Vineyarders Spoil D-Y Home Opener in Hoop Tilt

SOUTH YARMOUTH – Never underestimate the importance of free throws.

Ahead of the estimable visiting Martha’s Vineyard five by a score of 18-17, the host Dennis-Yarmouth Dolphins (1-1) boys basketball team missed five straight free throws en route to an intimidating, 31-19 lead at the half.

D-Y senior captain L.K. Metz finished the night with a double-double (19 pts./10 rebs.) but it was not nearly enough to stave off the tough Martha’s Vineyard team Tuesday night in South Yarmouth.
Sean Walsh/CCBM Sports file photo

The Vineyarders never looked back.

Stacked with 6’5″ power forward Tim Roberts and seven-footer Mack Sashin, the Vineyarders controlled the boards on both ends and ultimately the Dolphins could not convert the opportunities presented to them. All totaled, Dennis-Yarmouth committed 23 turnovers while “Tim Roberts and Company” continuously converted with layups.

“If you commit 23 turnovers with anybody you can’t expect to win,” said second-year Dolphins head coach Rich Dalrymple. “We cut it down to seven (point deficit) a couple of times and five points one time but we couldn’t get any closer.”

Roberts finished with 20 points on the night while the Vineyard “Big man,” seven-foot Mack Sashin, had 11 points on the night. Alex Gordon-Beck and Cole Houston both finished with 8 points. Along with the 31-19 lead at the half, the Vineyard ended the third quarter on top, 42-35, and of course, the finale, 57-48.

In spite of being overmatched in height by the Vineyard, D-Y senior captain L.K. Metz finished the night with his second double-double of the season in as many games, collecting 19 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Kenny Dorr finished with 11 points and nine rebounds and sophomore center Dillon Grant pulled down eight rebounds. Metz also hit two second half downtown treys, but it was simply not enough to answer the Vineyard’s rock-solid lineup.

“We’d make one, then miss one and they’d rebound it and they kept going down the floor and making buckets,” Dalrymple said. “Roberts is a player. He’s legit.”

Dennis-Yarmouth next faces Pembroke on the road on Thursday (Dec. 18) and Coach Dalrymple said he thinks the Dolphins have their work cut out for them.

“They’ve got four starters coming back from last year,” he said.

– Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.