Townie Sports
By Kevin Kelly
MIAA MONDAY “HOOP” ACTION
In the Division 4 North semi-finals, defending State champion St. Mary’s (18-5) used a fourth-quarter surge to pull away from Pope John XXIII (16-10) at Winthrop High School and prevail by a score of 60-48. Tiger senior forward Patrick Kelly (6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4 assists) put the finishing touches on what was a sensational career at Pope John.
THE HITS KEEP COMING!!!
Worcester Academy (19-6-1) and junior sensation Micaela Sindoris, who notched an assist, captured the NEPSAC Division 2 championship with an exciting 5-3 triumph against Gunnery. No rest for Micaela, however, as she heads to Michigan in April with the Boston Jr. Eagles to compete in the USA national playoffs. Sindoris (22 goals, 23 assists) added a few more items to her trophy case. Micaela was selected as a first-team league All Star and was named NEPSAC Player of the Year.
STILL MORE CHAMPIONS!!!
The Charlestown Mites finished off a sensational weekend with a perfect 4-0 record to capture the annual Brian McGonagle/Dan McGoff Tournament championship. The “Townie” hockey beat goes on and on…
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY: SUPER 8 QUARTER-FINALS
#1 seed Malden Catholic (15-4-3) took control of the best 2-out-of-3 series with a solid 3-0 blanking of #Marshfield (19-3-2) on Sunday. Senior wing Cam Delvalle and the Lancers have a chance to advance to the semi-finals with another victory that was to be played on Wednesday, March 8, at the Chelmsford Forum.
Much maligned #7 Walpole (23-0-1) caught #2 seed BC High’s attention with an impressive 1-0 whitewashing in the opener. The Eagles (14-3-4) had to figure out a way to get the puck past, arguably, the best goalie in the state. The hope was that talented sophomore wing Matt Lakus could help BC High do that. They were to play Tuesday night, ..
- DIVISION 3 NORTH QUARTER-FINALS
Sophomore defenseman Jacob Leavitt and #2 East Boston (17-4-2) move on to the semi-finals after a convincing 2-0 conquest of #7 Cambridge (13-8-1) on Sunday. The Jets face bitter City of Boston rival Latin Academy on Thursday, March 9, at 6:15 p.m. at the Chelmsford Forum.
#3 Latin Academy (15-2-4) and freshman wing Colin Delvalle blew past #6 Lynn (12-7-3) by a score of 4-1 to set up a semi-final date with cross-town City foe East Boston.
Sophomore wing Ryan McGonagle and Northeast (14-5-2) had their “dream season” come to a close after a disappointing 4-1 loss to #5 Shawsheen (14-7-0).
- DIVISION 1 NORTH HOCKEY
On Saturday, Arlington Catholic senior defenseman Danny Settipani chipped in with an assist as the Cougars (12-7-4) outlasted #2 seed Burlington (16-5-2) in overtime by a score of 3-2. AC and Settipani and freshman defenseman Jason Smith advance to the semi-finals where they were to do battle with archrival St. Mary (L) on Wednesday, March 8, at the Tsongas Arena.
Boston Latin girls and the “Townie” trio of Grace O’Neil (SR/defenseman), Kaley Kyle (JR/wing) and Caitlyn Killoran (SOPH/defenseman) posted a solid 4-1 triumph over Haverhill to move on to the quarter-final round. The Wolfpack (18-2-3) were to take on #4 seed Reading (17-3-1) on Wednesday, March 8, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn.
- DIVISION 2 GIRLS NORTH HOCKEY
Matignon’s season came crashing to a halt as the Warriors (19-4-0) fell to a pesky Longmeadow (13-5-1) by a score of 4-1. Junior standout wings Charisse Flanagan (13 goals, 17 assists) and Maeve Leahy (7 goals, 15 assists) look to rebound in the 2018 tourney in what promises to be a “special” season.
- DIVISION 1 SOUTH BASKETBALL
Braintree sophomore phenom forward Adriana Timberlake was a big reason the Wamps (18-4) knocked off #2 seed Bishop Feehan (18-3). The impressive 61-48 conquest advances Braintree to the semi-final round where they were to square off with #6 seed Newton South (18-4) on Wednesday, March 8, at Massasoit CC.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Braintree senior star forward Nicolas Timberlake tossed in 24 points but it wasn’t enough as the Wamps (13-8) fell to BC High (20-2) by a score of 67-54 in the Division 1 South quarter-finals…In Division 4 North action last week, Pope John XXIII (16-9) toppled Hamilton-Wenham 46-45 on a buzzer beater as senior forward Patrick Kelly and the Tigers advanced to the semi-finals for the third year in-a-row.
- DIVISION 2 NORTH BASKETBALL
Winchester (13-11) and standout junior guard Liam Fitzpatrick ran into a firestorm in a 91-46 setback to powerhouse Brighton (19-5). The Sachems should be a factor in the 2018 tourney.
HOCKEY EAST
Merrimack (15-16-6) and junior defenseman Aaron Titcomb, who blasted two shots on net, had their season come to an end as New Hampshire prevailed by a score of 5-2 in the third game of the best 2-out-of-3 first round series. Titcomb, already on the NHL radar, and the Warriors will look for redemption next season.
Senior wing Brendan Collier drilled another goal as Northeastern (18-13-5) eliminated Connecticut in dominant fashion to the tune of 6-2. The Huskies advance to the quarter-final round and await the results of the first round games to determine their next opponent. Northeastern will play Boston University in a best of three series from March 10-12 in Agganis Arena.
Maine (11-21-4) junior wing Nolan Vesey blasted four shots on net but it wasn’t enough as the Black Bears fell to Vermont 5-1 putting a close to their 2017 campaign. Vesey, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, looks to add to his career totals (28 goals, 29 assists) next season.
ECAC TOURNEY
Yale senior standout wing Michael Doherty blasted two goals and added an assist as the Bulldogs (13-13-5) eliminated Dartmouth in a hard-fought 3-2 slugfest. Yale advances to the quarter-final round and will face Harvard in a best of three series starting March 10.
ATLANTIC TOURNEY
Army sophomore wing Trevor Fidler (5 goals, 9 assists) leads the Cadets in the quarter-final round. Army will face Mercyhurst on Friday, March 10, at Tate Rink in New York.