'Blazer Seniors Wrap-Up Careers with Victory
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| Photo courtesy MCLA |
Before the game, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts honored its six basketball seniors: Curtis Leaston of Dorchester, Dave Bisesi of Syracuse, N.Y., Henry Schrader of Fitchburg, Jared Martin of Canton, N.Y., Shalka Rivera of Springfield and Diante Ellis Jacksonville, Fla.
For these men, it was the last game they would play for MCLA and they made the most out the chance to leave on a high note with a triumph over visiting Westfield.
Rivera went 10 for 11 from the floor, scoring a career high 26 points, and Bisesi matched that total to lead the Trailblazers over the Owls. Both men came out strong in the first half with Bisesi scoring 13 and Rivera scoring 14 to help give MCLA a 24-point lead (52-38) at the half. For Westfield, Dave Jaehnig had 12 points in the first half. MCLA shot 53 percent from the floor in the first half to Westfield's 37 percent.
In the second half, the Trailblazers kept up the pace in what proved to be a very physical game. They would keep the Owls at a distant 23 points at times, but slowly as time wound down Westfield would chip away at that lead bringing the game as close as 10 with just a few minutes to play.
Although Westfield went on to out-rebound MCLA, it was the timing of Schrader's and Rivera's rebounds that made a big difference in the win; Schrader finished the game with a team-high 12 boards while River pulled down six in the game. The 'Blazers held Jaehnig scoreless in the second half, but the Owls had three others in double figures: Matt Badjo added 10 and Brandon Mauer finished with 13 points.
<L2>The most impressive performance for Westfield came from Vinny Baker, who didn't play a minute in the first half, but ended the game with a team-high 17 points in 13 minutes. With Westfield cutting into the lead, MCLA made their foul shots count shooting 21 for 25. Bisesi was perfect from the line going 10 for 10 to keep the Owls at bay. Also finishing the game in double figures for the 19th time this season was Ellis, with 14 points.
With the loss, Westfield is now 17-6 overall and 7-5 in the MASCAC, wich will give them the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. With their families and friends all there, Leaston, Bisesi, Schrader, Martin, Rivera and Ellis gave everything they had and their team saved their best performance for last on Senior Day. Although their careers at MCLA are done and the Trailblazers' season is over, the men went out with a win, finishing the season at 7-18 overall and 2-10 in the MASCAC.
Westfield State will host 6th-seed Worcester State on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the first round of the conference tournament.
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