Sports
Warriors win two more
RCBL Thursday
Four Warriors scored in twin columns Thursday night at the Boys & Girls Club totaling 83 points. Matt Rivers (21), Jade Cash (21), Tim Scott (21), and Patrick Rolston (20) led the way over the Lakers, 109-92.
Sterlin Bishop was monstrous for the Heat. He regularly leads all scorers and rebounders.
Photos by Ralph Stewart
Four Lakers also reached double numbers - Adam Rebello (20), Jared Silvia (17), Nate Scott (17), and Karl Kallinich (12) - but their efforts added up to 66 points.
Despite the cheers of young Keith Healy, son of senior Laker John, the Warriors led after the first 12-minute quarter, 32-22, and grew that to 63-44 at the half.
In the Thursday nightcap Sterlin Bishop was dominant at both ends of the court in the Heat's 101-84 scorching of the Knicks. Bishop scored 37 points and led in rebounds with 15. Also posting double digits for the hot ones were Jason Dyer 24, and Damon Mello 21. Ryan Kurth (25) and James Holenko (20) paced the Knicks attack. Keith Crossland added 14 and Ken Magnuson had 10.
RCBL Monday
The early Monday game, Bulls vs. Lakers, promised to be a close one and it did not disappoint. The first quarter ended with the Lakers up by two, 17-15. But the second period was all Bulls as the Lakers turned cold, scoring only nine points. The Bulls led at the half, 44-26. The Lakers made up a little ground in the third quarter, but not enough to worry the Bulls and the scoreboard had it 58-44 going into the final frame. Three-point shooting by Adam Rebello, Jeff LaBell, and Albie Robinson spurred the Lakers to draw within four, but no closer. Final: Bulls 73, Lakers 68.
The second Monday game was a mismatch as only five of the Heat showed up to do battle with ten of the league-leading Warriors. The fearless five stayed close for half of the game and actually led at the half, 52-48. But then the Warriors applied themselves to the task at hand and won going away, 114-86.
The Heat's Sterlin Bishop scored the game-high 34. Jason Dyer added 27 with five treys. Matt Rivers (26) and Jade Cash (21) led the Warriors. James Rolston (15), Monte Bizzarro (13), and Tim Scott (12) made it to two columns.
Stripe-shirted Gregg Rollins and Richie Roy blew the whistles.
John Healey held his ground but Matt Rivers drove by him.
Tim Scott, a Warrior, is pursued by Victor Penicaud of the Heat.
Boys LaX goes Greene
Chris Greene, the 37-year-old new head coach of boys lacrosse at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, played the game at Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y., from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also has an associate degree in Electrical Technology.
He is married to Janieann Gaspar Greene, an Islander.
Coach Greene was assistant to Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Coach Peter Ferrini and also helped Bill Seaborn, the junior varsity coach, who is now Coach Greene's assistant.
Boys lacrosse coach Chris Greene.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
"Winning is the science of being totally prepared" has been his mantra and the ingredients of that preparation are passion, intensity, mental power, and leadership.
He grew up in Cortland in Westchester County, New York, and was a fan of West Point lacrosse teams.
The coach is pleased with the players chosen to be team captains: Gus Hayes, Pat Hart, and Matt Costello, each of whom is a product of Martha's Vineyard's youth lacrosse program, a program Coach Greene plans to support by active involvement.
Last year's Martha's Vineyard Regional High School boys lacrosse team won 14 and lost four games. They were seeded 16th in Division 2 by the MIAA.
Their playoff season lasted just one game as 17th-seeded Lawrence Central Catholic team tied the game with 23 seconds remaining on the clock and then scored again in the four-minute sudden death overtime.
Half of that 24-member 2008 team were lost to graduation.
Girls lacrosse coach Betsy Dripps.
Dripps's dragoons
Beginning her 12th year as varsity girls lacrosse coach, Betsy Dripps lost only four players to graduation from the 2008 team that won 11 of its 15 games (9-1 in the Maritime League) and reached the semi-finals of the MIAA Playoffs before being bounced by Duxbury.
