McClelland Miscellanea

April 10, 2013 · 10:51 pm

Amesbury wins easily over Triton 12-2 in Cape Ann League softball

Amanda Boswell slides home safely

Jenna Bartley heads for home

(Byfield) Triton was in trouble even before their game with Amesbury started.

Cape Ann League All-Star Shannon Sinton was sidelined because of a preseason injury. The Vikings shortstop will be back with the team in a couple of weeks.

In the season opener for both softball teams Amesbury came away with a decisive, 12-2, win on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon.

The Indians were 17-5 in 2012 and have plenty of that team back. They had hits and base runners in every inning.

Carolina Merrill

And while the Indians were hitting and running the bases and building up an 8-0 lead, their pitcher (senior Carolina Merrill) held Triton scoreless scattering two hits and striking out five.

Amesbury had thirteen hits (by my count) and took the extra base time after time.

Amanda Boswell was the ideal leadoff batter for Amesbury in this one. The speedy junior reached base on all five at bats and scored four runs.

Mara Spears absorbed the loss for Triton. The Viking junior walked only one but despite some pretty good speed couldn’t keep the Indians from making good contact.

Cori Simons had a 2-run single for Triton in the final inning.

This was a non-league game. The CAL league game between the teams is on April 29th.

Erin Leary circles the bases

Today’s game featured three 2012 CAL All-League players – Cori Simons, Cassie Schultz, and Erin Leary. In this game, Erin had a home run down the left field line.

Kelsey Trudel, Shannon Sinton, Carolina Merrill, and Amanda Schell made the CAL All-Star team in 2012.

Last time I saw Amesbury play they were losing a tough 2-0 game at Danvers in the post-season tournament.

Triton’s next game is hosting Pentucket on Friday. Amesbury hosts Georgetown on Thursday.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Amanda Boswell

Amanda Schell

Two Triton runners score

Kelsey Trudel

Lexa Reilly

Lily Anderson and Lucy Scholz

Amanda Schell tags out Lexa Reilly

Carolina Merrill and Erin Leary

Triton pitcher Mara Spears

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Tagged as Amanda Boswell, Amanda Schell, Carolina Merrill, Erin Leary, Jenna Bartley, Mara Spears

April 9, 2013 · 8:55 pm

Georgetown defeats Ipswich 5-2 to run winning streak to seven

Alex Amoroso out at third

Winning pitcher Patrick Slack

(Ipswich) Georgetown won its seventh straight game (including the five that earned them the Division 4 title) as they defeated Ipswich, 5-2, on a pleasant Tuesday afternoon in Ipswich.

The Royals (2-0) collected two unearned runs in the 4th inning and survived a bases loaded, no-one-out situation in the 6th inning to gain the win in their Cape Ann League opener.

Ben Noelk and Tom Pingree each had two RBI for Georgetown. CJ Ingraham had three of the Royals’ nine hits and also drove in a run.

Junior Patrick Slack was the winning pitcher. He scattered three hits and K’d seven Tigers during six innings of work. Dave Ingraham pitched the seventh and recorded a 1-2-3 final inning.

Patrick Slack (1-0) put himself into some serious trouble in the sixth but managed to escape with minimal damage. Four batters into the sixth inning Patrick had given up a single (Ryan Law), made a bad throw to second on a grounder (Josh Guertin), walked a batter (Henry Sacco), and hit another batter (Kyle Barber).

Shortstop Colby Ingraham prepares to throw home to get a key out in the fifth inning

With one run in (score now 4-2) and more a distinct possibility, the drawn in G’town infield forced a run at the plate. Then Patrick K’d pinch-hitter Jordan Thibault and got Eric Gongas to end the threat grounding out to third.

The Royals broke open a 1-1 game in the 4th inning with two unearned runs both scored with two outs. A Dave Ingraham single and a walk to Mike Goddu put runners on base. An error by Tiger shortstop Mike Savoie on sophomore Kyle Nelson’s sharp grounder extended the inning with the bases loaded. Ben Noelk made Ipswich pay as he sliced a single in front of centerfielder Ryan Law delivering Dave Ingraham and Mike Goddu.

Ipswich starter Alex Amoroso

Alex Amoroso went the first four innings for Ipswich (0-1) and Sean Whooley the final three.

