Warriors post triumph over Lexington

Published in the December 16, 2015 edition

By DAN BYRNE

LEXINGTON — The Wakefield Memorial High School varsity boys’ basketball team opened its season on the road on Tuesday night and the Warriors brought home their first win of the year, knocking off Lexington, 52-41, at Ralph Lord Gymnasium.

The Warriors struggled with turnovers in the first half, giving it up 14 times. Remarkably, they trailed by just one, 24-23 at halftime.

Wakefield got into foul trouble in the first two quarters, sending Lexington to the line eight times. However the Minutemen made just 8 of 15 free throws in the first half.

“We talked at halftime about not giving up any offensive rebounds,” Head Coach Brad Simpson said after the game. “That was critical. We cut down on our turnovers and John Evangelista at the line down the stretch was clutch. “

After three quarters the game was tied at 33-33. In the fourth quarter, the senior leadership led Coach Simpsons’ Warriors to victory, outscoring Lexington 19-8 in the final frame.

Senior Andrew Auld had four of his six points in the fourth, and captain Tighe Beck had six of his 10 in the final eight minutes.

However, it was on the defensive side that the Warriors really locked things down. In the fourth quarter, they kept Lexington off the board for the first three minutes, holding them to just eight points for the quarter.

“The seniors tonight, Andrew Auld, Tighe Beck, Corey Imbriano, they were the glue guys tonight. They kept us together when we went behind,” said Simpson.

Evangelista, a junior, led the Warriors in scoring on the day as he put up 21 points in his varsity debut.

Joe Smith had to leave the game following a collision at mid-court in the second quarter. He will have to be assessed for a concussion before he is cleared to return playing. Hopefully for Simpson and the Warriors, Smith will not be another victim of the injury bug.

Friday the Warriors head on the road once again, as they take on the Reading Rockets at 5:15 p.m. at Reading High School.

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WAKEFIELD 52, Lexington 41

At Lord Gymnasium, Lexington

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WAKEFIELD (52) — Evangelista 7 4 21; A. Miller 0 0 0; Smith 0 1 1; Beck 4 2 10; Imbriano 2 0 4; McKenna 1 0 2; Nadeau 2 2 6; Price 1 0 2; Auld 3 0 6; Redmond 0 0 0. Totals 20 9 52.

Lexington (41) — Ebihara 0 0 0; Lenrow 3 0 6; Fernandes 4 1 11; Kendall 2 4 8; Lane 1 0 2; Amsler 4 3 12; Unobskey 0 2 2. Totals 14 10 41.

Score by Quarters — WAKEFIELD 12-11-10-19 — 52. Lexington 15-9-9-8 — 41.

Three-point FGs — Wak, Evangelista 3. Lex, Fernandes 2, Amsler 1.