The first game of the season, for any team – in any sport, usually proves to be a little more difficult than those games that follow.
You have to take in to consideration, that you are facing new opponents, running new plays, and even have different team-mates to get used to. That is not to mention, having to shake those “opening day butterflies” as well.
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John Maida's Metrowest Boy's Basketball team “knew” they were ready. They have been practicing for weeks, in gyms all over town.
This past Saturday was opening day of the season, and the Dedham 7th grade guys were matched up against a very good team at Milton High School.
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The opening quarter saw the boys, on both sides of the ball, make a few mistakes and miss a few shots. Coach Maida, a seasoned veteran, kept his team in check however, and after Dedham scored the first few points of the game, instinct and ability soon took over.
It was a low scoring first quarter, but Dedham took complete control of the game by halftime, leading Milton 26-7. Starting five – Davin Sweeney, Dylan Maida, Ty Scurry, Brandon Ruiz, and Brian Tavares played strong as a unit, but Coach Maida had plenty of help on his bench.
Liam Dorsey, David Logan, Nick Loring, Mark Rella, Ty Rowell, and Corey Kilroy proved to be just as competent, allowing Coach Maida to change his players on the floor throughout the game.
As the newer players spent more time on the court, Milton came back strong, but the visitors from Dedham had worked too hard to let this game slip away.
When the final buzzer sounded, the score was 44-32 with a victory for our boys from Dedham.
Davin Sweeney had scored 18pts. with Dylan Maida getting 7pts. of his own. Nick Loring and Ty Scurry added 6pts. each to the total and the other boys got the remaining points and assists, along with some great defense.
As the players shook hands and gathered their belongings, Coach John Maida was heard to say… “I like this team… and I never say that until about the last week of the season…” Let's all hope for good things to come.
Next up is the home-opener here in Dedham, against an equally prepared group of boys from Needham, followed by a trip out to Southborough.