Georgetown touched Alex for a run in the first. A single and steal by leadoff batter Patrick Slack was followed by a run-scoring double by CJ Ingraham (3 hits).

Ipswich answered right back in the bottom of the first. Alex Amoroso reached on an infield hit and took second on a wild pitch. The Tiger senior reached third thanks to Ryan Law’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Kyle Barber’s rip off third baseman Tom Pingree’s glove.

The Royals picked up the two unearned runs in the fourth to lead 3-1 before adding another score in the fifth off of Sean Whooley. Colby Ingraham reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and was sent home by Tom Pingree’s single to right center.

Up 4-1, the Royals survived the Tiger threat in the sixth allowing just one run. Georgetown pushed across its 5th run in the seventh. CJ Ingraham singled, stole second, and was delivered with two outs by Tom Pingree.

CJ Ingraham (3 hits) takes a big cut

The two teams will meet again in two weeks at Georgetown. The Royals next game will be hosting Manchester-Essex on Thursday. The Tigers will entertain Amesbury next Tuesday at 10AM.

Division 3 Ipswich was 6-13 last season but lost eight of those game by one run.

GHS coach Justin Spurr has thirteen players back from last season’s championship team. Star Ryan Browner is now at Southern Maine but there is still plenty of talent on the roster. It is not hard to imagine Georgetown still playing games in June.

Kyle Barber drove in both Ipswich runs

Kyle Barber was hit by pitches twice and drove in both Ipswich runs.

Sophomore catcher Kyle Nelson made his Georgetown varsity debut today.

Three times Georgetown put themselves into scoring position with steals that led to runs.

Georgetown box

Ipswich box

(The pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Colby Ingraham rounds third in the 5th inning

Royals reliever Dave Ingraham

Tiger reliever Sean Whooley

Ben Noelk (two RBI)

Tom Pingree (two RBI)

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Tagged as Alex Amoroso, Ben Noelk, CJ Ingraham, Coach Justin Spurr, Colby Ingraham, Kyle Barber, Patrick Slack, Tom Pingree

April 9, 2013 · 11:53 am

Newburyport gets two wins over Lynnfield in outdoor track

Steve Preston won the shot put, discus, and finished 2nd in the 100

DJ DeGeorge finished 2nd in the shot put and discus

(Newburyport) Plenty of sunshine and plenty of success for Newburyport in outdoor track competition with Lynnfield on Monday afternoon.

The Clippers (1-1) recovered nicely from last week’s losses to North Reading in their Cape Ann League opener.

The Newburyport boys defeated the Pioneers, 92-51, while the Clipper girls came out ahead, 90 ½ – 54 ½.

On a bright day (I’m making excuses for the pictures already!) I took a number of pictures of the participants.

I prepped for the race by taking a look at the 2012 CAL outdoor track championships at North Andover. That research alerted me to the best matchup in this meet – Steve Preston (Nbpt) versus DJ DeGeorge (Lynnfield).

The event was the shot put. In the CAL championships DJ was the winner with a put of 48’11”. Steve was third with 46’4”.

On Monday afternoon Steve turned out the winner reaching 49’. I don’t know DJ’s distance this time around but he ended up second.

Steve also won the discus with a throw of 142’ 5”. That length would have won last year’s CAL meet in which Steve ended up second throwing 138’ 1”. DJ was second today in the discus.

Tom Graham wins the 100

Steve also had a second in the 100 behind teammate junior Tom Graham.

Watching the Newburyport distance runners is always entertaining. You go into having no idea what the “script” will be.

In the two-mile, the “script” was determined by how long Lynnfield’s Chase Davidson could stay in contention. When he dropped back the front four orchestrated the way the race would go, in conversion as the race went along. In the final stretch, Max Vye “pulled away) from Joe Santo, Nick Carleo, and Chris Orlando to get the win.

Nick Carleo cruises in the one mile

The one mile event was run without scripting and Nick Carleo won decisively. His time was 4:47 which is quite a ways from his 4:29.8 at the CAL championships last May.

Lexi Buonfiglio was a decisive winner for Lynnfield in the 800. The senior was 4th in the CAL championships and all of the girls who finished ahead of her have graduated.

