The Wareham boys varsity basketball team secured a strong win against the Bourne Canalmen on Friday, January 8, with a final score of 81-24.

But Coach Steve Faniel says there’s still room for the team to grow.

“I just thought we came out kinda flat, we didn’t start the game very well,” Faniel said. He noted that without pregame talk and the energy of the crowd, it’s hard for the team to get their energy up. They’re also working with less practice time, changes to routine, and tweaks to the rules of the game for coronavirus safety.

Those challenges have a side benefit, though: “It’s really good for the kids to fight through adversity,” Faniel said. “It’s good preparation for life for them.”

Once the team got going, Faniel said they did well playing with intensity and sharing the ball.

“Everyone got to play, everyone contributed, everyone really worked hard. So I’m proud of them all,” Faniel said. 

And he said the team is on track to do even better.

“I think we got better today. Everytime we go out, we learn something new to get better for the next game,” Faniel said. 

Wareham High’s Athletic Director Ed Rodrigues said that the winter sports season -- the first since the pandemic’s beginning -- has been going well so far. Coaches and athletes have been working hard to follow new rules about distancing and masks.

“It’s been a great relief for [the students]. I think it’s helped their morale quite a bit,” Rodrigues said.

Christian Fernandes of WCTV called the game, which was streamed live on Facebook and on WCTV.

“Phenomenal game for the Vikings,” Fernandes said. “Good job, Bourne, for trying to keep up with them.”

The team’s next game will stream live on the Wareham Community Television Facebook page at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12.