The Everett High girls basketball team defeated Greater Boston League rival Medford Friday evening on the local court, 38-33. The Lady Crimson Tide led from the opening gate, enjoying leads of 10-5, 22-12, and 33-22 at the quarter poles.
Talia Mirra played a big role in springing her team to a fast start, scoring all of her 10 points in the first half on a pair of treys and a pair of medium-range jump shots. Meanwhile, teammates Yemi Okhihan, Mimi Febles, and Netta Johnson took care of business at the defensive end, clamping down on Medford’s two top scorers.
“Some of starters had to sit because of early foul trouble, but Talia stepped up to shoulder the scoring burden,” said EHS head coach Tammy Turner. “On defense, Yemi, Mimi, and Netta were our spark plugs They fought through the screens to stay on Medford’s top scorers and gave our whole team a lift with their hustle and determination.”
However, Medford began to creep back into the game in the final period, making a run that drew them within 35-33 with under a minute to play. Okhihan sank a free throw with 40 seconds to go to give Everett a three point edge and after a succession of failed Medford scoring attempts, sophomore Talia Riccioli canned a pair of clutch free throws with 0:10 on the clock to seal the victory.
Mirra ended up as EHS high scorer with 10 points, followed by Riccioli and Johnson with six apiece, Feble with five, Lunica Figuera with four, Okhihan with three, and Andrea Battaglia and Savannah Spinney with two each.
Last Tuesday the Lady Crimson Tide dropped a heartbreaking contest in overtime at Somerville, 55-52. The contest was a nip-and-tuck affair all the way, with Everett initially leading 15-14 and 32-30 at the end of the first two quarters and Somerville holding a 41-37 edge after three frames. However, by the end of regulation, the teams stood deadlocked at 48-48.
Medford seized the advantage in the OT, moving out to a 53-50 lead. Everett closed the gap to 53-52 on a pair of clutch free throws by Okhihan with less than 15 seconds to play and then Riccioli stole the ball on the ensuing Somerville possession. However, Everett could not convert on its offensive chance and Somerville sealed the win with a pair of free throws in the final second of play.
Okhihan led Everett in the scoring column with a career-high 22 points. “Yemi was fabulous,” noted Turner. “She crashed the offensive boards all night and made some putbacks that really gave us a spark.”
Riccioloi reached double figures with 10 points followed by Spinney with seven, Mirra with five, Figuera with four, Feble with three, and Johnson with a free throw.
The Lady Crimson Tide, who now stand at 4-6 at the halfway point of the season, face a busy stretch of five games over the next eight days that will go a long way to determining whether they will qualify for a state tourney berth.
Turner and her crew were set to host Cambridge last night (Tuesday) and Salem tomorrow evening. They travel to Malden Friday and to Saugus Monday before returning home to entertain Somerville next Tuesday.
EHS track teams run well in meet
The Everett High boys and girls indoor track teams turned in some fine performances in their meet with Greater Boston League rival Somerville last week.
On the boys’ side, second place finishes were turned in by: Lorentz Etienne in the 50 yard dash in a time of 5.7 second; Jason Hansen in the 300 dash in 37.7; and Eric Senibaldi in the 600 dash in 1:26.8.
Third place performances that placed points onto the Crimson Tide side of the scoresheet came from: Steven Garrity in the 50 hurdles in 8.1; Raphen Vidal in the 1000 in 2:44.9; Alex Burgos in the mile in 5:51.9; Mike Traill in the two mile in 14:41.3; and Irvin Dorsainvil with a shot-put throw of 35’-1 3/4.”
For the girls, Debra Francilme captured the 50 yard hurdles in 9.0 to lead the Lady Crimson’s effort.
Second place finishers who scored three points for Everett were: Djenny Lorjuste in the 50 dash in 6.6; Laurynns Joseph in the 300 dash in 42.9; Katelyn Castro in the 600 in1:54.2; and Kayla Mangan in the mile in 6:58.
Third place performers for Everett were: Wendy Ralon in the 1000 in 3:42; Ashley Mulligan-DeGregorio in the mile in 7:41.9; Stephanie Perkins in the two mile in 15:55.2; Kathy Pham with a high jump of 4’-4”; and Annie Pierreville with a shot-put toss of 24’-5”.
In addition, the 4 x 400 relay quartet of Laurynns Joseph, Chrystal Ducheine, Sheryl Steeves, and
Djenny Lorjuste took home first place in a clocking of 4:59.3.
“Overall, the boys and girls teams put in a strong effort,” said EHS head coach Shelanda Irish. “We had a personal record from Djenny Lorjuste in the 50 yard dash and Debra in the 50 yard hurdles. Stephanie Perkins ran the two mile for the first time and was able to score. Annie Pierreville had a personal record in the shot put and our girls 4 x 400 relay team ran their fastest time of the season.
“For the boys,” continued Irish, “Lorentz Etienne ran a personal record in the 50 yard dash. Although he wasn’t able to score, Edwin Gonzalez ran a personal record in the 600 yard dash and Raphen Vidal had a personal record in the 1000 yard run.”
Everett’s final dual meet of the season was set for this past Monday against Medford. The GBL Meet is set for this Saturday afternoon at the Reggie Lewis Center.