Martha’s Vineyard boys hoopsters rout Raiders

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Deshawn James takes off on the fast break with Vineyard teammate Narvardo Anderson and Somerset Berkley's Mike Mahoney in tow. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

The Vineyard varsity boys basketball team bounced back from Monday’s humbling home defeat to Bishop Feehan with a 74-51 Eastern Athletic Conference win over Somerset Berkley Friday in Oak Bluffs.

The bitter aftertaste of the Feehan loss lingered throughout the first quarter. The Raiders rode 12 points from Vaughn Browner, pounded the offensive glass and rang up a 19-11 lead.

The game turned with a vengeance in the second quarter. Senior co-captain Kane Araujo sank four three-pointers and Deshawn James added seven points as the Vineyarders outscored the Raiders 35-12 to lead 46-31 at halftime.

The Purple skillfully moved the ball around the perimeter and dissected the Raider defense with accurate passes into the paint. The Vineyarders also tightened up on defense and matched Somerset Berkley’s physical play.

“After the first quarter, defensively the intensity picked up and the ball movement picked up,” Vineyard coach Mike Joyce said. “All of a sudden, the ball was swinging side to side, we were getting wide open looks, getting the ball inside to the short corner. Our ball movement was so much better [than against Bishop Feehan] that it wasn’t even funny.”

Deshawn James led the Vineyarders with 18 points. Kane Araujo, Navardo Anderson, and Tim Roberts all finished with 14.

The Vineyarders (7-2, 3-1 EAC) play again Saturday, hosting EAC rival Bishop Stang. The freshmen tip off at 3 pm, followed by the jayvees at 4:30 and the varsity at 6.