Basketball

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JIM’S VIEW: Friday Night Basketball Doubleheader Sweep of Wakefield is Very Rewarding

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | February 8, 2026

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?

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: First of Three Basketball Doubleheaders in 10 Days Ends In a Split Decision

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | February 5, 2026

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.

Sports

JIM’S VIEW: Watertown Boys Basketball Enjoys A One-Sided Win

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | February 3, 2026

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.

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JIM’S VIEW: Non-League Foe Milford a Hard Nut for the Girls Basketball Team to Crack

By Jim Vershbow, Contributor | January 31, 2026

The month of January has been nothing but league games. Tuesday night a league foe, rinse and spit, another league foe Friday night. Tuesday night a league foe, rinse and spit … you get the idea. For the past three and a half weeks. But on Thursday night, Watertown got the chance to face a non-league foe, in advance of the D3 Tournament, and see where they stand. Watertown entered the game 8-4 on the season, while Milford sat at 6-7. What started out as a back and forth contest, turned into a one-sided affair as the Raiders could never put together a stretch of consistent basketball, as they fell to Milford by the score of 60-43. Milford threw everything but the kitchen sink at Watertown in terms of defenses — half and full-court 1-3-1, a little half-court 2-3, man-to-man and a full court 2-2-1.

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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.