December 19, 2010 · 11:49 pm

St. John’s great start does in Lynn Classical 88-59

Pat Connoughton launches another 3 on his way to a game-high 28 points.

(Danvers) You’d have to bet that St. John’s couldn’t play a better first 11 ½ minutes of a game.

With everything working, the Eagles (2-0) jumped all over visiting Lynn Classical (1-1) on Sunday afternoon at St. John‘s.  The final score was 88-59 but this one was over after 11 ½ minutes with St. John’s on top, 45-14.

During the torrid stretch the Eagles made eight of twelve 3’s with just three turnovers while defending the Rams into nine turnovers and five-for-seventeen shooting.

Notre Dame-bound Pat Connoughton (28 points) didn’t disappoint.  The 6-5 senior played the point and drilled four from long-range in The Big Start including a buzzer-beater ending the first quarter.

Junior Michael Carbone tallied 21 points including 14 in the decisive start.

Junior Michael Carbone (21 points) can also stroke from downtown.  He had fourteen of his points during the segment in which St. John’s was putting this one in the win column.

The Eagle defense (full-court man-to-man) eliminated any organized offense the Rams might have wanted to run.  St. John’s dominated enough of those one-on-one battles to force two excruciating scoring droughts for the Rams.  One went for three minutes and a 4-3 deficit turned into a 21-3 deficit.  A later cool-off over 2 ½ minutes changed a 29-8 deficit into a 41-8 rout.

Never mind that Lynn Classical outscored St. John’s 45-43 after The Big Start.  This game was over after 11 ½ minutes.

The game started badly for LC.  They were assessed a technical because of a scorebook botch-up.  One minute in Nick Grassa

Michael Carbone (31) and Nick Grassa (3) defended each other.

(16 points) made a 3 and someone gave a referee an officiating tip which resulted in another technical.  Some of that chippiness resurfaced in the third quarter when Nick got overly aggressive defending Michael Carbone resulting in a third technical foul.

A very good crowd took the game in.  Plenty of representation from schools ahead on either St. John’s or LC’s schedule.  Even highly regarded New Mission had interested parties in the house.

Juniors Freddy Shove (11) and Owen Marchetti (10) reached double figures for the Eagles.

Carlo Buono (11) and Josh Cheever (10) did the same for the Rams.

Both Owen Marchetti and Pat Connaughton went to the floor with apparent injuries in this one.  Owen’s happened in the first half.

Pat Connoughton injured an ankle in the 4th quarter.

Pat’s was with 5:21 left in the game and the Eagles in complete charge, 72-45.  Seeing him stretched out on the floor with an ankle injury had to be plenty scary for anyone associated with the St. John’s program. Why he was still in the game at that late stage might be a question for Eagle coach Sean Connolly to answer.

(I keep my own stats.  Take my own pictures.  I interview no one afterward.  Any errors are on me and unintentional.)

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December 17, 2010 · 8:04 pm

Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Collides With Scripture, Health Concerns, and Referendum Results

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” is the military policy that John Burciaga goes after in a recent Newburyport Current article –    “ ‘Don’t tell’ the Marines.”

John suggests that putting an end to that policy is a “no-brainer.”  He defends his opinion by first whacking the biggest Republican critic of the policy he can think of (John McCain) and then moves into the everyone-else-is-doing-it ruse for further confirmation.

John’s suggestion that Senator McCain’s “manhood” may have something to do with his opposition to DADT must have been written by someone with no knowledge of McCain’s war record. 

Countries (like Israel) with threatening neighbors will, for obvious reasons, spend less time sorting out those who join their militaries.  They need bodies to fill their ranks.  The United States isn’t there yet.

The unspoken “no-brainer” conclusion by John in his article is that acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle makes perfect sense.  It doesn’t, John. 

In my opinion, the homosexual lifestyle is unscriptural, unhealthy, and unpopular. It needs to be a private practice only. 

John seems to dispute the “unpopular” part but as far as I know, EVERY referendum on homosexual marriage has gone against it.  In the open, people hesitate to voice opinions against the homosexual lifestyle because of the bullies and intolerant types in our midst.  In private, the results have been unanimous.

In this state, the legislators prevented a homosexual marriage referendum from even getting on the ballot.  You shouldn’t wonder why.

I suspect that even in an area where Smart cars are seen (imagine them in the ice ahead) and big spenders get re-elected in tough economic times (John Tierney),  homosexual marriage would lose in a referendum for the reasons I’ve listed. 

John, the “no brains” approach works when something is very obvious.  The need to get rid of DADT isn’t.

( This entry appeared as a letter-to-the-editor in the December 17-23 issue of the Newburyport Current. )

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December 17, 2010 · 7:11 pm

Governor’s Academy Buries Visiting Hebron Academy 85-27

James Gomes paced Governor’s Academy with twenty points.

(Byfield) Governor’s Academy beat the daylights out of Hebron Academy, 85-27, at GA on Friday afternoon in a non-league game.

