Holden, MA — In a high-paced matchup on Tuesday night, Wachusett Regional fell to Doherty Memorial High School 88-75 despite a strong offensive effort in the second half. The loss came after an early deficit in the first quarter that proved too much to overcome, despite a late push in the final period. Slow Start Hurts Wachusett The game began with Doherty jumping out to a commanding 27-10 lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on strong shooting and turnovers by the Mountaineers. Wachusett responded with a much-improved second quarter, outscoring their opponents 19-14, but still found themselves down at halftime. Doherty maintained control for most of the game, but Wachusett kept fighting, scoring 26 points in the fourth quarter to close the gap. However, the early struggles ultimately left too much ground to make up. Shooting Efficiency & Key Stats Doherty’s shooting efficiency was a major difference-maker, as they shot 56.9% from the field, including an impressive 52.6% from three-point range (10-19). In comparison, Wachusett shot 50.9% overall and 36.4% from deep (8-22). Doherty also dominated in the paint, scoring 50 points inside, while Wachusett managed 32. Transition offense played a key role as well, with Doherty capitalizing on fast breaks for 25 points, compared to Wachusett’s 12. Wachusett did manage to force 14 steals and scored 25 points off turnovers, but their 23 turnovers proved costly. Player Performances Despite the loss, Wachusett had some notable individual performances: Erik Maziarz (#4) led the team with 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. Seann Katubi (#15) also had 20 points, getting to the free-throw line often, hitting 6 of 7 attempts. Hunter Berry (#3) contributed 13 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals, playing 30 minutes. William Njoroge (#2) finished with 12 points and 2 steals, hitting two three-pointers.