Sports: Starters Push Belmont Past Reading to Take League Lead

January 18, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont Joe Shaughnessy dunks the ball against Reading.

Three starters scored 61 of Belmont High’s 76 points as the Marauders’ climbed to the top of the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division with a hard fought 76-71 victory over the visiting Reading Memorial High Rockets in a battle for first place Friday night, Jan. 15 at the Wenner.

Seniors Matt Kerans (21 points) and Joe Shaughnessy (20 points) joined junior Paul Ramsey (20 points) to power the Marauders offense as its five starters played the majority of the game.

“Sometimes that happens. I didn’t feel that anyone was in jeopardy of fouling out, our defense was pretty good and everyone was making good decisions and most of all, they were playing together,” said Belmont’s long time head coach Adam Pritchard whose team currently stands 8-3 overall and 6-1 in league play.

“It’s a great goal,” said Pritchard on leading the league nearing mid-season. “This is this group’s chance to set their mark and it’s something that we will be working for.”

Belmont came fast out of the gate, jumping to a 14-5 lead as the Marauders took advantage of its height advantage to get inside and score from in close. Ramsey was able to make three baskets inside along with a free throw in the first.

“Everyone on this team knows what Paul has done for us. He’s just an incredible rebounder and takes the tough defensive assignments,” said Pritchard.

But before you could say “Jared Thorpe-Johnson,” the Rocket’s senior forward hit a bucket and a three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in the period to finish off a 11-2 run and tie the score at 16 (with Thorpe-Johnson accounting for 12) after one-quarter.

The second quarter saw the shoe on the other foot as Reading out hustled Belmont to a 23-19 lead. But in this game of momentum changes, the Marauders stepped up their defense and fast break to pull off a 9-0 run to lead 28-23 midway through the quarter.

Back came the Rockets and the lead see-sawed between the squads before being knotted up at 34 at the half.

The second half saw Belmont exploit the height advantage of having senior forwards Justin Wagner (7 points) and Shaughnessy down low.

“I think tonight [Shaughnessy] showed what he can do with his back to the basket. He is one of the best post-up players in the league,” said Pritchard.

As Reading backed in to stop the pass inside, that left Kerans free to hit a three-pointer at the five-minute mark to give Belmont a 40-39 lead. On the next possession, Kerans found a wide open Shaughnessy to the right of the basket who proceeded to dunk the ball, bringing the Belmont fans to their feet.

Reading – who had four players in double figures for points – would not go away as they were able to convert several second chance opportunities, including three consecutive three-point baskets (a pair from guard Carl Gillies (10 points)) early in the fourth quarter, to cut the lead to 64-62 with 4:40 left in the game.

But it was Belmont’s other big man who defused the Rockets as Wagner took a Shaughnessy (10 points on three baskets and 4-4 from the line in the 4th quarter) pass as he was cutting to the basket to make the two-point basket and head for the line for after being hacked underneath to give Belmont a five-point advantage.

After a Thorpe-Johnson (a game-high 27 points) layup cut the lead to three (70-67), Wagner tipped in an offensive rebound as the 30-second clock expired to up the Marauders’ lead back to five points. Belmont would hit three of their four final free throws for the win.

On Sunday, Pizzi Starts Her Adventure of a Lifetime … All In One Week

January 17, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker 1 Comment

Photo: Becca Pizzi with Belmont Saving’s CEO Bob Mahoney.

Just reading about Becca Pizzi’s typical day for the past year is exhausting.

The 35-year-old lifelong Belmont resident gets up before the sun comes up to run more miles in one morning than most people do in a week, gets her daughter ready for school, manages a child-care business, then heads over to run Moozy’s Ice Cream shop on Trapelo Road, be back for her daughter, goes back to complete work, before heading off for a quick hour of CrossFit or some other exhausting hardcore exercise program. Then back home for some down time with her daughter before popping off to bed.

It would not stretch one’s imagination to know the 1996 Belmont High grad is seen at the starting line of the Boston Marathon (3 hours, 25 minute PR) and other road races, running in the top ten percent of not just the women’s field but among men in the races.

But the challenge facing her in the next week is one that is more daunting than any other athletic accomplishment on her resume. It begins today, Sunday, Jan. 17 with a long-distance flight to Chile where Pizzi joins 11 men and three women traveling 32,000 miles in 70 hours and running 183 miles in a week participating in the second World Marathon Challenge.

