With the Westwood High boys basketball team playing a number of opponents tight this year but still searching for a victory after six games, it appeared that the Wolverines may let another opportunity to get in the win column slip away last night against Dover-Sherborn.
Robert Bambini refused to let that happen. A basket by the senior kept the Wolverines alive in the first overtime then his hoop with seven seconds to play in the second overtime won it in a 62-60 triumph over the Raiders.
“He made a lot of plays, whether it was hitting shots or getting rebounds,” said Westwood coach Mike Reidy of Bambini, who led Westwood with 21 points and nine boards. “We played a full game, stuck with it and showed a lot of composure.”
Trailing 23-20 at the half, Westwood took a 38-33 lead into the fourth quarter but a 16-1 run put the Wolverines in a 48-39 hole with under three minutes to play. But Westwood ended the regulation on an 11-2 run.
Bambini scored with 25 seconds left to make it 50-48 and John Sheehan stole the inbounds pass to regain possession. D-S’ Ted Ouellet blocked Bambini’s bid for the tie but Jason Sementelli grabbed the rebound and hit a 14-foot runner as time expired to send it into overtime. Sementellli had 12 points and seven rebounds while playing tough defense on Raider star Ouellete all night.
Westwood fell behind in the first overtime again but Bambini’s putback of a Ries McQuillan shot with 16 seconds left tied it at 55-55 and the Wolverines got a stop to force a second overtime.
Sheehan gave Westwood its first lead since early in the fourth with a 3-pointer to make it 57-56, one of four trifectas in a 16-point night. After D-S answered with a 3, Bambini hit from long range off the glass with 42 ticks left. The Raiders knotted the game at 60-all with a free throw, setting up Bambini’s game-winning shot.
The Wolverines shook off their overtime loss to Hopkinton with a solid all-around performance against the Raiders, improving to 3-3 on the season.
After having a trouble holding onto leads in the second half this year, the Wolverines expanded on a 31-19 halftime edge to cruise to the win. Kelly Casey led all scorers with 17 points and 15 rebounds while Erin Young added 16 points and Kelly Rich 12.
“I think that the girls just got back to fundamentals,” said Westwood coach Brianne Bognanno. “We played great defense and when we played great defense that picks up our offense, and we got back to running. I think that the girls needed this one.”
