Raiders Basketball enjoyed a fun night on the hardwood with a 76-43 rout of the CASH (Community Academy of Health & Science) Chargers Monday night. The first of two games (Feb. 9 @ CASH) with the non-league opponent from Dorchester (and a member of the Boston City League), was won early as the Raiders raced out to a 23-10 lead after one quarter.
The Raiders needed only two players to register on the scoresheet, junior captain Michael Nshanian and sophomore captain Michael Caterino. Nshanian scored 11 points, doing most of his damage inside and at the foul line, where he was 5 of 8. CASH had no inside presence, and therefore had no answer for Nshanian, and he made them pay — and when he didn’t, Caterino did. He was running the floor, driving to the basket, hitting mid-range jumpers, and he mixed in a 3-pointer as preview of what was yet to come. Caterino had 12 in the quarter
In the second and third quarters, it rained inside the Victor J. Palladino Gymnasium, as in “raining threes.” Caterino, a lefty with a pretty stroke and a sweet arc on his shot, especially when he is on, made five 3-pointers and finished the night with 29 points in only three quarters of play. Same for Nshanian, who sat the fourth after contributing four 3-pointers of his own as CASH went to a 1-3-1 zone to try and combat his inside prowess. He gladly accepted the chance to light it up from the outside. Nshanian finished with 27 points.
After three quarters it was 65-34, which meant Coach Steve Harrington gave all 13 members of his bench a chance to play. The life of a reserve can be a difficult one. Everyone wants to play, of course, and practice is where many a player over the history of time have come to improve and earn playing-time, no matter the sport. We don’t get to see the bench play often, and only Coach H. knows the improvement they’re making, but they had every right to enjoy their time on the floor last night.
So, a shout-out to: senior Higor Camara; juniors Dayton Admirand, Boran Akisik, and Cash Bailey; sophomores Mason Lamacchia, Ramon Massey, Jason Ciulla, Julian Boas, Jordan Muraca, Mason Admirand, and Andrew Hume; and freshman Charlie Lammachia, and Todd Yousef (class unknown).
1 2 3 4 – F
CASH 10 8 16 9 – 43
Watertown 23 21 21 11 – 76
Watertown
Caterino… 29 points
Nshanian… 27
Remaining Regular Season Schedule:
Monday February 2 vs. Academy of Science & Health @ 5:30 pm
Tuesday February 3 vs. Stoneham @ 5:30 pm
Friday February 6 vs. Wakefield… 5:30 pm
Monday February 9 @ Academy of Science & Health @ 5:30 pm
Tuesday February 10 vs Melrose @ 5:30 pm
Thursday February 12 @ Burlington, 5:30 pm