Pizzi is attempting to be the first American woman to complete the around-the-world course. “This by far the toughest test I’ve ever put myself through,” said Pizzi at a public send-off at the Belmont Savings Bank’s headquarters in Belmont Center.

“This by far the toughest test I’ve ever put myself through,” said Pizzi at a public send-off at the Belmont Savings Bank’s headquarters in Belmont Center on Thursday, Jan. 14.

“But I’m looking forward to this test of endurance and strength and representing [Belmont],” she said

At the celebration which included ice cream (from Moozy’s, of course) and autograph posters of Pizzi, who spoke to half a dozen media outlets and a steady stream of admirers and family who came to wish her well.

“It was just seemed like an amazing confluence of events,” said Robert Mahoney, CEO and president of Belmont Savings Bank. “We have a customer who is a mom and a neighbor who is going to run for a while, for seven days. Oh, and did I mention the seven continents and run 26 miles each day.”

“And that struck me as an extraordinary event that we should somehow celebrate and make it an even better event,” said Mahoney, presenting Pizzi a $1,000 check made out to the Belmont Food Pantry, the local anti-hunger non-profit Pizzi asked to receive the funds.

When Pizzi returns, the bank will sponsor a welcome home celebration and a student/parent lecture by Pizzi on the importance of goals and endurance.

On Jan. 23, 2016, Pizzi will be in Union Glacier, Antarctica, to run the first of seven marathons on consecutive days. After running with spikes on her shoes in zero degree temperatures (that’s if it’s a “nice day” said Pizzi), she’ll be on her way to:

Punta Arenas, Chile;
Miami;
Madrid;
Marrakech, Morocco;
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and finally
Sydney.

“The best way to describe it as ‘eat, sleep, run, fly, repeat’,” she said.

You can follow Pizzi’s trek around the world by going to the Belmont Savings Bank web page.

Daughter of Susan and Fred Pizzi (the long-time owner of Lawndale Realty that recently merged with Century 21) heard of the challenge just over a year ago before the inaugural race took place.

“The moment I heard about it, I knew I wanted to do this, I had to do this,” said Pizzi.

The first concern was finding sponsors to foot the $39,000 entry fee that includes all air flights, lodging, supplies and a support staff to help the runners. Her three major sponsors are the Lyon-Waush Auto Group, Dr. Cool and Ultima Replenisher while LuluLemon and Swift Socks are apparel suppliers.

But this is no cake walk even for someone as physically strong as Pizzi. Even the event’s website warned participants of “marathon fatigue, jet lag, and sleep deprivation as the event progress.” In addition, there will be changeable environments from brutally cold in Antarctica to the desert heat of Dubai.

Pizzi has been putting herself through the extended training regiment “because I know I’m going to be running on tired legs and I just have to get used to it.” She is aiming to finish each marathon in approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Pizzi said she’ll have the company of the three women competitors, who all happen to be mothers. The other women have an advantage in the event’s first race as each has participated and two have won marathons held on Antarctica or the North Pole.

The worst part? Being away from her daughter, who she will Skype each day.

So why put yourself through all this?

“I’m doing this to inspire the world that you can do anything that you put your mind to,” she said.

Calling Card: Sophomore Ties Record For Threes as Belmont Downs Sachems

January 14, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker 1 Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Jenny Call (right) for three.

You can start calling the three-pointer Jenny Call’s “calling card.” The Belmont High School sophomore forward tied a decade old record for three-point baskets in a game with six as the Marauders returned to its winning ways (5-2) with a 64-40 victory at Winchester High, Tuesday, Jan. 11.

The two-year varsity player scored a total of 18 points Tuesday, all from beyond the arc, hitting four threes in the first quarter and her final bucket with two minutes remaining in the game. Her six equals that of Rachel Gaines back in the 2002-2003 season.

Belmont Savings Sending Pizzi Off On Her World Marathon Challenge Thursday

January 12, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker 1 Comment

Photo: Becca Pizzi.

Belmont Savings Bank is sponsoring a “meet and greet” with Belmont resident Becca Pizzi, who is on track to make history as the first American woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge, which will have her running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

The public send-off will be held Thursday, Jan. 14, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Belmont Savings Bank main branch at 2 Leonard St. in Belmont Center.

The event will afford well-wishers an opportunity to receive an autograph poster from Becca, as well as complimentary ice cream from Moozy’s on Trapelo Road, where Pizzi is a manager. Becca will also be available to pose for pictures.

The bank will donate $500 to Becca’s charity of choice, the Belmont Food Pantry, after she completes the fourth of seven marathons. The bank will make a second $500 donation after she completes the final marathon.

