The Somerville High Boys Basketball Team Split its first two games with Malden Catholic.

By Mike Rubin

Even though the Somerville boys basketball team is undersized and inexperienced, they’ve hustled their way to a fine start.

Despite suffering a tough 63-59 defeat to Malden Catholic, the Highlanders bounced back with an encouraging 78-71 win over the Lancers in Friday night’s home opener at the Brune Gymnasium. Currently, the Highlanders stand at 1-1 overall.

Leading the way for the Highlanders in the win was Billy Bonnet and Stanley Julce, who recorded 14 points apiece while Kevin Silva added 12 in the win.

In a dominant second quarter, the Highlanders outscored the Lancers 22-4, and grabbed a commanding 24 point lead early in the third. Battling back, the Lancers emerged on a key run and closed the gap within six in the fourth quarter before the Highlanders were finally able to secure the win in the final seconds.

Also contributing for the Highlanders was Johnson Thomas, with 12 points. Thomas, who fouled out late in the contest, was replaced by reserve forward John Lubin, who recorded 11 second half points en route to 13 in the game.

With the Lancers on a key second half run, Lubin nailed a pair of key baskets en route to the win.

“We have a really young team, but we’re also very athletic as well,” said coach Mark Antonelli. “(Lubin) came up huge with (Thomas) fouled out.”

Offensively, the Highlanders shot more than 50 percent from the field in the first half. Despite a quick fourth quarter surge by the Lancers, the Highlanders were able to hold them off.

“We were getting nervous, and we were making mistakes,” said Antonelli. “We weren’t doing the things later in the game that we were doing earlier. We were trying to do much individually, and that comes with youth and inexperience. But we were able to weather through it, and come through on some key performances by a lot of our guys.”

In Tuesday’s 63-59 defeat to the Lancers, the Highlanders faced a 12 point deficit heading into the final quarter before a late charge closed the gap within 61-59.

“(Malden Catholic) took it to us,” said Antonelli. “We came back, but it was a little too late.”

After the first quarter, the Highlanders grabbed an 18-16 lead before the Lancers held the Highlanders to 12 second quarter points and eight in the third.

“We made too many turnovers, and in the end it cost us,’’ said Antonelli. “We were an offense that panicked too much in the early going.”

Other key performances for the Highlanders included Julce, who recorded a pair of three pointers while Skerby Odivin also added several key shots. Offensively, Julce led the squad with 13 while Odivin added 12.

“We’re a young team, and we still have a lot of work to do,’’ said Antonelli. “I’m very encouraged with what I’ve seen so far.”