DALTON, Mass. – The Chicopee Comp boys basketball team Monday rallied late to edge Wahconah, 61-58, and drop coach Dustin Belcher's team to 1-3 this winter.
“This is one of the better teams we will see all year, and they did a good job at making us
uncomfortable” Belcher said.
After a slow start to the game, Wachonah ended its early drought with a 3-pointer from Ryan Marauszwski. The first quarter ended with another 3 by Wahconah from Sam Mclaughlin to get his team within two points at 15-13.
In the second, the two teams continued to trade baskets. Wahconah's leading scorer, Pat Mclaughlin scored seven of his 24 points. In addition, Sam Mclaughlin pitched in six as well two apiece both Marauszwski and Aidan Hagmaier helped Wahconah tie the game, 30-30, at half-time.
The third is where Wahconah's Jack DuCharme scored six of his 14 points, his best quarter of the night offensively, helping the Warriors take a one-point lead at the end of the quarter.
Chicopee Comp came out hot on an 8-1 run to start the fourth. Wahconah battled back and with two minutes left in the game the score was tied.
After a foul by Wahconah, Chicopee Comp made two free throws and then a quick block to get the ball back, up by two with 48 seconds left. Wahconah committed a few quick fouls to put Chicopee in the bonus and on the line for two shots.
Chicopee made both shots, and Pat Mclaughlin had a quick answer for the Colts with a layup. Wahconah put the Colts on the line again and saw its opening when the Colts missed both free throws, but Wahconah failed to get the offensive rebound.
Forced to foul again, it give the Colts another chance to take more free throws and they made one. The Colts then got a defensive stop to end the game with the three-point win.
“At the end of the day it was a great high school game," Belcher said. "They just made more plays than we did.”
The experience with tight games early in the season should help Wahconah as the season goes along.
Its next test comes on Thursday when it travels to Westfield.
