Coming off of an impressive 18-2 regular season record, the Ipswich High School boys' basketball team is heading into the State Tournament. The Tigers finished first in the Cape Ann League Small winning their fifth straight Cape Ann League title.

“The Cape Ann League was very good this year and it was a big accomplishment,” said senior starting point guard and Captain Tom McLoughlin.

After making it to the State Finals for the last two years in a row, the Tigers feel that they have a good chance of making it back there. The Tigers are better defensively and rebounding then they have been in past years and have a deep bench. The Tigers have 7-8 players that play every game and all offer something different to the team. The Tigers will be looking for Nick Layman and Steve Phaneuf to provide most of the scoring for the Tigers in the tournament and also strong defense by Tom McLoughlin and Alex Harrington.

This is reportedly one of the best teams Coach Woodworth has ever led.

“This is the top 1 or 2 team I have ever coached but also the hardest because people take it for granted. Everyone expects us to win and you can see that when people don’t show up for games because they think we are going to win,” Coach Woodworth told The Tiger Transcript.

The Tigers are hoping to go deep into the tournament.

“With our talent and experience we should go deep into the tournament,” said McLoughlin.

All Coach Woodworth wants them to do in the tournament is play at their best level.

“If we play poor and loose then I will be upset but if we play our best and lose then I will be fine,” said Coach Woodworth. The Tigers are entering the State Tournament as the number one seed and will play their first game against Winthrop.