Next for Newburyport will be hosting undefeated Masco (2-0) on Thursday. For Lynnfield, it will be a trip to Ipswich (1-0) on the same day.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

sophomore Lily Eagan won the 400 hurdle

Max Vye leaves the pack in the two mile

Sam Stansel takes the 400

Liza Twomey took the 100 and the 200

Lexi Buonfiglio captures the 800

Erin Carroll wins the two mile

DJ DeGeorge tosses the discus

Becca Speak in the triple jump

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Tagged as DJ DeGeorge, Lexi Buonfiglio, Max Vye, Nick Carleo, Steve Preston

April 3, 2013 · 9:28 pm

Casey Barlow and Victoria Allman lead Newburyport past North Andover 3-1 in softball opener

Victoria Allman – complete game six-hitter with ten strikeouts

Casey Barlow (#13) gets congratulated after her two-run blast

(Newburyport) The white caps were not on the players’ heads but on the Merrimack River in the background at Cashman Park Wednesday afternoon.

But I doubt the Newburyport Clippers softball team minded the cold, windy setting as they defeated North Andover, 3-1, in a non-league season opener for both squads.

Senior Casey Barlow (three hits and three RBI) was the hitting star for NHS. Last time I saw Casey in action it was in basketball and the lefty was shooting free throws right-handed because of an injury. She’s fully recovered!

Casey’s wind-effected, two-out blooper in front of North Andover third baseman Paige Alholm delivered a run for the Clippers in the first inning.

Later, in the fifth inning, Casey put a charge into a liner over right fielder Jess Bramanti’s head and circled the bases successfully despite slowing up rounding third. Kendra Dow scored on the play and Newburyport had the two runs that would make the difference in this game.

Dahlia DeCologero had two hits and scored the only NA run

The Knights got their lone run in the third. Kim Crucioli singled Dahlia DeCologero to third and the senior scored on catcher Lauren Bean’s passed ball.

Victoria Allman had a strong outing for Newburyport. The junior gave up six hits but struck out ten. Victoria had five K’s in the first two innings.

NA threatened in the fourth as Jess Bramanti and Paige Alholm both singled with no outs. But Victoria served up a fly ball out to Lea Tomasz and two infield grounders handled by second baseman Jackie Krusemark to end the scoring chance.

The Knights put together a more serious threat in the seventh inning down two runs. Danielle Wilson beat out an infield hit past the pitcher and later leadoff batter Dahlia DeCologero doubled over Ashley Hodge’s head in left. That put two runs in scoring position with two outs. But Victoria got Kim Crucioli to ground out to second to end the game.

Dahlia DeCologero had two of NA’s six hits.

Pitcher Kim Crucioli is congratulated after getting out of a jam in the second inning

Knights’ pitcher Kim Crucioli (6 hits/4 K’s) came up big in the bottom of the second. Meghan Stanton belted a triple over the head of leftfielder Sarah Lemerise with no outs but Kim struck out two and induced a popup to escape.

Shortstop Kendra Dow erased a Knights scoring attempt at the plate in the first inning. Dahlia DeCologero had reached third after singling, stealing second, and getting third on an errant throw by catcher Lauren Bean. Kendra was playing in and Courtney Green’s grounder reached her quickly and her strong throw to Lauren Bean was there in plenty of time.

Another key to the Newburyport win? Keeping Courtney Green under wraps. Courtney was the Player-of-Year in Division 2 of the Cape Ann League last season. Victoria Allman held her hitless in three plate appearances.

North Andover has moved to the Merrimack Valley Conference and they are certain to find the level of competition quite different than in the CAL with plenty of Division 1 teams on their schedule.

Meghan Stanton tripled to left in the second inning

I took in last year’s meeting between these two teams on May 11th. The Clippers won that one, 3-2, in eight innings.

North Andover was 10-11 last season. They have a new coach – Caitlin Flanagan.

Newburyport was 13-10 in 2012 under Coach Lori Solazzo.

Next for North Andover is a trip to Pentucket on Friday. Newburyport next plays on Monday at Saugus.

Carley Siemasko and Kendra Dow were CAL All-Stars last season.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Lauren Bean tagged out trying to steal by Dahlia DeCologero

cold conditions at Cashman Park

Third baseman Meghan Stanton fires to Carley Siemasko at first

Centerfielder Morgan Coakley chases a flyball in the strong wind at Cashman Park

Catcher Lauren Bean and pitcher Victoria Allman

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Tagged as Casey Barlow, Courtney Green, Dahlia DeCologero, Kim Crucioli, Meghan Stanton, Victoria Allman

March 28, 2013 · 3:53 pm

Plum Island oceanfront…………three weeks later

Cranes being used on Plum Island to restore the oceanfront dunes.

