In the final boys’ basketball games of 2022, Windham’s boys’ basketball first team, junior varsity and varsity squads fell to Oxford Hills at home on Saturday, Dec. 31.
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| Windham junior Quinton Lindsay rushes by two defenders before passing the ball during a varsity boys' basketball game against Oxford Hills at Windham on Saturday, Dec. 31. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
Varsity
Windham was ahead at the end of the first quarter. Oxford Hills tied the game at 13. Windham sunk a couple of three pointers and led 27-26 at the half.
Windham junior Quinton Lindsay said in the first half, they got a lot of steals which resulted in turnovers and easy, open baskets with good passes. He said in the second half they were trying to keep the lead but weren’t going for the win.
Even though Windham sunk several three-pointers in the second half, Oxford Hills pulled ahead as the clock wound down. There was no time for Windham to make up the difference.
“Oxford Hills is one of the top teams in the state,” said Windham varsity boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen. “We talked about controlling the basketball and didn’t do a great job of that, but our guys fought hard. They stuck together ... the ball didn’t move as well in the second half.”
Pulkkinen said they played hard and bothered Oxford Hills’s two best players. Windham took charge and when they moved the ball, they got good shots. Windham is trying to figure it out and making progress every day.
Junior Varsity
Oxford Hills jumped to an early lead. Windham grabbed several rebounds but was getting beat to the ball. Windham made some headway. At the half, Oxford Hills led 36-31.
Oxford Hills’ lead grew in the second half. Windham sunk a couple three-pointers. With 36 seconds left, eight points separated the teams. Then with 15 seconds left, Windham trailed by two.
“We are inconsistent with our effort,” said Windham JV boys’ basketball coach Geoff Grigsby. “We know Oxford Hills is going to play with amazing effort ... you can’t wait to play with effort.”
Grigsby said your body and brain have to both be engaged and ready to apply effort; Windham was just not engaged all the time. That’s what they have to work on.
Windham sophomore Braycen Freece said they came back from a big deficit to play their game at the end, but it was too little, too late. Windham lacked energy in the beginning. Freece said they should play a lot better than that. They did force turnovers at the end and hit three-pointers.
First Team
“This group is young; they’re learning how to play together, how to win together,” said Windham first team coach Noah Estey. “We came out with really good intensity ... we’re just trying to figure things out; we got better on the defensive end ... we’ll get there, it’s early in the season.”
Windham moved the ball well but gave up a lot of turnovers in the first quarter. Windham trailed by one point after one quarter.
In the second quarter Oxford Hills expanded their lead, but Windham continued to fight for the ball and had a few turnovers go their way. Windham defense did stop a few Oxford Hills baskets. Oxford Hills led 32-14 midway through.
In the second half, Windham snagged rebounds, but Oxford Hills held onto their lead. Windham had caught up a little, but still trailed by 16 after three quarters. They continued to work hard, but shots weren’t falling.
Windham freshman Devin Zachary said Windham ran their offense well, had stretches of intensity on defense and the bench was very engaged. <
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