![Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey explains the history of the Cochituate Gatehouse.
"The exterior is still a nice monument to remember buildings [involved in] water history," Hoey said. "We all drink lots of water, and it's such an important resource that we kind of take for granted nowadays."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2024-1200x800.jpg)
On Friday, Jan. 9, the No. 44 ranked Wayland varsity boys basketball team upset the No. 26 ranked Westford Academy in a 62-57 thriller. Junior Cooper McFarlane led the way for Wayland with 22 points, including five 3-pointers.
When Wayland went down 10-3 in the first four and a half minutes of the game – with Wayland’s only points coming on a McFarlane 3-pointer — a dramatic finish was likely not on the minds of many Wayland fans.
Wayland built momentum late in the first quarter when McFarlane hit another 3-pointer, and junior Joshua Louis Guy made a layup and drew a foul to cap a six-point run, making the score 18-14, Westford ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Wayland carried their momentum into the second quarter and tied the game at 20-20 just two minutes in. By halftime, Wayland led 39-31.
In the third quarter, Westford Academy found a rhythm and cut into Wayland’s lead to make it 41-35 before Wayland called a timeout with four and a half minutes left. Westford’s defense tightened, and Wayland’s 3-pointers stopped falling.
The low-scoring third ended with Wayland ahead 43-42, as Westford outscored Wayland 11-4 in the quarter.
The intense game had the student section on its feet for what would soon become Wayland’s biggest win of the season.
About a minute into the fourth quarter, Westford tied the game at 43-43 on a free-throw. From here, McFarlane got red-hot, hitting two 3-pointers in a row and completing a three-point play on an and-one.
“My shots felt great,” McFarlane said. “My teammates set me up with good shots and put me in good positions to score points for the team.”
Westford stayed in it, however, and with just 32 seconds remaining, Wayland led 57-55. Westford could not complete the comeback, and junior Jack Rennecker’s free throws down the stretch sealed Wayland’s 62-57 win.
This win brings Wayland’s record to 4-4, and their league record to 1-1. With Wayland ranked No. 44 in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division II, it will be interesting to see how the team will climb with this win over a top 30 Division I team. The next power rankings update is Tuesday, Jan. 13.
“It was a great win,” McFarlane said. “It’s going to give us momentum moving forward.”
Wayland’s next game is on Tuesday, Jan. 13, against Weston High School in the WHS Field House.
