Sports
RCBL off and running
The RCBL season jumped off to a brilliant start at the Boys and Girls Club, Monday, as the Heat overcame a 24-point deficit, 67-43, in the fourth quarter to tie the defending champion Lakers at 84.
The Suns' James Holenko soars over Hornet Joe McCormick. Photos by Ralph Stewart With time running out in OT and the score knotted at 91, Ryan Murtha slapped the ball away from D.J. Dolan. Chris Joyce grabbed it and fed it back to Murtha who scored an uncontested lay-up. Only two seconds remained on the clock. The Hail Mary attempt missed and the Heat claimed the spoils, 94-92.
High scorers for the Heat were Matt Rivers with 27 (7 from downtown) and Damon Mello, 21. Also in double figures: Jason Dyer 13, Brant Silvia 11, Sandy Fisher 10.
D. J. Dolan and Brandt Silvia elevate to the rim.Heath Estrella led the Lakers with 24. D.J. Dolan had 23 and Jeff LaBell 21. Caleb Nicholson added 14 and John Healy had 9.
Monday's second game was a blowout. The Suns blistered the Hornets, 115-62.
Burning brightest for the Suns were Sterling Bishop, 23; Adam Rebello, 21; Mike Baptiste, 19; James Holenko, 19;
Matt Brown 14 and Tim Scott 11.
The only Hornet in double digits was Joe McCormick with 11.
Youth Hockey update
The PeeWee A team continues its quest for a slot in the State Tournament on Saturday when they take on YD at the Arena.
Alex Dorr defends the Vineyard goal against an oncoming Green Dragon from Hamden.At the NVL Goblet tournament in Foxboro, they went 1-3, gaining valuable experience. Aubrey Ashmun scored twice and the "bruise brothers," Nick and Alexander Vukota were outstanding on defense.
Friday, at Raynham in the Neponset Valley League, the MVYH Junior High team bested Oliver Ames, 6-2
On Saturday, the MVYH Squirt B squad bested Barnstable Avalanche at Barnstable's Butler Rink, 5-1.
Also at Butler the Cape & Islands Junior High team squashed Barnstable, 12-5.
Teddy Kram tries to evade a Hamden forechecker during Friday's scrimmage.At the Kennedy Arena, the MVYH Squirt C team split with the Barnstable Hurricanes, 0-3, 6-1.
At the Tony Kent in Dennis, he MVYH Junior Highs lost to YD, 2-9, and at Moore Arena in Orleans the M.V. Mites were shut out by Lower Cape, 5-0.
Last Saturday the M.V. Youth Hockey Junior High team of the Cape & Islands League defeated the Barnstable's B2 team, 5-2. Sam Burke had a hat trick. Andrew Wiley scored twice.
The next day they lost to the YD White team, 9-2. Emerson Brown scored assisted by Steven Brown. Chris Perry also scored assisted by Mahoney and Sam Burke. Brown, Mike Mazza and Emily Hammett were strong on defense. Andrew Wiley, Nick Kent, and Jack Slayton also had excellent games.
Courtney Minnehan and Leah Selby break out across the blueline in the girls's scrimmage with Needham.Despite the one-sided score, the Islanders were aggressive and kept their cool. Their coach said he was proud of them.
The M.V. Mites lost their game to Lower Cape, 9-5. Both Hunter Meader and Hunter Ponte scored twice. Joe Serpa also found the net. Aiden Marek, Michael Metcalf, and Zack Vukota assisted.
On Saturday the MVYH PeeWees meet YD at 11:40 here in a Play Down game. A win puts them in the state tournament.
The MVYH Neponset Valley League Junior High team is on a winning streak. See them Saturday hosting the Coastal All Stars at 8 pm.
The Squirt C team skated past Barnstable, Saturday, 6-1, behind Wilson Slayton's hat trick, with an assist by August Pizzano. Jacob Gunderson added two goals assisted by Jack Murray. Hunter Ponte also found the back of the net.
Cathal Robinson was "unbeatable" in net, according to coach Travis Thurber.
In the second game of the double-header, the Islanders failed to score and lost, 3-0.
MV Youth Hockey is grateful to Bill Miner of Sports Haven for donating $1,300 worth of much needed jerseys.
Hockey Pride Day
Players are asked to wear their game shirts to school on Friday. Coaches will hand out shirts at practice this week.
On Saturday Players may wear their game shirts and ride on the MVYH Float in the Christmas in Edgartown Parade. Please arrive at the Edgartown school at 9:45. The parade starts at 10 am.
Hayley Maciel lays up two of her game high 17 for Oak Bluffs.Blazers, Eagles win
The Interscholastic basketball season got underway Tuesday with the Oak Bluffs girls invading West Tisbury and Edgartown visiting Vineyard Haven. Both of the road teams won handily. O.B. topped their up-Island cousins building a first half lead of 33-2. Blazer coach Alex McClusky cleared his bench in the second half and the Hawks found the hoop. Final count OB 55, WT 19. Hayley Maciel led all scorers with 17 points. Kat DeBettencourt added 14. For the Hawks, Chantal Booker was high with five. Lucy Hackney had four.
At Tisbury, the Edgartown Eagles girls romped to a 28-15 win paced by Rae Filley's 10.
Travel Basketball Girls
The MV sixth grade girls travel basketball team began play in the Cape Cod Youth Basketball League over the weekend, hosting a tough Sandwich squad at the Edgartown School, Saturday. After a slow start the Islanders came within two points of knotting the count but that was as far as they would go, losing 22-20.
Mya Houston and Erin Hill led M.V. scorers each with six.
