Sports
Lakers go one up in finals
RCBL playoff update
The Heat and the Lakers earned the right to meet each other Monday in the RCBL best two of three finals by disposing of the Bulls and the Warriors twice. The Lakers margin of victory over the Warriors in game one was an impressive 119-83. The Heat finished game one of the semi-finals ahead by a single point, 85-84.
Damon Mello is swamped by Lakers Nate Scott, Jared Sylva, and Heath Estrella.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Too hot !
Thursday, at the Boys & Girls Club, the Heat jumped off to a 13 point lead over the Bulls in the first quarter riding on the back of Damon Mello who scored 18 of his team's 25 points in the period.
The Bulls held their own in the second quarter, reducing the Heat's advantage to six at the half, 40-34. Clark Agnew did the heavy lifting as the bovines continued to gain ground in the third quarter; they were down just two points after three, 61-59.
Foul shots spelled the difference in the fourth frame. The Heat took 14 shots from the charity stripe in the period and cashed 9. The Bulls were 0 for 2.
Final score: Heat 86, Bulls 77, and the Heat advance.
Mello's 41 were the game high. Agnew's 22 was high for the Bulls.
High water!
The second game, Thursday, was a fingernail chewer.
Halfway through the first 12 minutes the score was tied at 15, but the Warriors edged ahead, taking a six-point lead into the second period, 28-22. They held it to reach the break still six up, 53-47.
The third quarter saw the Lakers catch and pass the Warriors to finish the frame ahead by four, 73-69. In the fourth period the score was tied at 76, at 83, and at the buzzer, 87-87.
A three-minute OT was called for. Nate Scott broke the tie with a layup in a crowd. Adam Rebello added three from the foul line. Pat Ralston dropped two, bringing the Warriors within one. But Heat captain Heath Estrella and Jeff LaBell buried foul shots. Final score: Lakers 95, Warriors 92.
Jade Cash had the game high, 33.
Nate Scott's 29, paced the Lakers.
Finals, game one
The Lakers got by the Heat in game one of the playoff finals, 87-85. The Lakers led all the way, 18-15 in the low scoring first quarter and 32-30 at the half. Nate Scott led the Lakers to a 63-48 lead in the third quarter, scoring 18 of his team-high 32 points in the period. The Heat made a run at the lead in the fourth quarter behind Stirling Bishop's 16 and Jason Dyer's 14 points.
Caleb Nicholson sank three of four foul shots in the final 40 seconds, which ultimately spelled the difference.
The Lakers win was a first: they had lost to the Heat in their previous three meetings.
The teams tip off again tonight, Thursday, at 7 pm at the Boys & Girls Club. If the Heat wins, a third and final game will be played on Monday. If the Lakers win, it's all over.
Emma Lee Iversen flies over the final hurdle on her way to first place versus Tri-County.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Trackers & Fielders run away winners
Martha's Vineyard Regional High School track & field teams won their first two meets - at Diman Voke in Fall River and at home versus Tri County.
The Diman boys gave the Islanders a run for their money losing by just three points, 69.5 - 66.5. In fact, Diman was first in nine of the 15 events. Micah Agnoli was a double winner in the shot and discus for Martha's Vineyard and Mark Reppert doubled in the mile and 800 meters. Doug Asselin won the 400m hurdles and Baker, Jette, Brewer, and Dwane won the 4x100m relay. Martha's Vineyard's winning margin came from place and show points.
Tri Country provided less of a threat and the Vineyard boys ran away with an 84-52 victory. Martha's Vineyard event winners were Agnoli in the shot and discus, Debettencourt in the javelin, Jette in the high jump, Miner in the 2-mile; Asselin in the 400m hurdles, Reppert in the 800m, Nevin in the mile, and Reppert, Osmers, Maciel, and Debettencourt in the 4x400m.
The Martha's Vineyard girls were also successful - and then some. At Diman, the Islanders placed first and second in every event except the javelin.
Against Tri County the Islanders were 1-2 in each event.
Filling first place were: Loren Gibson (shot put), Emma Lee Iversen (discus and high hurdles), Sidra Dumont (javelin), Hilary Dreyer (high jump), Kim Carlomagno (long jump and 100m), Alexia Schroeder (triple jump and 200m), Ellie Hehre (2-mile), Maddy Penicaud (400m hurdles), Megan Dreyer (mile), Schroeder, Iversen, Minor, Benedetto (4x100m), and H. Dreyer, M. Dreyer, Pennington, DaSylva (4x400m).
