HOME UNBEATEN STREAK HITS 40 WITH 65-52 WIN OVER BURLINGTON
Arlington, MA. 1/30/18. It was more than just another mid-season Middlesex League basketball game Tuesday night in Arlington’s Toczylowski Gym. There was a lot at stake
First there were League bragging rights as the leader of the small schools Freedom division, Burlington, came to test their mettle against the big schools Liberty Division leader Arlington.
Although unknown at game time, there was the opportunity for Arlington to stretch their league lead to a full three games given second place Woburn’s loss later that evening at Watertown.
And then there was the matter of the Spy Ponders’ home unbeaten streak.
It was a good night on all fronts for the home fans as powerful Arlington behind a balanced attack and productive all around play from senior Dom Black, junior James Gascoigne and sophomore Bensley Joseph produced the Spy Ponders 40th straight home win, and 12th straight in the league, 65 – 52.
Joseph, who seems to deliver at least one breathtaking play per game, did so again Tuesday night, and it was timely.
Burlington’s junior co-captain Ryan Culhane had just stolen a Spy Ponder pass and was streaking unmolested for what appeared to be the breakaway layup that would cut Arlington’s lead to four with just under six minutes to play. Joseph, sprinting from mid-court, tracked him down, soared well above the rim and smacked the lay-up attempt against the glass.
It was a loud block, and one of those momentum-changing plays that resounded through the gym. The Spy Ponders jumped on it.
Gascoigne, effective around the rim all night, tipped in his own miss.
Then Joseph drove into the middle of the Burlington zone, dropped a no-look bounce pass to Nick Karalis breaking on the baseline, and the junior easily laid it in.
Moments later Karalis picked a Burlington pocket at mid court, hit a trailing Gascoigne with a perfect pass which the junior converted, was fouled and made the free throw to complete a quick 7-0 Arlington run resulting in a 59-46 lead with 2:45 left. Game over.
“Our guys have a lot of game experience,” said Arlington coach John Bowler. “Every team is going to make a run on you. We just played well, kept our composure and pulled away.”
In addition to his block Joseph had 16 points, four steals and four assists, but his biggest contribution may have been on defense.
Burlngton senior co – captain, Mariano Rodriguez had a huge first half scoring 17 of his team’s 26 points. Joseph held him without a point in the second half until there were only seconds left in the contest, and Arlington was up by 16.
Bowler observed, “Rodriguez is one of the best players in the Freedom Division. We knew he would make some shots, but Bensley turned it up in the second half on defense. He competed really well tonight.”
The spectacular sophomore had lots of help. Along with Joseph, Black repeatedly penetrated the middle of the Red Devil zone to find Gascoigne running free on the baseline and helped the junior big man to his 16 points. With 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists Black recorded his third straight double-double.
Senior Ben Wasco joined in the fun with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals.
For Burlington, Rodriguez finished with a game high 20 points while Wong and junior Marvin Jean-Baptiste had 10 and 9 respectively.
Arlington remains unbeaten atop the Middlesex League Liberty Division at 12 – 0 now with three full games in hand over both Belmont and Woburn. Reading (4-7) comes to visit on Friday night at 7.
