McLaughlin Scores at Buzzer to Lift Wahconah on Road

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Patrick McLaughlin hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer Thursday as the Wahconah boys basketball team pulled out a 55-53 win over Westfield.

 

McLaughlin finished with 26 points, and Jack DuCharme scored nine for Wahconah, which got seven points apiece from Evan Alfonso and Aidan Hagmaier.

 

Wahconah needed to overcome a six-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter and trailed, 53-42 midway through the quarter..

 

“I am so proud of the way we stayed together tonight, winning on the road, holding them scoreless the final four minutes of the game,” Wahconah coach Dustin Belcher said. “Guys stepped up and played big roles to get the job done. It was a true team win.”

 

That was never more true than in the closing moments.

 

Haigmaier drove to the basket to cut the Bombers’ lead to three at 53-50 with 1 minute, 25 seconds left.

 

On the ensuing possession, Hagmaier took a charge to get the ball back. And Alfonso knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game with 40 seconds left.

 

Westfield got a shot on its next possession, but it was off the mark and Cole Rapkowicz grabbed the rebound.

 

After a timeout, Wahconah went the length of the court as time ran down and McLaughlin scored the game-winner.

 

Wahconah (2-3) hosts East Longmeadow on Wednesday.