Sports
RCBL Thursday
The RCBL's early Thursday game appeared to be a mismatch. The 1-7 Knicks were scheduled to take on the 8-1 Warriors. It began the way it appeared. After the first 12-minute quarter the Warriors were already 20 points ahead, 48-28. But the next three quarters were competitive. In fact, the Warriors lost two points of their lead, to finish 18 up, 110-92.
The brothers Joyce, Mike and Chris, same floor, same game, but with different teams.
Photos by Ralph Stewart
No doubt there was a certain amount of coasting by the Warriors. But James Holenko's game-high 40 points were earned, not given, and the addition of Chris Joyce to the Knicks lineup improved the team's board strength and gave them an added 3-point threat. Suffice to say, despite their dismal record, the Knicks should not be taken for granted.
Tim Scott (22) and Matt Rivers (21) were high for the Warriors. Pat Rolston (17), Jade Cash (17) and Monte Bizzarro (12) also made it to double figures.
The second Thursday game between the Bulls and Heat promised a close contest and it delivered. Sterling Bishop (26) and Sandy Fisher (24) paced the Heat attack, Sandy finding the range with seven treys. Bishop was a constant and potent force on the boards.
Will Burney's 24 was high for the Bulls, though all but matched by Jason O'Donnell's 23, 18 from long distance. Clark Agnew added 17.
Talk about a loose ball! Sterling Bishop, Jason O'Donnell, and Clark Agnew all have their eyes but not their hands on the ball.
The score was tied at the half, 33-33. The Bulls sprinted to a 63-47 lead after three quarters. The Heat warmed to the task in the final frame, but fell short of catching the Bulls. Final: Bulls 80, Heat 75.
RCBL Monday
Monday evening opened with a Heat versus Lakers game won by the Heat in a runaway, 120-84.
Damon Mello (31) and Jason Dyer (30) provided half of the sizzle. Dyer found it difficult to miss from beyond the arc, collecting eight treys. Mello's liquid motion earns him lay-ups in a crowd. Also in double figures for the Heat were Vic Cruz (19) and Nick Viera (18).
Top scorers for the Lakers were Albie Robinson and Jeff LaBell, both with 13, and Heath Estrella with 12.
Damon Mello heads to the hoop accompanied by Adam Rebello.
The Heat's edge at the half was nine points, 46-37. They did most of the damage without super star Sterling Bishop, who arrived late, played sparingly, and scored just two points.
Which raises the question, "What's wrong with the Lakers?" Not much, one would think. They have speed, experience, size, proven shooters, and players who can be counted on to show up. Thursday they had a full team on the bench, and they are not plagued with prima donnas. Each time they take the floor they appear (to me) to be likely winners - with the possible exception of games with the Warriors - but, as a matter of fact, the Lakers are the only team to have beaten the Warriors. That's how good they can be!
Monday's second game pitted the Bulls against the Knicks.
The Bulls led 23-16 after the first quarter, then pulled away in the second to lead at the half, 61-35. It didn't get better in the second half and the Bulls finished ahead, 123-86.
Jason O'Donnell led all scorers with 29 points. Also in double digits: Kris Lukowitz (19), Ryan Murtha (14), Clark Agnew (14), Mike Manfred (12), and Mike Joyce (11).
Ryan Kurth led the Knicks with 26 points.
RCBL Standings
Warriors 9-1
Bulls 7-4
Heat 6-5
Lakers 3-7
Knicks 1-9
Basketball Booster's Banquet
At the tastiest Basketball Banquet in memory, the coaches of the varsity and junior varsity and boys freshmen teams were generous in praise of their players, and some made a number of special awards.
Varsity Boys Coach Mike Joyce presented handsome mementos to the team's three senior captains - Jess Swaringen, Cody Brewer, and Mark Reppert.
Sophomore Randall Jette received the Rookie-of-the-Year Award.
Junior Steve Handy was recognized as Most Valuable Player.