Longer view to the area where the cranes are being used.

(Plum Island MA) I contacted Newbury building inspector Sam Joslin this morning (Thursday) and learned that Plum Island Beach was open.

I decided to take a few pictures of the Plum Island oceanfront. It turned out to be pretty close to high tide.

I wanted to see how the property recovery was going as well as how safe the surviving homes appeared to be when the next storm happens.

In the distance I could see workers using cranes to try and return the dunes to where they were before the storm.

Looking at houses that survived the storm it was easy to see that their locations are far from safe. These houses are built on sand dunes. I know that there are foundations involved but those too are resting on sand.

My religious background kicked in when I saw the houses and the sand:
“On Christ the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.” – from “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote

One homeowner has decided to stay on his oceanfront lot but move his house backward onto a foundation further inland. His optimism regarding his ability to withstand future storms in the new location may be misplaced.

home on left was moved back

front view of home that was moved back

One lady with a house in the area told reporters that she had been coming to Plum Island each summer for forty years and that the water used to be, “hundreds of yards away.” It is certainly not that far away anymore!

The shrinking beach size and the tenuous location of the surviving homes are a combination destined to lead to trouble in the future for the Plum Island oceanfront property owners.

The ocean in my pictures is where it is now reaching some three weeks after the storm. How can it not be concluded that this area stands one storm away from being endangered yet again?

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Tagged as Plum Island, Plum Island storm 2013

March 16, 2013 · 9:35 pm

Danvers downs Smith Academy 66-50 to get second straight Division 3 title

Danvers – 2012-13 Division 3 champs

Mat Sulda, Derek McMahon, Coach Matt Zerneri, Seaver Rickert

(Worcester) No last-minute heroics needed by Danvers this time.

After coming dangerously close to exiting from the tournament in the D3 North finals (Wayland) and the state semifinals (Martha’s Vineyard), Danvers pulled ahead of Smith Academy by double figures for good early in the final quarter and won the state title, 66-50, on Saturday afternoon at the DCU Center in Worcester.

This was Danvers (24-2) second straight Division 3 title.

(Both teams are the Falcons.)

DHS was hot during the first nine minutes against the SA zone burning the visitors from Hatfield with five three’s (Nick McKenna 3, Nick Bates and Eric Martin 1 each) and getting a 22-6 spread. Was this going to be a blowout? Hardly.

You live by the three, you can also die by it. Danvers cooled off in the second quarter and Smith rattled off thirteen unanswered points. While Danvers was pointless for nearly seven minutes SA closed to 22-19 before a Nick Bates layup in the last three seconds.

Mat Sulda (11 points) tries to get by Nick McKenna (20 points)

That five-point halftime lead (24-19) would shrink to two (24-22) and even one (26-25) on an old-fashioned three by Seaver Rickert (13 points) just a minute into the second half.

Nick Bates (12 points) responded with an old-fashioned three of his own and Seaver Rickert scored from in close on a pass from Derek McMahon.

At this point Danvers lead was a mere two points (29-27) with 6 ½ minutes to play in the third quarter. This was when the pull away began for the Eastern Mass champs.

Danvers crafted two minutes of unanswered offense (seven points) getting a jump shot from Nick Bates, a free throw by Danny Connors (12 points), and two jump shots by Nick McKenna (20 points). Suddenly, Smith Academy was down nine (36-27).

The Western Mass champs would cut the lead to six (38-32) before Vinny Clifford (11 points) struck from the corner on an inbounds play.

Vinny Clifford (11 points) guards David Longstreeth

This make was crucial for Danvers because cold Vinny had now become hot Vinny. The 6-2 sophomore had been through a disastrous first half missing every shot (including several air balls) and had a couple of turnovers.

But now Vinny was hot and he scored the next eleven Danvers points, including eight of them in the first two minutes of the final quarter.

While Vinny was making shots (a jump shot and two 3’s), SA was making only three-of-six free throws. The result of all this activity was a 50-37 Danvers lead with six minutes to go.

