The Bromfield boys basketball team won its season opener Tuesday against South Lancaster Academy, overcoming an eight-point deficit to win in overtime, 50–44.
Overall, the game was marked by choppy play on both sides, resulting in a number of turnovers. South Lancaster relied on guards Di Voyardi and LJ Saunders to generate open opportunities. The Lancaster team found open players for several back-door layups and breakaways. Bromfield struggled to find a rhythm on offense, often having to force up shots or turning the ball over.
“It was our first game with a new coach, learning a new system, and all of us trying a little too hard to win our home opener,” said head coach Charlie Noonan. “The ball did not go in for us in the first quarter but we played strong defense and limited SLA to 15 points in the first half.”
The game was close throughout, with Saunders and Voyardi trading baskets with Bromfield junior point guard Hugo Al-Homsi and senior tri-captains Josh Lyvers, Ben Brown, and Brian Morgan. Al-Homsi was responsible for jumpstarting the offense with three shots from beyond the arc in the first half. Lyvers used his speed and strength to penetrate the defense, freeing up shots for other Bromfield players. Lyvers was also strong on the defensive end, repeatedly blocking shots all over the floor. South Lancaster had a chance to take the lead in the dying moments of the first half, but a fade-away jump shot by Saunders was stuffed out of bounds by Lyvers at the buzzer, making it 17–15 Bromfield at halftime. Lyvers finished with 10 points for the Trojans.
The game featured two dramatically different styles of play, with South Lancaster’s offense almost solely powered by Voyardi and Saunders. Bromfield succeeded with a strong team-oriented approach on both offense and defense. However, both teams saw their share of turnovers. Both failed to establish a solid offensive rhythm, with Bromfield’s disciplined 2–3 zone defense forcing tough shots, and South Lancaster’s speed creating fast-break points.
Bromfield’s offense made a stronger showing in the second half. Brown was repeatedly double-teamed inside, but used his skillful post moves to free up his shot. The Trojans’ Connor Kempton and Caleb Frost were active on the boards, generating more than a dozen rebounds between them. Frost nailed two free-throws late in the game and added a layup to finish with four points. Kempton added six points, including clutch free-throws to help send the game into overtime.
South Lancaster threatened to take hold of the game with less than five minutes in regulation, going on a 6–0 run to widen its lead to eight points. However, the Trojans were not to be outdone. Kempton powered his way into the lane for a layup; Frost nailed a pair of free-throws; and Lyvers added a pair of shots to tie the game. Saunders had a chance to win it with three seconds left on the clock, but a long three-point shot timed out at the buzzer. Even in overtime, however, South Lancaster refused to let up. Voyardi added a layup early to put Lancaster ahead, but Bromfield stifled his offense for the remainder of the overtime period. The Trojans pulled ahead on gritty hustle play and rebounding.
“I was pleased with the energy and determination to finish strong in the last four minutes, being down by 8 points,” said Noonan. “We had a very supportive crowd that helped us come back and get the win in OT. We will continue to rely on our defense to keep us in and to win games.”
Voyardi and Saunders led the scoring for South Lancaster with 14 and 15 points, respectively. Bromfield’s scoring was much more diversified, with Al-Homsi, Brown, and Lyvers all finishing in double digits.