Billy Reagan, a senior, topped the Free Throw Ladder.
Varsity Girls Coach Lisa Stewart announced five awards.
The Most Improved honors went to sophomore Alicia Oliveira.
Junior Katie Hines was hailed as the team's Unsung Hero.
The Sixth Man award went to senior Alexia Schroeder.
Erin Morris, a senior, was recognized for her strong defensive game.
Senior Kia Minor was acclaimed Most Valuable Player.
Girls Junior Varsity Coach Maureen Hill entertained all by adding a rap beat to her account of the season past. Sarah Williston received the MVP award and Mia Benedetto was named Most Improved.
The Coach's award went to Catherine Todd. Meghan McHugh was named Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
All of the JV girls award recipients are freshmen.
Neither Boys Junior Varsity Coach Jason O'Donnell nor Boys Freshmen Coach Tim Hanjian announced individual honors but spoke with appreciation of the teams they coached.
The Martha's Vineyard Junior High girls with their second place trophies.
Rocking at Plymouth
The Martha's Vineyard Junior High girls basketball team spent the weekend at South Plymouth competing in the St. Patrick's Tournament.
Their fist game, Saturday morning, was with Carver, which proved to be an easy win, 36-15. Jenny Lindland led all scorers with a dozen points. Rae Filley added half a dozen and Katie Stewart, Katherine DeBettencourt, and Kendall Robinson all contributed four.
Later Saturday the Vineyarders tackled a tough Dartmouth five and came in a close second, 31-28. Maggie Riseborough's eight was tops for the Vineyarders. Lindland had seven, and Tiana Souza contributed four. The Islanders lost the game at the foul line, converting only two of 10 chances.
Sunday morning the Islanders swept by Sandwich, 32-23. Riseborough's 12 was the team high. Souza added seven. Haley McCarty, Rae Filley and Katie Stewart took advantage of more than usual floor time to showcase their skills.
In the tournament finals the Vineyard faced Dartmouth a second time - with the same results: Dartmouth 28. M. V. 25.
Jenny Lindland led the Vineyard attack and scored nine points. Katherine DeBettencourt added six and Maggie Riseborough contributed four. Once again, the inability to cash free throws made the difference as the Islanders went two for 10 again.
Next weekend the girls will be at Mansfield at the State Championship Invitationals. The two top finishers in each state league are invited to attend.
Martha's Vineyard Youth Hockey
On Friday, March 13, at the Foxboro Arena, the Martha's Vineyard Junior Highs defeated KP-Piotti Jr. High, 6-4.
The next day, also at Foxboro, the Martha's Vineyard Squirts of the Neponset Valley League lost to the KP/Walpole Squirts, 4-2. Joe Davies and Greg McCarron did the scoring.
On Sunday, at Foxboro, the Martha's Vineyard PeeWee B team bowed to the Westwood PeeWees, 6-3. Mac Sashin and Emily Hammett had strong games and each scored a goal.
Jack Slayton and Oren Osnoss also played outstanding games.
Also Sunday, the Martha's Vineyard Junior Highs played Westwood to a standstill, 3-3. Excellent defense was provided by Callie Jackson and Barry Lima-MacDonald. Austin Morley had a strong game. Brian Fraser scored once and assisted twice.
Hockey is a team game par excellence and the whole team contributed. Beside the afore-mentioned: Marco Petricone, Tyson Araujo, Alex Vukota, Dorian Johnson, Andrew Carroll, Matt Davies, Emerson Mahoney, Mike Mazza, Nick Kent, and goalie Noah Kleinhenz.
Tomorrow the team is at Springfield for the State Play-downs.
Spring sports practices began on Monday at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. Kelsey Debettencourt lays down a bunt.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Sports Highlights
Plymouth rocked
The Martha's Vineyard sixth-grade boys basketball team spent most of last weekend in South Plymouth competing in the March Madness Tournament.
