HOLYOKE — The Wakefield High boys’ basketball team fell to Holyoke in the first round of the Div. 2 state tournament, 93-56 back on Feb. 27.
The 20th-ranked Warriors ended the season with an overall record of 10-11 while the No. 13 Knights improved to 16-4 and moved onto the Round of 16 where they fell to No. 4 Oliver Ames 69-47 on March 4.
Wakefield had to travel over 100 miles, about 2.5 hours to get to Holyoke, a disadvantage that too many teams have to face in the early rounds of the statewide tournament format.
The Warriors hung with the Knights early before Holyoke pulled away to end the first quarter up 25-19. That momentum carried over the rest of the way. Holyoke pushed their lead to 14 points at halftime and never let the visitors back into it, outscoring Wakefield 33-8 with a relentless attack in the third to seal the victory.
Junior captain Jack Millward finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the way.
Senior captain Matthew Beaver had 13 points and 5 rebounds.
Junior Dylan McDermott added 8 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.
Senior Kevin DeGray chipped in 6 points and 2 rebounds.
An entertaining first quarter featured all of the intensity and excitement of a highly-anticipated state tournament game.
Beaver’s first of three 3-pointers after a nice kick out from senior captain Jackson Fitzpatrick got Wakefield on the board.
Fitzpatrick was all over the court early, grabbing offensive rebounds, creating for his teammates and protecting the paint.
Beaver hit another triple off an in-bounds and Millward connected from deep to make it 11-9 Warriors, one of three lead changes in the opening frame.
Junior Will Forbes followed a nice block in transition on Holyoke’s star point guard Calvin Godbolt, with a finish in transition off a perfect dish from Millward, but Holyoke continued to feed off the home crowd, converting at the hoop and hitting contested 3’s to help set the tone for the rest of the game.
Godbolt’s and-one a couple of minutes into the second quarter helped stem a mini Warrior run and Holyoke took over from there, closing strong in the first half and never looking back.
Wakefield gave some run to their bench in the 4th quarter. DeGray stood out the most, creating off the bounce, knocking down a mid-ranger and getting to the hoop. Warrior fans gave him some well-deserved love as they did for senior Dan McHugh whose bucket got the biggest cheer of the night.
In the end, that spirit of Warrior hoops shone through a difficult end to the season.
In addition to Beaver, Fitzpatrick, DeGray and McHugh, the Warriors will graduate Charles Gagne, Sean O’Rourke and Paul Poulakis, a strong group of leaders who have contributed a lot to Wakefield basketball over the years.
Returning next year will be an experienced and talented group led by Millward and McDermott.