After Beverly loss, boys hoop bounces back

BY JOE M CCONNELL

The Marblehead High boys basketball team suffered some defensive lapses against Beverly on Jan. 19, and as a result the Panthers were able to prevail, 74-67.

“We gave up two different runs against Beverly and lost sight of (Dylan) Crowley, who dropped 33 on us,” said coach Mike Giardi.

The Marblehead boys also trailed at halftime, 46-33. Tyrone Countrymon paced the offensive attack for the Magicians with 19 points. Isaiah Makor chipped in with 15, and Nick Lemmond accounted for 14. Other scorers were Scott Campbell (7), Miles O’Neill (6), Ryan Commoss (4) and Magnus McCarthy (2).

But the Magicians managed to put the Beverly loss behind them to defeat Winthrop on Jan. 24, 75-56.

“We bounced back with a great team effort against Winthrop, where 11 guys ended up in the scoring column,” said Giardi.

The Magicians led comfortably at the break, 43-20, after the defense limited the Vikings to just six first-quarter points.

O’Neill led the way in this game with 14 points. Campbell was next in line with 12. Lemmond had 10. Adrian Baron and Countrymon scored seven apiece. Cameron Comstock and Makor were each credited with five points, and Aven Denbow, Lupo Cabassi and

Finn and Bella Marblehead swimmers Finn Bergquist, left, and Bella Takata get ready to compete in a recent meet.

COURTESY PHOTO

Commoss each had four, while McCarthy tallied three.

Girls hockey snaps streak

In the last four games, the Marblehead High girls co-op hockey team (2-6 in the Northeastern Hockey League, 3-9 overall) earned its first two league wins of the year via shutouts, with the first one coming against Gloucester, 1-0, on Jan. 12. It was the second time this season they defeated the Fishermen.

“This was a great team win,” said coach Brittany Smith. “We played 45 solid minutes and then went into overtime, where we scored the game-winner just one minute into the extra period.”

Junior defenseman Ava Vautour of HamiltonWenham netted the overtime marker from seniors Riley Campbell and Hannah Tsouvalas. They, too, attend Hamilton-Wenham High School.

Two nights later, the Marblehead girls shut down Newburyport, 3-0.

Vautour scored the first goal of the game from Tsouvalas and Marblehead freshman defenseman Paige Waldman. Freshman forward Teyah Fleming of ManchesterEssex notched the second tally, assisted by Tsouvalas.

Swampscott sophomore forward Samantha Demady closed out the scoring set up by ManchesterEssex seventh grade defenseman Melanie Earl and Hamilton-Wenham

MHS VarSIT y SCHeDu Le

Wednesday, Feb. 1

5 p.m. Boys ice hockey vs. Masconomet at Valley Forum, Haverhill

Thursday, Feb. 2

3:30 p.m. Alpine ski racing vs. TBA at Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton

Friday, Feb. 3

6:30

Grady (24.30), Brady Leveroni (26.60) and Anna Coleman (28.39) maintained the trend in the 50-yard freestyle.

Grady (215.5, state cut points), Caroline Crosby (142.75) and Maxine Hall (131.75) were the top three divers.

The 100-yard butterfly belonged to Brooks (54.42, state cut), Ian Chemel (1:02.71) and Bella Takata (1:07.58), who swept the event.

Gary Podstrelov (54.86) and Brady Leveroni (56.8) topped the ticket in the 100-yard freestyle.

Greg Podstrelov (5:26), Rosen (5:40.47) and Brinleigh Callahan (5:44.80) swept the 500yard freestyle.

Grady, Nelson, Doody and Brooks (1:36.10, state cut), and Anna Coleman, Takata, Bergquist and Clementine Robins (1:53, sectional cut) were the two top teams in the 200-yard freestyle.

In the 100-yard backstroke, Nelson (1:00.27), Clementine Robins (1:06.34, sectional cut) and Lucy Sabin (1:28.33) accounted for nine more points for their teammates against the Witches.

Waitekus (1:14.48, state cut), Cece Robbins (1:17.79) and Lucas Rosen (1:29.96) experienced similar results in the 100yard breaststroke.

Greg Podstrelov, Ezra Reid, Nelson and Leveroni (3:52.8) made up the winning quartet in the 400-yard freestyle relay, followed by Gary Podstrelov, Owen Torstenson, Chemel and Rosen (4:00.37) in second place.

On Jan. 25, the undefeated Marblehead swimmers went up against rival Swampscott to close out the regular season at the JCC. It was then time for the annual Northeastern Conference meet at the Beverly YMCA on Jan. 28. The results of these meets will be reported in the Feb. 8 edition of the Marblehead Current freshman defenseman Lara Dolan.

“This was another great team win,” said Smith. “It was also our annual mental health game, and the girls really did come to play. They didn’t let their foot off the gas pedal for the entire game, and we were able to shut them out. We controlled the play, and I would say this is our best game of the season so far.”

The game also raised $10,300 for the American Foundation on Suicide

Prevention.

“We just hope to bring awareness and acceptance to mental health prevention, so that no one has to feel alone if they are struggling,” said Smith. “It’s an important subject, and there have been way too many amazing lives lost to this tragedy. Every life is precious, and we have to help each other fight through the toughest times. You never know what someone is dealing with on the inside, so that’s just another reason to spread awareness around this topic.”

The Magicians then traveled to Springfield to take on Pope Francis, where they lost, 2-0.

“They are a solid, hardworking, talented team,” said Smith about Pope Francis. “We played this highly ranked Division 1 team well. They have some really great hockey players, and for the most part I was happy with the way we played during that game.”

Against Leominster on Jan. 22, the locals continued to work hard in the first and third periods, only to lose, 3-1. Vautour scored the lone goal from Hamilton-Wenham freshman forward Maddie Graber and Fleming.

“We have a tendency to do that, and the other team capitalized on it,” Smith said of the midgame struggles. “The one goal we scored in this game showed teamwork, which was great to see, especially because it was in the third period. It showed that we didn’t give up.”