British LaX teams win one, lose one
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School girls varsity lacrosse team followed its 16-4 thumping of New Bedford with a 15-0 shutout of Fairhaven. Thus far, Hayley Pierce and Laura Jernegan have been leading scorers for the Purple-clads, but the number of scorers is high.
Laura Jernegan avoids a pair of Saints on her way to the cage.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Cheltenham pays a call
The Islanders hosted the Cheltonham Ladies College, Thursday, and gave the collegians (really it's a high school) all they could handle before conceding, 11-12.
The Islanders scored the game's first two goals in the first two minutes, but the Brits ran off three in the next six minutes to take a 3-2 lead.
Martha's Vineyard tied the score 5-5 at 16:38, then had to score twice more to catch the visitors at the half, 7-7.
Cheltonham ran off four unanswered goals in the first twelve minutes of the second half to lead 11-7. Martha's Vineyard wasn't through. Four of the next five goals were painted purple as the Islanders came within one of sending the game into OT.
Saints Helen & Katherine
Sunday the Vineyard girls took charge early and ran up a 6-2 lead at the half. The English girls rallied to reduce the deficit to two, but the Islanders regrouped and scored the game's last two goals. Final score: Martha's Vineyard 11, St. H. & K. 7.
Kate Cecilio had four goals and an assist. Laura Jernegan scored three times and assisted once. Also scoring: Christina Wiley (2), Molly Fischer, and Leah Selby. Goalie Zoe Fisher made seven saves.
Today the Vineyarders entertain Nantucket.
The Junior Varsity has impressed with two lopsided wins: 18-5 over New Bedford and 14-5 over Sandwich. They lost their games to the strong U.K. jayvees.
Girls Youth Lacrosse
The MVGYL under-15 team opened play with a win at Bourne, Sunday. Alayna Hutchinson and Jenny Lindland had hat tricks. Chantal Booker added two and Zoe Nugent, Alice Keenan, Sarah Alexander, Sam Maltais, Hannah Moore, and Emma Yuen also scored.
The U-13 team also won. Both Lucy Hackney and Leila Gardner scored thrice. Lee Hayman also scored.
The teams are at Falmouth April 19.
Sports Highlights
One up, one down
Safe at second was the call.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School varsity and junior varsity baseball teams opened their seasons at home against Mashpee and a bone-chilling gale blowing in from left field.
For the varsity it was a case of too much Shute - Tyler, that is. The junior Falcon went 4 for 4 at the plate, drove in two runs, stole three bases, then picked up a save, relieving starter Ryan Welch in the sixth inning.
Martha's Vineyard led 2-1 after four innings, but Mashpee crossed the plate three times in the fifth.
Tuesday the Vineyarders crunched Nantucket here, 11-2. Starting pitcher Nick Billingham gave up two hits and fanned nine in four innings. Cody Pachico enjoyed his turn at the plate with a double, triple and home run, driving in three.
The Jayvees also treated the visiting Whalers with a sound thrashing.
Whale of a win
The Martha's Vineyard softball team invaded Nantucket, Tuesday, and came away with a 16-7 win. Vineyard hits were numerous and some were long. Holly Robinson hit safely four times, including a 2-run round-tripper. Katie Hines drove in three and scored four. Pitcher Martha Scheffer helped her cause with three hits. Taylor Perrotta circled the bases three times.
Potpourri
The Martha's Vineyard Regional High School sailing team won its first matches with Barnstable, 3-0, and with Harwich, 3-0, off the Hyannis Yacht Club, Thursday.
Little League baseball begins its season Monday, April 27. Six Little League major teams will take the field, along with eight minor league teams.
Taylor MacDonald of Oak Bluffs, a junior midfielder on Eastern Connecticut State University's women's lacrosse team, was named Offensive Player of the Week scoring twice and also assisting in the team's 15-14 defeat of arch-rival Keene State.
Taylor is a two-time all-conference selection. She was Rookie-of-the-year as a freshman and Defensive player-of-the-year last year as a sophomore.
Duncan Pickard of Oak Bluffs, a junior at Tufts, will be one of about 200 Tufts students running the Boston Marathon to raise funds for several good causes. An 2006 graduate of Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, Duncan was a summer intern at The Martha's Vineyard Times in 2007.
MVTV's Classic Sports shows the 1991 Martha's Vineyard football game at Blue Hills on Monday, April 13 at 6:30 pm.
On Wednesday, April 15, MVTV has the 1998 Martha's Vineyard girls hockey game with St. Bernard's, also at 6:30 pm.
