Foxboro Boys' Basketball Controls Southeastern in 20-point Win, Hockey Falls to Stoughton

After three game decided by a total of six points, a game that didn't come down to the final possession was probably more than welcomed by the Foxboro Warriors boys’ basketball team. From the start of Foxboro’s 52-32 win over the Southeastern Voc Tech Hawks, momentum was on the Warriors’ side with little doubt who the better team was during the Monday afternoon matinee.

“We know sometimes in these afternoon games whoever has the most energy can sometimes get a jump on the other team so we wanted to come up aggressive and lock them up defensively and hopefully turn the press on them offensively,” Foxboro head coach CJ Neely said.

Jumping out to a 9-0 run in the first five minutes of the game, it took until 1:40 to play in the first quarter for Southeastern to get on the board.

Drives to the basket by Justin Zupanick (16 points) and Cam Seeley (8 points, 11 rebounds) earned layups and free throws for the Warriors while Tim O’Halloran’s (14 points) presence near mid-court led to a steal and layup with 5:05 left in the first.

The lead was extended to nine with three minutes to play in the quarter on a three pointer from the corner from Zupanick. A long three-pointer by Deshon Teixeira put the Hawks on the board and cut the lead to six late in the first quarter.

The three-point shot would be one of the few things working for Southeastern against Foxboro. The Hawks ended up taking just as many outside shots as two-pointers, hitting eight from beyond the arch, six more than their total for two-point shots.

“We weren't allowing (Southeastern) to get dribble penetration into the paint. When we've been at our best we've kept guys out of the paint and off the dribble. We made them shoot over the top and contested shots and I think we did a great job of preventing their slashers from getting in the paint,” Neely said.

The Warriors continued to control the inside game and the pace during the second quarter. Up 21-7, O’Halloran went coast to coast on the inbounds pass for a layup down the open lane with 3:11 left in the half. On the next possession, O’Halloran found Zupanick while driving to the basket to help keep the large lead going into the half.

A brief run by Southeastern consisting of three pointers Teixeira and Micah Fuller-Correia briefly got the lead down to 11 points but a 6-0 Foxboro run including a turnaround jumper from 15 ft. by Zupanick at the buzzer ended the third quarter.

Putting the Hawks away, two big threes from O’Halloran and a late outside shot from Mark Clagg wrapped up the 20 point win.

The Warriors are now off until Dec. 28 when they host Plymouth South.

Foxboro Hockey Falters Against Stoughton

They may have controlled the possession game and only allowed 10 shots on goal, but the Warriors could not find the net in a 2-0 loss to Stoughton.

Foxboro starts the season at 0-1.

After a scoreless first period, Foxboro had opportunities during a flurry of shots late in the second period. One of the Warriors’ best chances came when Nick Luciano went wide with 2:41 in the second period. Luciano was able to recover the rebound for a second attempt but Stoughton’s Paul Sheehan was able to make the glove save.

A hooking call on John Brolin with 5:53 left in the game led to a Stoughton power play goal by Mark Sheehan only seconds later.

“It cost us,” said Foxboro head coach Jim Genovese. “I know it’s our first game but we had three weeks to prepare for this. We just need to do the little things better."

An empty net goal from a turnover in the neutral zone caused by Jon Lessa locked up the Stoughton shutout.

In net, Melissa Almeida had eight saves on nine shots while Sheehan saved 25 shots for Stoughton.