This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.

Westbrook Boys’ Hoops Puts its First Win in the Books

One year after winning the Shoreline Conference championship and making a state final, the Westbrook boys’ basketball team has had to work hard to find a recipe for success following the graduation of so many great players. Last week, the Knights saw some promise as they secured their first win of the season with a 74-71 overtime victory against Morgan at Westbrook High School on Jan. 26.

Head Coach Jeff Beeman was proud of his team’s performance in gutting out an up-and-down game against the Huskies. The Knights led at various points throughout the night and were up by nine with a little more than a minute to go in the fourth quarter, however, Morgan sank a last-second 3-pointer to send it to overtime. Westbrook trailed in OT, but clawed its way back to victory, bolstered by three players who scored in double digits: senior captain Jack Hayes with 23 points, freshman Jack Naccarato with 21 points, and sophomore Seth Caslin with 17 points.

Coach Beeman saw his team’s offense come together effectively, even while Morgan was hitting its own groove.

“Both teams played beyond where they had played up to that point on the year. We’d only been scoring in the high-30s to mid-40s, and we put up 70. Our offense finally started to click in a little bit. Usually, if you can get three guys in double figures like that, you’re going to win the game,” said Beeman, whose brother Ken is the head coach for Morgan. “To...have to go to OT and go behind, it was some good mental strength there, especially for kids who are 14 or 15. There was an added bounce in their step at practice. It was more enthused and energetic.”

Westbrook led 19-16 after the first quarter and grew that lead to 37-30 at halftime. Morgan closed the lead to 49-45 after three quarters, and the Huskies scored 19 points in the fourth to Westbrook’s 15 to tie the game at 64-64. In overtime, Westbrook trailed by two, but came back in large part due to Hayes going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. Hayes also hauled in nine rebounds and was on with his 3-pointers as he went 4-of-5 from downtown in the victory.

Coach Beeman believes that Hayes is adjusting to becoming one of the go-to scorers on the team. After playing in an offense that had multiple weapons in a diverse attack last year, Hayes is being asked to take on more of the scoring and rebounding responsibilities this season.

“He played on the team who went 25-3 last year, and he was the third or fourth option there, and now he’s our first. That’s a big burden on one guy. We weren’t dependent on one guy last year. His shooting has started to come around,” said Beeman. “He’s morphed into what we need for this team. His entire role has changed drastically from being complementary to being a lead player. The shots don’t come as easily. The defense was keying on the group from last year, and now the scouting reports are pointing out Jack Hayes. Teams know he can shoot if he gets open, and they’re smothering him. We hope to get him those openings again.”

Senior captain Vincent Dyer led the Knights by grabbing 13 rebounds in their win against Morgan. Even though Dyer isn’t a prototypical big man, Coach Beeman said that he’s a great athlete who can hold his own in the paint with guys who have a size advantage.

“Vinny, he’s an undersized post man. He’s super strong and very competitive, and he rebounds like a mad man,” Beeman said. “Sometimes he’s over-matched on size, but he does everything we ask him to.”

Westbrook also received strong support from its bench in the victory. In addition to his 21 points, Naccarato supplied four assists coming off the bench. Fellow freshman Brenden Engels dished out five assists for the Knights.

Coach Beeman feels encouraged to see his athletes working together to function better as a unit and move the ball to get the best shot possible. It’s the philosophy that his coaching staff has preached all season, and they saw it come to pass versus Morgan.

“Our offense is about teaching concepts. We don’t run specific plays. We teach to pass, screen, cut, and go back door. We’re constantly reading defenses and spacing the court and learning how to be patient,” said Beeman. “We are convincing the guys that the ball movement and waiting for the great shot is a better formula. If they go on to the next level or go on to play in a men’s league, they can play in any system that a coach throws at them.”

As the final month of the regular season approaches, Coach Beeman is looking to keep his team focused and ready to compete. With their first win out of the way, the Knights are hungry for the next one.

“It took us a while to figure out a formula to help this team see success. There are still seven games left,” said Beeman. “We’ll be hard-pressed to get to the State Tournament, but we aren’t giving up. We want to win seven more basketball games.”

• The Westbrook boys’ basketball team’s roster includes senior captains Jack Hayes and Vincent Dyer; seniors Binak Cecunjanin, Jason Cordon, Eric Jayne, and Jake Marciniec; juniors Cameron Marshall, David McCain, Daniel Perreault, Kyle Robison, and Benjamin Schreck; sophomore Seth Caslin; and freshmen Brenden Engels and Jack Naccarato.

• Head Coach Jeff Beeman’s coaching staff consists of assistant coach Jordan Bean, freshman coach Dan Shapiro, and volunteer assistant Torin Wood.

• Prior to defeating Morgan, Westbrook took a 74-42 home loss against Valley Regional on Jan. 25.

• The Knights’ schedule for rest of the season will include matchups against Creed (Friday, Feb. 2), Hale-Ray (Tuesday, Feb. 6), Portland (Friday, Feb. 9), East Hampton (Tuesday, Feb. 13), Old Lyme (Friday, Feb. 16), and Old Saybrook (Monday, Feb. 19).