Sports
Shamrocks end Vineyard streak
The MVRHS boys varsity basketball team saw its 11-game winning streak come to a frustrating end in a 75-62 loss to Bishop Feehan, Tuesday afternoon in Attleboro.
High-flying Lamar Moreis was more than a handful for the Bishop Feehan defense. Photos by Ralph Stewart The Vineyarders, 11-2 overall, have already qualified for the state tournament, but lost their unblemished record in the Eastern Athletic Conference, standing at 4-1 with three league contests left.
Against the Shamrocks, M.V. squandered a 19-10 first quarter lead by committing 24 turnovers and shooting 27 percent in the second half.
They also abandoned the style of play that has brought the team so much success thus far. "We have played unselfishly and with defensive intensity for 11 games and today we played with neither," coach Mike Joyce said following the loss.
The brightest light for the Vineyarders and the weed in the Shamrocks' field of clover was the play of Lamar Moreis. The senior guard scored 28 points and pumped in eight three-pointers, including five in the first quarter alone. He also shot 10 for 16 from the field, while his teammates went 15 for 55.
"Lamar kept us in the game almost single-handedly in the first half. He scored 21 of our 37 points," coach Joyce said.
Steve Handy was the only other Vineyarder to hit double figures, scoring 14 points. He also played well on defense.
Bishop Feehan recovered from a shaky first quarter and played excellent basketball for the remainder of the game.
M.V. gave the Shamrocks too much room in the corners and were burned for five three-pointers in the second quarter. They also had no answer for Ryan Sheehan, who scored 33 points, (17 in the fourth quarter), and hit eight out of nine free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Islanders host EAC foe Somerset, Saturday at 4 pm.
Friday, in another league contest, the Vineyarders played their best defense of the season and smothered host Bishop Stang 67-44.
The Vineyarders put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Spartans by 13 and opening up a 23-point lead.
Steve Handy was the high scorer with 20 points.
Randall Jette and Justin Mercier excelled at both ends of the floor, scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The boys jayvee squad took it on the chin this week, losing 59-25 at Bishop Stang on Friday and 61-45 at Bishop Feehan on Saturday.
Jack Roberts was the high scorer for M.V. in both games, accruing 17 points against Stang and 15 against Feehan.
Jake Martin scored 10 points on the Shamrocks and Ryan Fisher shot five of six from the stripe.
Vineyarders ice Coyle, fall to Stang
The MVRHS boys hockey team began the week by ending a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over Eastern Athletic Conference arch-rival Coyle and Cassidy at the Martha's Vineyard Arena on January 20.
The win prompted coach Matt Mincone to say, "That was the team that started the season. I don't know who that other team was, but they are not welcome back."
Unfortunately, welcome or not, that other team showed up again - against Bishop Stang on Saturday - and suffered an 8-4 drubbing in New Bedford.
The loss tempered the emotional lift gained three days earlier and put the Vineyard's playoff hopes on shaky ground.
M.V. stands at 5-8 overall and 2-2 in the EAC, with seven games remaining. The Islanders need 20 points to qualify for the state tournament. They currently have 10.
Darren Gazaille casts a Coyle and Cassidy Warrior aside in pursuit of the puck.The sliver lining is that they can also qualify by finishing first or second in the EAC.
Against Bishop Stang, the Vineyarders put themselves in a 7-1 hole entering the third period. They gave up five goals to Spartan Chris Andre.
The triumph over Coyle gave coach Mincone his 100th victory at MVRHS.
The win looked anything but likely during the first period when the Warriors poured on the pressure and kept the puck buried in the Vineyard end. But they scored only once, thanks to goalie Louis Jacobs-Walsh, leaving the door open for a hungry bunch of underdogs.
The big break came 10 minutes into the second period when Brooks Billingham maneuvered around the Coyle defense and slapped the puck from the right point. The shot clanged off the underside of the crossbar and behind the Warrior netminder to tie the game at 1-1.
With the crowd in a frenzy and the Islanders clearly energized, the game gradually turned.
By the third period, it was M.V. who looked the faster, fresher, more physical side.
Darren Gazaille proved it on the scoreboard at 2:23, popping in Henry Smith's feed at the left post to put the hosts on top, 2-1.
Gazaille scored again at 5:35, from Smith and Chris Davies, zapping in a shot from the slot to make it 3-1.
The Warriors pulled one back with the extra attacker, 18 seconds from the end, but Tyson Araujo made sure they would not tie it by keeping the puck pinned against the boards as time expired.
M.V. hosts Somerset, on Saturday at 5 pm.
The jayvee boys played thrice, first losing 3-0 at home to Franklin, Friday in what coach Bruce Mahaffey called a moral victory against the powerful Panthers. They then set sail for Nantucket, losing 3-0 on Saturday and tying the Whalers 3-3 on Sunday. Shay Hill scored twice and Kyle Francis once.
The Vineyard girls had a rough week, losing a pair of 6-0 decisions away to Algonquin Regional of Northborough and to Sandwich. They return home to play Falmouth, Saturday at 1 pm.
Cat Todd gets ready to pounce on a Spartan during the jayvee game with Bishop Stang.Hoop woes continue for Vineyard girls
The MVRHS girls basketball team suffered two Eastern Athletic Conference defeats at home this week.