Sunday, at Cape Cod Community College, the girls met Barnstable. After a low-scoring first half, M.V. led, 7-4. But in the second half the Vineyard girls found their way to the hoop finishing strong, 21-5. Hill with 7 and Houston with 5 paced the offense. Whitney Schroeder added 4.
This weekend, at the Oak Bluffs School, the Islanders are home to Barnstable Saturday at 11:10. Sunday, also at O.B., they host a powerful Falmouth team at 12:20.
Boys
The MV seventh-grade boys travel team were home to Bourne last weekend and treated the visitors from the Canal to a 32-17 shellacking. Strong defensive play by Tim Roberts, Colin Cameron, and Brandon Dwane kept Bourne in low figures from the start. Offensively, the Islanders were paced by Mike Mussell's 9 and Matt Stone's 8. Alex Gordon Beck added 5.
Sunday found the Vineyarders at Falmouth. Cold second half shooting led to a 45-32 loss. Stone was high for M.V. with 11 points. Roberts had six.
Beside those mentioned above, the team's members include Yanick Gonsalves, Ben Poole, Jack Yuen and Spencer Schofield.
Ladies Flex
After another successful season, the Ladies Flex League has completed play.
In the B Division, Melissa Hackney and Susanne Faraca defeated Doreen Resendez and Tammy King in a third set tiebreak, 3-6, 6-2, 7-3.
Ann Williamson and Natalie Krauthammer also made it to the first round of the finals, but they were bounced by Hackney and Faraca.
In the C Division, Beth Sawyer and Patti Leighton defeated Catherine Coogan and Laura Townes. They too went to a third set tiebreak before surrendering: 6-2, 4-6, 7-3.
Reach Kelly Hess at hess@comcast.net for more information about the Flex Leagues.
Men's Flex
The Men's Flex League doubles finals were played right after Thanksgiving with seven teams in two competitive flights.
The Power B's, aka Marin Street and Robert Sidoti, were challenged by Skip Dostal and Steve Mussell. The Power B's emerged as winners, 6-2, 6-2. Sidoti's serves gave his team a winning edge.
Meeting in the Strong B's finals Tom Andrews and Andrew Burr bowed to Phil Mercier and Shawn Schofield who also proved too much for Andrews and Burr at the Boxberry courts, 6-3, 6-3.
Frostbitten
The Frostbiters began their winter racing season despite predictions of foul weather. Five boats were ready to go at 0930 hours with a light breeze out of the north which built to 16 knots. The Frostbiters managed to get in five races on a windward/leeward course between Packer's west dock and the Alabama mooring.
Both Andrew Burr and Nevin Sayre finished with four wins. Nevin claimed top honors with a 1.5 average. Andrew was right behind at 1.75. Tristan Lodge was third at 3.145.
Frostbiting is a program offered by and run by Sail Martha's Vineyard and is open to all. Next races are scheduled for Saturday at 0900 hours.
Exhibition on ice
M.V. Figure Skating Club's annual Holiday Exhibition at the MV Arena is Sunday, December 13 beginning at 2:30 pm. Skaters of all levels of skill will be featured.
Black Powder Sunday
The tenth annual M.V. Rod & Gun Club's black powder shoot will blast off Sunday at 11 am and continue to 4 pm, the eve of the state's primitive firearm deer season.
The muzzleloading marksmanship competition provides Island black powder shooters will get an opportunity to sight their guns and hone their skills before taking the field.
Competitive events include loading, shooting and reloading for accuracy and points. There will be two classes for both traditional and modern muzzleloaders. Prizes will be awarded for each class. A small entry fee will be charged.
Shooters will vie for hams donated by Cronig's Market.
A Black Powder Championship trophy will be awarded to the winner and his name will be engraved on the new Black Powder clubhouse plaque.
Spouses and children of shooters are invited to enjoy the day's action free of charge.
Check out the Club's sportsman store for gift ideas.
The Rod & Gun Club is on 3rd Street off the Edgartown- Vineyard Haven Road. For more information about the Shoot, call Steve Jordan at 508-627-9500.
Spicy player
MVRHS Varsity Football Coach Donald Herman has nominated Randall Jette to be an Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year.
For the ninth year in a row, Old Spice is recognizing high school football players who go above and beyond expectations, especially in the Red Zone. Athletes who elevate their play and step up when the heat is really on embody leadership, performance, and desire. Each team's Player of the Year nominee will receive a certificate acknowledging his accomplishments.
Randall is also eligible to be named one of the 50 national Players of the Year. The top 50 players will be named Red Zone Players of the Year and receive plaques and other awards. The Red Zone Player of the Year program is sponsored by Proctor & Gamble, makers of Old Spice Red Zone Deodorant.
High school basketball
The boys varsity basketball season opens at home, Tuesday, Dec. 15, with visiting Sandwich at 4:30 pm. The next day the team is at Pembroke.
The girls varsity season starts with Sandwich here at 3 pm. Tuesday, Dec. 15. Wednesday they take on Bishop Stang at Dartmouth.
MVRHS hockey looms
The high school boys hockey team scrimmaged with division one Needham and Connecticut state champions Hamden, over the weekend measuring themselves against top flight competition.
The boys season opens at Franklin, Wednesday, Dec. 16. The first home game is Saturday, Dec. 19 vs. Bourne.
The MV girls scrimmaged with Wilmington and Needham at the Arena Saturday and Sunday. Coach Sherman was pleased with the showing. The girls varsity opens at home, this Saturday, Dec.12, with Whitman-Hanson-Pembroke. The puck drops at 1:00 pm.