World Marathon Challenge participant Becca Pizzi, who will participate in seven marathons over a weeklong span:

Jan. 23: Union Glacier, Antarctica
Jan. 24: Punta Arenas, Chile
Jan. 25: Miami
Jan. 26: Madrid
Jan. 27: Marrakech, Morocco
Jan. 28: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Jan. 29: Sydney, Australia

On the Mark: Bennett Captures Junior State Shooting Championship

January 11, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Bennett (left) with second place Vladlen Vronsky of Brighton and Samuel Gens of Andover (in center).

Belmont High School senior Kevin Bennett is fast becoming a “can’t miss” athlete because he doesn’t miss at all.

Bennett placed first in junior men’s sport pistol at the 2016 Massachusetts Junior Olympics Pistol Championships held at MIT on Saturday, Jan. 9. Vladlen Vronsky of Brighton placed second and Andover’s Samuel Gens was third.

As state champion, Bennett – who will be matriculating at the US Coast Guard Academy in the fall – automatically qualifies to compete in junior sports pistol at this year’s National Junior Olympic Pistol Championships, to be held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo in April.

Last summer, Bennett placed third in the junior men’s Rapid Fire pistol, his first national individual shooting medal.

Sports: Belmont Girls’ Routed by All-Star Kelly, Lexington, 62-43

January 10, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Senior guards Ani Maroyan (4) and Sofia Cellucci (33) ran a positive offensive set when they were in the game vs. Lexington.

After taking one of the best Division 1 teams in the state (Woburn High) to the final second in its last game before falling by a single point, there were high hopes Belmont High Girls’ could take the measure of Lexington High – another Division 1 top-ten team – when they visited the Minutemen on Friday night, Jan. 8.

And the Marauders did just that … for the first quarter. Unfortunately, Belmont (4-2, 4-2) had another 24 minutes to watch Lexington (6-1, 6-0) and its Fordham-bound state all-star guard Anna Kelly toy with the Marauders as the Belmont girls were on the wrong end of a 62-43 pummeling. It wasn’t that close.

In the first quarter, Belmont behind the hot shooting from inside and outside from sophomore point guard Carly Christofori (hitting a dozen with a three-pointer and going 3-3 from the free throw line) was applying pressure on Minuteman’s defense. Christofori was assisted by her 10th-grade colleagues starting forward Jenny Call (5 of her 10 points in the first) and Greta Propp (5 points) who came off the bench to play a strong game on both ends of the court.

Lexington kept the game close by going over Belmont’s tight perimeter defense, hitting five threes (a pair each from Kelly and fellow senior guard Eleanor Van Arsdell) as opposed to a single 2-point bucket in the quarter.

A Christofori three-point play followed by another drive and bucket and finally a Propp put-back of an offensive rebound gave Belmont its largest lead at 20-13 with 1:25 left in the opening quarter.

That would be the Marauders’ high water mark as Belmont would be outscored and outclassed 49-23 for the rest of the game.

In the second quarter, Kelly (27 points including four threes and double digits in assists) used her quickness and court awareness to pressured Belmont’s defenders who appeared unnerved matched up against the three-year All-Scholastic guard who two years ago dropped 52 points against the Marauders, the third-highest points total by a girl in Massachusetts basketball history.

Surprisingly, Belmont’s defense would hold the Minutemen to 13 points (9 from Kelly) in the quarter. What doomed the Marauders was its inability or unwillingness to take a shot at the basket. At the end of eight minutes, the Marauders could only muster an estimated ten shots at their hoop, the majority wildly off the mark. Only a mid-range jumper from ever improving Freshman center Jess Giorgio prevented Belmont from putting up a goose egg for the quarter. When halftime finally came, Belmont was looking up from a nine-point hole, 31-22.

Belmont did come out of the break with a spark as Christofori followed up her rebound with a basket and when Call hit her second three of the night, the Marauders were within six points at 33-27.

That’s when Kelly put on a skills clinic on how to single handily beat a team into submission. Kelly ran head-on at the Belmont defense causing all sort of chaos and confusion in the Marauders end of the court. From there, Kelly would either coolly stop and hit long-distance threes or drive to the basket before dishing off pinpoint assists to teammates under the basket. Seven Minutemen scored in the quarter totaling 22 points and in less than three minutes it built its lead from seven to 20 (49-29) as a totally dispirited Belmont squad could only eek out four points from the free-throw line in the final six minutes.

