Martha's Vineyard Sports
By Don Lyons
Published: December 18, 2008
Icing the cake
Photos by Ralph Stewart
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School varsity boys ice hockey team has served notice that it is a force with which to be reckoned by strong showings against some perennially powerful teams in the pre season. It continued to impress in the season opener at the Martha's Vineyard Arena, Saturday, crushing Mansfield, 7-1.
The Islanders took eight shots on goal in the first period and buried three of them. Scorers were Jock Cooperrider assisted by Brooks Billingham, Elliot Bilzerian assisted by Chris Davies and Trey Rasmussen, and Tad Gold with help from Darren Gazaille.
The purple puckmen added a fourth point in the middle period on four shots on goal and three more with an 11 SOG attack in the final frame.
The second period scorer was Nick Billingham, assisted by Henry Smith and Chris Davies.
In the third period Rasmussen, Smith, and Gold did the damage. Colin Hurd, Bilzerian, and Matt Flynn were credited with assists.
Mike Capen handled all but one of 12 chances in goal.
Monday, the Islanders rolled over Whitman-Hanson on first period goals by Henry Smith and Tad Gold and third period pointers by Chris Davies and Tad Gold. Credited with assists were Nick Billingham, Chris Davies, Darren Gazaille, Matt Flynn (2) and Trey Rasmussen,
Mike Capen was the winning goalie.
Monday the Islanders were at Whitman Hanson caging the Panthers 4-2 on goals Henry Smith and Tad Gold in the first period, Chris Davies and Tad Gold again in the third.
Assisting were Nick Billingham, Chris Davies, Trey Rasmussen and Matt Flynn. Mike Capen was in goal.
Girls bow in Opener
The Martha's Vineyard girls ice hockey team had a rough opener versus Sandwich at the Arena, losing to the Blue Knights, 5-0. Things don't get easier. They take on Falmouth at Falmouth today and play Barnstable on Saturday.
Boys basketballers open at 2-1
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School varsity boys basketball team began its season on the right foot with a 56-45 win over Sandwich at the Sancy Pachico gym, Saturday, then continued winning at Pembroke, Monday, 67-52.
Saturday, the Islanders jumped out to a 17-10 lead in the first quarter but cooled in the second, posting only four points in the period as the Blue Knights caught and passed them to hold a 24-21 advantage at the half.
Sandwich began the third quarter by extending their lead to 30-23, but then they cooled as the Islanders took control of the boards and turned on a fast breaking offense to run up a 44-33 lead by the end of the quarter. They still held the 11-point advantage at the end, 56-45.
A junior, Steve Handy led all scorers with 18 points. Mark Reppert reached double figures with 10. Billy Regan and Alex Poole added nine and eight.
Al Stanton led Sandwich with an even dozen. Dan Quarry and Josh Downs contributed 10 and nine.
Alex Poole went down with a painful high ankle sprain and had to be helped off the floor early in the fourth period. Handy led all scorers at Pembroke, Saturday, with 25 points. Reppert (14) and Cody Brewer (13) made it to double digits. Martha's Vineyard cashed seven from long distance, three by Brewer.
At North Dartmouth, Tuesday, the Islanders lost to Bishop Stang, 77-63. Mark Reppert (16), Randall Jette (11), and Steve Handy paced the Martha's Vineyard attack.
Martha's Vineyard girls shaded in opener
Saturday at the Sancy, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School girls varsity hoopsters gave visiting Sandwich all it could handle. The score was tied at 41 with two and a half minutes remaining. But the last four points were posted by the lady Blue Knights, all from the foul line, and Sandwich claimed, 45-41.
High scorers for the Vineyard were by Sophomore Molly Fischer with 17, the game high, and Kia Minor, a senior, with 13. Erin Reardon poured in 15 for Sandwich and was an unmovable presence under the boards.
Tuesday, the Islanders fell to Bishop Stang at the Sancy, 77-63. Martha's Vineyard began cold and scored only seven points to Stang's 17 in the first period, then warmed to the task in the second. At the break it was 21-25. But the Spartans controlled the boards, taking five or more shots at a time while holding Martha's Vineyard to one or two at the other end. Kia Minor was high scorer for Martha's Vineyard with 15 points.
The junior varsity girls game was a seesaw contest with the Islanders winning from the foul line. Starting the fourth quarter Martha's Vineyard led by two, 19-17. Then sank 7 of 10 from the charity stripe while the Spartans dropped just two of nine.
Final score: Martha's Vineyard 33, Bp. Stang 27.
