The Wellington High School boys varsity basketball team defeated cross-town rival Palm Beach Central High School 62-46 on Friday, Jan. 11 on the Broncos’ home court.
At the beginning of the game, the teams traded baskets and leads, but the Wolverines shot out to a 10-point lead in the second quarter and didn’t look back.
Though the Wolverines took an early lead, Bronco Tommy Beaubrum nailed a 3-point basket with 4:32 left in the first quarter to give Palm Beach Central a 9-8 lead. Javierre Betts extended the lead with a lay-up and two foul shots to make the score 13-8.
Wellington’s Dondre Duffus nailed 2 points shortly after, but Palm Beach Central responded with a 2-point basket from Abdul Dial to make the score 15-10 with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
The Wolverines weren’t going down without a fight. Stephon Gordon put in a basket for the Wolverines, and then, with two seconds left on the clock, Duffus nailed a three-pointer to tie the score 15-15.
In the second quarter, Wellington stepped up the heat and were able to pull away. Dial broke the tie early in the second quarter with a two-point basket for Palm Beach Central, but Gordon responded with a basket for the Wolverines, tying the score again.
The Wolverines took the lead for the first time since early in the first quarter when Duffus nailed a basket to make the score 19-17.
With 5:20 left in the half, the Broncos tied the game again, but Duffus put in a basket and a foul shot to put Wellington on top 22-19. Wolverine Alex Peavler nailed a three-point basket and helped Wellington begin to pull away, 25-19.
The Wolverine domination continued with two more baskets, jumping out to a 10-point lead with about three minutes left in the half.
Wellington’s Arthur Strappazzon added another 2 points, but Beaubrum responded with a basket for the Broncos to make the score 31-21. Betts added another basket for Palm Beach Central with just under a minute left in the game, but Gordon sank another two points for Wellington to keep a 10 point lead, 33-23.
With 12 seconds on the clock, Betts put in a basket and two foul shots, but seconds later Nick Arena answered with a 3-point basket for the Wolverines that sent Wellington into halftime with a 36-26 lead.
The second half of the game saw the Broncos struggling to make up for missed opportunities, while the Wolverines continued to pull ahead. Wellington allowed Palm Beach Central only 20 more points in the entire game, taking the win 62-46.
The Broncos traveled to William T. Dwyer High School on Thursday, Jan. 17, but results were not available at press time.
Meanwhile, Wellington hosted Jupiter High School on Tuesday, Jan. 15, falling to the Warriors 54-43. The Wolverines will travel to Palm Beach Gardens High School on Saturday, Jan. 19 for a 7:30 p.m. game.
The teams will meet again on Friday, Jan. 25 when the Wolverines host the Broncos for a rematch.
Above: Wolverine Nick Arena tries to stop Bronco Javierre Betts.