The last quarter was reserved for the role players, some who shined on the court. Senior guard Ani Maroyan (8 points) was only too happy to show off her raindrop shot from distance scoring a pair of threes and with fellow senior Sofia Cellucci ran an efficient offensive set.

Belmont is traveling to Winchester on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Sports: Boys’ Hoops Sneaks Out of Lexington with Thrilling OT Win, 76-74

January 9, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker 2 Comments

Photo: Belmont’s Matt Kerans heading to the basket in OT v. Lexington.

Wow. Talk about pulling one’s bacon out of the fire.

Thanks to two outstanding plays by a pair of role players, Belmont High Boys’ hoopsters crawled themselves out of a deep hole they helped dig and somehow got out of Dodge with a thrilling 76-74 victory over a gutsy Lexington High squad on Friday night, Jan. 8.

“Good high school game,” said Belmont’s Head Coach Adam Pritchard with a wry smile as the team recorded its seventh win against three losses. They are tied with Reading (6-1) with one loss (4-1) in the Middlesex League Liberty Division.

It’s never easy to come off the bench and contribute but luck for Belmont, two players did just that. A three-point bomb from the corner by Belmont junior Daron Hamparian (5 points) tied the game at 67 with 48 seconds in regulation and sophomore Tomas Donoyan’s (2 points) jumper for two after Lexington blocked a Paul Ramsey (12 points) shot with 30 seconds gave Belmont the lead at 69-67 – part of an 8-1 Marauders run in the final 100 seconds – before Lexington’s Jack Amsler forced overtime with his own bucket with 23.4 seconds remaining.

In OT, Belmont’s big man senior Joe Shaughnessy (3 of his 5 points in overtime) put back an offensive rebound to give the Marauders the lead by one, 73-72, then senior point guard Matt Kerans stole a pass and beat the game’s number one star, Lexington’s center Spencer Kendall, to the hoop to up the lead to 75-72. Two previous times Kerans attempted layups against the junior, Kendall (23 points, four blocks, more than a dozen rebounds) slammed the shot back at Kerans.

With Lexington down by one and with the ball, an attempt by sophomore guard Jermaine Fernandes fell into Shaughnessy’s hands to hit one of two from the charity stripe with 1.5 seconds remaining and with that Belmont got to sneak out of town with the victory.

“We didn’t quit when a lot of teams could have, and we made a couple of key steals and a big fast break put back which was such a heady play,” said Pritchard.

“When guys run, and they don’t quit, you can make it happen,”

Not that it appeared an hour earlier that Belmont would need extra time against the winless Minutemen (0-6, 0-4). For the second straight game (a convincing victory over Woburn), Belmont came out smoking. Behind the three-point shooting of senior guard Cole Bartels (four 3s in the first quarter before finishing with 15 points) and a three, a two and a free throw from his fellow backcourt companion Kerans (24 points, who along with Ramsey scored in in the four quarters and overtime) to accompany a smothering defense led by senior center Justin Wagner (10 points) allowed Belmont to run off to a 21 point lead, 27-6, at the end of the first.

“We had a heck of a first quarter,” said Pritchard.

But before a large crowd of supporters, Lexington started to take chunks out of the lead by throwing it up beyond the arc. The Minutemen rattled in five from distance (three from Amsler) while Kendall began drawing fouls from the Belmont front line, going 6-6 from the free throw line and ending the period with 12 of Lexington’s 30-second quarter points, and cutting the lead to a manageable seven points, 43-36, at the half.

“I think we took our foot off the throttle a little bit after a great start,” said Pritchard.

“Maybe we got too comfortable. They played well, but we got a little tired. I probably should have used some other players at the beginning of the game to save some legs. When you have quality players you don’t want to pull them off the court,” he said.

And that weariness showed in the second half as Belmont committed fouls and turnovers that Lexington feasted on. In the third quarter, seven Minutemen players scored 17 points while Belmont could only squeeze in seven total and found themselves trailing 53-50 going into the final quarter.

Those last eight minutes saw Belmont falling further behind 57-52 after the first two minutes only to tie it up at 59 with a two and a three from Bartels and a jumper by Ramsey. But when Lexington’s Amsler hit his fourth three, and senior Alex Lenrow put in a steal, Lexington held its biggest lead of the game, 67-61.

That’s when Belmont’s bench bailed out the boys.

Next up for Belmont is at 5-4 Winchester on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Belmont Garden Party: Girls’ Hoops to Play At TDGarden Sunday, Jan. 24

January 8, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont High Girls Basketball to play the Boston TDGarden.