The JV Softball team won its first two games handily beating Sandwich 16-6 and trouncing Nantucket 20-6.
Youth Tennis wins off-Island
Sunday, Vineyard Youth Tennis players Reid and Justice Yennie and their partners swept the USTA Boys 14 and under level 6 doubles tournament at the Manchester Athletic Club in Manchester. Reid and his partner Stathi Kyriakides won their two matches 8-2 and 8-3. Justice and his partner Chris Toner, finished second, splitting their pro-set matches 2-8 and 8-5.
Samantha Potter if VYT has won several recent tournaments off-Island.
Skaters at Rockland
Eight skaters of the Martha's Vineyard Figure Skating Club competed in the second annual South Shore Open at Rockland last Sunday.
Lily Davey won Preliminary moves in the Field. Sarah Thomas was 2nd in Pre-Preliminary Showcase. Ashley Wood was 4th in Beginner Compulsory Moves.
Amanda Bernard was 3rd in Beginner Compulsory Moves and in Beginner Showcase.
Shannon O'Connor was 3rd in Beginner Freestyle and 1st in Preliminary Moves. Aidee Espino was 2nd in Beginner Showcase and 2nd in Preliminary Compulsories.
Shelby Regan was 3rd in Beginner Freestyle and 4th in Pre-Preliminary Compulsories. Anna Flaherty was 4th in Pre-Juvenile Freestyle.
The skaters are coached by Jane Elizabeth Taylor and Beth Blankenship O'Connor.
Skaters at Orleans
Eleven skaters representing the Island Ice Skating School (ISS) entered the 31st Annual Lower Cape Competition in Orleans last weekend, scoring 68 points and placing 8th of 15 New England teams.
Hailey Meader, 8, was 2nd in Spotlight level 3, 3rd in Interpretive 3 and 4th in solo compulsories, artistic 3 and freestyle 3. Lacey Dinning, 9, placed 1st in Interpretive 1, 4th in Artistic 1, and 4th in Freestyle 1.
Abbie Lively, 9, was awarded a gold medal in Beta Stroking and was 4th in Beta Freestyle. Alyssa Whitney, 10, was 1st in both Footwork and Interpretive level 4 and was 6th in Freestyle 4, 2nd in Artistic 4.
Jackie Hegarty, 10, placed 5th in Freestyle 3 and Artistic 3. Erin Hegarty, 11, was 3rd in Freestyle and 4th in Artistic 3. Darci Whitney, 14, was 1st in Footwork 4 and 5th in Artistic 4.
ISS also brought two ensemble numbers to the competition. "Annie" received a gold medal in the youth level. "Annie" skaters were Abbie Lively, Charlotte Rooney, Jackie Hegarty, and Ally Barlett. "Fraggie Rock" skaters Alyssa Whitney, Hailey Meader, Lacey Dinning, Elizabeth Smith, Jackie Hegarty, Erin Hegarty, and Darci Whitney also earned gold at the Senior Youth level.
The production team's "Polar Express" included all of the above plus Megan Hurley and took second place.
Men's Flex a-borning
A new Men's Doubles Flex tennis League is being organized hoping to match the success of the Ladies Doubles Flex League. The men's league will be coordinated by John Cahill. Registration deadline is Sunday, April 12. To register visit www.getcourtside.com and type in your home club as Vineyard Tennis. You can then register for the Men's A or B Doubles League. Weekly matches are required at an agreed upon location. For more information call John Cahill at 508-560-0497.
Julian Carter gets a leg up on a Somerset defender in Martha's Vineyard's Sunday's 3-1 victory.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
Travel soccer season starts
The Martha's Vineyard Youth Soccer League's under 10 Martha's Vineyard United team defeated Somerset, Sunday, at the West Tisbury School, 3-1. Owen Hess, Douglas Debettencourt, and Jordan Hake did the scoring in the team's first match of the season.
Youth Hockey
The Martha's Vineyard Youth Hockey Junior High team has qualified for the Championship game to be played Friday at Raynham.
Saturday the Islanders shut out Norwood at Foxboro, 2-0, and bested the Bruins PWA, 4-1.
On Sunday the Vineyarders defeated NECDL.
Also Saturday, the Martha's Vineyard Squirts of the Neponset Valley League beat Walpole, 3-1 and the Martha's Vineyard PeeWees lost narrowly to Tri-County, 5-4. Barnstable had its way with the Martha's Vineyard Bantams, 3-1, and the Barnstable Squirts trounced the Martha's Vineyard Squirts, 11-0.
Sunday the Squirts lost to YD, 5-0.