Coach Dripps, a graduate of Briarcliff College, took up lacrosse not in college but in the Philadelphia Club league. She was the moving force in introducing the game as a girls sport at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School and is the only girls lacrosse coach the school has had.
The only changes in the team's schedule are the additions of Fairhaven and Bridgewater-Raynham, two new members of the Maritime League.
One feature of the girls season which all anticipate with joy is the visit of two teams from England - Chiltenham and St. Helen's & St. Katherine's.
Fifty girls have signed up to play lacrosse at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
Captains of the 2009 varsity team are Laura Jernegan, Cristina Wiley, Zoe and Alexa Fisher.
Kristina Meehan is the assistant coach.
America's oldest
America has produced more than its share of team games which are now played around the world, including basketball, volleyball, and baseball. But the oldest American game, by far, is lacrosse. In fact, lacrosse was being played here before there was an America, indeed, centuries before Amerigo Vespucci was born in 1454. Lacrosse has been played here since the 12th century.
It was seen and first described (and named) by the French Jesuit Missionary Jean de Brebeuf who saw it being played by the Iroquois in 1636. The curved stick with which the ball was cradled and thrown resembled a crosier (la crosse), a stylized shepherd's crook carried by bishops in procession as a sign of their pastoral role in the church.
Sports Highlights
Martha's Vineyard girls beat all
The Martha's Vineyard Junior High girls basketball team went through the weekend tournament at Falmouth unscathed and claimed the championship title with a 4-0 record.
Saturday morning the victims hailed from Berkley, 41-32,
Martha's Vineyard's high scorers were Kathleen DeBettencourt with 12, Jenney Lindland with 11 and Katie Stewart with 8.
Saturday afternoon the Vineyarders defeated their Falmouth hosts, 43-39. Kendall Robinson led the parade to the Clippers hoop with 16 points. Lindland had 13 and DeBettencourt 8. Stewart was perfect from the foul line, six for six.
It was Sandwich's turn to bow to the Vineyard on Sunday, 31-20. Lindland was high scorer with 11 points. Maggie Riseborough added eight more.
In the tourney finals the Islanders had another crack at Falmouth and ran off with a 42-26 win.
Lindland (15), Robinson (8), Tiana Souza (6), and Hayley Maciel (6) provided most of the winning margin.
The girls have one more scheduled tournament, the St. Pat's, at South Plymouth this weekend.
Finals faced in Falmouth
The Martha's Vineyard sixth-grade boys travel basketball team made it to the finals of the Jay Corey Memorial Tournament at Falmouth, Sunday, then settled for second place to a talented Bedford squad, 53-45.
The road to the tourney finals went by the host team, Falmouth, early Sunday. The junior Clippers started fast and the Islanders had to scramble to stay close. At the half Falmouth led by a point. Midway though the second half the Vineyard trailed by eight. But two three-pointers by Matt Stone and another by Mike Mussell put the Islanders back in contention. Tim Roberts was fouled while shooting a trey and coolly sank three foul shots sealing a 44-38 win.
In the championship round Sunday afternoon, the Vineyarders jumped off to an early lead but Bedford's fast break earned them a six-point half-time advantage. The Islanders let it all hang out in the second half but Bedford proved equal to the challenge and finished on top, 53-45.
Mike Mussell led Martha's Vineyard scorers with 13 points, Alex Gordon Beck contributed 10 and both Matt Stone and Tim Roberts had nine.
The Martha's Vineyard boys travel to South Plymouth this weekend for the March Madness tournament.
Junior Raqueteers
Eight juniors took a tennis trip to the Weymouth Tennis Club last weekend. The 8- to 10-year-old Islanders were: Zak Danz, Owen Hess, Grant Pertile, Kat Roberts, Lizzie Williamson, Axsel and Nianoa Cooperrider and Theo Guerin. The Martha's Vineyard youngsters participated in singles and doubles matches, many for the first time in an off-Island event. The young Islanders did very well against the more experienced Weymouth players.