Along with Bill Russell and Larry Bird, you can now add the names Carly, Samari, Sarah and Irini as those who have played on the historic parquet floor of Boston Garden as the Belmont High School Girls’ Varsity Basketball team take on Chelmsford High School at the TDGarden at 10 a.m. on Sunday, January 24.

The game is part of the third annual Good Sports Invitational – the Belmont Boys’ team played in last year’s game – where sixteen high school teams will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play on the fabled court. The mission of Boston-based Good Sports is to help lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles by providing athletic equipment, footwear, and apparel to disadvantaged young people nationwide.

An added bonus is that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey – a former Harvard University basketball captain and pro-player in Europe – will be leading basketball events for Belmont and Chelmsford youth basketball players during halftime of the game. You’ll remember Healey as playing on Belmont’s Grove Street Playground basketball court in one of her political ads.

Tickets for the game (which allows you to stay for all eight games) against the Lions are $15. Belmont’s goal is to sell 400 tickets and have a large fan section to cheer on the Marauders.

Tickets can be purchased in Belmont at:

Champions Sporting Goods, 53 Leonard Ave., Belmont Center
Rancatore’s Ice Cream, 36 Leonard Ave., Belmont Center
Country Store (the concession stand) at Belmont High School during home games: Friday, Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Jan. 19.
Belmont High School will also have a table set up outside the lunch room in the school day, specific days TBA.
Contact Marauders’ Head Coach Melissa Hart with any questions (mmhart32@gmail.com) and who can arrange to get tickets.

High School Schedule for Day:

8:30 a.m. – Wellesley vs. Needham (Girls)
10 a.m. – Belmont vs. Chelmsford (Girls)
11:30 a.m. – Andover vs Newton South (Boys)
1 p.m. – Mansfield vs Brighton (Boys)
2:30 p.m. – Bishop Hendricken vs. Cambridge Rindge & Latin (Boys)
4 p.m. – St. Mary’s vs Lexington (Girls)
5:30 p.m. – Triton vs Newburyport (Boys)
7 p.m. – Medford vs Arlington (Boys)

Sports: Belmont Girls’ Nipped by Top-Ranked Woburn, 52-51

January 7, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Belmont’s Jen Call (21) looking to pass to freshman Jess Giorgio vs. Woburn.

Walking off the court after seeing her team lose for the first time this season to a top-10 (ranked 5th by ESPN Boston) Woburn High team, Belmont High Girls’ Basketball Head Coach Melissa Hart looked back and said, “I should have called a timeout. Darn.”

Hart was recalling the final sequence of the game, with the game tied at 50. Belmont’s Jenny Call had just swatted an attempted inbounds pass out-of-bounds with just under five seconds remaining in the second half.

As Belmont set up its defense, the ball went into the Tanner’s league all-star junior guard Marissa Gattuso, who dribbled to the top of the key and leaned into Belmont’s freshman Megan Tan while taking the shot as the clock ticked down to zero.

A varsity move by Woburn’s leader that was rewarded with a generous whistle from the ref, sending Gattuso to the line for two shots with 0.9 seconds left.

The veteran hit the first and missed the second, giving Belmont no time for anything miraculous and sending the Marauders (4-1, 4-1 in the Middlesex League) to its first defeat of the season, 52-51.

“You know, it was a hard fought game. I think we had a chance [to win] with the ball but … ,” said Hart. “We could have been on the other side of the score. They just had the better chances.”

If there was a lesson of the game, it was to put away teams when you have them down. Belmont held nearly 10 point leads for the majority of the first three-quarters yet could never find the run which could have given the Marauders’ a comfortable double-digit lead.

But that’s hard to do with Gattuso who left her mark on the game with a bookend performance, scoring 16 of her game-high 18 points in the first and fourth quarters. After outscoring Belmont 6-0 in the first two minutes of the game, Gattuso was effectively held in check by Belmont’s swarming defense led by seniors co-captain guards Samari Winklaar (8 points) and Irini Nikolaidis.

For the next six minutes, Belmont outscored the reigning Middlesex League champions, 19-5, behind Belmont’s sophomore point guard Carly Christofori (team leading 13 points) who found the team’s other co-captain Sarah Stewart who scored 6 of her 8 points in the first quarter as all five starters scored to give Belmont a 19-11 lead.

