The Vikings have been (out)running their opponents into defeat all year, and that held true against East Bridgewater in a 61-46 playoff victory. The game started slowly for the Vikings, though, until the team went on a 20-8 run in the second quarter.

“Those runs were happening because we were running,” Brogioli said. “We’re a much better team when we push it than when we settle for the half court game.”

The team was backed by a 16-point outing by guard Mason Vasconcellos.

“He’s the best conditioned athlete I’ve ever coached, and you can see that,” coach Kevin Brogioli said. “He doesn’t press – well, I mean he presses the other team – but, he kept playing hard and made things happen. He’s made some big shots when we needed them, and that’s what Mason’s done all year.”

Vasconcellos scored 14 of his points in the second half. To create the second quarter push, the Vikings began distributing the ball.

“It’s family. Brotherhood,” Vasconcellos said. “I would have no problem having 30 assists a game and no points.”

“There’s nothing better than driving to the hoop, making two people cover you, and dishing it somebody for a wide-open layup,” Vasconcellos explained.

For Brogioli and Vasconcellos, the strategy has been to outrun, outlast the opponent.

“That’s something I take pride in because from the first day of practice to the last, I’m busting my butt up and down that court all day,” Vasconcellos said. “I try to motivate my teammates to do the same. I’m always saying, ‘who’s going to beat me? Who’s going to beat me?’ It showed today. They were tired in the second half. Nobody runs like us.”

While Vasconcellos was the game’s leading scorer, the Vikings were aided by other players.

Brogioli was quick to point to guard Matt Griggs, who had nine points.

“Briggs is coming on. You can feel it in him,” Brogioli said. “His confidence was shaken about halfway through the season. I remember a game in Dighton. He was so down on himself, he pratically had tears in his eyes on the bus. But, we know what we have with Briggs. We have a great defensive player, a great athlete who can take it to the whole.”

Overall, seven players got marks on the score sheet: Vasconcellos, Griggs, forward Latroy Hairston, guard Andrew White, guard Michael Labonte, forwards Chris Ciacci and Cy Bariteau.

Wareham’s next game will be at Martha’s Vineyard on Feb. 27.

“We’re going to need to do a better job at the post defense than we did tonight to have a shot at the vineyard,” Brogioli said. “It should be a high-scoring game at the Vineyard.”

“We know who they are. They got us last year. We got them the year before,” Vasconcellos said. “This is our year.”