Smith rallied to within ten (58-48) as David Longstreeth connected from long range and Will Halloran put in a layup with 2:19 left.

But Danvers took the “scary” out of the rest of the game by making six straight free throws and getting a Nick McKenna layup off of a steal to notch their second straight championship.

All five of the Danvers starters ended up in double figures.

Eric Martin (11 points) was at his best in the second half when Smith moved to full-court pressure in the second half. There were very few Danvers turnovers.

Nick McKenna goes baseline

Nick McKenna’s defense was a key to the win as he guarded Mat Sulda (11 points). The speedy 5-10 lefty had been averaging 19.3 points per game.

Nick Bates had a double/double getting thirteen rebounds to go along with his twelve points.

This was the first state final for Smith Academy since 1992.

Mat Sulda ended up with 1579 career points. Both his uncle and his grandfather were 1000-point scorers at Smith.

Danvers returned four starters to this year’s team but graduated was 6-7 George Merry (WPI). The 2012-13 squad had to adjust significantly. Gone were George’s interior defense and inside scoring. But credit Coach John Walsh, the team adjusted well enough to win a second title.

Danvers boxscore

Smith Academy boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Derek McMahon takes off with a turnover

loose ball

Danny Connors (12 points) and Seaver Rickert (13 points)

Mat Sulda skies

Eric Martin, Danny Connors, Coach John Walsh, Nick McKenna, Nick Bates

rebound

Keith Natale and Nick Bates (12 points)

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Tagged as Danny Connors, Derek McMahon, Eric Martin, Keith Natale, Mat Sulda, Nick Bates, Nick McKenna, Seaver Rickert, Vinny Clifford

March 16, 2013 · 8:28 pm

Archbishop Williams routs Lee 60-33 to win Division 3 state title

Archbishop Williams – 2012-13 Division 3 state champs

Stephanie Young guarded by Alana Gilmer

(Worcester) Archbishop Williams (23-5) will be switching from Division 3 to Division 1 next season.

Unfortunately, for the Lee Wildcats (19-6) they had to face the Bishops in this year’s state D3 finals and were routed, 60-33, on Saturday morning at the DCU Center in Worcester.

Both Lee and Pentucket (state semifinals) had few answers for the size and skill of the girls from Braintree.

In both of those games, the Archies were able to virtually shut down a top player on the other team. It happened to Coley Viselli (3 points) of Pentucket and this morning Stephanie Young (3 points).

Both girls were 1000-point scorers for their respective teams but against ABW, and specifically 6-foot Alana Gilmer, the half-court openings were scarce.

MassLive reported that Stephanie Young was one-for-sixteen. By the time the Western Massachusetts Player-of-the-Year made her only points Lee was behind, 52-27, in the final quarter.

6-3 Jaylen Williams (14 points) swings into the lane for two

This game got out of hand in the first four minutes. During that segment all five ABW starters had scored and the Bishops were away on a, 13-0, advantage.

In the very first possession, the Archies had three offensive rebounds before Sara Ryan nailed a three. The second, and even third, chance opportunities were frequent for the tall Bishops.

The Wildcats were able to get within eight (21-13) in the second quarter after a Courtney Picard jump shot but the Bishops closed 8-2 the rest of the half and led, 29-15.

Alana Gilmer (14 points) started the second half with a three after getting a rebound and then was on the scoring end of a fast break.

Eileen Dooley (16 points)

Lee answered with a three from Eileen Dooley (16 points).

Back came 6-3 Jaylen Williams (14 points) with a spin move for a layup and then a 10-foot jump shot.

The work of the two sophomores (Alana and Jaylen) boosted the Bishops margin to twenty (38-18) with fourteen minutes left to play. The outcome mystery had been solved early.

Plenty of reserve action by both teams the rest of the way.

The Archies had nine different players score including senior (1000-point scorer) Sara Ryan.

Getting the biggest cheer was Julie Bloomer, put in by Coach Bancroft with just a few seconds left. The Bishops junior was wearing a conspicuous knee brace.

Freshman Ednaija Lassiter (11 points) came off the bench to tally nine points in the third quarter for ABW.

sophomores Alana Gilmer and Jaylen Williams

The Bishops ended the season winning fourteen of their last fifteen.

Lee won nine of their last ten with the loss today.

