Westwood Basketball Learns from Loss to Millis

The Westwood Wolverines fell victim to the turnover bug Tuesday evening in a 68-56 home loss against Millis.

In a game where Westwood didn’t hold a lead since early in the first quarter, the team committed a season-high, 28 turnovers en route to their second consecutive loss following an opening-night victory.

Controlling the ball is just one aspect of the game that coach Steve St. Martin feels his team still needs to improve on.

“We still have a ways to go," St. Martin said. "With all the turnovers, you’re giving up so many points without even getting a shot. We have to prepare ourselves on how to stay in triple threat and we practice it, but it hasn’t sunk in yet, we don’t have the habits yet.”

After getting off to a quick 7-2 start, the Westwood offense struggled to find its rhythm all game. St. Martin said a lot of that had to do with attacking the basket.

“In transition, we wouldn’t get into the paint, and when they pushed, they would always get into the paint,” he said.

Westwood’s perimeter-based offense earned the team just 10 trips to the line all night, going just 4-10, something St. Martin said played a huge factor in the loss.

“We were either swinging the ball around the perimeter but not really looking in to our big guys or when the wings caught the ball," he said. "They weren’t really looking to penetrate and get to the cup. Again, we’re just not there yet. Guys are not accustomed to that offensive set yet but were working hard and we’ll get there.”

Junior Glenn Parsons provided one of the bright spots for Westwood, contributing on all sides of the ball. He scored 13 points, had six rebounds, two assists, and a steal, and really kept the Wolverines in the game down the stretch.

Parsons contributed five points, three rebounds, a steal and an assist all within a two-minute stretch in the closing minutes of the third quarter in which Westwood went on an 11-0 run, cutting Millis’s largest lead of the night, 19 points, down to eight.

“We talked about this after the game," St. Martin said, "and we know we’re capable of making these runs. But what would be nice is if we can have them at the beginning of the game, instead of being down 15 or 20 points and having to fight all the way back."

St. Martin acknowledged Parsons as well as junior Mike Keane for their hard work throughout and said a number of guys provided positives for the team. Keane finished with eight points, six rebounds, a block and a steal. Eric Tannery also contributed 10 points in the loss.

Westwood looks to bounce to .500 as they host Ashland on Thursday, which is also the last day of classes for Westwood High before Winter break.