Doubleheaders are more commonly thought of as a “baseball thing,” but many public schools set up their basketball schedules in such a way that both the Girls and Boys play on the same night at the same gym, back to back. It cuts down on travel expenses and brings more support in the building for each other’s team. Some of the best atmospheres for Raiders sports in the time I’ve had the pleasure of covering various teams is basketball doubleheader nights. Tuesday night was the first of three over a 10-day period, with the Boys playing first at 5:30 p.m. and the Girls at 7 p.m. So, onto the games …
Watertown Boys Basketball was looking to build upon there 33-point non-league win Monday night with another solid performance as they stepped back into the realm of league play. Stoneham arrived in Watertown at 6-6 in league play, 9-6 overall. The Raiders were looking to notch a third Middlesex League win in what has been a difficult league season. Watertown started slow and fell behind by 8, but Senior Andrew Malovanyi single-handedly kept the Raiders in the game with rebounding and hustle and 8 points, including two 3-pointers. When the dust settled on the first quarter, the Raiders actually held a 1-point lead. Unfortunately, it was all down-hill from there, as Watertown went down to defeat, 58-39.
The Raiders, who a night earlier scored 21 points in the second quarter, could muster all of four points on 1 FG and two free throws on this night. In the meantime, Stoneham had their way, led by two 3-pointers and 9 points from Senior Weston Bunnell. The Raiders could not hit the side of the barn, as the cliche goes, and inexplicably, they couldn’t execute their half-court offense either. It was as Jekyll & Hyde a first half as you could get, and Watertown found themselves down 12 at the half. Things improved ever so slightly in the second half, but never enough or consistently to make one believe a run was coming, or convincingly enough to put Stoneham on their heels.
Michael Nshanian got into foul trouble early and Coach Steve Harrington chose to keep Nshanian on the floor to figure it out and play through it. Stoneham figured it out, as in feeding their big man, Senior Tony Dean over and over again as Nshanian shied away to avoid contact. Dean scored 9 in the third as a result, and really, this one was over after three quarters. Nshanian fouled out early in the fourth on an out-of-control drive that was absolutely a charge. Nshanian was the Raiders high scorer on the night with 11 points, but it was night and day between the easy offense he enjoyed Monday night on the way to scoring 27. And really, this was the case for everyone wearing a Watertown uniform on this night.
Co-Captain Ben Teixeira had one of his best home games of the season. He worked his rear end off, had at least a half-dozen top-shelf assists, and found time and space to make a couple of 3-pointers trying to make the game a competitive one in the second half. But, on this night, Watertown’s die was cast when they didn’t show up in the second quarter. Watertown falls to 2-11 in league play. Another doubleheader night awaits the Boys on Friday versus Wakefield, and with it an opportunity to win two of three games played this week.
1 2 3 4 F
Stoneham 15 17 15 11 58
Watertown 16 4 10 9 39
Stoneham
Dean… 19 points
Bunnell… 17
MacPhee… 15
Watertown
Michael Nshanian… 11 points
Andrew Malovanyi… 9
Michael Caterino… 8
Ben Teixeira… 6
Remaining Regular Season Schedule:
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
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Girls Basketball played the doubleheader nightcap, and were looking to get back to their winning ways after losing their two most recent games, at Wilmington and versus Milford. The Raiders entered the game still in first place in the Freedom Division of the Middlesex League with an 8-4 record, but their lead was down to two games over Wakefield. Stoneham came into the contest 4-8, good for 5th place in the Freedom. Watertown continues to play without starting guard, freshman Natalia Keuchkarian, out with finger injury. In her place in the starting lineup has been freshman forward Diana Martin. The Raiders got off to a good start, executing their half-court offense, which led to all five starters finding the scoresheet in the quarter. A rocky second quarter, much like the boys experienced 90 minutes earlier, made it a one-point game at the half, but the Raiders girls, unlike the boys, turned it up a couple of notches in the second half and won by 15, 48-33.
Sophia Setouhi is one of only four seniors on the roster, as well as the sole captain. Sophia is a competitor who has experienced success on the field hockey team as well as with the basketball program. She hustles and doesn’t shy away from competition and leads by example. By the end of last season she was the most consistent and reliable outside shooter on the team. With a young team this year, it was expected she would be a reliable source of offense. For some reason, it hasn’t worked out that way. While her presence on the floor remains important, and her defense is top-notch, the Raiders have found ways to win on many a night without her offense being a focal point. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t needed, and on this night, not only was it needed, it sparked the team to victory when the game was on the line.
Besides Setouhi, Watertown’s coaching staff was a game-changer because of their decision to go to a 2-3 zone to start the second half. Stoneham struggled with it from the get-go, and turnovers led to points, including 6 field goals by Setouhi. She mixed in drives to the hoop, outside shots (including one 3-pointer) and mid-range jumpers. It reminded all of what she is capable offensively, and it sparked the team, pure and simple. The Raiders held Stoneham to 7 points in the third and 5 in the fourth. It was a second half to remember as the Raiders continue their quest to win the division and make some noise in the Div. 3 tournament later this month.
Also of note is the continued strong play of Diana Martin. Her post-up play continues to develop and grow with confidence, she is a good rebounder and defender, and she runs the floor well. Martin and sophomore Brook Lambo make a nice tandem up front, and the two are tireless and always giving max effort.
With the win Watertown moves to 9-4 in the league. Wakefield lost, and along with Burlington are three games back at 6-7 with three league games left to play in the regular season.
1 2 3 4 F
Stoneham 7 14 7 5 33
Watertown 14 8 11 15 48
Stoneham
Driscoll… 9 points
Georgountzos… 7
Bunnell… 7
Watertown
Setouhi… 15
Haley… 12
Lambo… 8
Brennock… 7
Martin… 6
Remaining Regular Season Schedule:
Friday February 6 versus Wakefield… 7 pm
Tuesday February 10 versus Melrose… 7pm
Thursday February 12 @ Burlington… 7 pm
Monday February 16 @ Foxborough… 12:45 pm