The Govs (2-2) had way too much firepower on both ends of the court for the visitors from Paris, Maine.

The Govs’ defense was solid all game. Here sophomore Colin Smith (Ipswich MA) prevents Hebron’s Jerimee Moses from getting the ball.

The Lumberjacks (2-2) committed 34 turnovers, many of which led to breakaway layups for the speedy Govs.

On the other end, the Govs had second chance opportunities galore.  They ended up with 41 more shots than Hebron did.

The Govs ran points together often.  In the first half, Stephen Basden (Lynn MA) got them off to a 7-3 start.  The next four minutes GA went on a 12-2 run as James Gomes (South Dennis MA) led with a three and a layup to give GA a 19-5 lead.

Things worsened for Hebron when freshman Kameron Nobles (Roxbury MA) tallied thirteen of GA’s nineteen straight in a run that stretched into the second half.  That made it 52-18.

For Hebron, the longer this game went the more they probably wished they’d jumped into the bus at halftime!

With 13 minutes to go, a free throw by Hebron’s Jerimee Moses set the score at 57-25.  Jerimee didn’t score again until there was a minute left.  In the meantime GA collected an amazing 28 straight.  Governor’s coach Mike Williams kept reminding his players to use the clock but he couldn’t slow the barrage much.

Jerimee Moses held off by Grant O’Brien (North Andover MA).

Jerimee earned some tight defense with his ability to get to the rim.  He ended up with 16 points anyhow.

The Govs had five players in double figures and plenty of playing-time minutes spread around their roster.

GA feasted on the many layups their defense and quickness opened up for them.  The long shot wasn’t there (3/17) and their free throw shooting (6/16) could haunt them in a future close game.

Hebron had only three players score.  Besides Jerimee’s sixteen, Levi Lincoln had nine, and Christian Gumbs added two.

(I collect my own stats.  Take my own pictures.  The commentary is my own opinion.  Any miscues are unintentional.)

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December 16, 2010 · 11:17 pm

Terrific Free Throw Shooting by Newburyport Girls Not Enough In 63-57 Loss To Tritonn

Jen Rock (19 points) faces pressure from Alyssa Leahy and Haley Johnson.

Molly Rowe (11 points) was part of the fine free throw performance (24/29) turned in by Newburyport.

(Byfield) Newburyport’s excellent free throw shooting (24/29 – 83%) wasn’t enough to offset poor shooting from the floor (16/57 – 28%) and they fell to Triton, 63-57, in the first round of the River Rival Tip-Off Classic on Thursday night.

Triton (1-0) faces Pentucket (1-0) on Saturday night for the championship while Newburyport (0-1) takes on Amesbury (0-1) in the consolation game.

The Vikings Jen Rock was the key to their win.  The talented senior put up nineteen points and did most of the ball handling for Triton in the second half.  Even when Newburyport double-teamed her she stayed away from turnovers.

The Clippers got off to an early 9-6 lead after 3 ½ minutes but two minutes later a layup by Alyssa Conley (23 points) gave Triton the lead (12-10) for good.

A ten-point run in the second quarter, fueled by points from Jessica Canning, Jen Rock, Vanessa Eisen, and Laura Mills gave Triton, what turned out to be, its biggest lead (29-15) of the game.

The Clippers undertook the road back in the third quarter.  A jumper by Sam Leahy (14 points) at the end of that quarter and a rebound putback by Beth Castantini (18 points) to start the 4th sent this one into the “anyone’s game” category at 43-41.

The teams traded baskets before Newburyport missed two opportunities to tie.  Triton followed with seven points (Alyssa Conley 3 plus 2 free throws along with a Jessica Canning jumper) in less than a minute to build up a 9-point margin (52-43) with 5 ½ to go.

Triton followed with a stretch (3 ½ minutes) of 1-for-6 free thrown shooting including two misses on the front end of 1-and-1’s but on this night Newburyport had little to show for outside attempts.  The rest of the way they could never get into the position of having the ball and a chance to tie.

Beth Castantini had an adventure of a game.  I had her for 2-for-23 from the field.  She didn’t make an outside shot until early in the final quarter.  However, she had the good sense to take the ball to the basket and draw fouls.  At the line she was a remarkable 14-for-16 including nine straight at end as the game tightened.

Junior Molly Rowe (11 points) did most of the ball handling for Newburyport.  She hit the only three that the Clippers made all night.

Gregg Dollas made his debut as Clipper coach.  His continued ties to Triton were evident afterwards as students presented him with a banner.

Players from the 2009-10 Pentucket state final team.

Watching the Pentucket/Amesbury game were three key parts of the 2009-10 Sachem state final team. A check of the program reveals that opponents this season will have more McNamara’s, Viselli’s, and Lane’s to contend with.

After being in the Georgetown gym last night what a treat to be at Triton – great lighting and plenty of good seats.  Nice place to hold a doubleheader.

(I keep my own stats.  Take my own pictures.  Make comments without consulting anyone.  Any mistakes are unintentional.)

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