Senior tri-captain Tyshawn Pearson’s fade-away jumper ignited the bench and the bleachers as Westfield stole the lead from Middle Township, 40-37. However, with just five seconds left in the third quarter, Middle Township responded right back with a three-pointer, ending the quarter in a suspenseful 40-40 tie. This tension and competition describes the entire 32-minute game, as the Blue Devils fought for this last regular season win, 58-53.
Senior tri-captain Enzo Ferrero said, “I think we just wanted it more than them. Before that fourth quarter we were talked to by coach McKeon in the huddle and he gave us some words of encouragement to keep the momentum going.” Agreeing with Ferrero, Pearson said, “Coming into the fourth quarter we came out with energy which led us to a lot of steals and baskets.”
The fourth quarter consisted of back-and-forth battles between the Blue Devils and the Panthers, with aggressive fouls and heavy defense. With just about five minutes left in the quarter, senior Jonny Sica set up junior Max MacEacheron for a three and then took a crucial charge, allowing the Blue Devils to build on their one-point lead.
Not only was the Blue Devils offensive end on fire, but their defense helped solidify their win and stop any chances the Panthers attempted. “It was our defensive tactics. I think it was the fact that we were playing really well off each other. We were passing well, we made sure that we didn’t force anything and made sure our teammates were doing the right thing. I think all of that just happened to be what got us the win,” said Ferrero.
With the anticipation of the state tournament coming up, Westfield knew they needed to keep the momentum going. “This isn’t a team we see all the time so it’s nice to see somebody different. I appreciate these guys coming a long way to play us. We just needed to play, we had a little hiatus where we weren’t playing for a couple of days so this is perfect,” said head coach James McKeon.
Ferrero said, “I think today we really executed well. Middle Township is a really good team. This is also really good for helping us get ready for states. We got our first round on Thursday, and today’s just gearing us up in this ready for everything that’s coming on the seats.”
The Blue Devils will face Newark East Side in the first round of the NJSIAA, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 tournament at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 27. Pearson said, “We are going to take this energy and momentum for our game against Newark East Side.” McKeon said, “Newark East Side is a totally different team. If we dictate the flow of the game we will be alright.”
