The Westford Academy boys and girls basketball teams are slated to hit the hardwood some 35 miles from the comforts of their home gym next Sunday.
But don’t be surprised if TD Garden is taken over by the Ghosts.
Both Westford Academy squads are set to compete in the Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational on Causeway Street, and there is already plenty of excitement around the parquet doubleheader building in the Westford community.
An action-packed slate of hoops is on tap at the iconic venue to benefit the Andrew James Lawson Foundation. The first of 10 games starts at 8 a.m., which includes three local teams. The Lowell High boys are also Garden-bound.
The Westford girls will battle Acton-Boxboro at 11:30 a.m., followed by the boys taking on Falmouth at 1 p.m. Lowell will face Beverly in the nightcap at 8:30 p.m.
Lawson, a Norwell native, was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with cancer before passing away in 2018 at age 27. The foundation was started in his memory and is driven to improve the lives of people with disabilities through various initiatives. Lawson grew up rooting for the Celtics and was inducted into the Massachusetts Special Olympics Hall of Fame in 2017.
It’s only fitting that the games in his honor will be played at TD Garden, with proceeds from the event benefitting the foundation.
The Westford boys (3-3) are set to commence the festivities for Westford fans on Sunday.
“Kids are super excited,” said head coach Chris Bramanti. “As is the town. Sold 900 tickets to the game. Pretty impressive. We got kids singing the national anthem. Cheerleaders. Pep band. It is going to be an event.”
Nearly 100 boys and girls from the Westford travel program will also be in attendance, with some playing at halftime.
Look for senior captain Teddy Hirbour to dazzle. He is averaging 16 points and seven rebounds a night and is a key cog in Westford’s attack. Senior captains Jack Bussey and Blake Krikorian have impressed this season, while Liam Arnold and Sam Bramanti have rounded out Westford’s scoring front.
The girls squad is off to a strong 5-2 start and will look to take care of business against Acton-Boxboro under the bright lights.
“This is an unbelievably exciting opportunity for our team,” said head coach Camille Desrochers. “Getting the chance to play at the TD Garden is something most high school athletes dream about, and our girls have earned it through their commitment and work ethic. It is going to be a great event as both us and the boys varsity team are playing. It’ll be really fun to have the Westford community there supporting us.”
Seniors Kaitlyn Pepin (11 points, four rebounds) and Olivia Pillsbury (eight points) are stuffing the stat sheet for the Ghosts. The versatile Alexa Coward (six points, seven rebounds, five assists) has also been impactful.
Westford Academy’s Jack Lafond (10) battles for a rebound against multiple Waltham defenders during a recent boys basketball game. (James Thomas for the Lowell Sun)
“Playing at the TD Garden is a great chance for the girls to compete against a really good team and also enjoy a really special experience together,” Desrochers said.
The final game of the 10-game marathon is poised to deliver. Lowell (6-2) is off to a great start on the winter campaign, but Beverly is no easy opponent. The Panthers (5-2) are headlined by one of the best players in the state in Jacob Klass. The senior recorded his 1,000th career point on Friday night and is a three-level scorer.
But Lowell boasts a talented group of stalwarts who have contributed this season and are captained by seniors Collin Christiansen, Julius Richardson and Aiden Walter. Adamze Mansaray has also been a key producer for a Red Raiders team that recently captured the Greater Lowell Holiday Tournament title.
“The team’s very excited,” said head coach Bob Michalczyk. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To play on the same court as the Celtics is every kid’s dream growing up and we get to play against one of the top-ranked teams in the state.”
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