The Westport basketball team, coming off a glorious ride to the final four last March, is starting over after losing star player Owen Boudria and a handful of seniors. Left are Dane Leary, Will DeJesus and Cole Boudria from last season’s squad to shoulder the load of a difficult season ahead as the Wildcats move up to Division 4. Cole Boudria, a terrific 3-point shooter and point guard, sustained an injury in the Wildcats second game and will be out much of the first half of the season. 

“We’re playing a more competitive schedule this season,” said Wildcats head coach Scot Boudria. “You play the game; you get challenged and you see what happens. And you try to get better every game and that’s what we are going to do.”

The Wildcats fell to Carver 80-46 during a non-league home game on Wednesday night. Despite their 0-3 record, the Wildcats still bring the toughness, camaraderie and enthusiasm that is the trademark of a Scot Boudria-coached team. 

Westport trailed 19-13 after the first quarter and just 23-20 at half-time, before Carver took control of the game and scored 29 points in the third quarter. 

Leary, a junior, scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half as Westport attempted to narrow the deficit. DeJesus netted 13 points, Jackson Chase scored 10, Elijah DaCosta scored 6, Elijah McGonigle scored 4, Kasen Cordeiro scored 2 and Cameron Wilkinson added a foul shot. 

“The junior class is the core of the team,” said Coach Boudria. “I’ve been coaching them they were in sixth grade. They know the system pretty well. But that doesn’t mean that you’re used to the competitiveness that our schedule is going to bring us. It’s going to be a very big adjustment.” 

The Wildcats host Durfee on Friday, 12/19 and travel to Southeastern on Monday, 12/22 before the Christmas break. 

Both games tip off at 6:30 p.m.