Mallards Cruise in Season Opener

BERLIN- Worcester Prep’s boys’ varsity basketball team got off to a fast start last week, routing visiting Wye River Upper School, 48-7, to open the 2010-2011 campaign.

The young, but deep Mallards jumped all over Wye River early, building a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and extending it to 24-4 by halftime. Andrew Ternahan got Worcester on the board first with a quick lay-up on the Mallards’ first possession. Harrison Brennan then scored six straight points to extend the lead to 8-0.

Brennan took a fast break for a lay-up after a block by Alex Ternahan to make it 4-0. Brennan then hit a jumper from the perimeter to make it 6-0. During the same sequence, Brennan got a steal and took it for another fast-break lay-up to extend the lead to 8-0. A lay-up by Ryan McGuire made it 10-0.

Wye River got on the board with a three-pointer with just 10 seconds left in the first quarter, but Worcester’s Jeff Andresen answered with a three-pointer at the buzzer to push the Mallards’ lead to 13-3 after one period. Throughout the second quarter, Worcester Coach Mike Grosso substituted liberally with his deep bench and interchangeable parts and the Mallards suffered no let down against the over-matched Wye River.

The Mallards moved the ball patiently around the court on offense and got several easy looks at the basket as they continued to add to the score. On defense, Worcester applied pressure on both ends of the floor, which set up scoring opportunities down the other end. Matt Riley scored on a lay-up to make it 15-4 before Zander Farr hit a jumper from the right side to extend the lead to 17-4. Another lay-up by Riley improved Worcester’s lead to 19-4. Worcester extended its lead to 28-4 by the half and never looked back on its way to a 48-7 rout in the season opener.

With just two seniors on the roster, Ben Mumford and Jeff Andresen, the Mallards are young, but deep as they prepare for the 2010-2011 campaign. Mumford and junior Alex Ternahan are team captains this season and already are providing leadership on the court for the young, but talented Mallards. Other players expected to make big contributions this season include Andrew Ternahan, Brennan, Ryan Nally, Ryan McGuire and Zander Farr, a sophomore who transferred from Salisbury School this year.

Worcester will play the usual suspects in the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference (ESIAC) along with a handful of games outside the conference. After the Thanksgiving break, Worcester will face familiar ESIAC rival Salisbury School at home next Wednesday at 7 p.m.