This was Lee’s third time in the state finals in the last four years. The Wildcats defeated Pentucket in 2010 to get the state title.

5-2 senior Eileen Dooley paced Lee with sixteen points. Her quickness enabled her to get plenty of shots off.

Lee has won the Western title nineteen times in the last twenty-five years.

Stephanie Young is considering UMass, WPI, and RPI.

Jaylen Williams has verbally committed to Penn State. Not bad for a sophomore!

Alana Gilmer has offers from UMass, Quinnipiac, and URI. BC, Georgetown, and Villanova are also interested.

Archbishop Williams boxscore

Lee boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Stephanie Young defended by Alana Gilmer

Olivia Conrad and Hadley Cook

Leah Spencer looks to drive

Bishops captains Kayla Free and Sara Ryan

Jaylen Williams lines up a free throw

Alana Gilmer (14 points) breaks in

loose ball

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Tagged as Alana Gilmer, Eileen Dooley, Jaylen Williams, Sara Ryan, Stephanie Young

March 12, 2013 · 10:48 pm

Danvers gets it done 50-47 defeating Martha’s Vineyard and reaching state D3 finals

Garden party begins

Izak Browne (17 points) heads for the last shot

(Boston) Until Izak Browne’s 3-point attempt from just inside half court went wide left, the outcome of the Danvers/Martha’s Vineyard game was in doubt.

But the game-tying attempt missed and Danvers had a 50-47 D3 state semi-finals win at the TD Garden on Tuesday night.

The exciting victory earned the Falcons (23-2) another trip to Worcester for a chance for consecutive state Division 3 titles. Last year Danvers defeated St. Joe’s of Pittsfield in the championship match.

Game time on Saturday is 12:30PM at the DCU Center and the opponent will be Smith Academy of Hatfield (25 miles north of Springfield).

The state semi-finals put two very good teams together. Danvers had the big-game experience but MV (18-6) had terrific athletes and could make 3’s.

Brandon Watkins chases a loose ball

There were fourteen lead changes and two ties. That combination provided more than enough opportunities for fans from both schools to either cheer and groan.

Ultimately Danvers big-game experience made the difference…….but barely.

The Vineyard tied the score (41-41) on a three by Jack Roberts (12 points) with 3 ½ minutes left in the game. Less than a minute later Jack connected on a short baseline floater and MV had a two-point lead (43-41) with 2:42 to go.

Kieran Beck reaches in and forces a turnover

Down but not out, the Falcons were able to make good things happen on defense as they trapped dribblers and jumped passing lanes. Three straight MV frontcourt turnovers resulted and Danvers was able to run six straight points to get up, 47-43, with forty seconds left.

The Falcons points came on two free throws each by Nick Bates and Danny Connors. The other score was an Eric Martin basket assisted by Nick McKenna.

Danvers now in control? No.

After a Navardo Anderson miss, Nick McKenna made one of two free throws (48-43) with twenty-seven seconds left. Jack Roberts followed with two made free throws (48-45) while Eric Martin missed both of his with 11.8 seconds left.

Nick McKenna makes two free throws with 4.7 seconds left in the game

Brandon Watkins went the length of the court (in a hurry) to reduce the Danvers margin to one (48-47) with 5.8 seconds to go. Nick McKenna then received the inbounds pass, was immediately fouled, and sank two huge free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Izak Browne (17 points) had a pretty good look at a last-second, game-tying shot but he didn’t come close to hitting it.

Both teams will surely look back at this game and think of how much better they could have played. Danvers missed eleven free throws in twenty-three tries including six in the final quarter. Martha’s Vineyard did not take good care of the ball. The team from the Eastern Athletic Conference had seventeen turnovers including six in the final quarter and three after they had a 2-point lead (43-41) in the late stages of the game. MV also missed seven of eleven free throw attempts.

In a game with lead changes, missed free throws, and plenty at stake, the pressure on both teams was incredible.

Nick Bates (12 points), Nick McKenna (11 points), and Danny Connors (10 points) led the Falcons in scoring.

Izak Browne soars into a shot

Izak Browne (17 points) and Jack Roberts (12 points) reached double figures for Martha’s Vineyard.

MV connected seven times from long range while Danvers had four 3-pointers.

Jake Cawlina (hero in the win over Wayland) hit a three in the second quarter.

