Published in the February 11, 2016 edition

SENIOR GUARD David Smith has been a major factor all season helping to keep the Hornets winning season on track. He scored early against Newburyport to put the Hornets in front. (Deanna Castro Photo)

SENIOR GUARD David Smith has been a major factor all season helping to keep the Hornets winning season on track. He scored early against Newburyport to put the Hornets in front. (Deanna Castro Photo)

By DAN NUNN

Throttle Newburyport, 85-50

NORTH READING — The Hornets bounced back after their first loss of the season by crushing the Newburyport Clippers, 85–50 on the road on February 2. Senior Adam Goldstein dominated with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Senior captain Justin Dorosh also recorded a double–double with 11 points and 10 boards.

Coach Joe Casey said, “It was a complete team effort. We were focused from the get–go and it was one of our more complete efforts of the season.”

North Reading got off to a quick start and raced out to a 16–3 lead. Newburyport cut the lead to 19–12 but by the end the first the lead was up to 22–12. Goldstein and the Hornets continued to score at will in the second quarter and took a 43–29 lead at the half.

The Hornets blew the game open in the third quarter. They got a huge boost from junior forward Matt McCarthy off the bench who nailed a three and had another huge hoop in the lane. By the end of the quarter the lead ballooned to 65–41. The rout continued in the fourth and North Reading went on to the outstanding 35 point victory.

Sink Pentucket, 92–72

All five starters scored in double figures as the Hornets sacked the Pentucket Sachems 92–72 on Saturday afternoon. Adam Goldstein was the leading scorer with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Justin Dorosh, juniors Mike McCauley and Bobby O’Donnell were excellent with 16 points apiece. Senior David Smith chipped in with 12 points.

North Reading got off to a slow start offensively. They struggled from the field and missed numerous free throws. Luckily, McCauley carried the Hornets with 9 of the teams 16 points and the lead was 16–14 at the end of the first quarter. The offense got rolling in the second quarter. The Hornets outscored Pentucket 27–16 and took a 43–30 lead into the half.

The lead ballooned to 53–36 early in the third. But sloppy defense allowed the Sachems to whittle the lead down to seven with about a minute left. But a quick 5–0 run by North Reading late in the quarter extended the lead to 66–54 after three. Pentucket cut the lead to nine early in the final quarter. But the Hornets closed the game on a 19–8 run and went on to an impressive 92–72 win.