MATTAPOISETT – Old school South Coast Conference rivals faced off for the second time this season, but the sequel is not always as good as the first run.

Wareham (8-2) broke free of Old Rochester early and often in a 90-47 rout over the Bulldogs as sophomore Aaron Cote posted a game and season-high 25 points to lead the Vikings in a non-conference boys basketball battle.

Old Rochester (8-3) was able to hang with the defending Division 4 state champions in the first game of the season in a tight 75-68 loss back in December, but this one got away quickly.

The Vikings trailed 9-7 midway through the first quarter when the interior glass work and backcourt defense of Cote and Jayce Travers dominated the final minutes of the first quarter with a 13-0 run to take a 20-9 lead at the first break.

“The first time was the first game of the season, and both teams were still working out some kinks. I think since then we’ve played a lot of tough games and that’s why we play the schedule we schedule,” said Wareham head coach Steve Faniel. “I thought we shot the ball well but maybe it got a little out of hand, but I think (Old Rochester) are a better team than that but when we shoot the ball well from the outside – it makes things easier for everyone else.”

The second quarter was much of the same as the stifling Vikings’ defense limited the Bulldogs to three field goals the entire eight minutes, with the first coming with 4:11 left in the first half and Wareham comfortably out front, 43-25.

“The first possession we had three misses in a row but unfortunately, they got three shots. We got hurt on the glass early and that was a problem,” said Old Rochester head coach Steve Carvalho. “Wareham is that good right now, give them all the credit in the world. We didn’t play well in spots and when you are playing a team of that caliber – they are the better team than us and that’s all there is to it.”

Cote led four starters in double digits along with four of the team’s 13 three pointers on a night it seemed the Vikings couldn’t miss. Travers finished with 11 points while senior captains Ajay Lopes and Diego Mello each added 13, with all of Mello’s 13 points coming in the second half.

Not to be outdone, senior Antoine Crosson had seven points but led everyone in the paint with 11 rebounds for Wareham while junior guard Zack Mourao led the Bulldogs with 11 points as the only player to reach double figures.

Wareham no longer plays in the South Coast League and chooses an independent schedule but makes sure the opponents are as quality as the state has to offer.

Faniel was able to showcase how deep his talented bench goes as 10 players earned minutes and even the third unit that came in after the benches were emptied finished the final 4:05 of regulation on an 11-0 run to end things and ensure the win.

“On any given night, any one of four or five guys can go for twenty-plus. All those guys can play, it’s hard to get them all in, get them enough minutes and hard to keep them happy but at the same time it’s a luxury and it’s a good problem to have,” said Faniel, who was down a starter due to an ankle injury. “We pride ourselves on our depth and we say, ‘Maybe your one through five is as good as our one through five but – guess what – your one through ten is not as good as ours and we are going to try and wear you out.”