The Islanders tipped off against Bourne in the opening round and cruised to a 42-13 win. Both Tim Roberts and Alex Gordon Beck scored ten points to lead all scorers. Mike Mussell added nine and Ben Poole, six.
Saturday evening Harwich provided the opposition. The Rough Riders jumped off to a 19-5 lead. The Vineyarders regrouped, instituted a full-court press, and ran off 16 unanswered points and led at the half, 21-19.
Martha's Vineyard grew its lead to six late in the game but Harwich embarked on its own run and squeezed out a 41-39 win. Roberts led the way to the hoop again with 18 points. Yannick Gonzales contributed eight.
On Sunday morning the Islanders faced Carver's all-stars. After trailing 18-15 at the half, Martha's Vineyard took control in the second half and ran away to win, 35-26. Roberts had 11. Both Mussell and Matt Stone had seven.
The Vineyarders were part of a three-team tie with two wins and one loss. But Yarmouth had allowed one point fewer than the Vineyarders had and won the nod to advance.
Adding the tournament results to the Cape Cod League games, the Martha's Vineyard boys finished the season with a fine 19-8 record.
Those were the days
MVTV Channel 14 is about to begin showing Martha's Vineyard Classic Sports, a series of selected high school games, on Mondays and Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.
First up, Monday, March 23, is the 2002 girls varsity basketball game with East Bridgewater.
The following Wednesday, March 25, will feature the 1997 Boys Hockey team versus Bellingham.
The next Monday, March 30, Classic Sports will show the 2003 Super Bowl football game with East Boston and on Wednesday, April 1, the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School 2006 basketball team takes on Greater New Bedford followed by this year's boys basketball game with Sabis of Springfield on Monday, April 6.
Ambika Datta carries the ball under the watchful eye of lacrosse coach Betsy Dripps
Photos by Ralph Stewart
Wrong briar patch
The Martha's Vineyard Times erred last week when it said that girls varsity lacrosse coach Betsy Dripps graduated from Briarcliffe College. In fact, Betsy is a graduate of Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She also earned a masters degree in Education at Cambridge College in Cambridge.
Getting kicks
Kickball, a kind of amalgam of soccer and softball will be played at Manter Field, Saturday, March 21, 2 pm.
The opposing kickball teams, which represent Martha's Vineyard Community Radio (WVVY) and the Skate Park across the street from the high school, will be trying to raise funds for their organizations. The game winners will win more than the game: they will also win two thirds of the funds collected.
The losing team will take home one third of the profits, so both nonprofits will profit by the occasion.
Organizers of the event are Rob Myers and Jeff Munroe. The game will be broadcast live on FM 93.7. Rain date is Sunday, March 22.
Golden anniversary
This year marks the 50th anniversary of U.S. participation in 12-meter yacht racing and special events are scheduled to celebrate the fact. Leading up to the September World Championship regatta at Newport will be a series of "Golden Tour" regattas and events in Newport, Edgartown, Nantucket, Bristol, R.I., and New York City.
Tim Rebello, Jessie Chandler, Eva Balboni, and Tonya Sequeira make their rounds during track and field warm-ups.
Some 25 boats from the United States, Europe, Australia, and Borneo are expected to race.
According to Jan Slee, 12 Metre Class president, "the regattas, activities, and community events will capture memories of past Cup races and attract sailing stars, yachts, crews, fans, and media from around the world."
He added, "Not since Newport hosted the America's Cup in 1987 have the waters and winds of Rhode Island Sound assembled such a collection of 12 Metres."
Correction please
A report in the February 26 edition of The Martha's Vineyard Times regarding a tennis match at the Falmouth Sports Center was in error. In fact, Paul Adler and Connie McHugh defeated their Falmouth opponents, 6-2, 6-1.
Adler silvers
Paul Adler of West Tisbury and his partner placed second in the Pro Am tennis tourney hosted by the ATP Delray International Tennis Championship, February 28. Twelve doubles teams competed. Adler and his partner lost to the champion team in a shortened set, 3-1.
