45°
STAMFORD, Conn. Westhills boys basketball team has battled injuries, eligibility issues and even a forfeit this season. But as the Vikings start for the homestretch, they seem to be rounding into the team coach Howard White envisioned at the start of the season.
Chris Walters scored 21 points and Tony Dobbinson added 19 to lead the Vikings to an 80-62 thumping of Brien McMahon Friday night in Norwalk. Sam Dorrisant poured in 15 for the Vikings (7-3 overall, 6-2 Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference), and Mark Edwin added 13. Darkym Stroud scored 23 for the Senators (1-10, 1-8).
We came together and decided that first of all, we needed to play as a team, White said. Second, we needed to focus on defense. Third, we have to treat every game like its our last game. The kids have been doing that the past few games.
Dobbinson, a senior point guard, makes the Vikings go. Hes a good outside shooter, but his true value is his court leadership and ball distribution. The key thing was sharing the basketball, White said. Once they start doing that, it makes it a lot easier on the defensive end. Our defense creates our offense.
Westhill took command early, building a 13-6 lead after the first quarter and building a 35-25 halftime lead. Westhill went on a 12-0 run to take a 51-32 lead midway through the third quarter to deliver the knockout blow.
Walters had just three field goals, but went 15-for-17 from the foul line. Dorrissant, a 6-5 center, controlled the backboards and Edwin had his highest point total of the season.
The Vikings are coming together just in time. They face city rival Stamford on Tuesday, and then head into a brutal stretch against the leagues upper echelon, including Greenwich, Danbury, Staples, St. Joseph and Trinity Catholic. Those six games will go a long way toward determining whether Westhill is a league playoff contender.
Weve had to overcome some obstacles, but weve been able to overcome it, White said. I told the kids, take it as a life lesson. Youre going to have your ups and downs. Its all how you deal with it.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
