By: Will Schiffman’19

The Westborough Rangers Basketball team had one of the most successful seasons in school history. The Rangers achieved so much success including Mid Wach B league champions, a bye in playoffs with the number one seed, the  Clark Tournament champions, and Division two Central Massachusetts district champions. The team ended with a 21-4 record.

A lot of the Rangers success came from senior brothers Matt and Mike Doherty. The Dohertys were senior captains in their fourth year on varsity along with senior Jake Hughes. Along with team success, the Doherty twins also had some individual success of their own this season.

On January 29 the Westborough Rangers held their annual Senior night, paying tribute to the careers of the seniors on the team. Going into the game Mike Doherty was eight points away from reaching his 1,000th point. It was a packed house in the Fisher gym for senior night with a huge fan section decked out in USA gear. Doherty got his first points off a layup to start off his scoring. The next points came from a pull up three from a few feet behind the three point line. With five points Doherty got a rebound off a missed Marlborough three and took the ball up court. He started a rhythm dribble and after one dribble over half court he took one of the deepest threes in his career.

“I knew exactly what what I was gonna do when Jake [Hughes] got subbed out. I was gonna bring the ball up and pull it from deep,” says Doherty

When the ball left his hands, the gym went absolutely silent, and when the ball went through the net the gym erupted. All the fans went crazy, holding up signs saying “Mr. 1000.”

Doherty tells  The Lobby Observer, “It’s been a dream of mine since fourth grade. I remember reading the names of the 1000 point scorers at Wachusett and from then on I wanted to put my name on a banner.”

It was a special night for Doherty, adding his name to the impressive list of 1000 point scorers in Rangers basketball history. He became the ninth 1000 point scorer in the basketball program’s history. The last 1000 point scorer at Westborough High was 14 years ago when Chris Banks, current assistant coach at Hopkinton and referee for Rec Ball, scored his 1000th point in 2005.

Matt Doherty was not far behind Mike with 900 points when Mike scored his 1000th point. With the regular season coming close to a close for the Rangers, it looked like Doherty would earn 1000 points only if the Rangers went far in the Clark Tournament and in playoffs. And they did.

“I was excited for Mike and very proud, but the competitor inside of me was honestly a bit jealous. I wanted to feel what he was feeling,” comments Doherty.

The Rangers won three games to win the Clark and then won their playoff game to advance to the district final. Doherty went into the District Championship with 998 points, needing only two points to get the on the list with his brother.

“I was nervous and I was excited, I couldn’t stop smiling and my legs wouldn’t stop shaking, it was one of the weirdest feelings I’ve ever had,” says Doherty.

Like Mike, Matt wanted to get his 1000th point over with early so he could focus on the game at hand. Doherty drove to the hoop with two minutes into the game and was fouled with the shot just rimming out. This sent Doherty to the line with two shots to reach his 1000 point. He swished the first one looking very confident. The next shot the ball hit every part of the rim and went in. And like Mike, Matt took a bow after he scored his 1000 point. It was very special for Matt to get his 1000 point in the District Championship.

Mike shares about his brother’s great achievement,“It was a great feeling scoring my own 1000th point, but when it came to Matt it was something special. Knowing how hard he worked for it he definitely deserved to get it.”

Adding on, Mike jokes, “I still think senior night was cooler.”