Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Friday Night Hoops Doubleheader vs. Burlington is a Split-Decision for Watertown

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | January 27, 2026

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.

Sports

JIM’s VIEW: Watertown Faced Arlington in a Matchup of Top Middlesex League Girls Basketball Teams

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | January 22, 2026

Tuesday’s game versus Arlington was likely one Watertown Coach Mike Tempesta had circled on his schedule, especially after Watertown made it to this game 6-2 in league play and Arlington 7-1. It would surely be a chance to measure one’s success to date, and figure out what kind of team he had when facing the strength of the league. 

On a frigid winter’s night in mid-January, both team’s started out intense and focused. The lead changed hands numerous times, with Watertown pulling away first to an 11-5 lead. But Arlington quickly responded and went ahead 16-13 after one. It was still close at the half with Arlington holding a six-point lead. All that changed though in the third quarter as the Spy Ponders put the game away with a dominant stretch, outscoring the Raiders 19-4 on the way to an 18-point margin of victory, 58-40. Both teams seemed intent on executing their half-court offense in the first half, and in the case of Arlington, they hardly even looked or settled for an outside shot until Senior Melina O’Hagan made the first three pointer of the game for either team late in the second quarter. Watertown, on the other hand had many good looks from the outside in the first half, and believe me when I say I’d be writing a different recap had they been able to find their range. But they weren’t able to, and an 8-point second quarter for the Raiders was a bad omen of worse things to come. Coach Michael Tempesta prides himself on coaching teams that play solid, fundamental man-to-man defense. Move one’s feet. Don’t reach. Play big, but don’t create contact. On this night these principals would be really important, but his squad just seemed a step slow and they stood around too much against a team that was clearly all about running their sets and taking it to the basket. The Raiders played into their hands by not anticipating screens or calling them out or switching up. They allowed too many drives to the hoop, and then stood still too much or were a step slow marking a Spyponder, which led to offensive rebounds galore and second and third opportunities to score.  

Worst of all, the Raiders just came out flat in the third quarter, while Arlington came out the locker room intent on stronger defense that would create offensive opportunities.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Boy’s Basketball Goes Toe-To-Toe With Undefeated Winchester 

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | January 14, 2026

Not every sporting event is created equal. Some games have all the makings of something special and then turn out to be duds. Others seem like a mismatch on paper, but turn out to be great games. Some even surprise and disappoint all before the final buzzer sounds. Tuesday night, Watertown hosted Winchester and one did not know what to expect. 

Winchester came in 10-0 and ranked 11th in the Boston Globe Top 20. Watertown’s season has been a struggle, full of growing pains as the roster goes through change. But, after starting 0-4, the Raiders had won two of their last three. So, two schools with traditionally strong basketball programs squared off in a year when seemingly they were headed in opposite directions. From the start though, it was clear that both teams were ready to bring it, and what ensued was three great quarters of high school basketball, and high sporting drama. Unfortunately, only Winchester showed up in the fourth quarter, to the tune of a 25-8 shellacking, and a 55-51 Raiders lead after three — and dreams of giving Winchester their first loss — turned into nightmare as Winchester beat Watertown, 76-63. A taut, competitive, intense, spirited first quarter saw both teams competing at a high level. Junior Michael Nshanian was the man for the Raiders in the first quarter, with two of his game-high six 3-pointers on the way to a 10-point effort (and 22 on the night). Winchester is blessed with a deep roster and nine saw the floor in the first quarter. They employed a full-court press that caused the Raiders problems, and they were clearly a well-coached team drilled on the basics and equipped with strong basketball I.Q.’s. But the Raiders were equally effective employing a zone to combat the 6’8″ Senior, Carson Sarpong, who had 4 to 6 inches on the tallest Raider.