Sports
King Philip Boys Basketball Qualifies For State Tournament
For the first time in 10 years, the boys basketball team will play in the post-season.
For the first time in 10 years, the King Philip boys basketball team has qualified for the Massachusetts State Division 2 South Tournament.
After defeating Nantucket 78-44 on Saturday, the Warriors improved to 11-7 on the season, and will get to keep on playing basketball once the regular season ends in one week.
“Going into the Nantucket, we were taking a one-game-at-a-time approach,” King Philip Coach Sean McInnis said. “The boys knew what was at stake and they really wanted to win this one. They were focused and went about things in a businesslike manner.”
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Prior to the season getting underway, McInnis said the team's goal was to chase down the school record for victories in a season (13 or 14, according to the coach). Sitting at 11-7 with four games remaining on the slate, the team is closing in on that number.
The other goal was to qualify for the state tournament.
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“Our goals were cut and dry,” the coach said. “They did a great job to get the first goal, and now it’s on to the second.”
The Warriors will host Attleboro Tuesday night in Wrentham, and an individual goal could be in reach. Junior Jake Layman is a mere 17 points away from becoming the ninth male athlete in King Philip history to score 1000 points.
Although this is an individual achievement, the team, as well as Layman, know that basketball is a team sport.
“Everyone, especially Jake, knows that we need to work as a team to accomplish our goals,” McInnis said. “This is the last chance we have at Attleboro to capture the most wins in a season. We need to take care of business. Individual milestones will eventually fall, but we need to work as a team to accomplish our other goals.”
Not only would a win be a step toward in the right direction, it would also catapult them up in the Hockomock League standings. The Warriors are currently holding onto fourth place in the league, but a win Tuesday night could move them into third.
Following Senior Night on Tuesday, King Philip will travel to Foxboro on Thursday afternoon (4pm) to take on Foxboro in the Hockomock League Invitational, and will then travel to Westwood on Sunday and Monday. At 6pm on Sunday, KP will take to the court against Norwood and will then play either Westwood or Marion on Monday evening.