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Generals overtake Ipswich with third quarter onslaught

Tuesday, December, 18 By Matt Jenkins
Staff writer

HAMILTON | Hamilton-Wenham boys basketball coach Marty Binette said it was the offense. His counterpart, Ipswich's Doug Woodworth, thought it was defense.

The two coaches may not have been able to agree on why Binette's Generals were able to blow open a tight game in the third quarter last night, but neither would argue about when Hamilton-Wenham seized control.

Powered by a baby-faced backcourt, the Generals dumped 32 points on Ipswich in the third and cruised to a 65-50 win at home.

Freshman point guard Mike Carter-Williams and sophomore shooting guard James Rodrigues turned up the heat on the defensive side and attacked Ipswich's zone defense with penetration. The result was layups in transition, and short jump shots and free throws in their offensive sets.

"We talked a lot at halftime about attacking the rim and getting to the basket," Binette said. "I think we settled too much in the first half, which allowed them to kind of hang around. We settled for some 3-pointers. Our guards got to the rim real nicely in the third."

Hamilton-Wenham remained patient against the Tigers' 3-2 zone and took its opportunities going at the basket after the passes changed direction.

After getting shut out in the first half, Carter-Williams scored 15 of his 17 points in the third. He converted all six of his free throw attempts in the quarter, and Rodrigues, who had already posted 11 points in the first half, notched six more in the third. He finished with a game-high 19 points.

The Generals' guard tandem harassed the Ipswich guards in the backcourt and forced turnovers.

"They picked up the defensive intensity and so far that's been what we've had trouble with. We've had trouble handling the basketball," Woodworth said. "We keep forcing the dribble and not executing the offense because of that."

Woodworth is already sold on the strength of Hamilton-Wenham's backcourt, but he felt his team didn't do enough to slow them down.

"They're very quick defensively and they get their hands on a lot of balls," Woodworth said. "They're a threat offensively and I don't think we did a very good job at taking the middle of the lane away. We were in a zone and that (penetration) shouldn't happen."

The game's decisive run was a 12-point spurt in a little more than two minutes that turned a four-point lead into a 16-point advantage late in the third.

Carter-Williams hit two free throws and finished a drive, Rodrigues converted three freebies, Corey Daff made one, and Nate Masterson and Matt Greeke each had a hoop to help Hamilton-Wenham take charge.

At that point, there was very little an inexperienced Ipswich (1-2) team could do.

"They got a big lead and turned the lights out," Woodworth said.

Alex Lampropoulos was the only Tiger to reach double figures with 14.

Hamilton-Wenham improved to 2-1 and gained confidence. Binette knows the Generals can't get too comfortable in the Cape Ann League, however.

"We feel OK," Binette said. "The next three games are really important for us because after the (Christmas) break we have to go to North Andover, we go to Wilmington, and we go to Georgetown. I feel good right now, but I won't tomorrow because we have Masco coming in on Friday."