Dominguez scores 24; Tigers can’t contain one-loss Westerly

PAWTUCKET – After three straight games against arguably the top three boys’ basketball teams in Division II this season, the question is where Tolman High goes from here.

If the Tigers put forth the kind of effort that was on display for most of last night’s game against Westerly, head coach Bill Coughlin is confident that positive results will start to transpire.

Coming off two straight blowout losses to pair of teams in Narragansett and Portsmouth who are a combined 19-3 in league play, Tolman ended up giving Westerly quite the scare before the Bulldogs pulled away late to secure a 65-57 win at Donaldson Gymnasium. Now 10-1 and winners of 13 straight, the Bulldogs receives 18 points apiece from usual suspects Jacee Hamelin and Marc Perry.

Tolman freshman Dyondre Dominguez led all scorers with 24 points while junior Josh Goncalves netted 13 of his 15 points in the second half. The Tigers slip to 5-7.

“Coming off two blowouts, it would have been easy to put your head down and say that’s it, but the guys competed and showed a lot of character,” said Coughlin. “I hope the guys realize that good things can happen when they play together.”

It was a game that the Tigers could have won had the final six minutes turn out differently. Up 50-49, Tolman fumbled the ball out of bounds and Westerly turned it into points as Perry glided in for a layup. The Bulldogs never trailed the rest of the way.

The Tigers did move to within 5352 after Goncalves scored, but Westerly responded with six straight points before Dominguez stopped the bleeding with a hoop that made it 5954.

A 3-pointer by Dominguez got Tolman to within 61-57 with under two minutes remaining, but two free throws and a hoop by Perry helped take Westerly home.

The Tigers spent much of the first half trying to figure out a way to keep Westerly out of the lane. The Bulldogs made a living out of driving and finishing at the rim, a recipe that translated into a 33-30 lead at halftime. The advantage grew to six points after Hamelin hit a three on the first possession of the second half, but that’s when Dominguez and Gonsalves went to work.

The two Tolman players took turns in handling the point-producing chores and combined to score the first 12 points of the second half. The streak was halted by Tyreal Whitaker, whose basket put the Tigers up 46-45 with 8:37 remaining.

The lead was extended when Goncalves swished a jumper but the Tigers couldn’t stretch their 53-50 advantage any further. Tolman will look to snap its three-game losing skid Wednesday night at Rogers.

“Out of the frying pan and into the fryer,” said Coughlin.