Boys Basketball

Playing in the Garden a Family Tradition for the Watertown Basketball Team

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In the celebratory mayhem after Watertown High School’s victory in Saturday’s Div. 3 North Section boys basketball final, Raiders’ junior center John Korte was mobbed by two of his biggest fans – his sisters Francesca and Felicia. The two sisters know a thing or two about playing in big games for the Raiders, both having been on girls basketball squads who made tournament runs: Felicia played on the team won in the Garden last year and made it to the State Final, and the Raiders made the North Section final twice (2013 and 2014) when Francesca played for Watertown. Felicia is a freshman on the UMass-Lowell basketball team, and Francesca played hoops during her first two years at Wellesley College. And Korte is not the only play on the current Raiders basketball team who are following in the footsteps of older siblings.

Schools

Watertown Schools Offers Track Program for Students with Disabilities

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This year, the Watertown High School track and field team will offer an adaptive track program for students in grades 2-12 with disabilities. Students will participate in stretching, running and racing activities on the Victory Field track. WHS athletes will be mentoring/coaching under the supervision of parent volunteers. The four-week program is open to students in grades 2-12, and will run from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on April 11, April 18, April 25 and May 3. Mail the application (below) with a $25.00 check made payable to Nancy Alberico to:

Nancy Alberico
C/O WHS Track & Field Boosters
25 Duff Street
Watertown, MA 02472

Questions/Feedback to: nancy.alberico@commonmoves.com or call 617-974-6101.

Sports

NORTH CHAMPS! Raiders Win Shootout With Bedford, Heading to Garden

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BURLINGTON – The Watertown High School boys basketball players and their fans could not contain themselves when the final buzzer sounded Saturday night. Having won the a thrilling North Section final, 59-52 over Bedford, WHS students poured out of the stands to celebrate with their classmates. Each game during the Watertown High School boys basketball team’s tournament run someone stepped up to make key plays, and Saturday night the Raiders had to dig deep onto the bench to secure the win and the trip to the Garden for the state semifinal. Watertown basketball coach Steve Harrington, a veteran of 10 section finals, said Saturday’s win was one to remember. “It was as intense a game as I’ve been involved with,” Harrington said.

Boys Basketball

Watertown Faces Strong Bedford Team in North Section Basketball Final

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After his team’s win in the Div. 3 North Section Semifinal, Watertown High School basketball coach Steve Harrington said he was pleased with how his team is playing. He added, however, the Raiders opponents in the North Final – Bedford – also look tough. Come playoff time, the run-and-gun style Watertown sometimes plays goes away, and Harrington said the team has a much more cautious approach. “If we play smart and we play possession by possession, and take care of the basketball, we can compete with any team,” Harrington said. 

The Raiders have been a threat from inside and out in the tournament.

Boys Basketball

Cool Heads, Clutch Shooting Lead to Watertown to North Basketball Final

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WILMINGTON – Watertown High School’s basketball team kept its cool in the frenzied atmosphere of the MIAA Div. 3 North Section Semifinal, played tough defense and hit key shots down the stretch to defeat Lynnfield 58-46 Wednesday night. 

The gym at Wilmington High School was packed with rabid fans for both squads, and after overcoming an early deficit, the top-seeded Raiders (20-2) built off a narrow first quarter lead to hold off the fourth-seeded Pioneers (18-5). “It was just an incredible defensive effort, it was exhausting,” Watertown head coach Steve Harrington said. “The game was a grind, which is how we have to make the game at times.” Down 10-4 in the middle of the first quarter Watertown ran off eight points, with three pointers from sophomore guard Vondre Chase and junior point guard Julio Fulcar, and another hoop from senior forward Jayden Hairston.

Schools

Watertown Cheerleaders Head to States After Winning Division Championship

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The Watertown High School cheerleading squad has enjoyed a successful winter, and will look to keep it going at States this weekend. 

In February, the team went to the Middlesex League competition in Lowell, where the Raiders qualified for Regionals. The team also won the Wildcat Invitational. On March 5, the team headed to Wilmington High School and had a great day, said Jennifer Ryan, one of the teams’s coaches. “We actually qualified to move onto States,” Ryan said. “Also, we were the North Small Co-ed Division Champions!”

Girls Basketball

Watertown Comeback Falls Short, Shannon Murphy’s WHS Career Ends

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After fouling out with just 10 seconds left and her team down seven on Saturday night, Watertown High School’s star senior center Shannon Murphy still had a smile on her face as she was greeted by her coaches and teammates as she left the floor for the last time as a Raider. First half foul trouble put Watertown into a deep hole against Hamilton-Wenham in the Div. 2 North Section Quarterfinal. In the first half, the Generals had 15 free throw opportunities to just two for the Raiders. “It is what it is.

Boys Basketball

Raiders Rock the Gym – and the Rim – in Tourney Win Over North Reading

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Watertown High School’s boys basketball team got a dose of revenge against North Reading Friday night, with a rim-rocking dunk to put an exclamation point on the 64-39 North Section quarterfinal win. 

Last year, the Raiders traveled to North Reading and were eliminated from the tournament by the Hornets. In 2017, Watertown (19-2) earned the top seed and got them in their own gym in front of a raucous crowd. “We went undefeated here this year, I believe we were 12-0 here,” said Watertown Coach Steve Harrington. “Playing at home is huge. We played over there last year and we struggled.