Published in the March 15, 2017 edition
JUNIOR POINT GUARD Billy Arseneault (11) drives to the hole during the Pioneers’ 58-46 loss to Watertown in the Division 3 North semifinals March 8. Arseneault led the Pioneers with a team-high 19 points against the Raiders. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAVID McCOUBREY
WILMINGTON — Last Wednesday at Wilmington High School, the boys’ basketball team experienced a familiar pain after losing in the Division 3 North semifinals.
This year, the fourth seeded Pioneers ran into the buzz saw that is the Watertown Raiders, a team that went 20-2 in the Middlesex League and was the number one seed overall. Watertown won the game 58-46, holding right at their season averages of scoring 57 points per game and giving up only 45.
The Raiders won the Division 3 North sectional title after defeating defending D-3 North champion Bedford 59-52. Last season, the Pioneers reached the Division 3 North finals and lost a heartbreaker to Bedford, 65-62.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Louis Ellis (5) searches for an open teammate during the Pioneers’ 58-46 loss to Watertown in the Division 3 North semifinals March 8. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
In Lynnfield’s previous two tournament games, the locals scored 69 and 74 points against Stoneham and Whittier, respectively, scoring tons of buckets on fast breaks and in transition. The old mantra goes, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” and head coach Scott MacKenzie went into Wednesday’s game with a high tempo mindset. The plan backfired, as Watertown was able to slow the pace of the game way down.
“What we wanted to do was run,” MacKenzie said. “We wanted to run for 32 minutes. And we knew it wasn’t going to be a 70-point game, but Watertown essentially plays five guys. We just wanted them to play 94 feet with us and see if we could get some tired legs (on them).”
The Raiders played tough defense throughout the game and put a lot of pressure on the ball. Watertown grabbed seemingly every Lynnfield miss, preventing second chance scoring opportunities for the Pioneers.
“(Watertown’s rebounding) was a decided advantage,” said MacKenzie. “Seeing it live, it was a decided advantage in strength and athleticism. (Senior forward Jayden Hairston) and (junior center John Korte) were bulls.”
Watertown’s stifling defense also showed up in another specific way. Throughout the first three quarters, Watertown’s junior point guard Julio Fulcar managed to contain Cape Ann League MVP Billy Arseneault, who was held to seven points in the first half.
JUNIOR ZACHARY SHONE (3) shoots a free throw during the Pioneers’ 58-46 loss to Watertown in the Division 3 North semifinals March 8. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
“This is the first time all year where Billy was able to be defended one-on-one,” said MacKenzie. “(Watertown head coach) Steve Harrington’s a great coach and his plan was ‘I’m not offering help (on Arseneault).’ And it took us four or five minutes to get our bearings straight because literally for 23 straight games we were able to penetrate, draw help and kick out. Watertown didn’t let us do that tonight.”
He added, “Watertown is the best defensive team we’ve seen, and I don’t think it’s close.”
Lynnfield, after cruising through the Cape Ann League and going 15-1, struggled to play to their level of competition on Wednesday. MacKenzie said he told his guys at half time that they needed to adjust.
“We said fellas we can’t pull the same stuff that we do throughout the Cape Ann League,” said MacKenzie. “We can’t just play (isolation) ball. We need (offensive) movement.”
This was a game that was teetering all the time though. Up until the final minutes, when Lynnfield was forced to foul in order to create more possible possessions for themselves, it seemed like the contest could have gone either way. Senior captain Lou Ellis hit a long three-pointer at the end of the first half, when things looked dire for the Pioneers, to cut the lead to 23-18.
Lynnfield kept hanging around and were down by six, 32-26, with seconds to play in the third quarter. But a lapse in defense allowed Fulcar to race down the court and he laid it in while getting fouled with 0.6 seconds left in the quarter. He made the free throw to make it 35-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Arseneault tried his best in the fourth quarter not to let the Pioneers go down without a fight. He scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the final quarter, including three somewhat desperate three-pointers.
Clock becomes the enemy
But Watertown slowed the pace of the game to a crawl, chipping away at the clock and also hit four clutch three-pointers. As the clock became their enemy, Lynnfield was forced to foul Watertown. The Pioneers kept fouling Fulcar, who nailed eight free throws down the stretch, giving him 19 for the game.
Junior forward Dan Jameson also committed a technical foul after pushing a Watertown player after that player seemed to get in Jameson’s face. Watertown was already in the bonus and it allowed Fulcar to hit four straight free throws late in the game, essentially sealing the victory for the Raiders. MacKenzie said he didn’t see the technical foul.
“Frustration got the best of us,” said MacKenzie. “It was a retaliation thing. I’m not going to fault him for it. It wasn’t the difference in the game, but obviously (Fulcar) is outstanding. At that point it was a seven-point game and he made four free throws to make it 11. The game was done at that point.”
Pride in team’s accomplishments
MacKenzie said he’s proud of what the Pioneers’ players, particularly the nine seniors, were able to accomplish this season. They certainly have a lot to be proud of after advancing to the Division 3 North semifinals and winning the Cape Ann League title going away. This was a tight-knit group of experienced basketball players. MacKenzie commended the Pioneers’ captains, Ellis and forward Mike Carangelo.
“With those two guys, it’s almost too early to talk about them,” said MacKenzie “They’ve been with me for three years. I was going through their collective winning percentage over the last three years and it’s like 77 percent. They’ve been a part of wins. I haven’t even begun to contemplate what life will be without them. I imagine it’s going to be a big challenge for us to be able to fill those shoes.”
Whoever MacKenzie manages to find to fill those shoes remains to be seen. But come next winter, townspeople can bet the Pioneers will be eager to get over the hump that has stymied the locals the past two years.