Tuesday, against Bishop Feehan, M.V. played far better than they had in their previous three contests, but lost 60-49.
The Vineyarders tried to slow it down a bit against the Shamrocks and Maddie Pennicaud and Katie Hines did a fine job operating the offense.
Molly Fisher excelled at both ends of the floor and Alicia Oliveira was the defensive standout.
Jillian Sedlier continued her excellent play inside, scoring 19 points. Jenny Lindland chipped in 10 points and Katie Hines finished with eight.
Despite the loss, Coach Lisa Stewart was pleased with her team's play. "Everyone played really well together. Against any other team we probably would have won. What is hurting us is not being able to score enough, especially in the first half," coach Stewart said.
Friday, a moribund first half is exactly what led to a 56-43 loss to Bishop Stang.
M.V. scored seven points in the first quarter, went over ten minutes without a point, and played the second quarter without hitting a field goal. All five points came from the free-throw line.
Bishop Stang, by comparison, played a patient half-court game, passed the ball well, and took good shots.
With M.V. down 46-27 after three quarters, Jillian "Chief" Sedlier sparked an inspired comeback with relentless determination in the paint, but there just wasn't enough time left.
Jillian finished with 15 points. Hanna Persson had nine points and shot four of five from the stripe.
Of the second half effort, coach Stewart said, "Sixteen minutes is not bad, but, unfortunately, we've got to play 32. I don't know what we need to do to trigger that. When we play with that kind of desperation, we just seem to click. There isn't one team we can't beat if we play like that for four quarters."
M.V. stands at 6-7 overall and 1-4 in the EAC.
The jayvee girls improved to 5-3 with a pair of wins.
Tuesday at the Sancy, Kendall Robinson hit a clutch free-throw on the front end of a one and one with seven seconds remaining to sink Bishop Feehan 47-46.
Maggie Riseborough led M.V. with 19 points. Cat Todd and Kendall Robinson also had huge games and scored eight apiece.
Friday, the jayvees won out in a physical battle with Bishop Stang, 39-32.
Maggie Riseborough again led the way with 16 points. Kendall Robinson added 14 more.
The jayvee and varsity girls are both home Saturday to play Duxbury. The JV game starts at 12:30, with the varsity contest at 2 pm.
A pair of number eleven's do battle in the RCBL: Heath Estrella of the Lakers (left) and Ryan Kurth of the Bulls.RCBL week 6
The Heat sizzled for three quarters, went ice cold, then regained their fire late in the fourth quarter to put out the Suns 88-84 in a contentious contest Monday night at the Martha's Vineyard Boys and Girls Club.
Amidst the rancor, referees Greg Rollins and Ritchie Roy must have felt like they were on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange.
Damon Mello, who scored the winning bucket after stealing the ball in the backcourt, led the Heat with 19 points. Chris Joyce (15 points), Sandy Fisher (14), Jason Dyer (11), and Ryan Murtha (10) also hit double figures for the victors.
James Holenko poured in 30 points for the Suns before being ejected for receiving his second technical.
Tim Scott scored 21 points and Sterling Bishop had 13.
In a far more civil affair, the Lakers broke open a nail-biter in the fourth quarter and beat the Bulls 66-56.
Sandy Fisher of the Heat fights to keep the ball away from the Suns' Matt Brown.Caleb Nicholson paced the Laker attack with 16 points. Heath Estrella had 13 and Jeff LaBell 12.
Jeremy Scheffer topped the Bulls with 16 points.
RCBL Standings
Heat 4-2
Suns 4-2
Lakers 3-3
Bulls 1-5
Travel basketball
Alex GordonBeck scored a two-game total of 45 points as the Vineyard seventh grade boys improved their Cape League record to 6-6 with home wins on Sunday.
In the opener against South Plymouth, M.V. used an 11-0 run in the first half and strong defensive play from Ben Poole in half two to win 42-33.
M.V. defeated Taunton 53-41 in game two. The Vineyard used a full court press and fast break baskets from Tim Roberts, Colin Cameron, and Ben Poole in the second half to overturn a 12-point deficit.
Surfcasters provide food, tales
The Martha's Vineyard Surfcasters' Association will hold its 21st annual banquet from noon to 4 pm Saturday in the Bayliss Room of the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.
In addition to an awards ceremony, raffle, and food, the event will feature guest speakers Environmental Police Sergeant Matt Bass, assigned to the Island last year, and Chappy superintendent David Babson and Cape and Islands supervisor Chris Kennedy of the Trustees of Reservation.
The banquet is free. Prospective members, members and their families and friends are invited. For more information, call association president Janet Messineo at 508-693-3360.
Youth hockey
The Vineyard Squirt C's split a doubleheader at Barnstable last weekend, losing 4-2 in game one and blanking the Thrashers 1-0 in the follow-up.
Ian Trance and Hunter Ponte lit the lamp for the visitors in the opener. Laura Buckley and Cabot Thurber provided able offensive support.
Cahal Robinson tended the twine to perfection in game two and Wilson Slayton scored the game winner.
Special marks go out to Kylie Hatt and Ian Trance, who did yeoman work as the only Vineyard defensemen in both games.
