John McDonough Head Boys Basketball Coach

1. FridayFriday
Posted Feb 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 27, 2009 at 2:52 AM
By Dick Roche
It's not often in a high school basketball tournament game that a team scores only two field goals in
the final 12 minutes and still wins.
Fortunately for the West Bridgewater boys basketball team, the Wildcats were able to do just that,
thanks to their strong defense throughout most of their 55-45 Div. 4 South Sectional opening win
over Provincetown Thursday night.
West Bridgewater will next travel to top-seeded Westport Saturday at noon to try to knock off the
team that has already beaten them twice this season.
"This was a nice win for these kids," said Wildcats coach Cully Ohlson. "A win is a win. We played
very well defensively for three quarters.
"The third quarter, we sort of had a letdown at the defensive end because Provincetown played
helter-skelter, which they do, and we got caught up in that.
West Bridgewater boys turn back Provincetown inWest Bridgewater boys turn back Provincetown in
sectional debutsectional debut

2. "Once we got our composure back and understood what they were trying to do, we were all right
and got the game back under control."
The Wildcats took a 33-16 lead into the second half, but the Fishermen used a tough press and hot
shooting by Zach Tobias, who had 14 points -- including 12 in the second half, to cut the deficit to
10 points with 10 seconds left in the quarter.
Garrett Merkin stepped up for the Wildcats as the senior nailed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer
for a 46-33 lead entering the final eight minutes.
Merkin (18 points) had 11 of his team's 13 points in the third quarter.
"Game in and game out, he's been our leading scorer," said Ohlson. "He's a streaky kid. When he
gets it going like he did in the third quarter tonight, he's really something to watch."
The Fishermen cut the deficit to nine points with a pair of quick baskets, but a pair of free throws
by Ryan Webby (13 points) stopped the run.
The Wildcats' only basket of the fourth quarter came with 2:08 left when center Austin Pike (nine
rebounds) scored his only points of the game on a nice pass under the basket by Webby for an
uncontested layup and a 50-39 lead.
"Pike did very well, even though he didn't score," said Ohlson. "When Shane (Fencer) got in foul
trouble, we moved him to their top scorer and he only got two points in the fourth quarter.

3. "His asset is getting the rebounds at both ends of the court and that's what he did tonight. He's a
senior who hasn't played since his freshman year, but when he's playing like he did tonight, he's a
big part of the team. He understands his role, goes out and gets the job done."
The Wildcats then hit five free throws for a 55-39 lead, but a pair of 3-pointers by David Soares in
the final seconds made the score respectable.
Fencer, who sat out the fourth quarter with four fouls, was the story in the first half as the
Wildcats built a 33-16 advantage.
Fencer, a senior, scored 17 of his game-high 19 points before the intermission.
"Shane did a nice job," said Ohlson. "That kids a tough match up for anyone. He can score with
anybody. Shane had a great game at both ends of the court."
Although they didn't show up on the stat sheet, Evan Norville and DJ Jamieson came off the bench
to give the Wildcats some quality defensive play when the starters got into foul trouble.
"That wouldn't have happened in the early part of the season," said Ohlson. "Evan and DJ have
really come on this season to give us quality minutes with the game on the line. They did that again
tonight and had a big impact on the game."
West Bridgewater boys turn back Provincetown inWest Bridgewater boys turn back Provincetown in

4. FridayFriday
Posted Feb 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 27, 2009 at 2:52 AM
By Dick Roche
It's not often in a high school basketball tournament game that a team scores only two field goals in
the final 12 minutes and still wins.
Fortunately for the West Bridgewater boys basketball team, the Wildcats were able to do just that,
thanks to their strong defense throughout most of their 55-45 Div. 4 South Sectional opening win
over Provincetown Thursday night.
West Bridgewater will next travel to top-seeded Westport Saturday at noon to try to knock off the
team that has already beaten them twice this season.
"This was a nice win for these kids," said Wildcats coach Cully Ohlson. "A win is a win. We played
very well defensively for three quarters.
"The third quarter, we sort of had a letdown at the defensive end because Provincetown played
helter-skelter, which they do, and we got caught up in that.
"Once we got our composure back and understood what they were trying to do, we were all right
and got the game back under control."
sectional debutsectional debut

5. The Wildcats took a 33-16 lead into the second half, but the Fishermen used a tough press and hot
shooting by Zach Tobias, who had 14 points -- including 12 in the second half, to cut the deficit to
10 points with 10 seconds left in the quarter.
Garrett Merkin stepped up for the Wildcats as the senior nailed a 3-pointer just before the buzzer
for a 46-33 lead entering the final eight minutes.
Merkin (18 points) had 11 of his team's 13 points in the third quarter.
"Game in and game out, he's been our leading scorer," said Ohlson. "He's a streaky kid. When he
gets it going like he did in the third quarter tonight, he's really something to watch."
The Fishermen cut the deficit to nine points with a pair of quick baskets, but a pair of free throws
by Ryan Webby (13 points) stopped the run.
The Wildcats' only basket of the fourth quarter came with 2:08 left when center Austin Pike (nine
rebounds) scored his only points of the game on a nice pass under the basket by Webby for an
uncontested layup and a 50-39 lead.
"Pike did very well, even though he didn't score," said Ohlson. "When Shane (Fencer) got in foul
trouble, we moved him to their top scorer and he only got two points in the fourth quarter.
"His asset is getting the rebounds at both ends of the court and that's what he did tonight. He's a
senior who hasn't played since his freshman year, but when he's playing like he did tonight, he's a
big part of the team. He understands his role, goes out and gets the job done."

6. The Wildcats then hit five free throws for a 55-39 lead, but a pair of 3-pointers by David Soares in
the final seconds made the score respectable.
Fencer, who sat out the fourth quarter with four fouls, was the story in the first half as the
Wildcats built a 33-16 advantage.
Fencer, a senior, scored 17 of his game-high 19 points before the intermission.
"Shane did a nice job," said Ohlson. "That kids a tough match up for anyone. He can score with
anybody. Shane had a great game at both ends of the court."
Although they didn't show up on the stat sheet, Evan Norville and DJ Jamieson came off the bench
to give the Wildcats some quality defensive play when the starters got into foul trouble.
"That wouldn't have happened in the early part of the season," said Ohlson. "Evan and DJ have
really come on this season to give us quality minutes with the game on the line. They did that again
tonight and had a big impact on the game."