Stags break their losing streak with a victory over Bromfield
BOYLSTON — After a three-game skid, the Tahanto Regional High School boys basketball team got back on the winning track last Friday night, downing Bromfield, 66-48, in a Wachusett League D Division game.
Last Tuesday, in a game that was closer than the final score might indicate, the Stags dropped a 67-54 decision to Littleton in another league match-up.
At the midway point in the season, Tahanto owns a 5-5 overall record and a 3-3 league mark.
In the victory over Bromfield (2-7), senior forward and captain Kyle McCubrey poured in a game-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Also in double figures for the Stags were senior center Andy Dellasanta and senior forward and captain Bryan Hayes, who netted 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Trojan Jake Frackiewicz scored a team-high 14 points, while teammate Mark Schwiegershausen added 12 markers.
With Hayes and Dellasanta controlling the boards, Tahanto bolted out to a 28-21 halftime lead and was able to maintain the advantage throughout the second half.
"We played well, especially on defense in the first half," Stags coach Peter Maki said. "If you take away the Murdock game (a 52-42 loss), we have been improving.
"We got Ben (Tasker) back from an injury and he really helps us on defense," he said. "Kyle (McCubrey), Andy (Dellasanta) and Bryan (Hayes) all had a good game."
Against Littleton (7-2), Tahanto was led by Hayes, who tossed-in 16 points. Dellasanta and McCubrey contributed 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
The Tigers, who had 11 treys, were led by Matt Johnson's team-high 16 points.
In a nip and tuck contest, the Stags battled the Tigers tooth and nail, until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. With four minutes to go in the game, Littleton pulled away for the victory.
Littleton opened the first frame with a 13-4 run.
Down by nine points, Tahanto answered with a 7-3 burst. McCubrey got things started by nailing a 3-pointer from the right wing, and Hayes followed with a successful drive to the hoop for a basket and two free throws.
The Tigers held an 18-11 lead at the end of the first frame.
Trailing 21-11 early in the second quarter, the Stags' offense came to life, firing off a 12-0 run.
After Hayes hit a short jumper, Dellasanta put in an offensive rebound. Hayes, Dellasanta, McCubrey and senior guard Hayden Smith all followed with baskets to put Tahanto up, 23-21.
Littleton answered with a 6-3 spurt to take a 27-26 lead at the half.
The Stags opened the second half with a 6-0 burst to take a five-point, 32-27 lead. It would be their biggest of the game.
The run started when Smith found Dellasanta open near the basket for a layup. Hayes then dished off to senior center Dylan Greenwald for a lay-in. Greenwald drew a foul on the play and canned the free throw.
Hayes completed the run by making 1 of 2 free throw attempts.
Unfortunately for Tahanto, the Tigers closed out the third frame with an 8-3 run to take a 44-39 lead.
Littleton outscored the Stags, 23-15, over the final eight minutes of play to gain the victory.
Dellasanta was immense on the boards, pulling down 15 rebounds during the contest.
"We played very well the first three quarters," Maki said. "We played much better than we have been playing. We tried to get the ball inside more and that was effective.
"Overall, the effort was there against a very good team," he said.
Junior varsity boys
The Tahanto junior varsity game vs. Littleton was a real barnburner. The JV Stags were down by four points after three quarters, but came storming back in the fourth frame to take a 37-35 lead with seconds remaining.
Holden Lutz cemented the victory by driving to the hoop for a basket, giving Tahanto a 39-35, hard-fought victory.
Mohammad Haddadi led the Stags with 14 points, and Tom Doerr added eight.
"That (Littleton) was a great game," Tahanto JV coach Steve Pacheco said. "We never give up.
"We are definitely working on our offensive skills, and they are getting better with every game," he said. "Our defense keeps us in every game. We held them to 35 points."
Against the Bromfield JV, Tahanto dropped a 48-39 decision. Haddadi was high scorer for the JV Stags with 21 points.
Varsity girls
The Tahanto girls basketball team lost, 54-39, to Bromfield last Friday, and lost, 70-33, to Littleton last Tuesday.
The Stags own a 2-8 overall record and are 1-5 in the Wachusett League D.
In the Bromfield game, sophomore captain Mary Kate O'Day poured in a game-high 16 points, and senior center Bridget Looney contributed 11 markers.
Against Littleton, O'Day netted a team-high 12 points.