Strong defense and turnovers helped boys’ basketball, 14-0,  recover from sub-par offense in their defeat of Wellesley 53-37 at home Friday.

The first half was rough for the Tigers, who struggled shooting wise, throughout the game.

Seniors Barry Santana and Mike Thorpe were all over the Raiders’ offense. Both Santana and Thorpe caused many Wellesley turnovers, especially in the second and third quarters.

These turnovers lead to many more scoring opportunities for the team, which it only somewhat able to execute. Perhaps, if the Tigers made fewer turnovers, the game would have been much closer.

While the second half was a step up, the Tigers still struggled with their shooting, especially from beyond the ark.

“Our defense was definitely why we won,” coach Paul Connolly said. “Barry was relentless. He a lot of balls alive many times.”

For much of the season, defense has been one of the Tigers’ strongest attributes. “It’s a huge part of our success, and it helped us out today,” Connolly said.