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Whittier puts Reggies on the defensive

Friday, December, 16 By Jeff Hamrick
Staff writer

HAVERHILL — With five of its top six players back, Whittier knew it would find points.
But it’s been the defense that’s shined in the early going for the Wildcats.
Last night, the Wildcats put the clamps on Greater Lawrence, forcing 32 turnovers in a convincing 56-36 victory. Winning for the second time in as many games, Whittier has allowed only 77 points.
“This year we come with a different approach,” said junior Ryan Grant, the area’s top returning scorer. “We have better players and we have a better IQ and we have more chemistry. We feel like we need to play as a team and our offense will come. Defense is where our main focus is.”
After spotting Greater Lawrence a quick 2-0 lead on a lay up by Gabriel Santos, Whittier forced turnovers on the Reggies’ ensuing seven possessions. Greater Lawrence (2-1), which opened the season with wins over Notre Dame of Lawrence and Essex Aggie, turned over the ball on 11 of its 17 first-quarter possessions as Whittier rolled to a 17-4 lead.
“Defense is something we’re stressing,” said Whittier coach Tom Sipsey. “The first week and a half of practice that’s all we really did. We didn’t put in any offensive stuff until the day after our first game (a 69-41 victory over Northeast).”
Grant, who averaged 19.9 points last year, paced the Wildcats with 17 points – 11 in the second half. The junior point guard had four first-half assists and added a couple steals. Senior Marck Galva and junior Justin Reyes each added 10 points while Reyes also had six steals and five of Whittier’s 29 offensive rebounds.
Junior forward Papaciro Ortiz led the Reggies with eight points.
“We’re inexperienced and they’re experienced and it really showed big time. I don’t want to say we played scared, but we didn’t play with confidence,” said Greater Lawrence coach Dan Habib, who lost four starters from a 9-11 team including area scoring leader Donald Celestin.