Lincoln-Sudbury Boys' Basketball Team Wins Thriller Over Waltham

Despite a variety of turnovers, travels and fouls, the boy’s varsity basketball team overcame a 16-point halftime deficit to beat Waltham High School on Dec. 20 in double overtime, 61-56.

The victory marks the Warriors' first win of the season, as well as gains some necessary confidence for the young squad, which squandered three different lead changes in six periods.

“Any win is a good win,” said Patrick Callahan, L-S head coach. “Obviously, we would have liked to have had a cleaner game, [but] we’re a young team, and we’ve got to take care of the basketball.”   

Turnovers, missed shots and fouls dictated a majority of the first half for both squads, but somehow Waltham strung together a 19-4 run to start the second quarter thanks to Michael Gelineau, (27 points, three rebounds), providing the Hawks all the momentum heading into halftime.   

“[This is Michael’s] second year up at the varsity level, and we expect him to do things like that, but we also expect him to go to the backboard and play defense too,” said Joe Cacciatore, Waltham head coach.    

L-S stormed back during the third and fourth quarters, as Sam Casey (20 points, six rebounds, one assist) knocked down two three-pointers, which helped the Warriors force two overtime periods.  

“We just talked at halftime, [and said], they’re not beating us on talent, they’re beating us on turning the ball over,” said Callahan. “So, we came out in the second half saying, ‘this is our house, we’ve got to take care of the basketball and we’ve got to box-out, get back on defense,’ and we [ended up forcing] them to turnover the ball as well.”    

The Hawks regained the lead quickly, as Gelineau knocked down a three-pointer to start overtime, but the Warriors answered with Ben Lawhorn, (10 points, three rebounds, one assist), who completed a three-point play.

Lawhorn continued his late game heroics during the closing seconds of the second overtime, as he knocked down two back-to-back two-pointers, which secured the win for the Warriors.

“Those guys helped me pick it up at the end of the game, [and] they gave me enough energy to finish off strong,” said Lawhorn. “Credit goes to all the teammates, shooting free-throws, being clutch, [and] that’s all we [needed].”

“Ben’s our senior, he’s our captain, he’s our big guy, [and] we’re not that big this year, but he’s our big, power forward, and that last quarter [was] the best we’ve seen him play all year," Callahan said.

The Warriors will return to the court on Friday, Dec. 23 playing host to Newton South, while the Hawks will head home and welcome Concord-Carlisle. Both games are set for 7 p.m.