Upper Cape boys basketball clinch first league title in 17 years

Austin Walker of Cape Tech and Jared Nawoichik of Upper Cape Tech tie-up in first-half action on Wednesday in Bourne. Upper Cape Tech won the game (61-25) and their first Mayflower Vocational Small League title since 2005. Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times

BOURNE — The Upper Cape Rams boys basketball team clinched their first Mayflower Vocational Small League title since 2005 with a 61-25 win over divisional opponent Cape Tech Crusaders on Wednesday.

Freshman Emery Robbins, who finished with 8 points, said he is thankful to be part of this team. 

"It's a really big thing winning the title because 17 years is a long time," Robbins said. "We  are successful because we just believe in each other and we have great team chemistry and a bond with each other."

Last season, the Rams canceled their season due to the pandemic. When a shutdown happened again this season, this time for a couple of games, coach Billy Macuch said the players knew their season could be lost again and that motivated them. 

"We felt like we had a really good team last year but we didn't get to play the season and we only returned two seniors, Jared (Nawoichik) and Tucker (Lopes)," Macuch said. "Coming into this season, we had a lot of young guys and we had to teach them how we do things at Upper Cape. There are no selfish players on this team and they don't care who scores, they just want to win." 

The Rams are 13-4 overall — 9-0 against divisional opponents — and have won 12 of their last 13 games after a 1-3 start to the season. A big part of that success has been the play of senior captain Nawoichik. The Rams led 7-3 after the first quarter, but the second quarter was a different story.

"We had trouble in that first quarter with a lot of nerves and the ball just wouldn't go down," Macuch said. "In that second quarter, Jared came out of the break and said, 'Coach I got this. Give me the ball.'"

Nawoichik did not disappoint as he knocked down 4 three-pointers and scored 14 of his 23 points in the second quarter. The team went on a 21-6 run and led 28-9 at halftime. Nawoichik was a sophomore the last time the Rams played, so said he knows he has to step up and be a leader on this team.

"I looked up to those seniors at the time when I was a sophomore and they mentored me," Nawoichik said. "I have to keep pushing these younger kids to do what they have to do to succeed. We have come a long way and we've been through ups and downs, but the past few years we turned it around and became a really good team."

The Rams have three games left in the regular season, which ends on Tuesday. After that, they will play in the divisional playoffs.

"We have to get these wins," Macuch said. "We want to make sure we stay in the rankings for the Vocational championship round that is coming up, we want to win. That's next and then we will worry about the state tournament."

Emery Robbins of Upper Cape Tech puts up a shot over Joshua Wiggins of Cape Tech on Wednesday in Bourne. Upper Cape Tech won the game 61-25. Ron Schloerb/Cape Cod Times

Winning was also on the mind of Lopes, the other returning senior, who scored 5 points Wednesday and has played a big role for the Rams.

"It's just crazy because we didn't play last year and we have a whole new team," Lopes said. "The biggest part of our success this season is being friends and building relationships. We just have to keep practicing hard."

In December, before the season started, Macuch said the message from the team was clear: "Win it all for the guys that lost a season last year."