Junior Brendan Hoban led the way for the Watertown High boys’ basketball team Friday night with 39 points in the Raiders’ 78-58 blowout win of Middlesex Freedom foe Melrose. It was the Raiders’ fourth straight win in league play.

Senior Anthony Gilardi started hot and stayed hot (30 points) and was a mammoth on the boards (12 rebounds) as he tried to keep Melrose competitive in the contest.

WHS jumped out to a 7-0 lead on two 3-pointers by Hoban and a free throw by captain Mike Hagopian. Gilardi then went on to steal the show in the first and score 10 of his own in the last half of the period to bring the score to 25-14 after one.

Respective senior captains Colby Andrews and Hagopian led their squads in the second with 6 points apiece. Hagopian with a key 3-pointer toward the end of the half to stretch the WHS lead to 12.

Hoban and Gilardi then took it upon themselves in the third, both finishing the period with 11 points. Raiders junior center Derek DiPietrantonio’s defensive play led to easy layups for Watertown.

Hoban finished the fourth with 13 more points, capping his total at 39 on the night. Freshman Julio Fulcar (4 points, 3 rebounds) joined in on the rout with a 3-pointer in the fourth to put the game too far out of reach for Melrose to overcome.

“Some very unselfish play from my teammates tonight,” said Hoban.  “Derek and Mike did a great job getting the rebounds and moving the ball around and we were finding the open man all night.”

The win brought the Raiders’ overall record up to 6-4 and the league record to 4-1. They now must get ready for a quick turnaround and come back to take on Boston Latin on Sunday. Jan. 18, at 2 p.m. at Watertown High.

–Jan. 16, 2015–