Wayland Boys' Basketball Narrowly Beaten By Concord-Carlisle

Wayland High School’s boys’ basketball team recently won the Dual County League Championship over second-place earners Concord-Carlisle High School, but Tuesday night the Warriors fell on the road, 58-50, with the Patriots taking their win over January’s loss at Wayland.

“I thought the effort was really good,” said Wayland coach Dennis Doherty. “The problem was we didn’t get off to a great start and we didn’t finish very well. And that’s a really good team that we played. We were fortunate enough to beat them back at home in January, but you have to play hard and execute very well for 32 minutes.”

It was a one possession game with 1:43 remaining in the fourth, with Concord-Carlisle leading 53-50. But the Patriots didn’t sit on their slight lead, as they quickly increased the score to 55-50. With 27.8 remaining, Wayland (14-4) junior Tyler Mordas fouled out, giving the Patriots a 3-point play with the basket and a foul shot.

C-C up 58-50, Henry Bumpus (game-high 18 points) held the ball down court as the Warriors tried to grab it. They did get the ball back with mere seconds on the clock, but the Patriots’ defense kept Wayland from scoring and secured the win.

Bobby Lania and Brima Rogers (15 points) started the game off right for the Patriots. Lania sank a couple early 3-pointers halfway through the first, and Rogers made a few baskets and numerous assists. Both contributed to Concord-Carlisle’s 20-8 domination at the end of the first quarter.

But its large lead dwindled as Wayland went on a 10-0 run to bring the game closer at 21-18 midway through the second quarter.

Rogers wasn’t having it, as he netted a 3-pointer at 3:24. But, not to be outdone, Wayland senior co-captain Tim Hanifin fought back with a 3 of his own a few baskets later, tying the game 25-25.

Rogers netted another 3-pointer at 1:23. The Patriots were winning by one basket, 30-27, going into halftime.

“This is a very resilient group,” said Doherty. “And (going into halftime) I just told them (that) it starts at the defensive end and we just have to be a little more patient offensively.”

At the start of the third, Wayland sophomore Jeleel Bell ramped up his play as he grabbed a steal and then a basket and a foul from Patriot Dana Hynes. But Lania wasn’t going to be outdone either. He netted a 3 and followed up with a basket, grabbing the assist from Rogers who slung the ball down the court.

Bumpus then added four points to Concord-Carlisle’s lead and Edwin Delva put up two foul shots with 5.4 remaining in the third.

Bell was fouled with 2.9 left. He scored the basket and a foul shot, inching the Warriors closer. The third ended with the Warriors down by only one at 43-44.

At 7:33 in the final quarter, Bell made his second steal of the night, forcing his body on the attack. The ball went out of bounds, but it was off the Patriots. The Warriors pushed ahead 45-44 with a basket, earning their first lead – but only for a minute.

Bumpus put Concord-Carlisle back on top at 48-45. Then ahead 50-48, Bumpus added another 3-pointer with just 3:50 left.

Bell made two points from Delva’s foul, making it, yet again, a one possession game at 50-53 with 1:43 left. But Wayland wasn’t able to score for the remainder and the Patriots won.

“We were right there, right there until the end,” Doherty said. “A couple shots didn’t fall and we had (minor errors) defensively, but it was a good effort. This is a resilient group but we have to get back to practice tomorrow and we have to get better, we have to improve.”

Wayland senior co-captain Ben Shelton had a team-high 17 points.

Next up, Wayland plays Fenway High School on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

“We have a very good chance at ending the season 15-5,” continued Doherty. “And frankly, there were a lot of people out there that didn’t think this team would go 5-15, so I’m proud of this group. But we’re going to get back to work tomorrow and keep working hard.”

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