While Woburn (5-0, 5-0) trimmed the lead behind forward Mya Blazejowski (10 points) to 22-20 with two minutes remaining, a basket and free throw from Christofori and a layup at the buzzer by senior sixth man Sara Lyons from a pinpoint pass from Tan increased Belmont’s advantage at the half to seven, 27-20.

The Marauders appeared like it would sprint away from the Tanners at the start of the second half as Nickolaidis (10 points) hit a basket and a free throw to up the lead to 10 points as Belmont was effectively running the break. Freshman center Jess Giorgio, who was effective coming down with rebounds against the tall and physical Tanners while scoring on a nifty jumper, and Jenny Call with five third-quarter points kept the Marauders’ lead at seven the end of the third eight minutes, 43-36.

The final quarter saw the Marauders pick the worst time to go cold on the offensive side of the court while Gattuso decided to wake up. A three-pointer by Gattuso led a 6-0 Woburn run to cut the lead to one, 43-42, before Stewart hit a bucket from under the basket to up the lead to three.

But that lead was shortlived as a pair from the charity stripe from Blasejowski and a three-pointer by senior center Elle Brennan gave Woburn its first lead, 47-45, since two minutes in the game.

Nickolaidis hit two from the line and a tough layup in traffic between Gattuso’s floater to see the match tied at 49 with 2:17 left in the game. Gattuso gave Woburn the lead, 51-49, on a layup only to have Christofori make two free throws with 1:01 remaining to give the game its final tie, 51-15.

A good defensive stance saw Belmont get possession back with 35 seconds but Blazejowski anticipated Christofori’s pass to Call with 11-second remaining. It was then up to Gattuso to win it from the line 10.1 seconds later.

Next up for Belmont is a trip to Lexington Friday, Jan. 7 for the penultimate match with the Minutemen and its Fordham-bound senior guard Anne Kelly, who once scored 52 points against the Marauders. But that was at Belmont.

Sports: Belmont Boys’ Hoops Wallops Woburn, Nears League Top

January 6, 2016 By Franklin B. Tucker Leave a Comment

Photo: Senior Joe Shaughnessy skies during game with Woburn.

Finally, Belmont High Boys’ Basketball Head Coach Adam Pritchard was happy.

His Marauders’ – which has come off a hard holiday schedule of games – had just comprehensively beaten Middlesex League leaders Woburn High, 75-54, Tuesday, Jan. 5, as his starters and the bench contributing on both ends of the court the entire night.

“All victories are good,” said Pritchard. “I never had a bad one.”

And this was a good one, as Belmont ups its record to 6-3 and 4-1 in the Middlesex Liberty Division, tied with Winchester and Woburn (5-2) and a half game behind 5-1 Reading.

The game – which began with senior co-captain Matt Kerans receiving a ceremonial basketball for scoring his 1,000 point this past Dec. 29 in a game vs. New Bedford – saw Belmont race off to the lead as Woburn has a bit sloppy with the ball and missed a few “bunnies” under the basket.

Senior shooting guard Cole Bartels led the charge offensively with 8 points in the first quarter including one of his long-range threes (he ended with a game-high 20 points) to give Belmont an 18-14 lead a the end of eight minutes. The Marauders would push the lead to double digits (38-27) at the half by out battling the Tanners under the basket and pushing up

The Marauders would press the lead to double digits (38-27) at the half by out battling the Tanners under the basket and pushing up the court with the ball. While junior Paul Ramsey (9 points) powered along the baseline for his 5 points (a three from the corner) in the quarter, senior tall forward Joe Shaughnessy (9 points) took advantage of Belmont’s height advantage to score a pair of put-backs for his five in the second, while reliable and versatile sixth-man junior Dylan Ferdinand scored 7 points in the game.

The second half saw Belmont put the gas on the pedal to score 19 – 8 coming from Kerans, who ended the night with 14, who drained a pair of threes and two free throws – in the third while holding the Tanners to almost half that.

The fourth quarter was the time for the bench to shine as eight players scored in the final eight minutes including senior Damian Bitsikas (2 points), junior Daron Hamparian (2 points), sophomore Tomas Donoyan (5 points), junior Ben Jones (2 points), senior Lowell Haska (2 points) and senior Yvrantzi Desravines (1 point).

Pritchard said Belmont’s cause was helped by the absence of Woburn all-star guard Brandon Mascat from the starting lineup.

But Pritchard praised the team that played great defense, started to run and had some offensive put backs.

“I like to think we are improving; that’s our ultimate goal,” he said.

Next for Belmont is a game Friday, Jan. 8, at winless Lexington. The game starts at 5 p.m.