Sports
By Don Lyons - December 7, 2006
Travis Baptiste splits Heath Estrella and Brian Scott. Photos by Ralph Stewart
RCBL tips off at the B&G Club
The RCBL began its 21st season, Monday, at the Boys & Girls Club with four teams registered, the same number as last year.
In the first game of the evening the Legends took on the Heat. Despite Dale Rogers's legendary 34 points, the game-high, the Heat won convincingly, 103-72. The hot ones, paced by Clint Merrill and Damon Mello, ran up an 11-point lead in the first quarter, 24-13, and grew that to 19, 55-36, in the second.
The second quarter was when Rogers, the league's most senior player, found the range and dropped four treys.
The Legends held their own in the third period, but without the possibility of a substitute - only five Legends showed up to play - they ran out of steam in the fourth and fell farther behind.
The Legends are jointly sponsored by Island Movers and Schofield, Barbini and Hoehn. Island Group Real Estate pays the rent for the Heat and Dick Pratt was present to see his clients play.
Damon Mello reaches for a rebound.
The Heat enjoyed balanced scoring with four players in double figures: Damon Mello (22), Clint Merrill (21), Capt. Sandy Fisher (18), and Jason Dyer (17).
So many of the Timberwolves, last year's championship team, opted out of playing this year, Captain Adam Rebello has recruited new and younger players and given his team a new name - the Celtics.
As fate, aka scheduler Jerry "Kabuki" Maciel, would have it, the Celtics first game of the new season was with the Lakers, giving rise to fond memories of years past when teams led by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would face off for championship honors.
The game did not disappoint.
The Lakers started cold and fell behind quickly, 17-6, 29-19 at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers made a late run at the leaders in the second period and reduced the deficit to seven, 53-46, at the half.
After the break it was the Celts who chilled and the Lakers took advantage. A stop and pop by John Healy tied the score at 53, a layup by Brian Scott put the Lakers ahead and another by captain Heath Estrella gave them a four-point lead, 57-53, three minutes into the second half. But the Celts righted themselves and the teams traded buckets, ending the period tied at 73.
Legend Dale Rogers drives by Heat captain Sandy Fisher on his way to the basket.
The Celtics proved to have more left in the final 12 minutes. After six minutes they took the lead at 82-80 and did not relinquish it, finishing with a four-point edge, 95-91.
Estrella saved his best for last, scoring 13 of his Laker-leading 22 in the fourth quarter, all but matched by James Holenko's 10 of 18 for the Celts
Matt Rivers (23) and James Holenko (18) were large under the boards. Capt. Rebello sank six from long range and ended with 23 points.
Sharky's Cantina sponsors the Celtics. Jim's Package Store picks up the tab for the Lakers.
Next Monday it's the Heat vs. Lakers at 6:15; the Celitcs and Legends at 8 pm.
Ashleen Cafarelli adds two more points to Tisbury's winning score.
Interscholastics info
The Tisbury Tiger boys proved too much for the Edgartown Eagles last Thursday at Vineyard Haven, 68-35. T.J. Van Gerven (26) and Nick Araujo (24) did most of the scoring.
The OB at West Tisbury boys game was postponed till Dec. 11.
The Tisbury girls squeezed by Edgartown at Edgartown in overtime, 29-28. Ashleen Cafarelli and Larissa Cacique were dominant in the O.T.
At Oak Bluffs on Thursday, the Blazing girls burned West Tisbury, 49-19. Kendall Robinson's 16 points were the game high.
On Tuesday the Tisbury boys more than doubled their up-Island cousins' score: 53-25. The Tiger girls also won on their home court, 40-17.
The Blazing boys team ran away from Edgartown at Oak Bluffs, 56-20. Ben Ciciora had the hot hand and scored 18.
The O.B. girls defeated a spunky Eagles squad at Edgartown, 24-11. Team captain Jillian Sedlier and Alicia Oliviera led the scoring for O.B. Tara Morris flew highest for the Eagles.
The JV Blazers also won.
Scrimmage or scheduled game, action in front of the net is apt to be physically testing. Above, an Islander attempts to push the puck past the Nauset goalie in Saturday's pre-season boys game at the Arena.
Warming to the task
The MVRHS girls hockey team were home to Wilmington over the weekend scrimmaging twice, Saturday and Sunday, in preparation for their season opener at the Arena, with Hingham, this Saturday at 1 pm.
Wilmington maintained a geographical advantage, but the Vineyard had an equalizer in goalie Jen Ward who made a bushel of saves and kept the Islanders close.
The girls team is dedicating their season to the grateful memory of Nan Rheault. Hingham and the Vineyard skated to a 4-4 tie last year.
The MVRHS boys varsity puck-chasers open their season at the Arena the following Saturday at 5 pm versus Franklin.
