Danvers Drops Home Opener to Winthrop, 63-50

Coming off a 3-17 season last year and a 0-3 start to this season, the Danvers Falcons boys' basketball team took to the floor at home Tuesday night hoping to turn things around. Despite hard play for all 32 minutes, the Falcons came up short, bowing to Winthrop, 63-50.

The Vikings came out hard and fast: junior forward Joe D'Amore  was red hot as he scored the Vikings' first 10 points, giving them an eight-point lead in the first three minutes of the game. After a quick time out by acting head coach Mark Garrity, the Falcons began to fight their way back.

What Danvers lacked in shooting they tried to make up in defense and hustle. Slowly, junior center George Merry began to take control of the defensive boards. As the first quarter neared the end, Danvers was able to able to hit back-to-back threes by co-captains Sean Mahegan and Cormick Powers, respectively. As a result, Danvers led 16-15, at the end of one.

Both teams took the intensity up a notch right from the start of the second quarter. Winthrop had an edge in the shooting department, with three to four players who could hit threes. Despite increased defensive pressure from the Falcons, Winthrop was able to go on a 10-2 run, early in the quarter.

Once again Danvers clawed its way back. Fueled by a trio of 3-pointers by Mike Scarfo, Nick Bates and Powers, Danvers was able to knot it up at 31 with just a minute-and-a-half to go. After trading baskets and a foul shot for Winthrop, the Falcons found themselves trailing, 34-33 at the half.

The second half saw a familiar pattern begin to take form. Winthrop would get a 4- to 6-point lead, only to find Danvers hustle its way back to within a point.

Winthrop was forced to take its second time out in three minutes after a Powers layup cut the Vikings' lead to 44-40. From there, Winthrop slowly but surely built its lead. A combination of threes and tough defense allowed Winthrop to gain a little breathing room, leading 52-42 at the end of three.

The beginning of the fourth quarter saw the Danvers Falcons lose a little of their focus and it cost them, as the Vikings built an 11-point lead in the first four minutes. Despite great hustle and pressure defense, the Falcons found themselves unable to come back again. As the fourth quarter slipped away, they were forced to take more and more chances, which left them vulnerable to a few easy Winthrop baskets.

In the end, it was closer than the 63-50 score would indicate. If not for a missed shot close to the basket here, a turnover there followed by a missed rebound, the outcome of the game may have been much different.

Danvers was led in scoring by Powers with 12 points, followed by Bates with 11 and Eric Martin with 10 points. While disappointed with the loss, Garrity was pleased with his team's hustle.

"We played a great first half. Unfortunately, we were not able to sustain that in the second half. We left their shooter open too often, which cost us the game. That has been the situation in the first three games, one good half and one not so good. We just have to learn to put the two together," he said.

Garrity, who is taking over head coaching duties while John Walsh serves a two-week suspension until Jan. 3, said he was pleased with the boys' progress he has seen thus far in the early part of the season. Next up is Swampscott on Thursday night (7) at home.