Danvers had only six turnovers in the game. Three of them were in the tension-filled final quarter.

The state semi-finals was the furthest Martha’s Vineyard had ever been. They last played in the Garden in 1977.

Danvers boxscore

Martha’s Vineyard boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Navardo Anderson drives on Nick McKenna

Nick McKenna (11 points) looks for an opening

Eric Martin drives

Danvers celebrates

Nick Bates (12 points)

Jack Roberts (12 points)

loose ball late in the game

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Tagged as Danny Connors, Eric Martin, Izak Browne, Jack Roberts, Nick Bates, Nick McKenna

March 11, 2013 · 10:52 pm

Archbishop Williams defeats Pentucket 52-38 to reach state Division 3 finals

Coley Viselli faces defender Alana Gilmer

Archbishop Williams – state Division 3 finalists

(Boston) The Boston Globe had Archbishop Williams as the second-best team in the state behind Reading before today’s state semi-finals.

The #7 seed Archies (22-5) looked awfully good in their, 52-38, Division Three state semi-finals win over Pentucket at the TD Garden on Monday afternoon.

When I learned that Reading had been beaten by Medfield later today in the Division 2 semifinals, I think that it is safe to say that Archbishop Williams is now the best in the East in all divisions.

Lee will be the Archies’ opponent on Saturday at the Worcester Centrum (10:45AM) for the state Division Three title. Just to caution the overconfident in the East: the Lee girls basketball program has won more state titles than any school in Massachusetts.

Alana Gilmer (12 points)

The Bishops were able to gain separation (18-9) from the Sachems with a ten-point run in the last three minutes of the first quarter. A new three (Kayla Free), a converted rebound (Alana Gilmer), an old-fashioned three (Leah Spencer), and a layup at the buzzer (Jaylen Williams) provided the decisive 10-spot.

The Sachems (24-2) chased the Archies the rest of the afternoon. The undersized girls from West Newbury were within four (20-16) in the second quarter and five (28-23) in the third quarter.

The Sachems had their best moments in the final quarter when their pressing defense forced two turnovers and four quick points (two Kelsi McNamara free throws and Tess Nogueira layup from Kelsi). Pentucket was suddenly within six (40-34) with six minutes left.

Those who have seen Pentucket play, envisioned the start of a big run and an interesting finish. Didn’t happen. Sara Ryan answered with a three. Kelsi followed with two free throws. That put the difference at seven (43-36).

Pentucket then went into a five-minute scoring drought that sealed their fate. During the same time frame, Archbishop Williams added eight points to their lead (51-36), and the reserves from both sides finished the last minute. Jaylen Williams tallied from in close twice and Leah Spencer and Katryna Veasey had the other baskets in the late-game run.

There were few easy baskets at any time for Pentucket. 6-3 sophomore Jaylen Williams patrolled the lane on defense and the usual drives of the Sachems were discouraged.

Leah Spencer did a good job of keeping Kelsi McNamara (13 points) from getting looks at 3-point attempts. Kelsi had only one three in the game.

6-3 Jaylen Williams

Sophomore 6-footer Alana Gilmer (12 points) put the defensive blanket over Coley Viselli (3 points). Just getting by Alana was difficult for the talented Pentucket senior and there was always 6-3 Jaylen Williams ready to pick up the defensive slack if Coley was driving.

If you had to narrow Pentucket’s twenty-four wins down to two reasons, I would say that one was being able to force turnovers that lead to quick points and the other was making three’s. Neither one of those went the Sachems way on this day.

By my count, Pentucket had fourteen turnovers and the Archies only ten turnovers. Only one of the Archie miscues led to a quick Pentucket basket.

The Sachems made only three long ones. They really had trouble, because of the Archbishop Williams’ height, getting open looks even from long range.

Coley Viselli was injured early in the second quarter but came back before halftime.

At the end of the game, four seniors (Emily Dresser, Coley Viselli, Tess Nogueira, and Alex Moore) had ended their Pentucket hoop careers.

During Coach John McNamara’s seven seasons with Pentucket, the team has always been able to reload the following season despite graduation losses. Don’t bet against it happening again.

Plenty of support on hand at the TD Garden for both teams.

I continue to wonder why those in charge of the chanting student sections don’t discourage them from taunting each other. Directing positive chants toward their own team would make a lot more sense and create fewer hard feelings………but what do I know?

