Senior forward Aidan Rock scored 22 points as the Westport basketball team outlasted Fairhaven, 56-50, in a thrilling non-league game in front of their home fans in the new Westport Junior/Senior High School gymnasium on Friday night. The Wildcats are now 2-0 after walloping Atlantis Charter School 79-37 on Friday Dec., 10. 

“This is the most balanced and selfless team that we have had,” said senior co-captain Dom Vitorino. “We are a hard fighting team. That’s why we are going to be so tough to beat this year.”

Westport dominated early 

The Wildcats dominated the Blue Devils for the first three quarters with their relentless pursuit of the basketball and led, 43-25, before the Wildcats took their foot off the gas. Fairhaven came storming back to cut the lead to, 47-44, with 1:58 to play.

“It was a good overall game,” said Wildcats head coach Scot Boudria. “I thought that every single player that played tonight played real hard and I’m real happy with the win.” 

“Give Fairhaven credit,” he said. “Their coach, Jason Antonio, kept his guys focused. They kept working hard. They were making buckets (in the fourth quarter).” 

Last season, Coach Boudria’s Wildcats beat a good West Bridgewater team, 70-52, to win the Mayflower Athletic Conference championship. Donjae Raiche, Aidan Viveiros, Luke Parker and Max Powers all graduated. Top scorers Rock, Vitorino and junior guard Hunter Brodeur are all back and started the Fairhaven game with Coach Boudria’s sons, Ben, a junior guard and Owen, a freshman guard. 

“I’m really trying to enjoy this season,” said Coach Boudria. “My two sons are the two starters that have to step up and take that role that the seniors left behind. It’s my kids and their friends. They have grown a lot. I don’t have to teach them many things at this point. They know what I want them to do.”

 The Wildcats frenetic press defenses collapsed on the Blue Devils and created turnovers that led to points. Brodeur capitalized and scored 10 of his 16 points off the trap in the first quarter. Rock added 9 points by driving the lane, putting back rebounds and hitting a big three. When Fairhaven did get through the trap created by Brodeur and the Boudrias, Vitorino, a defensive standout and rebounding machine, would make the stop along with Rock. Westport led 31-17 at the half and pushed the lead to 18 points after three quarters. 

The Wildcats brotherhood

The Wildcats have a standard of play that is personified by their captains, Vitorino and Rock. The seniors have been brought up through the Westport basketball program. 

“Coach has been like a second father to me,” said Rock. “He doesn’t take it easy on us and that’s what I love about him.” 

“I see my teammates as my brothers,” Rock said. “Coach will always tells us to treat our teammates like a brotherhood. It all starts on the basketball court. We have all grown up together. We know how each other plays. Any one of us can go off for 20 points on any given night and we know that. But we are going to play and stay humble.” 

Fairhaven storms back

“They came out in the fourth and they had fight,” said Vitorino. “We kind of let off the gas a little bit. We were starting to play a little selfish.” 

The Blue Devils began their comeback immediately and scored 13 straight points in the fourth quarter to close to 43-38 with 4:01 to go. Fairhaven guard Caden Letendre scored 8 of his 11 points in the fourth. Isaac Petruski added 6 of his 8 points. 

Rock hit two free throws to put the Wildcats back up by five, 45-38 with 3:47 left in the game. Again the Blue Devils cut the lead to three, 47-44. 

Rock answered back with a huge three-point bomb from the left corner of the arch to give Westport a, 50-44, lead with 1:28 to play. The Wildcats bench, led by soccer team captain John Letendre and the Westport fans erupted. 

But Fairhaven still wouldn’t quit. Rock dribbling out by the three point line, drove the lane, but was met by Caden Letendre and Tyler Chang. He faked, elevated and let go a jumper. Swish, the lead was 52-46, with 53 seconds to play. The frantic Blue Devils cut the lead to four once again, 52-48, with 39 seconds to play. 

Brodeur sank a right-handed jumper to make it, 54-48, with 12 seconds left. 

Fairhaven center Jack Cunha launched a desperation jumper and Brodeur reached in from behind missed the ball and smacked him on the head to foul out of the game. 

Cunha hit both foul shots, 54-50. 

Ben Boudria inbounded the ball to Vitorino and Fairhaven fouled him with 4 seconds left. The co-captain made both free shots to ice the game, 56-50. 

New tournament, same motto

With the new state tournament in the Wildcat’s sights, Coach Boudria is taking it one game at a time. 

“I’m expecting us to get better every game. That’s my only expectation. Get better every game and see what happens.” 

His captains agree. “This year, we are just looking at the next practice,” said Rock. “Honestly. We’re going to be here at 8 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday morning) running sprints working on our stamina. There’s no breaks for us.” 

They won’t stop. Till it’s over. It’s going to be a helluva season. 

Scoring:

Aidan Rock scored 22 points, Hunter Brodeur scored 16, Owen Boudria scored 8, Domanick Vitorino scored 8, and Ben Boudria scored 2.