A bonnie lass
Bonnie Kingsbury, 30, of Vineyard Haven, was the first woman in her 30-35 age group to complete the recent tough eight-mile road race on St. John's in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She completed the run in 1:07:00. Overall, Bonnie was the 7th female finisher.
Gunning it
Ben Gunn, Martha's Vineyard Regional High School '03, now a senior at St. Anselm's College, Manchester, N.H., and the shortstop on the Hawk's baseball team (as well as the Highlanders of the Island Softball League), was named to the Northeast 10 Conference weekly Honor Roll for the weekend of March 1. Ben went five for nine with five walks. He scored five times and drove in three runs. He hit a game-winning RBI double in the 11-10 defeat of Florida's St. Leo University.
The BoSox Club has chosen Ben to be the first recipient of the Dominic DiMaggio Scholarship based on Ben's academic accomplishments as well as his commitment to St. Anselm's baseball.
How to go, Ben!
Darting at the PA
The third week of the dart season featured a playoff between Wes Wood, James Rowell, Kim Cottrill and George Gamble versus Jake Gifford, Fred McDougal, Pat Whalen, and Brenda Welch. Both teams had defeated their opponents, 7-4. The Gifford team won the playoff. Jack Welch hit a 150 3-dart-out.
The following week produced anther playoff: Mike Dow, Ken Cottrill, Jack Welch, and Linda Wood vs. Wes Wood's Wonders. The Wonders took the prize money.
League Standings
1st Mike Dow's team, 29
2nd Robert O'Sullivan's team, 26
3rd Wes Wood's team, 25
It figures at the Arena
The Martha's Vineyard Figure Skating Club's 21st annual Ice Show, March 21 and 22, at the Martha's Vineyard Arena begins on Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.
Skaters of all levels: Tots, Learn to Skate, Bridge Program, Freestyle, MVFSC Coaches and MVFSC Alumni will perform.
Gretchen Donlan, who competed in the U.S. National Championships at Cleveland as a Junior Lady is the returning guest skater.
Spring sports
All spring sports athletes: baseball, lacrosse, sailing, softball, tennis, track & field must have a valid physical examination as of March 16 to try out for the team. Check with the school nurse or the Athletic Director to see if you are eligible.
Flex League tennis
The Martha's Vineyard Spring Doubles Flex (Tennis) League begins play on Sunday, April 12. The popular league is one in which each player plays one match per week at a flexible time, convenient for the two teams. Matches can be played anywhere on Martha's Vineyard, at a public or private court at a cost of $30 per team.
See www.getcourtside.com to register for your free profile and then register for the league.
When registering for the league please insert "Vineyard Tennis" as your home club to be properly registered on the site. For more information call Kelly Hess a 508-560-0535 or Kelly_hess@comcast.net.
Youth Hockey doin's
Another light week for Martha's Vineyard Youth Hockey signals the fading of the season.
On Friday, at Foxboro, the Martha's Vineyard Junior High team defeated K.O. Stone Jr. High, 6-3
Saturday, at Foxboro, the Martha's Vineyard Squirts Neponset Valley League team lost to Franklin, 2-4.
Sunday the Squirts lost to YD, 2-4 and the Martha's Vineyard PeeWees bowed to Canton, 2-5.
This year the Red Kennedy Memorial and the Lois Crane Invitational Mite tourneys will be combined on the weekend of April 3-5.
The Martha's Vineyard Bantam Neponset Valley League team hopes for a play off spot and the Martha's Vineyard Jr. High team is off to Springfield next weekend for the State Playdown finals.
Reminders
The 11th annual Ocean View St. Pat's 5K to benefit the B&G Club will be Sunday, March 22. Sign up for Little League online at marthasvineyardlittleleague.com.
