It has been the same story two years running now for Westfield rising junior Maurice Hubbard. When he returns to the court for summer basketball season there is a whole new cast surrounding him.
Hubbard, a 6-foot-6 forward, is one of just three players with any extensive varsity experience returning next season for the Bulldogs. But, in a parity-laden Northern Region, Westfield still must be considered a contender.
The Bulldogs proved that on Wednesday at Madison with a 57-53 victory over South Lakes in the Battle at Warhawk Nation Summer League championship game.
Rising junior guard Jamie Richardson led the way with 16 points for the Bulldogs, who played much of the second half without Hubbard after he was ejecting for picking up two technical fouls.
“Just a boneheaded move on my part,” said Hubbard, who drew the first technical for slapping the backboard after a dunk in the first half and the second for talking back to the referee. “We’re going to be such a young team with no real experience that I’m trying to get everyone into the game. I just went overboard.”
For the third year in a row Hubbard will be starting alongside four new teammates. Richardson emphatically stated his case for one of the starting guard positions after adding six assists to his point total. Westfield dominated the first half, building its lead to 37-18 before South Lakes took advantage of Hubbard’s absence.
South Lakes rising senior forward J.P. Depaso scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as the Seahawks cut Westfield’s lead to 55-53 with just seconds remaining. But Bulldogs rising senior Josh Witmer (14 points) drained a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left to ice the contest.
“It just shows how deep we are,” said Richardson, whose team finished unbeaten in the Battle of Warhawk Nation for the second straight season. “That’s probably the best thing that’s happened to us this summer. We know the experience isn’t there yet. But we have a lot of guys who can play.”
