READING — The Wakefield High boys’ basketball cardiac kids were at it again on Tuesday night in Reading.
For the third time this season, the Warriors erased a sizable 4th quarter deficit to win. This time, Wakefield trailed 50-41 to start the final frame and left town with a 61-58 victory, outscoring Reading 20-8 in the 4th to steal it.
Jack Millward scored 9 of his game-high 31 points in the 4th. He accounted for the biggest play of the game, an and-one with Wakefield down 56-55 to give the visitors a two-point lead with under a minute to play.
Jackson Fitzpatrick (12 pts, 13 reb, 4 ast), who played an impressive complete game for Wakefield, played great defense down low on Reading’s ensuing possession and Will Forbes (4 pts, 4 reb) grabbed a big rebound with 20 seconds left. That eventually led to Millward (31 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl) icing the game from the free throw line as the Warriors escaped with their 6th win of the season while the Rockets fell to 1-9 overall.
A balanced effort on both ends of the floor led to Wakefield’s 4th-quarter triumph. They had five players score in the quarter, including two buckets from Forbes, the most impressive being a give-and-go with Fitzpatrick at the elbow to make it 52-51 Reading before Wakefield made their comeback official.
In a game that featured five ties and nine lead changes, it was no surprise to see the two teams alternate momentum in each quarter.
The first belonged to the home team as the Rockets came out dialed in to take a 19-14 lead after the initial eight minutes.
Wakefield found their groove in the 2nd quarter, winning it by a count of 18-10 to take a 32-29 lead into halftime.
Millward lived at the free throw line in this one, going 18-for-23 at the stripe. He was 11-for-14 from the line in the first half alone, getting especially comfortable in the 2nd quarter, his strong takes earning him plenty of chances for free points.
Fitzpatrick, a menace on both the offensive and defensive glass all night, grabbed a tough rebound and finished to give Wakefield their first lead of the game at 25-23 in the 2nd.
A Millward post-up bucket and later a strong finish from Matthew Beaver (6 pts, 2 reb) pushed Wakefield’s lead to 3 at the break.
The Rockets responded well in the 3rd, winning it 21-9 to reclaim the lead at 50-41 after three.
To Wakefield’s credit, they never wavered, making sure to set the tone early in the 4th thanks to Charles Gagne (5 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl) whose quick drive and 2 got the visitors going.
That started an 11-2 run by Wakefield to tie the game at 52-52. Reading’s full-court press played right into Wakefield’s strengths as the Warriors were able to play an up-tempo style to get back into it.
Beaver found Fitzpatrick down low to cut the deficit to five; Forbes got to the rim for a bucket and Fitzpatrick later made a long outlet pass to Millward for a layup to make it 52-49.
Forbes and Fitzpatrick’s give-and-go cut it to one and Millward later tied it at the line.
The score was stuck at 52-52 for a couple minutes as the pressure picked up and both teams locked in on the defensive end.
The Warriors appeared to be in trouble again when Reading went up 56-52 but Fitzpatrick’s clutch offensive rebound and kick out to Beaver for a contested 3 with just over a minute left got the visitors right back into it.
Millward later got a fingertip on a long pass attempt and Gagne recovered at half court, quickly getting it back to Millward who finished through a foul, his ensuing free throw making it 58-56 Warriors with about 30 seconds to go, leading to Wakefield’s clutch defense and another exciting win.
It was the second road win in a row for Wakefield who beat Watertown 60-49 last Friday.
Tonight, Wakefield (6-4) will host Lexington (8-2), 6:30 p.m. at the Charbonneau Field House. The Minutemen have won three in a row and seven of their last eight.
Lexington was ranked No. 19 in Tuesday’s Div. 1 power rankings while Wakefield was ranked No. 17 in D2.