Arlington v. Wilmington Basketball. 1/25/18.
JOSEPH, BLACK LEAD SPY PONDERS OVER WILMINGTON 70-51
Wilmington, MA. 1/25/18. Last night the Arlington boys basketball team trekked to Wilmington where they were greeted by the loudest music in the Middlesex League (deafening), hands down the league’s most athletic cheerleaders (on their way to a national competition), and, when it came to basketball, the league’s most porous zone defense.
The Spy Ponders penetrated through and shot over the Wildcat zone from the get go, opening with a 14-3 run and expanded the lead to 21 points mid-way through the final quarter on their way to overwhelming winless Wilmington 70-51.
Sophomore swing-man Bensley Joseph left little doubt about the outcome as he buried four treys in the first quarter and added one more in the second to finish the first half with 19 of his game high 21 to lead the Spy Ponders.
Senior co-captain Dom Black was at his versatile best recording another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds and added five assists and four steals.
Dom Black finishes after mid-court steal
Black and junior defensive specialist Nick Karalis, also with four steals, spearheaded the Spy Ponder’s usual nasty pressure that generated a whopping 14 steals in addition to eight Wilmington turnovers.
With Arlington allowing few uncontested looks, there were lots of rebounds to be had, and the Spy Ponders took most of them over their undersized hosts as Black, junior tri-captain James Gascoigne (10 points, six boards), senior tri-captain Ben Wasco and junior Sam Swift dominated the glass, and all had easy put-back opportunities on the offensive end.
James Gascoigne puts back offensive rebound
Wasco kept busy with six points, three steals and four rebounds.
Wlimington’s senior co-captain Chris Grecco led the Wildcats with 14 points.
Next Tuesday night will bring a battle between the two Middlesex League Division leaders when Burlington, atop the Freedom Division at 6-3, visits Arlington at 6.
*Photos courtesy of Kim Swift.