Boys Basketball Coverage, presented by 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon: Westwood’s Season Ends After Physical Playoff Battle With Archbishop Williams

February 26, 2026

The tight confines of Volpe Gymnasium, on the campus of Archbishop Williams, served as the canvas for a physical fight pitting two worthy opponents against each other in the opening round of MIAA playoff action. After 32 hard-fought minutes, the host Bishops survived a valiant effort from Westwood, who couldn’t preserve an early fourth quarter lead and succumbed by a final of 49-41.
 
With fans on top of the action in one of the state’s most cramped gymnasiums, the action was heated from the outset. The 10th-ranked Bishops stormed to a 7-0 lead, but Westwood commanded the remainder of the first quarter, which ended tied at 11.
 
Archbishop Williams rode the hot hand of Jadon Beatty in the second quarter. Beatty scored 11 points in the second to open a 28-18 lead, but Westwood countered by scoring the final four of the quarter to draw within six at the break, 28-22. Robert Lirano-Alejandro scored 10 first half points for the Wolverines.
 
Intensity grew in the third, as Westwood scratched its way back. A wild final minute saw the Wolverines tie the score on a pair of free throws from Ty Pindel, take the lead on a coast-to-coast basket from Pindel, and then extend it to four when Baz Ganson hit a layup after Westwood forced a turnover on the inbounds pass.
 
The 38-34 lead was never safe, as the Bishops kept the offensive pressure on high. A clutch corner three-pointer from Bobby Lewis made the score 47-40 with :50 to play, and Westwood didn’t have enough time to force fouls and get the Archies to the charity stripe. By the time Archbishop Williams shot free throws, there were less than 20 seconds remaining, and a pair of foul shots made the final score 49-41, with the Bishops advancing to the Sweet 16.
 
Liriano-Alejandro led the way for Westwood with 16 points, followed by Pindel, who scored seven. Leo Chilangwa, Brady Lipton and Adrian Ortiz each had four points, while Aidan Rodman, John Power and Ganson each had two. Beatty was the game’s high-scorer with 19 points.
 
With the loss, the Wolverines season comes to an end. Westwood won the TVL Large championship and finished with a record of 15-7.