Martha's Vineyard Sports Highlights
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School winter arrives Saturday
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School winter sports begin in earnest Saturday, with all teams playing at home.
The girls basketball teams open their seasons with Sandwich, varsity at 12:30 in the Sancy Pachico gym, junior varsity at 2 pm in the Boys & Girls Club.
The girls ice hockey team plays Sandwich at the Arena, facing off at 1 pm.
The boys varsity basketball team tips off with Sandwich at 2 pm in the gym; Jayvees, at 12:30 in the B&G.
The boys ice hockey team hosts Mansfield at 5 pm.
Travel basketball
The 8th grade boys travel team hosted Mashpee at the Sancy Pachico gym, Saturday, and treated them to a 49-46 defeat. Jack Roberts had a game-high 23 points. Andrew Hakala was strong on the boards and contributed six points.
In a second game, the Islanders lost to Falmouth, 58-27. Roberts with nine and Mike Bizzarro with eight were high for the Vineyard.
This Saturday the Islanders will be at Barnstable and Berkley.
Paul Hakala and Mike DeBettencourt are team coaches.
The Martha's Vineyard 6th grade boys travel team took on Raynham, Sunday, and found their hosts' full-court press difficult to solve. Raynham controlled the boards at both ends of the court and finished the game with a comfortable 37-18 lead.
Matt Stone was high for the Vineyard with nine. Ben Poole chipped in five.
In a second contest, the Islanders took on North Plymouth. Taking a cue from the earlier game, Martha's Vineyard played a much more physical game and built a 10-point lead in the first half. Tim Roberts and Brandon Dwane provided their share of the muscle. N.P. made a run at the lead in the fourth quarter but Martha's Vineyard held on and finished six points ahead, 32-26. Colin Cameron was high for Martha's Vineyard with 10 points, Mike Mussell added six, and Dwane five.
Net notes
A junior tennis tournament to benefit the Vineyard Youth
Tennis scholarship fund was held at the VYT courts on Friday. November 28.
The 8 and under champion was Lizzie Williams. Runner up was Molly DeBettencourt.
The 10 and under champ was Jake Fertile with Owen Hess as finalist.
Jake was also the 12 and under champ. Jack Rizza made it to the finals.
Sterline Meachem was the top 14 and under player. Runner up was Dylan Brockmeyer.
Samantha Potter won the 12 and under division tennis tournament at the Manchester Athletic Club last weekend, her second tourney win since moving up to the 12 and under division. Ten VYT players entered the competition. Kent Leonard reached the semifinals of the boys 14 and under division.
The VYT scholarship fund will also benefit from the second Adult Round Robin Extravaganza on February 5-8 in the Bubble at the Blinker. Men's and ladies doubles will be offered with A, B, and C divisions. Entry fee is $100 per adult team and $80 per junior team. A welcome cocktail party, exhibition and Fischer Prize Demo Day will be offered. For more information and/or an entry form, see www.vineyardyouthtennis.org
Michael Halisky, head tennis pro at VYT, recently received his USPTA certification.
Vineyard Tennis Center
Saturday a seminar for tennis players who want to raise their fitness level to improve court play was held at the Vineyard Tennis Center. Players combined tennis drills with sport-specific conditioning.
VTC plans to continue hosting seminars for tennis players. The next session, December 18 at 9 am, will focus on the serve.
Men's hockey league
The newly formed Men's A Hockey League begins play at the Martha's Vineyard Arena Sunday, Dec.14, at 12 noon.
Players should arrive by 11:30 am to sign up. Full equipment including helmets is required.
League play will continue to March 27, 2009. Cost is $15 per walk-on or $130 to sign up for the season,
Check the Arena's website: www.mvarena.com for more information or call Beth Blankenship O'Connor at 774-521-9870.
It figures
The Martha's Vineyard Figure Skating Club will host a Holiday Exhibition on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2:30 pm at the Arena. Skaters of all levels will perform.
Black powder shoot-off
A dozen black powder shooters competed for top prizes at the Rod & Gun Club's annual Black Powder Shoot, Sunday.
Top honors went to Phil Hughes of Oak Bluffs, winner of the primitive muzzleloader division. Steve Jordan was second. Richard Olson took Class C honors followed by Tom O'Hanlon and Bill Kingsbury.
Have skates, will travel
At Raynham on Friday, the Martha's Vineyard Jr. High team clobbered the NECDL Bruins, 9-2.
On Saturday at the Kennedy Rink in Barnstable, the Martha's Vineyard Squirts Cape & Islands girls team was edged by Barnstable , 2-3.
J.J. Mendez scored assisted by Belle Dinning and Alex Figueroa. Saige Araujo also found the back of the net assisted by Alex Figueroa. Kylie Hatt and Colin Buckley were strong up front. Ellie Hanjian and Cathal Robinson fronted Zach Fullin in goal.
At Foxboro, the Martha's Vineyard Bantams got by Barnstable, 1-0, then did it again, 1-0, to beat the Bristol County Eagles.
On Sunday the Martha's Vineyard Bantams played two Neponset Valley League games, trouncing Barnstable, 6-0, and Bristol County, 4-1. Luke Woodard scored twice in the Barnstable game. Other goals were by Charlie Ashmun, Brian Hurley, Shay Hill, and Harrison Rodrigues. Ashmun, Hurley, Hill, and Joey Uva did the damage against BC. Zolie Clark was near perfect in goal.
Also Saturday, the Martha's Vineyard PeeWees bowed to Tri-County 8-2.
On Sunday, at the Martha's Vineyard Arena, the Martha's Vineyard Jr. Highs shut out Canal PeeWee As, 2-0.
Coming to a TV near you
Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 9 pm, Channel 14 (MVTV) will begin showing Martha's Vineyard Classic Sports featuring Martha's Vineyard's favorite sportscaster Ken Goldberg.
First game to be shown will be the 1991 super bowl football victory over Jeremiah Burke.
