Hopkinton Basketball's Defense Ends Westwood Run

Hopkinton High's basketball team overtook the Westwood Wolverines in the closing minutes of Westwood's Senior Night Friday, 68-62, thanks to the defensive heroics of Hopkinton senior guard Wesley Ericksen.

In a tie game with three minutes remaining, Ericksen capped a 12-2 Hiller run with three steals, all of which led to fast-break layups including one of his own. 

Westwood committed 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter, more than half due to Ericksen’s defensive harassment.

“We’re not used to situations where we are beating a team that’s first in the league,” Westwood coach Steve St. Martin said. “The pressure they brought was the same for the entire game but we struggled in the last few minutes because of the situation.”

Hopkinton’s Jason Dlugolecki sored 14 points, Jake Doucette 13 and Barrett Hanlon nine. Doucette also grabbed eight boards and blocked three shots. 

Hopkinton's Hillers share the conference lead at 14-1. The Wolverines (5-11) rose to the occasion for their last home game of the season, knotting the score at 44 headed into the fourth quarter.

Hopkinton head coach Tom Keane credited the Hillers' late surge solely to Ericksen.

“It was 100 percent due to him,” Keane said. “He’s so quick and he sees the floor so well and he’s been doing this all year for us but it takes a game like this for him to really get noticed.

St. Martin had plenty of praise for his team. “They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them from a leadership standpoints and I just wish they experienced more winning because they deserve it," he said.

Both Hopkinton and Medway have two more games to decide the Tri-Valley League title.  The Hillers face Ashland Tuesday night, Feb. 15, at 6:30 at Hopkinton High and Dover-Sherborn at 6:30 on Friday, Feb. 18, at the high school. Medway plays home games against Norton and Westwood. 

Hopkinton has a final non-league contest with Wellesley on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 6 in the Wellesley High gym, 50 Rice St., Wellesley.

GIRLS ALSO WIN

The Hillers beat the Westwood Wolverines in Hopkinton, 52-38. Junior Victoria Munger had 19; Lindsey Doucette had 12; Tess Chandler had eight points and eight blocked shots. 

The 11-4 girls are tied with Medway for second place in the Tri-Valley League. Their games precede the boys' games next week. They play a tough (12-5) Ashland team Tuesday night, Feb. 15, at 5 at Hopkinton High.

They close out the schedule against Dover-Sherborn at 5 on Friday, Feb. 18, also at the high school. 

Medway's last two games are against Holliston and Norton.

League-leader (15-0) Medfield has three games remaining against Holliston, Millis and Norton.