Sports
Shamrocks plucked
With time running out and Bishop Feehan's boys varsity basketball team up by two, Ben Ciciora launched a missile from the right corner. The ball swished through the net and the scoreboard read: Martha's Vineyard 71, Guests 70.
Surrounded by Shamrocks, Randall Jette goes high for two. Photos by Ralph Stewart Five seconds remained. A desperation Shamrock shot from mid-court bounced off the glass and the buzzer sounded. Game over. Victory Vineyard.
The Islanders were ahead by eight after the first quarter, 21-13, and by 10 at the half, 37-27.
Early in the third quarter M.V. grew its lead to 13, 43-30, but then went cold as the Shamrocks ran off 15 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game, 45-43. Then the Islanders shook off whatever ailed them. Lamar Moreis and Randall Jette scored twice and Justin Mercier added a trey. M.V. began the fourth quarter ahead by five, 54-49.
Ben Ciciora looks for the open cutter. His game-ending three-pointer proved to be the difference. M.V. maintained a narrow advantage through most of the fourth quarter, but Feehan's game-high scorer, Ryan Sheehan (30 points), tied the count at 64, then put the Shamrocks ahead by two. Jette dropped two from the foul line to even the score at 66 with 1:25 to go. The teams swapped baskets, but Feehan's was a 3-pointer. Another from the charity stripe gave the visitors a two-point edge setting the stage for Ciciora's game-deciding heroics.
JVs and frosh also played
Bishop Feehan also brought its boys freshmen and junior varsity basketball teams as well as its ice hockey team to the Island Saturday to test its vaunted athletic prowess against Vineyard teams.
The Shamrocks freshman team wasted little time establishing its superiority over the Island Frosh and finished the game, held at the Boys and Girls Club gym, with a 36-point lead.
A defensive Izak Brown keeps his opponent in check.The MV Junior Varsity fared better but came in second against the visitor's JV squad. M.V. trailed at the end of the first quarter by only two points, 17-15, but at the half the Shamrocks had accumulated 32 to the Vineyard's 26.
At the three quarter mark Bp. Feehan had doubled its advantage, to 53-41, and finished the game 13 up, 69-56.
Izak Brown led M.V. scorers with 19 points. Jack Roberts chipped in 17.
Somerset girls visit
The Somerset girls visited the Sancy on Tuesday and left with a 54-49 loss for their troubles.
The teams were tied after one period. Katie Hines scored six of the Vineyard's 10.
Hanna Persson shone in the second frame scoring eight, six from long distance. Somerset led by one at the half, 27-26. Jenny Lindland caught fire in the second half scoring a dozen of her game-high 16 points and raising havoc under the Somerset glass.
The Somerset JV eked out a 31-30 win in a prior game that was constantly close.
Jenny Lindland tosses up two of her game-high 16 points.
Jillian Sedlier drives toward the hoop despite a determined defender.Raiders foiled at home
Tuesday the Vineyard boys topped Somerset at the Raiders' lair, 73-67. Steve Handy led the parade to the hoop, scoring 32 points. Jette had 11; Mercier chipped in 10. Lamar Moreis was omnipresent scoring 7, stealing 6, assisting 4, rebounding 5 times.
The Islanders jumped off to a 24-9 lead in the first quarter and their pressing defense kept the Raiders in check.
Saturday the team is home to the Lexington Tech Minutemen at 12:30 pm.
Jaime Forend uses her leg pad to stop a Marshfield scoring bid, one of 39 saves.Girls hockey team wins
The MVRHS beat Falmouth last week at Falmouth 3-1. Scoring goals were Maggie Johnson, Angela Debettencourt and Gillian O'Callaghan for their first win of the season.
Saturday the M.V. girls varsity hockey team tied Marshfield at the MV Arena, 2-2. The lady Rams scored the only goal in the first period. Celia Mercier evened the count for the Vineyard in the second, assisted by Phoebe Kelleher. Before the period was over, Emily Cimeno's goal put the Vineyard ahead. Maggie Johnson got the assist.
Marshfield's final tying goal came in the third period.
M.V. goalie Jaime Forend deserves major credit, dealing with 41 shots on goal, including four power plays. Marshfield goalie Kelly Travers faced 16 SOG, no power plays.
Josh Forend leads an all-out Vineyard attack with (l-r) Kylie Hatt, J.J. Mendez, and Auguste Pizzano, in the Ryan Mone final.Ryan Mone Squirt B Tourney
The host team in the Ryan Mone Tournament Vineyarders defeated Falmouth, Friday, 4-1, then beat Franklin County by the same score on Saturday. Game three with Providence on Saturday was a 1-1 draw.
Sunday's Championship game with Providence was won by the Rhode Islanders, 3-1.
M.V. Squirt Coach Bruce Mahaffey commended his defense for "a tremendous effort all weekend" by goalie Zach Fullin and defensemen Tristan Araujo, Anthony Jackson, Shay Sullivan, and Kyle Hatt, allowing only six goals in four games.
At New Bedford, the Cape & Island Junior High team lost its match with the Hetland Panthers, 5-1. The Islanders' goal was by Alexander Vukota assisted by Steven Brown. Mike Mazza played a hard, physical game. Oliver Lane was strong on defense. Andrew Wiley stayed cool despite provocations and drew several penalties. Chris Perry and Jack Slayton had strong games. Caleb Hallet made more than 40 saves in goal.
