With 10 seconds left in the game, a Scotch-Plains Fanwood player is fouled by Westfield giving them a chance to break the 43-43 tie. Thick, tension-filled air was broken by a racket making Westfield crowd with the intention of disruption. SPF made one free throw putting them up by one. Westfield gets the ball back quickly and misses the layup, SPF wins 44-43.
With a delayed start to the WHS boys basketball game at home against SPF, both stands were packed for the rematch of this rivalry. Westfield started the game off strong taking the lead for the entirety of the first quarter, ending it 15-8.
In the second quarter SPF started to make their way back. SPF got fouled and made both free throws followed by multiple layups and three pointers to end the half in a 19-19 tie. For the remainder of the game the score stayed close and the game was a clear reflection of the rivalry between WHS and SPF.
During the third quarter, both teams were fouling repeatedly allowing each team to gain points from the foul line. The game fluctuated from SPF to Westfield in the lead. With three minutes left in the third, WHS was up 26-27 and with two minutes left in the third, SPF took the lead 28-27. With only three seconds left, Sophomore Jack Doherty hit a three to tie the game up for the start of the fourth quarter, 34-34. The shot swung energy towards the Westfield bench with what was building to be a game to remember. When asked about that pivotal shot during the game Doherty answered, “The game afterwards looked like it was going our way with the crowd and all the energy that that brought.” Ultimately the game didn’t fall the way Westfield wanted to and according to senior tri-captain Jake Russell, the team didn’t pull away with the win due to, “letting up too many easy shots and there not being a lot of communication on defense.”
Although it is important to note Westfield’s valiant effort in keeping the game close, when examining what went wrong for the Blue Devils coach James McKeon best summed it up when asked what would be a priority for the team to work on, “ Free throws and to stop fouling. That’s been our kind of thing, but we played hard, and that’s all I ever ask of the guys.”
McKeon went on to comment on the upcoming great opportunity the team has against a top ranked opponent in Plainfield, stating, “We are going to play the number one team in the state, which you can look at as a great opportunity or you can hide from it. So we got to find out who we are.” Westfield will play at Plainfield on Thursday.
