Sports Highlights

By Don Lyons - December 22, 2005

Interscholastic basketball

Hayley Pierce scored 20 of Edgartown's 42 points at West Tisbury, Thursday, and the Eagles soared higher than the Hawks. Maili Scott's 19 was more than half of the WesTiz offense.

West Tisbury led at the half by a point, 21-20, but Edgartown ran off eight points to the Hawks' two early in the second period - six by Pierce - taking a lead they would not relinquish.

Final score: Edgartown 42, West Tisbury 35.

The Edgartown jayvees, powered by Hannah Perssons' eight points, overcame an early WesTiz lead to win 19-14. The Hawks had the edge at the half, 8-6, and increased that early in the second period, 14-9, then went cold.

At Tisbury, the Oak Bluffs varsity coasted to a one-sided win as Tisbury's shots refused to fall, 28-8.

Girls standings
Oak Bluffs 2 - 0
Edgartown 1 - 1
Tisbury 1 - 1
West Tisbury 0 - 2

The Edgartown Eagles didn't miss many chances to put the ball through the hoop, Tuesday, and ran up 74 points to Tisbury's 37.

The OB versus WesTiz game was postponed until January 18.

Boys standings
Edgartown 3 - 0
West Tisbury 1 - 1
Oak Bluffs 1 - 1
Tisbury 0 - 3

MVRHS girls basketball

The MVRHS freshmen girls hoopsters stepped off on the right foot, trouncing Dighton-Rehoboth in the season opener at the Sancy, Saturday.

The purple girls controlled both boards, denying the Falcons second shots at one end of the court while putting the ball back two or three times at the other.

Alexia Schroeder was a constant problem, stealing the ball, snagging loose ones, driving to the basket.

At the half the Islanders enjoyed a 14-5 advantage.

They scored the first ten points of the second half and coasted to a 38-13 win. Kia Minor led all scorers with 14 points.

Coach Ena Thulin's talent-rich crew had no trouble winning their second game versus Apponequet at the Boys & Girls Club, Tuesday, 43-10. Center Loren Gibson led the charge with 10 points and an arm-load of rebounds.

Close calls at the Sancy

The Appponequet Lakers brought three girls teams from Lakeville to the Island, Tuesday, opening their and our Sea Coast Conference season. Both varsities had won their first (non-league) games.

They couldn't have been better matched. At the half, the Lady Lakers held a one-point lead, 15-14.

When regulation time expired, the teams were tied at 38.

But in the five-minute OT, Lakeville's captain, senior Courtney May, dropped three from the floor and two from the foul line scoring eight of the Lakers 11 OT points while the Vineyarders ran into a cold streak, scoring only once on a Tiffany Smalley rebound.

Courtney May had the game-high 19. Tiffany Smalley was high for MV with eight and she ruled the defensive board like Queen Elizabeth I.

Jayvees

The junior varsity game was just as tight as the varsity's. The Lakers warmed first and held a six-point lead at the half, 18-12. The lead grew to 11 early in the second period, 29-18, but Coach Amy Maciel's charges put together a 12-point run, including an "own goal" when a Lady Laker put the ball in the wrong net. The team's swapped goals from then on and when the buzzer sounded, Apponequet held a one-point advantage, 36-35.

Julie Perry led the purple players with 19 points and had nine rebounds.

Coach Maciel said she was impressed with her team's "no quit" attitude and its ability to come back from a double-digit disadvantage.

The varsity, J.V., and freshmen teams are at Fairhaven tommorow.

MVRHS boys basketball

James Todd and Billy Reagan scored 16 of MV's 26 second-half points, propelling the purple freshmen to a 41-28 defeat of Greater New Bedford, here on Saturday. The Falcons led at the half, 17-15.

Andrew McElhinney led scorers with 10.

Coach Adam Rebello's frosh took on Apponequet at Lakeville, Tuesday, and posted their second win, 43-30.

Coach Jason O'Donnell's junior varsity had little trouble besting the Lakers of Apponequet at Lakeville, Tuesday, 54-24. Nick Viera burned the court in the second half, scoring eight points in a row, 21 in all.

MV led at the half, 19-8. Brant Silvia had 11 points and 9 rebounds. Zach Coutinho pulled down 10. The team is home to Fairhaven tommorow at 3 pm.

The MV varsity lost to Apponequet, 34 - 47.

Youth hockey

The MV Squirt White team overcame a 3-1 deficit to tie Lower Cape at the Moore Arena, Saturday, 3-3.

Kip Cooperrider (2), Andrew Carroll, and Callie Jackson combined for the scoring. Zolie Clark was in goal.

