from guard Izzy Ortiz, and a couple of driving baskets by forward Lexi Gill. In the meantime, Watertown first seven possessions were either a turnover or a missed shot, and a four point lead was suddenly a three point deficit. Finally, the Raiders executed a half-court set that led to a lay-up by freshman Diana Martin, who was the Raiders best all-around player this night in my opinion. She ran the floor, rebounded, made hustle plays and scored 10 points on the night.
The Raiders eventually re-took the lead, and had a chance to go up three or four when Haley went to the line with under ten seconds remaining in regulation. The best pure shooter on the team, Haley struggle finding ehr shot on this night, and she missed both. After a timeout, Burlington put the ball inbounds a streaking Lexi Gill was not to be stopped, a she drove to the basket and made a difficult lay-up just before the buzzer sounded. Tied at 30, Watertown scored first in OT thanks to a Sophia Setouhi layup. Both teams had their chances in the 5-minute period, yet somehow it was still tied late, at 35. And then, it was Lambo-time. Sophomore center Brook Lambo was in a battle all night with Sophomore Center Zarah Ochi. Ochi had a couple of inches on Lambo, and while it helped her steal a few rebounds, Lambo more than held her own. It was genuinely a good battle between two good players whom will surely continue to improve, and enjoy facing one-another over the next two years.
Watertown, with one last possession before a second overtime would become a reality, found Lambo, somehow left wide-open underneath the basket, and she dramatically made the buzzer-beating layup to give first-place Watertown the win, 37-35. Watertown players swarmed Lambo in celebration, and the Raiders were left to enjoy their “ugly” win, one that any team will gratefully accept! The Raiders move to 7-4 overall and 7-3 in Middlesex League play. Burlington falls to 5-7/3-7.
1 2 3 4 OT – F
Burlington 2 10 8 10 7 – 35
Watertown 4 10 10 6 5 – 37
Burlington
Lexi Gill… 14 points
Zarah Orchi… 9
Ava Sicari… 8
Watertown
Lambo… 11
Martin… 10
Setouhi… 7
Brennock… 6
Haley… 3
Next Games:
Tuesday January 27 @ Lexington
Thursday January 29 versus Milford… 7 pm
Friday January 30 @ Wilmington
Tuesday February 3 versus Stoneham… 7 pm
Friday February 6 versus Wakefield… 7 pm
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The Boys …
There is no sugar-coating it, 2025-2026 has been a tough campaign for the Raiders in Coach Steve Harrington’s 32nd season at the helm. The Raiders return one senior starter in point guard Ben Teixeira. His classmate and friend Will Carty moved on to prep ball, leaving a big hole in the lineup. It also meant more would be asked of junior Michael Nshanian and sophomore Michael Caterino — both of whom were allowed to develop last year and play complimentary roles on a senior-laden team. On top of that, the Middlesex League, top to bottom, provides very few gimme’s. On this night, the challenge was to figure out a way to play with a talented and experienced and cocky Burlington squad. The Raiders were within one after one, and only down six at the half, but Burlington’s defense picked up in the third and fueled their fastbreak offense on the way to a one-sided second half and a victory over Watertown, 56-42.
The Raiders were without starting guard, junior Shane Garey, out with a knee injury sustained at Arlington Tuesday night. Junior Dayton Admirand started in his place, and immediately made an impact with two of his four 3-pointers on the night in the first quarter. It helped keep the Raiders close, along with Burlington’s own inability to finish. They were getting whatever looks they wanted, but just couldn’t consistently put the ball in the hoop.
They Raiders are averaging 52 points a game and giving up 58, never a formula for winning basketball games. A 9-point second quarter only confirmed their struggles scoring. They just couldn’t find a way to create good open looks for most of the night for their best outside shooters, Nshanian and Caterino. Without their offense this team is going to struggle. But Burlington continued to struggle, and if not for a couple of late turnovers that lead to easy baskets for the Red Devils, it would’ve been a two-point game at the half.
But early third-period possessions found the Raiders coming up empty, and Burlington turned up their running game a notch and ran the Raiders off the court. Outscored 16-8 in the third, the fourth became an opportunity for the somewhat cocky Red Devils to fire away 3’s as the Raiders went to a zone. The Raiders should be commended for playing hard the entire 32 minutes and for not responding to Burlington’s antics. When it was all said and done, it was clear that the Red Devils were the more polished team, the more talented team, the more experienced team — and yet, my gut tells me that they will be their own worst enemy come tournament time. We shall see. Final score of this contest was Burlington 56 Watertown 42. Watertown moves to 3-9 on the season, Burlington 10-2.
1 2 3 4 – F
Burlington 12 14 16 14 – 56
Watertown 11 9 8 14 – 42
Burlington
Matty Gray… 19 points
Charlie Poehler… 14
Watertown
Nshanian… 15 points
Admirand… 12
Caterino… 9
Teixeira… 6
Next Games:
Tuesday January 27 vs. Lexington @ 7 pm
Friday January 30 @ Wilmington
Monday February 2 vs.Academy of Science & Health @ 5:30
Tuesday February 3 vs. Stoneham @ 5:30 pm
Friday February 6 vs. Wakefield… 5:30 pm