Sports 01-21-2015

Everett High vs. East Boston High

Everett High and East Boston High clashed in a varsity hockey match in Everett on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m.  The game was toe to toe, with both team controlling the puck equally.

During the first period, Eastie kept Everett forwards at bay and scored a single goal, taking the lead. By the end of the first period, tensions between players were extremely high and a fight broke out between players resulting in a player from each team being kicked out of the game. Eastie’s Defensemen Matthew Tauro (10) also received an extended penalty and spent most of the 2nd period in the penalty box.  During the 2nd period, East Boston did their best to keep Everett at bay, but were at a loss. Everett scored seven goals during the 2nd period, taking a commanding lead.

Eastie’s strategy during this period was to keep the puck away from their end of the rink where Everett was making stately and coordinated passes to get past Eastie’s defense and into the net. Eastie did manage to score two more goals during the 2nd period bringing the score to 7 to 3.

The third period brought both teams back to full strength and resembled the first period. It was a stalemate and no team scored during the 3d and final period.

EHS Roundup

Girls basketball team

wins two, now at 5-4

The Everett High girls basketball team enjoyed another undefeated week, taking the measure of two opponents, to run their winning streak to four games and raise their record above the .500 mark to 5-4.

The first victory occurred when the Lady Crimson Tide easy handled Greater Boston League rival Malden last Tuesday, 47-22. Everett led from the outset, grabbing an 11-4 edge after one period and 22-10 at the half. The Lady Crimson continued to build their lead after the intermission, enlarging their advantage to 32-17 at the third horn from where they cruised to the victory.

“Our defense was key,” said EHS head coach Tammy Turner, whose squad never allowed Malden to reach double digits in any quarter. “Our pressure forced a lot of turnovers, which then led to some easy baskets for us in transition.”

Talia Ricciolli led Everett with 14 points. Netta Johnson, who had a passel of rebounds, hit for eight points, followed by Lunica Figueroa with six, Talia Mirra and Vicky Vo with five each, Yemi Okhihan with four, and Nyomi Dottin and Haley Powers with three each.

Three nights later the Lady Crimson Tide traveled to Lynn Classical for a non-league encounter with the Lady Rams, who play in the Northeastern Conference. The Classical gym has not been a hospitable place for an Everett girls team for many years, but the Lady Crimson Tide came out playing hard and seized the initiative from the opening tap.

“I told the girls before the game that we were not going to allow ourselves to be intimidated,” said Turner. “We came out in a press at the start and we played with confidence for the entire game.” The Lady Crimson Tide never trailed, leading 14-8, 25-15, and 36-28 at the first three junctures en route to an emphatic 53-39 triumph.

Everett featured a balanced scoring attack, with three Lady Crimson Tide hitting for double figures, led by Johnson with 11 points and the duo of Dottin (who put back some offensive rebounds for buckets) and Figueroa with 10 apiece. Okhihan was right behind with nine points, followed by Yasmine Guerriero with seven, Riccioli with four, and Mirra with two.

“We came out a little bit complacently to start the second half,” said Turner. “But then we brought in Yasmine (Guerriero), Haley (Powers), and Lunica (Figueroa) and they provided a huge spark with their hustle and defense that shook us out of our doldrums and carried us into the final quarter with a nice lead.”

As for the key elements responsible for her team’s recent success, Turner cited two. “Our defense is creating fast-break opportunities and when we play in the half court, the girls are being more patient and, rather than rushing our offense, we’re working the ball around to get better looks and taking better shots.”

Turner and her crew will face a stiff challenge tonight (Wednesday) when they host non-league foe Salem, which is at the top of the Northeastern Conference. They return to GBL action Friday, entertaining Somerville, and will trek to Malden next Tuesday. All games will tip off at 7:00.

Hockey team wins

pair, remains at .500

The Everett High hockey team reprised a familiar theme of their season this past week, splitting its four games to remain at the .500 mark with a 6-6 record.

The Crimson Tide opened their busy week with a 5-3 victory at Cambridge last Monday. However, that triumph was offset two days later by a 4-2 loss to Swampscott. Everett then moved back above .500 Saturday with a 7-3 win over East Boston in which the Crimson Tide overcame a 1-0 deficit after one period with a seven-goal outburst in the middle frame. Ray Suppa scored twice for Everett, with teammates J.J. McLaughlin, Bryan Bessler, Marc Faia, James Liberge, and Louie Staffieri also lighting the lamp.

Cambridge then came to town Monday, only to turn the tables on the Crimson Tide and skate away with a 3-1 victory. Marc Faia netted the lone Everett tally late in the game.

“We’re playing hard, but not hard enough,” said EHS head coach Jason Lawrence. “We’re not doing all of the little things that we need to do in order to be successful.”

Lawrence and his crew will play Mystic Valley tonight (Wednesday) at Allied Veterans Rink at 7:00. They will host Medford Saturday at 1:00 and then will travel to Somerville next Wednesday evening.

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