Jackson Mahaffey and the Providence goalie get acquainted in the crease during the Ryan Mone final.The M.V. Travel Mites tied Wareham at Tabor Academy, 3-3. Joe Serpa started the scoring. Hunter Ponte scored the second and third goals, the third tied the score with five seconds remaining. Joe Kershaw was outstanding in goal for the Islanders.
In a Bantam State Playdown game at Raynham, Sunday, the M.V. Bantams played short-handed but with courage and determination. They lost to Attleboro, 4-1, but covered themselves with esteem.
Islanders pluck Shamrocks
The Bishop Feehan varsity ice hockey team tried their skills on Vineyard ice late Saturday afternoon and found the Islanders more than they could handle. M.V. scored twice in each of the three periods and held the Shamrocks to two goals.
Chris Davies and Tyson Araujo staked out near the Bishop Feeehan goal on a Vineyard powerplay.Darren Gazaille started the dance, beating Feehan goalie Matt Panclocco, assisted by Chris Davies and Henry Smith. Jock Cooperrider scored the Vineyard's second goal with help from Gazaille and Smith. Feehan got one back before the period ended despite managing only four shots on goal.
Tyler Araujo restored M.V.'s two-goal lead early in the second period assisted by Colby Gouldrup. Feehan made it 3-2 half way through the period, but Smith, aided and abetted by Davies and Gazaille, made it 4-2 at the end of two periods.
That was it as far as Shamrock scoring went. Vineyard goalie Louis Jacobs-Walsh turned away all 11 shots on goal he faced in the final frame. He had 25 saves in all. Feehan netminder Panclocco had to deal with 34 shots on goal.
Meanwhile, the Islanders continued to post points: Gouldrup unassisted at 4:04 and Smith assisted by Davis and Ted Kram a minute later.
Final: MV 6, Bp. Feehan 2.
The win was Coach Matt Mincone's 99th as coach. His shot at 100 wins comes today at Somerset. The next two games are also away at Mansfield, Friday and at D/Y, Monday.
Coyle and Cassidy is due to visit on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 4 pm.
Snow sports
January is "Learn A Snow Sports Month" in New Hampshire, according to a proclamation by Granite State Governor John Lynch. Thirty-six of the state's ski areas are offering special rates for various programs including classes in downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snow boarding, and snowshoeing.
To learn more, visit skiNH.com/LASSM.
Hornets are Bullish, win
The reborn Hornets, now the Bulls, won their first game of the year upsetting the Heat, 82-81, Monday, at the B & G Club. Ryan Kurth led the Bulls scorers with 19 points. Jim Cleary and Jeremy Scheffer also made it to double digits.
High for the Heat was Sandy Fisher with 17. Ryan Murtha, Damon Mello, and Brant Silvia all had 16.
The Lakers handed the Suns their first loss of the RCBL season, 100-82. It was the second win against three losses for the Lakers.
Only five Suns showed up for the game. Eight Lakers were in uniform and all played.
Scoring in double figures for the Lakers were Heath Estrella, D.J.Dolan, John Healy, Noah Hazelton, and John LaBell.
Jared Silvia did more than his share of rebounding.
Sterling Bishop, James Holenko, and Adam Rebello did most of the scoring for the Suns.
Interscholastic update
In interscholastic league action, Thursday, the Oak Bluffs boys team swamped the Edgartown boys, 48-23. Matthew Marchand (14) and Alex Gordon-Beck (12) led O.B. scorers. The Tisbury vs. West Tisbury game was postponed by a ski trip.
Tuesday, the O.B. Lady Blazers continued their winning ways, trumping West Tisbury, 51-13. Kat deBettencourt had the game high 18. Hayley Maciel contributed 9 points Both Kat and Hayley had eight rebounds.
The O.B. Junior Varsity girls won their game, 13-7.
Earlier the O.B. girls defeated Edgartown, 50-24. Kat deBettencourt led all scorers with 16. Mariah Duarte added 10. Kenya Peters grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Blazer boys play the Charter school Wednesday and West Tisbury on Thursday.
Lakers second generation
With the addition of Alex Moore to their lineup, the Lakers begin a second generation of players. RCBL fans will easily recall State Trooper Sergeant Bobby Moore who played center for the Lakers year after year. The sergeant is now a Captain in the State Police. His son Alex Moore is Operations Manager for Vineyard Bottled Waters and the newest member of the Lakers.
RCBL standings
Suns 4 - 1
Heat 3 - 2
Lakers 2 - 3
Bulls 1 - 4
Island rivalry returns
The following message comes from Sandy Mincone, MVRHS athletic director:
"Great News Sports Fans!
"After some discussion we have come to an agreement that will revive the Island Cup for the 2010 football season. Most importantly, we will be continuing a healthy Island rivalry with many of our sports.
"The Nantucket Whalers will be visiting the Martha's Vineyard Vineyarders on Saturday, November 20, 2010, for a 1 pm game at McCarthy Field.
"Our varsity boys and girls soccer and field hockey teams will be traveling to Nantucket for a day of competition in October, 2010.
"All will be reversed for the 2011 season and hopefully for decades to come!"
