An intense game between Westford Academy Boys’ Basketball and Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (AB) on Friday, Jan. 10 ended with a 53-41 win for AB, shifting WA’s season record to 4-3.
Not a second of the 32 minutes of playtime was slowed down in the heated face-off. With barely any time to breathe, the players pushed each other’s energy levels to the limit with each passing quarter. While the teams were equally matched in energy, AB’s control and focus provided their plays with an edge that left WA scattered and disoriented.
“I think we need to improve a lot on getting back on defense and not letting up easy layups,” senior captain Vishal Rampur said. “The game ended with a 12 point loss and those 12 points could’ve been prevented if we communicated and rotated on defense better.”
Junior Teddy Hirbour earned the first points of the game for WA which, in addition to a three pointer from junior Jack Bussey, set WA up with a hopeful 9-5 lead. Those hopes were quickly dampened, however, as AB closed in on the lead by the end of the first quarter and overtook it not long into the second.
“I thought we came out strong and executed our plays efficiently in the first couple minutes in the game,” Bussey said. “It’s going to be important in the next couple games of our schedule to come out ready to go and work hard.”
Both teams had their eyes locked on a win, but the Ghosts struggled to focus their energy as AB approached their net, resulting in multiple fouls that gave AB the opportunity to gain a few easy points. Additionally, AB concentrated on strong passing and confident shots, which allowed them to rack up layups and gain a steady lead of 21-12 midway through the second quarter.
Rampur kept WA’s score within sight of AB’s lead with a few foul shots and three pointers, but the second quarter also established the Ghosts’ struggle to make a clear shot. WA was consistently making the same number of attempts as AB, but the ball repeatedly bounced off the rim or backboard and into the hands of their opponents who were quick to take advantage of the Ghosts’ inaccuracy.
“This week in practice we’re hoping to work on slowing the pace of the game down and emphasizing this idea of having a good shot but [looking for] an even better shot,” Bussey said.
Part of the reason WA’s missed shots were so apparent was because of the accuracy and offensive ability of AB’s forwards. Each time they approached the net, AB seemed to be able to jump a little higher, pass a little smarter, and weave a little faster than their opponents, allowing them to increase the score to 31-19 by the end of the first half.
During halftime, the WA Girls’ Cross Country team was recognized for their State Championship win and awarded with a banner that will be hung in the main gym. Senior Jack Graffeo was also recognized for his 3rd place finish at the Cross Country National Championship.
The tension between the two teams was palpable going into the second half, with an intense determination to win apparent from both teams. AB came into the third quarter with a three pointer, but WA refused to recede with senior Shreyas Gowda charging AB’s net with an unguarded layup. Despite the energy the Ghosts continued to attack them with, AB managed to gain 11 points as the third quarter reached its midpoint.
Fortunately, WA was able to stop their opponents’ drive for the remainder of the period and enter the final quarter with a score of 47-29.
“I think we have to work on our defensive presence; getting where we need to be so that we can defend and rebound and run the court,” head coach Christopher Bramanti said. “We just have to find a way to be more cohesive.”
Anticipation reached an all-time high by the fourth and final quarter as WA exerted everything they had left to increase their score in the eight minutes remaining. The face of each player was wiped clean of everything except a visible hunger for a comeback as they wrestled, blocked, and ran for control of the ball.
Wilson, Rampur, and Bussey worked together and fought for each point as the score progressed to 51-37. Seniors Chris Butts and captain Nate Pitts also contributed strong drives to AB’s side of the court but the Ghosts were unable to finish at the net, keeping a gap between the scores.
Time continued to deteriorate but the burning energy remained high as minutes turned to seconds and WA grew more desperate to keep a victory within reach. It would have been expected for WA to step off the pedal with blank time left, but the Ghosts brought a new level of unexpectedly high energy to the last moments of the game as they went out fighting in a final score of 53-41.
“Although we didn’t get the result we wanted to have, staying hard and pushing through those tough minutes in the 4th quarter is essential to how the outcome of the game,” Bussey said. “All that grind and work comes from practice. Coach Warden and Coach Bramanti get on us to not take a single play off and keep working at it 100% of the time.”
WA Boys’ Basketball will face Weston at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Weston High School.
