Boys’ Basketball, then 6-1, defeated Waltham, 3-2, 65-48, Sunday, Jan. 8, at the TD Garden during the Good Sports TD Garden Invitational.
The first half of the game was close, ending with a 29-23 Tigers’ lead. The team started to pull away at the start of the third quarter with senior Matt Mackowski, a captain with juniors Noah Neville and Ethan Wright, hitting two threes to give the momentum to the Tigers. “We made a run and we didn’t look back,” said Mackowski.
The diversely aged Tiger team also contributed with impressive team play and great defense, taking a commanding 40-30 lead. “We were able to get energetic as the game went on, which helped us make stops on defense and make easy baskets,” said junior co-captain Ethan Wright, who contributed 33 points to the dominating victory.
Their fast-paced offense continued through the fourth quarter with back to back “and one” plays by junior Chris Matthews that helped close out the win for the Tigers.
Neville believed playing at the TD Garden was “amazing.” He said, “playing here was an unforgettable experience and being able to come here as a team and play is incredible.”
Even though the Tigers are off to a strong start and are ranked fifth in the state, coach Paul Connolly believes there is one huge area of the team’s game that they need to improve. “We need to make less turnovers,” he said.
The Tigers’ have gone 8-3 since the game and take on Walpole in their next game, away, Tuesday, Feb. 14.