SOUTH YARMOUTH — In a postseason, tournament-like atmosphere, the host Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins (6-6) maintained their collective cool en route to a 53-49 victory last night against the Nauset Warriors (8-5).
D-Y’s two top dogs — senior captain LK Metz and center Kenny Dorr — turned in double-doubles with a heavy emphasis on the rebounds as Metz poured in 16 quiet points versus 18 very loud rebounds, eight of which were offensive. Dorr led all Dolphin scorers with 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while adding four blocked shots.
Dennis-Yarmouth’s Jake Metz, with teammate Malik Staten in the background, combined for 22 rebounds in last night’s 53-49 nailbiter of a win versus Nauset.
Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports
Metz’s younger brother Jake Metz had a rock-solid night as well, collecting 12 points to go along with nine rebounds and had four assists as well as three steals. The wiry albeit ubiquitous Malik Staten made no bones about his night’s mission: he pulled down an additional 13 rebounds for the Green & White, seven of which were offensive. His five points were a bonus in the four-point victory.
Nauset’s Ethan “Big Red” Ladue turned in a 17-point night, followed by Razz Green with 12 points and Andrew Flynn with eight points. Mike Walsh tacked on seven points to round out Nauset’s top offensive outputs.
Ultimately, this game was about as even as it gets, with both teams deadlocked at 10-10 after the first quarter. The second quarter was Dennis-Yarmouth’s best, however, and it proved critical as the hosts outscored the Warriors, 18-11 for a 28-21 halftime lead. The Dolphins continued to enjoy that lead after three frames, 39-32, but used the foul line in the fourth to spell the difference. Nauset, on paper at least, owned the fourth quarter with a 17-14 split but Dennis-Yarmouth nailed six free throws in the final stanza to ensure its first Atlantic Coast League victory of the 2014-15 season. Dennis-Yarmouth is now 1-4 in the ACL and 6-6 overall. Nauset falls to 2-4 in the ACL and 8-5 overall.
Citing the sheer intensity of the ambience emanating from the hallowed Station Avenue halls, D-Y head coach Rich Dalrymple stated emphatically that “rebounds” spelled the difference in this parquet tete-a-tete. The win, to be frank, had the second-year head coach in only the best and most optimistic of moods afterward.
“If we continue this way, no one will want to play us in the first round,” Dalrymple said.
In otherwords, the Dolphins, having already clinched a postseason berth weeks ago, have everything to gain and nothing to lose at this stage.
The win, Dalrymple said, was “A great one.”
Dennis-Yarmouth next faces a true challenge on Tuesday night (Jan. 27) at home versus a tough Marshfield team at 6:30 pm.
Nauset is in the same boat. The Warriors hope to get back on track Tuesday at home versus an 11-1 Sandwich team that earlier this season made quick business of the Black and Gold.
— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.
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