By Quinn Donovan
The Westborough High School boys’ basketball team has been having a fantastic season, highlighted by the school’s record 50th appearance in the prestigious Clark Tournament this week. The Clark Tournament, which has taken place annually since 1939, brings together the best smaller schools in Central Massachusetts to Clark University in Worcester.
On Sunday, Westboro faced off with Grafton as the seventh-seeded Rangers took on the second-seeded Indians. The Indians came out with an edge as they jumped out to a 20-10 lead with about two and a half minutes remaining in the second quarter in what was a defensive start to the game. However, the Rangers, as they have become accustomed to doing this season, battled their way back and quickly erased the deficit, closing the half on a 17-2 run sparked by intense defense and quick ball movement.
It was more of the same from Westboro to open the third quarter, as they found themselves with a 34-23 lead and all of the momentum in a game that had quickly changed shape. Grafton would not go down without a fight, and quickly took off on its own 17-2 run to enter the fourth quarter with a 40-36 lead.
The first four minutes of the fourth was very back and forth between the two teams, as Westboro found themselves trailing by six at about the midway point in the final period. However, the battle-tested Rangers rallied once again, and senior captain James Coffey scored seven points in the final two minutes to take back the lead for good to claim Westboro’s first Clark tournament victory in seven years. Senior AJ Nowak and sophomore Matt Doherty, who finished with 16 points, made free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Coffey describes the win. “We often go through a rough stretch during a game, but our tough schedule and sheer number of close games gives us confidence until the final buzzer sounds. We have a ton of playmakers who we know can make plays down the stretch to close out games, which is why we are a confident and dangerous team.” The team’s overall camaraderie and trust in each other is easily one of their greatest qualities, as was evident in the team effort required to take down a very tough Grafton team.
According to the captain, the Rangers’ difficult schedule throughout the year prepares them for these types of games and endings. “We play in the best conference in all of Central Massachusetts. Night in, night out we had a tough game, so we feel like we can play with and beat any team we face on any given night,” says Coffey.
The Rangers’ combination of experience and leadership with talented youth was also on display in the win, as seniors Coffey, Nowak, Vinny Rosa, and Kyle Clarkson all contributed valuable minutes on both ends of the floor and sophomores Matt and Mike Doherty, Jake Hughes, and Domenic Casparriello created havoc on defense that led to transition offense.
The Rangers advance to the semifinal round, where they will take on third-seeded Nashoba in a clash between Mid-Wach B League rivals on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Clark University. Westboro will be seeking revenge, as Nashoba has come out on top of the Rangers in their first two meetings this year.