Archbishop Williams boxscore

Pentucket boxscore

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Kelsi McNamara (13 points) drives on Leah Spencer

Alex Moore gets her shot blocked by Sara Ryan

Tess Nogueira was six-for-six from the line

Coley Viselli heads for the hoop

McKenna Kilian gets into the lane

Tess Nogueira reacts to her 5th foul

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Filed under Archbishop Williams, Pentucket

Tagged as Alana Gilmer, Alex Moore, Coley Viselli, Jaylen Williams, Kelsi McNamara, Leah Spencer, Sara Ryan, Tess Nogueira

March 10, 2013 · 1:12 am

Danvers wins last-minute thriller 57-52 over Wayland to get D3 North title

Danvers celebrates last-minute win over Wayland

Reserve Jake Cawlina (9 points) saved the day for the Falcons

(Lowell) If you saw last year’s game between Danvers and Wayland you knew what to expect….end of the game excitement.

The Falcons (22-2) broke free from a tie game in the last minute and defeated the Warriors, 57-52, to win the Division 3 North title at the Tsongas Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Danvers will face Martha’s Vineyard (17-5) in the state D3 semifinal game at the TD Bank Garden on Tuesday. The finals are at the Worcester Centrum on Saturday.

Last time against Wayland, a 3-point shot by reserve Mike Scarfo was part of a 10-point rally that forced overtime in the Falcon’s 70-67 win. Today it was seldom-used, senior Jake Cawlina who saved the day for Danvers.

With Dan Connors in game-long foul trouble and Vinny Clifford not as accurate as he has been recently, DHS coach John Walsh gave Jake a chance. Nine points later Jake made the coach look like a genius.

Jake entered the game in the second quarter and nailed two 3’s as part of a ten-point run that gave Danvers its largest lead of the half, 31-20, with a minute left until halftime.

Jaleel Bell (17 points) with Eric Martin

The Falcon advantage would grow to 35-23 two minutes into the second half but the never-say-die Warriors erased their entire deficit and had Danvers in a 52-52 tie with 1:41 left.

The Falcons extended their next possession with an offensive rebound and Jake Cawlina then hit his third 3-pointer of the game to give the Falcons a 3-point lead (55-52) with fifty-five seconds left.

But Jake was not done contributing. On Wayland’s next possession, he and reserve Kieran Beck got Yannick Schaefer in a trap and Kieran stole the ball.

Danvers ran clock before Eric Martin fed Nick Bates cutting down the lane for the layup that sealed the deal (57-52) for the Falcons with thirteen seconds left.

Certainly a key to the Danvers win was limiting Jaleel Bell to seventeen points on 8-for-15 shooting. Eric Martin was the primary defender.

Jaleel had 34 points/14 rebounds/9 steals in the Warriors semifinal win over North Reading. Jaleel’s line today showed no rebounds or steals.

Nick Bates (13 points) heads for two

Nick McKenna (14 points) and Nick Bates (13 points) led the Danvers scorers.

Eric Martin had nine points and five assists plus the great defense on Jaleel Bell.

Dan Connors tallied only four points as fouls kept him on the bench more than on the floor. He had three fouls in the first quarter and sat out the second quarter. Thirty seconds into the third quarter he had his 4th and was benched. Four minutes into the final quarter he was done for the game. Dan’s inside scoring/rebounding were sorely missed.

Harry Leavitt (9 points) drove in for the layup that tied the score at 52-52.

Harry was part of 10-point run by the Warriors (19-5) in the third quarter. He had a layup and two free throws. Jaleel Bell, who had eleven points in the third quarter, added two layups and Greg Karpacz also had a layup. That collection of unanswered points put Wayland within two (35-33) with four minutes left.

Eric Martin was part of quick five points in the first quarter. He assisted on Nick McKenna’s three and then stole the inbounds pass and tallied a layup.

looking for a rebound

Wayland coach Dennis Doherty is probably wondering what this game would have looked like at the end if his team hadn’t missed eleven-of-fifteen free throws including three that were the front ends of one-and-one’s.

Danvers wasn’t too much better from the line. They missed six-of-nine attempts including one front end of a one-and-one.

The Falcons have eliminated Wayland from the tournament three straight years.

(All of the pictures above and below enlarge considerably if you click on them.)