WAREHAM — Chemistry can’t be taught.
Either a team has it or it doesn’t.
And the Wareham boys basketball team definitely has it.
With a core group of players growing up playing basketball together, there’s a unique sense of togetherness every time the Vikings step on the court.
“They’re tight knit,” said Wareham head coach Steve Faniel. “They’re together. They’ve been playing together for a really long time — at least the core of them. We’ve added pieces here and there. The core has been playing together since maybe third or fourth grade.”
Since they were seven or eight years old, six of Wareham’s nine juniors — Ajay Lopes, Diego Mello, Jayce Travers, Taj Lewin-Pina, Will Halloran and Kyle Sisko — and freshman Aaron Cote played together on Wareham’s Travel Basketball team. Twin brothers Jaron and Jakwon Pittmen joined in as seventh graders.
“We’ve been playing ever since we were younger,” said Mello, a junior guard. “We all grew up together. Wareham is a small town. Everyone knows everyone. I think our chemistry is what makes us so dangerous.”
The top-seeded Vikings plan to use their close connection on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. when they face off against No. 5 Millbury in the Div. 4 Final Four with a state finals appearance on the line.
“It feels unbelievable,” Mello said. “It almost doesn’t feel real. We’ve been dreaming about this ever since we were little.”
'It feels amazing'Wareham reaches Div. 4 Final Four with lopsided win over Cathedral
Ever since Wareham lost to Randolph in the Div. 4 Elite Eight a year ago, the Vikings have devoted themselves to winning a state championship.
“That’s all that’s been on their minds since we lost that game last year and that’s all that has been on my mind too,” said Faniel. “We used the whole season as preparation for the tournament. We’ve been using every practice and every game and we were focusing on getting better so when we get to March we’d be ready.
“The goal is to win the state championship. We feel like the job is not done yet.”
Wareham takes on a Millbury team that ended the regular season with a two-point loss to Shepherd Hill Regional in the Clark Tournament Large Schools final, but has won three straight games to reach the state semifinals.
“They’re a good-fundamentally sound and well-coached team,” Faniel said. “They have some size. They can shoot the ball. They move the ball really well. They’re a good team. When you get to four left, they’re all good.”
Over the past two games, 6-foot-5 junior Kenny Donnelly, the son of coach Jim Donnelly, has carried the offense, scoring a combined 47 points, including 25 in an Elite Eight win over Bourne. He’s connected on 13 3-pointers over that stretch. He's averaging 17.2 points per game this year.
Senior Lucas Friedman, who missed 10 days with an injured left ankle, has been solid the last two games, scoring a combined 36 points.Freidman is second on the team with 14.0 points per game this year. Tyler Vaccaro is third (7.4 PPG) followed by Matt Kelly (6.3).
PLAYOFF PREVIEWHow Old Rochester reached the Div. 3 Final Four and what it will take to win
While it all starts on offense for Wareham with Lopes (14.8 PPG), three other players — junior Antoine Crosson (12.4), Mello (11.6) and Cote (11.6) — joined him in double digits in scoring during the regular season.
“They look ahead. They’re always looking for the open guy,” Faniel said. “Again that’s what makes them special. They share the basketball. They don’t care who scores as long as we score.
“It stems from the leader that’s very unselfish and it flows through the whole team and we’re getting the best shot available.”
Wareham’s lone senior Elijah Carrion has set the tone with the sacrifices he’s made for team success.
“He’s just an unselfish kid,” Faniel said. “He doesn’t care how much he plays. He doesn’t care who gets the glory. He keeps the guys together. He keeps the bench energetic. He’s just a real good role model for team-first. Where the one senior doesn’t care about any individual things and only cares about the team, that kind of goes throughout the whole team.”
Carrion said he’s enjoying the ride.
“I’m just there for the energy and leadership. That’s all I want to do,” he said. “We have guys that score and rebound and I’m just there for the energy. That’s what I need to do.
“It feels great. They’re all my best friends. I just love playing with them. This is no place I’d rather be than with them playing.”
PRE-GAME NOTES
Wareham is averaging 74.3 points per game with a season-high of 95 against Winthrop in the Round of 32. The Vikings had a streak of 12 straight wins during the regular season before suffering back-to-back losses to Old Rochester (71-59) and Bourne (79-78). Their other loss came against Bishop Feehan (66-60) on Dec. 23. Since the loss to the Canalmen, Wareham has won five straight. … Millbury is averaging 58.3 points per game this season with a high of 77 against Nipmuc Regional on Dec. 14. The Woolies have won 13 of their last 14 games. Their loses this season have come against David Prouty (48-38), Walpole (54-50), Acton-Boxborough (61-45), Springfield International (59-53) and Shepherd Hill (53-51).
IF YOU GO
What: Div. 4 State Semifinal
Who: No. 1 Wareham (20-3) vs. No. 5 Millbury (20-5)
When: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday
Where: Taunton High School
