By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High boys’ basketball team improved to 5-4 with a 71-68 home victory over Belmont on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Warriors took control of the game in the first two quarters, taking a 44-28 lead into halftime. Belmont won the second half by a score of 40-27, but Wakefield did enough to hold on, improving their record against Middlesex League Liberty Division schools to 3-1.
Wakefield leaned on a three-headed attack of junior Mike Wilkinson (24 pts, 7 reb, 2 stl), senior captain Andrew Quinn (19 pts, 2 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl) and junior Ethan Margolis (11 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast, 5 stl).
Senior captain Jeff DiFazio added 9 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Sean Russell and sophomore De’Ari Burton each chipped in 4 points.
The Warriors wasted no time in getting the Red Sea student section going and establishing a home court advantage with a 10-0 run to start the game. Quinn and Wilkinson each had 5 to get their nights started. Wakefield’s team defense was also locked in, forcing four turnovers in Belmont’s first five possessions thanks to an active matchup zone.
DiFazio hit a 3 off an in-bounds play, something that Wakefield has done well all season under first-year head coach Colin Halpin. Belmont got back into it with their transition game to make it 13-9 but a Wilkinson and-one pushed it back to 16-9 and Margolis finished the quarter strong with a 3 for a 21-15 lead after one.
The 2nd quarter was one of Wakefield’s best of the season – they won it by a 23-13 count. Quinn had 10 points to lead the way in the 2nd to account for his 13 at the half. Wilkinson had 9 in the 2nd, including a free throw line jumper to start the scoring in the quarter.
Quinn hit a corner 3 and later got an easy two after Margolis hit him on the run thanks to a Burton deflection.
Freshman Matthew Beaver hustled on the boards for Wakefield and helped them get second chances which they usually converted.
Quinn hit another 3 after a drop-off pass from Margolis and Margolis knocked down a midrange jumper after great crosscourt motion and a screen set by Wilkinson to make it 37-26.
Another Wilkinson 3 followed by two layups from Russell led to the 44-28 advantage at the break.
The Warriors pushed their lead up to 20 at one point in the 3rd quarter (55-33) but Belmont closed the frame on an 18-4 run to get back into the game.
Leading 59-51 going into the 4th, Wakefield went to work on slowing the game down which their defense did enough of to hold on.
The Marauders cut it to three at 67-64 but DiFazio hit two clutch free throws.
Wakefield threw it away with 22 seconds left and Belmont hit a quick two, making it 69-68 with 13 seconds left. Wilkinson hit 1 of 2 free throws but Russell came up with a gutsy offensive rebound and kicked it to Quinn who was fouled. Quinn also hit 1-of-2, leaving the door open for Belmont to tie with a 3 but Wakefield defended well to account for the 71-68 final.
Wakefield beat Salem 59-52 yesterday to improve to 6-4. The Warriors travel to Winchester tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
