Girls Basketball, with but one senior starting along with two freshman, one sophomore and a junior, had the chance to clinch the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division crown Friday night with a win. They entered the game with a three-game lead with three league games remaining on the regular season schedule. The Boys faced a squad with but one win ALL season, and it came at the expense of the Raiders back in early January on a night when one of the Raiders key players got sick during the game, which left the team shorthanded. Revenge was on the mind of Boys Basketball on this night. So, onto the games…
Watertown Girls Basketball has had a successful season by any metrics. A young team that really only goes six deep, has come to play most nights and has never suffered more than a two-game losing streak. In league play they have simply been outstanding, as they entered Friday night’s game at 9-4 and in first place by three games. They knew a win tonight at home would clinch the Freedom Division, and that’s exactly what they did as they beat Wakefield 53-41.
The first quarter made one wonder if it was going to be the Raiders night though, as they just couldn’t get the ball to fall through the hoop with any consistency, scoring only 9 in the quarter. In the meantime, Wakefield, who came into the game 6-10 overall (6-7 in the league) and averaging only 39 points per game on the season, scored 17 in the quarter. Oh oh.s But, one quarter does not make a game, and the Raiders stuck with it and somewhat righted the ship despite what I’m about to tell you. The second quarter was a slugfest, with the Raiders managing all of 6 points. The good news? They allowed only one basket and at the half only trailed by 4.
Watertown welcomed back freshman guard Natalia Keuchkarian, out for five games with a finger injury. She didn’t miss a beat in her return, helping to provide ball-handling, great instincts and a unique brand of offense. As you would expect, her shot was rusty, but she played wire-to-wire and finished with 6 points.
The other night in a win against Stoneham, the Watertown coaching staff (led by Head Coach Mike Tempesta along with Michaela Antonellis, Haiden Pereira and Amber Edwards) made a huge adjustment at the half by going to a 2-3 zone that led the team to a second-half surge and a 15-point win. Friday, the coaching staff worked their magic again, employing a 2-2-1 full court press to start the third quarter. It simply put, won the game for the Raiders. They went from 4 down to 5 ahead in a blink of the eye, on the way to a 20-point quarter. And there’s plenty of kudos to pass around.
Freshman Diana Martin entered early in the third for Aisling Brennock because of foul trouble. She was fantastic. Along with Brook Lambo, she was a rebounding machine at both ends. And Martin’s post-up play? Superb. With every game she gets better and better and displays moves that make you realize that this is a young lady with great potential. And she’s clearly becoming more confident in herself, as well she should. Martin finished with 9 points, all in the second half. As I said, though, it wasn’t just one Raider leading the charge. Brooke Lambo had her outside and inside game going tonight, and she dished out some nice assists. She finished with 17 points, as did Freshman Natalie Haley, who found her outside touch as the game progressed.
The Raiders outscored Wakefield 38-22 in the second half and ended up winning by 12. After trailing early, Watertown stayed calm and stayed with the process, and with some help from the coaches and their own better play, the Raiders can say they are Freedom Division champs. It’s an impressive accomplishment, so congratulations to everyone associated with the team for their success to this point.The Raiders have two more league games (including Senior Night on Tuesday) and end the regular season with a non-league contest, and then it’s on to the Division 3 Tournament.
1 2 3 4 – F
Wakefield 17 2 11 11 – 41
Watertown 9 6 20 18 – 53
Wakefield
O’Brien… 18 points
Ickes… 13
Watertown
Brook Lambo… 17 points
Natalie Haley… 17
Diana Martin… 9
Natalia Keuchkarian… 6
Remaining Regular Season Schedule:
Tuesday February 10 versus Melrose… 7pm
Thursday February 12 @ Burlington… 7 pm
Monday February 16 @ Foxborough… 12:45 pm
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Boys Basketball doesn’t have a lot to play for other than pride at this point of this particular season, given that they are 5-11 and way outside tournament qualification with a power ranking of 48 (top 32 make it). But, when you face a team that has struggled even more than you, but are the only win that team has, well, that doesn’t sit well. Wakefield beat Watertown in early January by 6, and went into last night’s game 1-15. Well, Watertown took care of business in the first half, racing off to a 16-4 lead after one quarter and leading by 22 at the half. Things got a little dicey in the fourth, but the Raiders got their revenge with a 64-50 win Friday night.
As has often been the case this season for the Raiders, it was the three captains leading the way. At the half, Nshanian (16 points), Caterino (12) and Texeira (4 and a bunch of assists) were the keys to Watertown’s success. The highlight of what felt and looked like an easy half was a drive and lay-up floated high off the glass by sophomore Michael Caterino late in the first half. Caterino to some is simply an outside shooter with serious 3-point range, but his game offers potential to do so much more. He can take it the hoop as he has good instincts and a quick first step, and being a left-hander often provides him with an advantage in my opinion as defenders aren’t used to guarding southpaws. He also has the skill set to make a living driving to space, stopping on a dime and squaring to the basket, and consistently making the 10 to 15 foot jumper, a la Celtics legend John Havlicek. I hope he comes to use this weapon more.
In the second half Wakefield woke up a bit. Notoriously physical and borderline chippy, Wakefield pressured the ball with more gusto and turn the Raiders tentative. The fact that they only average 46 points per game this season saved the Raiders from this becoming more of a game, because even though they outplayed Watertown throughout the third and early into the fourth, they just couldn’t get consistent on offense.
The Raiders were fortunate that Wakefield reverted to their overly-physical style, because it put the Raiders in the bonus with 4:30 left in the game. And even while Watertown continued to turn the ball over and tried to give Wakefield a chance to make the game close, Wakefield kept fouling and the Raiders converted free trip to the line into 7 points when they really needed them. A high-scoring 4th quarter — 21-20 Wakefield — finally ran out of time and trading points ultimately didn’t hurt Watertown.
The starters went the whole way in this one for Watertown, with Nshanian the high score with 26 and Caterino with 21. Watertown wraps up a difficult season with another three-game week, including a rematch with CASH on Monday, their final home game of the season on Tuesday (Senior Night) and a roadie on Thursday.
1 2 3 4 – F
Wakefield 4 9 16 21 – 50
Watertown 16 19 9 20 – 64
Wakefield
Gilberti… 19 points
McDermott… 11
Watertown
Nshanian… 26 points
Caterino… 21
Texeira… 9
Remaining Regular Season Schedule:
Monday February 9 @ Community Academy of Science & Health (CASH), 5:30 pm
Tuesday February 10 vs Melrose @ 5:30 pm
Thursday February 12 @ Burlington, 5:30 pm