Anna 
Westwood Boys Basketball Extends Win Streak to 7 with 40-Point Victory over Escanaba
Westwood’s boys basketball team extended their win streak to seven games, defeating Escanaba by 40 points. With the win, the Patriots improved to 10-3 on the season and continued to build momentum in the second half of the year.
This week, Westwood was ranked No. 3 in the Upper Peninsula Divisions 1-3 rankings, as voted by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
“Our defense plays a big role in our success,” said head coach Luke Gray. “In the first half, our defense wasn’t sharp. We had breakdowns and miscommunications, so we focused on fixing that during halftime. I thought we did a great job in the second half.”
The game began with a back-and-forth exchange. Escanaba’s Javon Stevenson scored the first basket, but Westwood quickly responded with layups from Aaron Pizziola and Reid Frustaglio to take an early lead. Escanaba briefly led 9-8 thanks to strong play from Stevenson, but the Patriots regained control.
A timeout late in the first quarter helped Westwood reset, and they finished the period on a run, capped by a 3-pointer from Ethan Marta to lead 19-11.
Westwood carried that momentum into the second quarter, with Marta continuing to lead the offense with key shots and assists. The Patriots’ defense began to dominate, forcing turnovers and limiting Escanaba’s scoring opportunities.
At halftime, Westwood had built a 34-21 lead, with Frustaglio making several key plays, including a tough turnaround layup in heavy traffic.
In the third quarter, Westwood completely took over, holding Escanaba to just four points while adding to their own total. Marta opened the half with two quick layups, part of an 11-0 run that put the Patriots ahead 44-21.
Escanaba struggled to find rhythm in the second half, with Stevenson scoring the Eskymos’ first points of the quarter well into the period. Meanwhile, Pizziola and Damien Grondz contributed to the offensive effort, and Westwood entered the final quarter with a commanding 59-25 lead.
With a running clock in the fourth, Westwood continued to dominate at both ends of the court. Marta finished off his strong night with another quick basket, while Stevenson added a few late points for Escanaba. The Eskymos managed just eight points in the second half and have now lost five straight games.
Westwood will face a tough opponent on Friday at Divisions 1-3 No. 5 Negaunee (8-2) at 7:30 p.m. in the second half of a girls-boys varsity doubleheader.
In their previous meeting, Negaunee won 77-76 after two overtimes in West Ishpeming. Gray stressed the importance of staying focused on defense as the team prepares for the rematch.
“We have a competitive group of kids who work hard,” Gray said. “We know we need to be strong defensively. Last time, we gave them a big lead, and it’s hard to come back from that. We need a quick start and to keep focusing on our individual defensive principles.”
Related Topics
- How Long Does It Take to Learn Basketball
- Can a Basketball Rim Fit 2 Basketballs
- How Many Players Do Play in Basketball