Gillian O'Callaghan's second hat trick of the season powered the MV girls team to a 4-1 victory over Coyle & Cassidy at the Arena, Saturday. Celia Mercier also scored. Goalie Jamie Forend anchored an effective defense behind Sophie Sobel, Sara Turner, Taylor Chisholm, and Olivia Higham.

Sunday the girls drubbed Walpole there, 10-0. Both O'Callaghan and Phoebe Kelleher had hat tricks. Elizabeth Kelleher (2), Mary Vogel, and Lily Gazaille also scored. Goalie Forend was called upon to make four saves for the shutout.

The girls have elected Phoebe Kelleher captain and Gillian

O'Callaghan and Elizabeth Kelleher assistant captains.

The PeeWees tied Nantucket on the Whalers' ice. Saturday, 2-2. Kyle Francis, assisted by Dakota DelVenito put the Vineyard on the scoreboard. Bob Perry scored unassisted. Mike Silva was in goal.

Sunday the MV White Squirts hosted the MV Purples. The Purples won, 4- 3. White goals were by Harrison Rodriguez, assisted by Shay Hill, Tyson Araujo unassisted, and Hill assisted by Rodriguez.

Scoring for the winning Purple squad were Jake Hart, Kip Cooperrider (2) with an assist by Mac Davies. Davies scored the winning goal with six minutes remaining.

White Coach Bart Kent commended his charges for "great team play." Purple Coach Bill Jacob lauded game captain Shay Hill and goalie Zach Dupon.

The Mite Open team was home to a strong Falmouth Mite A squad. Dorian Johnson scored unassisted for the Islanders. Coach Chris Morely was pleased with his squad's team play but they were unable to take advantage of seven power play opportunities. The Clippers found the back of the net five times.

The MV junior high team lost its contest with D-Y, 4-1. Chris Davies' goal averted the shutout.

Darts, the first round

The front-running Ray Blanchette bunch (Wayne George, Mike Lipinski, and Charlene Barbosa) took home the money Dec. 8th after besting Mike Dow, Mat Hubert, and Linda Wood, 10-1. Ray hit a 160 three-dart-on.

Last week, the final match of the Fall-Winter season, Kurt Tesch and teammates James Rowell, Tim Corner, and Brenda Denham were high after a 8-3 win versus Tom Norton's Nonpareils, 8-3.

Season-ending stats show the Blanchard Bunch best with 76 points, followed by Wes Wood's Wonders with 72. The Kurt Tesch team had 64 and Tom Norton's, 52.

Sign up for the second dart season at the P.A. Club on Tuesday, Jan. 3 or Thursday, Jan. 5, from 5:30 to 7 pm. The number of sign-ups will determine whether or not there will be a Tuesday dart league.

Second season play begins Tuesday, Jan. 10 or Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 pm sharp.

RCBL week six

The league-leading Timberwolves fell before the onslaught of the Heat, Monday, at the B&G Club, tasting defeat for the first time after five straight wins.

The Heat led from the start, 26-19 after one quarter, 51-36 at the half. Things did not improve for the Wolves in the second half. They trailed 81-61 at the three quarter mark and 101-76 at the buzzer.

With 17 points, including three treys, Adam Rebello was top T-Wolf scorer, and Jason O'Donnell was right behind with 16. Harry Holmes (11) and Travis Baptiste (10) made it to double figures.

Hot for the Heat were Nathaniel Scott (23), Ryan Murtha (20), Clint Merrill (17), Teejay Roginski (17), and Damon Mello (10).

The T-Wolves have been strong finishers in their previous games, but staking the Heat to a double-digit lead proved counter-productive. The Lobos simply could not overcome a 15-point half-time deficit, and instead it grew to 25.

The first game of the evening was the highest scoring game of the season with 238 points posted on the board by the two teams. Legend James Jennings had the game-high 59, including a dozen from long range. Julius Middleton (16) and Dale Rogers (12) also required a second column. High for the Lakers were Jeff LaBell (36) and Heath Estrella (36). Bryan Scott (27) and Carl Kallinich (22 points, 17 rebounds) were also keys to the win.

Talk about legends! It was grand to see Wayne "Microwave" Elliott on the court, bringing back memories of an RCBL final game about 15 years ago to which only three Bulls showed up to play the Spurs for all the marbles: Dale Rogers, Mike DeBettencourt, and the Microwave - "the Three Amigos. " And they won!

RCBL standings
Heat 5-1
Timberwolves 5-1
Lakers 2-4
Legends 0-6