Back to back: Boys basketball wins state championship

For the second year running, the Wareham High School boys varsity basketball team has won the Division 4 state championship. 

The Vikings brought it home with a 86-71 game against the Bourne Canalmen at the Tsongas Center on Sunday, March 17. 

The game started out close, with both teams putting up 15 points in the first quarter. However, Wareham built an eight point lead in the last few minutes of the second, and Bourne struggled to close the gap throughout the rest of the game. 

The Wareham crowd began to chant, “It’s all over,” with under a minute on the clock, and chanted, “Back to back,” when the Vikings closed out the game. 

Many of the players on the team also had been a part of the 2023 roster which brought the state title to Wareham for the first time in 13 years. 

Justin Lopes Senior, father of team captain Ajay Lopes, was excited for the win, but not surprised — “We knew Ajay wasn’t going to give up his last game,” he said. 

Ajay’s sister Star said she was “so proud of everyone.”

With the win, the Vikings end the season with a 23-3 record. 

Superintendent Matt D’Andrea said he’s very proud of the players and the coaches and of the way they represent the town. 

“It means a lot — it’s great,” he said.