PEABODY — It was all Tanners all game long in the Peabody boys basketball team’s 74-29 win over Whittier Tech Thursday night at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
The Wildcats came in short handed and Peabody took full advantage, taking an early lead and never looking back. The Tanners had 13 players score points.
“We wanted to try to get as many guys in there (Thursday) as we could,” Peabody coach Thad Broughton. “I thought everybody that came off the bench did a really nice job. Whittier was missing three starters (Thursday). We knew that coming into the game. But I thought our guys played hard and did a nice job.
Joangel Lugo gave the Tanners the spark they needed to have a big night, scoring all 16 of his points in the first half and adding four steals. Chioke Onwuogu also had a solid night with 10 points and four rebounds.
“Joangel has been playing great for us,” Broughton said. “He’s a senior captain and a guy that’s been around the program now for a long time. For us, he’s the engine that makes it all go.”
As the game wore on and its lead grew, Peabody also got several solid performances off the bench. Gabe Claro scored six points while Brajan Jakic added six points and seven rebounds. Drew Lucas and Nick Soper each scored five points. Elvin Saldana scored three points with five rebounds.
“I thought Nick Soper and Krisli Miraka (four points) played well,” Broughton said. “Alex Rice came in and did a nice job. Those guys stood out but honestly I just thought it was a good overall team effort.”
After getting out to an quick four-point lead, Lugo converted an and-one to bump Peabody’s lead to 9-2 in the opening minutes. From there, Peabody’s defense helped keep Whittier quiet while the Tanners went ahead 18-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Whittier went on its best run of the night midway through the second quarter, cutting the lead down to as little as six points.
Lugo responded by knocking down a trio of 3-pointers before the half to help lead the Tanners to a 40-24 lead going into the break.
Kyle Morfis started the second half off with four straight points and grabbed a steal before dishing an assist to bump Peabody’s lead to 50-24.
With most of Peabody’s starters on the bench throughout the second half, the Tanners bench embraced their time on the court. Lucas knocked down a 3-pointer, Saldana converted an and-one and Jakic’s put back gave Peabody a 58-27 lead before the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was much of the same with Claro’s six points leading the way and capping off the 74-29 win.
Peabody moves to 7-7 on the year and shifts its focus to making a push to qualify for the state tournament as the season comes down to its final stretch. The Tanners need wins in three of their last six games to punch their ticket into the postseason.
“We’re hoping this gives us a push,” Broughton said. “This is the stretch run now so we’re hoping to play some of our best basketball. We’ve been a little bit up and down all season long. We’re hoping that this gives us a chance to come together and play strong down the stretch.”
