With a win on Thursday night vs Danvers, Masco basketball remains undefeated.
The Chieftains started the season with a decisive 40-point win against Peabody to start their NEC campaign 1-0.
After winning the NEC last season, the Chieftains are on pace to do it again by starting undefeated, beating opponents like Peabody, Gloucester, Marblehead, and Danvers.
Gloucester was an easy matchup for the Chieftains as they put up 100 points to sink the Fishermen’s ship. The crowd was roaring with enthusiasm as the Chieftains got a huge win in their home opener. Big performances were added from senior Jamason Vella and junior Thomas Denton, who were both NEC All-Stars last season.
The Chieftains expected a big win against Marblehead, but it was anything but that.
Just like how it was in the fall, this matchup was another nail biter. The Chieftains escaped with a narrow OT win with a final score of 58-55 against a tough Marblehead team.
Senior captain Jimmy Farrell put up a huge 22 points to push the Chieftains towards a 3-0 NEC start.
The boys then went on the road to face the Scarlet Knights of North Andover in a non-conference matchup. This game was expected to be an easy win, but at the end of the first quarter the score was tied at 7-7.
Early into the second quarter, Vella threw down a dunk in transition, which propelled the Chieftains to go on a run and eventually won the game 56-41. Farrell led the team in scoring and led the Chieftains to a 4-0 record, while North Andover fell to a 1-7 record.
Then the Chieftains went back home for another NEC matchup against the Danvers Falcons, who were 4-3 at the time.
The Chieftains got off to another slow start and only led 16-14 at the end of the first.
It looked like it was going to be another nailbiter for the Chieftains, but then they once again went on a run, and the game was done from there.
Masco ended up winning 81-43 in a game that wasn’t very competitive.
“We changed our defensive intensity, and it was easier from there,” said Denton.
Denton put up 28 points and 12 rebounds in an elite-level performance for the NEC All-Star, who was coming off average performances against Marblehead and North Andover.
“I just shot more shots this game, and it was easier for me to get in rhythm,” said Denton.
Unfortunately, Masco lost to the #1 team in Division 2, Saint Mary’s 75-61. However, the game was much closer than the final score showed, with it being tied most of the game.
Masco now has 2 NEC contests this week, one against Saugus tonight, and the #10 team in Division 1 as of January 12, Beverly Panthers, on Friday, January 16.