How Westborough's Nick Bellofatto's scoring has boosted the Rangers up the standings
WESTBOROUGH – Nicholas Bellofatto announced his presence early in his senior season.
The Westborough boys basketball guard dropped at least 20 points in the team's first three games, including a career-high 35 against North Middlesex on Dec. 15. He had more than 20 in seven of the Rangers' first eight games.
Bellofatto is the fifth-leading scorer in Central Massachusetts at 21.5 points per game.
That after averaging just 7.9 points per game last season.
"It's just getting the opportunity. Last year there were some seniors in my spot," Bellofatto said. "Last year I was just a spot up (shooter), now I'm looking to get to the rim and shoot as well. It's a mentality thing."
Back in action
He's also healthy. Bellofatto missed all but seven games as a junior after he broke his leg. Westborough missed the postseason a year ago with a 4-14 record, the Rangers' third straight season without a playoff game after winning the 2019 Division 2 Central sectional title. Rangers coach Brian Willar unofficially named Bellofatto the captain, and he fulfilled every bit of the responsibility.
He entered the Rangers in Worcester's Crompton summer league and ran every open gym.
"He made sure the kids were together," Willar said.
Once the winter season began, Bellofatto attracted attention. He opened with 28 against Fitchburg then scored 35 against North Middlesex in game No. 3. The opposition took notice. They began face guarding him and trying to deny his catches.
"It's something I'm trying to get used to," Bellofatto said. "It's an honor. It's a level of respect. It means I'm doing something right."
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He's increased his effort off the ball, cutting backdoor and crashing for offensive rebounds. Westborough also experimented with him bringing the ball up the court so he could initiate offense. Bellofatto isn't always trying to ram a square peg in if the defense presents a round hole. He's a willing and comfortable passer.
Drawn to the game
The competitive back and forth initially drew Bellofatto to basketball at age four.
"This is the love. It clicked for me ever since I picked up a basketball," he said. "The competitiveness, coming in with guys trying to compete for a win, trying to beat an opponent, it's something you can't experience with any other sport."
In Westborough's last game against Nashoba, the Rangers realized the Wolves couldn't stay in front of him and instructed Bellofatto to attack the rim at will. It helps that he's an immaculate free throw shooter and further wounds the defense for fouling.
"Nicks a very smart kid, he can just read things," Willar said. "He's learning how to do this. This is new for him, but it's gonna make us a better team."
That's priority No. 1 for the Rangers and Bellofatto, regardless of how many points he scores. He grew up attending open gyms and Willar's camps. Bellofatto looked up to the Westborough teams that won at Central Massachusetts' highest levels when he was in middle school.
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"We wanted to change. This wasn't Westborough basketball," Bellofatto said. "This is my chance. I want the opportunity to be like them. It's a mentality within the guys."
A program shift
They've won in other sports. Willar knows how to win basketball games. It's starting to come together at the midpoint of the 2023-24 season. Westborough is 8-2 and second in the Midland Wachusett B standings after a tight loss against Nashoba on Friday. The Rangers are slotted 14th in the Division 2 power rankings, in line for two home games in the state tournament if that holds.
"For the past couple years, I felt that this team had a chance to be really, really good. These kids come to my camps. I know these guys. I had a feeling that if they put the work in the offseason that we had a chance to do pretty good," Willar said. "This team has the mentality of whatever it takes to win."
Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Westborough guard's improvement is leading the Rangers to more wins
