Windham sinks Scarborough in boys’ varsity basketball

By Matt Pascarella

In just their second game of the season, the Windham High varsity boys’ basketball team held off Scarborough and secured a 49-41 win at home on Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Windham junior Creighty Dickson drives for a basket early
during a boys' varsity basketball game against Scarborough
on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at home.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

“Scarborough is one of the top teams in the south,” said Windham varsity boys’ basketball coach Chad Pulkkinen. “They have really good size ... we knew it was going to be tough, we just had to continue to play our way and wear them down with our defense. I thought [Windham] guys stuck together pretty well; the first half was tight, the second half was even tighter. Our guys prevailed at the end by sticking together, doing things we do every day. Hats off to our team, but that’s a really good team that we beat, and they’re going to have a good year.”

Pulkkinen said Windham did a good job of being patient and waiting for great shots. The team tries to win as a unit. Windham wanted to use their quickness, skill, and decision-making to combat Scarborough’s size. Defense intensity was outstanding as was rebounding. As a team, he said Windham players care for and all play for each other.

It's early in the season but Pulkkinen and the team are working to close the gap on the things that need improvement while continuing to stick together is the biggest thing and in this game the effort was there.

Windham barely wasted seconds when they scored almost immediately into the first quarter. Intensity was high and Windham went after rebounds that added more points to the scoreboard. Windham sophomore AJ Moody hit a three-pointer, his first of three he connected on during the game.

Defense held Scarborough down early as Windham junior Creighty Dickson had a stellar block. Scarborough was unable to score more than seven points in the first quarter.

“We all brought the energy and got good possessions,” said Dickson. “We pushed the pace, we set the tone at the end, and we controlled the game. We got on the glass really well on the offensive side, our movement of the ball was really good, and we finished well. It’s a good win – we got good possessions at the end; we slowed them down and made [Scarborough] shoot tough shots.”

Dickson said finishing around the rim, transition defense and boxing out still need improvement though.

Early in the second quarter the game was tied at 10. This was a fast-paced, close game and midway through, Scarborough led, 23-22.

Early in the second half, Windham senior Quinton Lindsay sunk a three-pointer. The lead continued to go back and forth. Moody then sunk his second three-pointer and Windham led by four points after the third quarter. Windham’s defense held Scarborough to only seven points in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Windham broke open a tight game. Windham sophomore Tyrie James hit two three-pointers, and Moody hit his final three pointer as the Eagles pulled away from Scarborough and made it impossible for them to recover.

“We started off a little flat in the first ... half,” said James. “I feel like at halftime we turned it around; especially in the end the energy we had, with shots going in I think led to the win. We were making extra passes. They were a great shooting team, but I feel like we held them [score-wise] to under what they usually have, we did good rebounding, too.” <