MHS Boys Hoops Makes State Tourney
1st State Tourney Bid Since 1999 for Mustangs
Video by Allison Goldsberry, Medford Public Schools.
– Allison Goldsberry
After splitting a series of home games last week with two wins and two losses, the varsity boys basketball team qualified for the state tournament with a win over Winchester on Saturday.
Medford bounced back from a tough 1-point loss to Malden on Friday night to put away Winchester on Saturday, 58-46. Senior captain Andrew White earned a team-high twenty points. Senior Ronnie Pitterson chipped in with three 3-pointers in the second quarter to provide the Mustangs with a comfortable 30-21 lead. Head Coach Anthony Faradie also credited point guard Kadeem Smith for “big play” for “getting people open shots and taking care of the ball.” Adam Smith punched up the Mustangs’ offense and “did a good job on the boards coming off the bench,” said Coach Faradie.
The victory over Winchester clinched a state tourney berth for Medford, who has not qualified since 1999, when White’s older brother David, now an assistant coach, was a star player for the team.
The Mustangs are 10-6 overall and 4-4 in the Greater Boston League, good enough for second place in the GBL behind 13-2 Cambridge (7-1 GBL).
Next up for Medford is a trip to Xaverian on Thursday, February 11 for a make-up game. The Mustangs then head to Malden Catholic on Friday, February 12, host Billerica on Monday, February 15, and wrap up the season on Wednesday, February 17 at Winchester.
Tournament brackets should be announced some time in the next few days.
Congratulations to Coach Faradie and the MHS Boys Basketball Team. It appears that the damage done during the Zampell/Mugar years has been repaired and the Mustangs are back to where they should be. Congratulations also to Bob Maloney, who has found a way to install the right coaches in the MHS Sports Programs, and not be bullied into hiring cronies of the Medford Political Administration. Winning is what Student/Athletes look for when they decide whether to stay at MHS or attend a nearby Private School. Congratulations once again.