EHS Roundup
EHS girls basketball team tops Malden, Somerville to claim second straight GBL title
The Everett High girls basketball team, which had not won a Greater Boston League title in more than 20 years until doing so last year, claimed its second straight GBL crown with victories this past week over GBL rivals Malden and Somerville.
The Lady Crimson Tide concluded its GBL schedule with a record of 5-1 to finish ahead of Medford which had a 4-2 league mark. The Everett girls also earned the distinction of claiming the last-ever GBL championship inasmuch as the four GBL schools will be merging into the Northeastern Conference next season.
Last Tuesday’s 57-43 triumph over Malden avenged a loss to the Lady Golden Tornados in the teams’ previous meeting.
Everett took a 31-15 lead at half, but Malden sliced the advantage to 41-30 after three quarters thanks to a barrage of three-point shots. Although Malden continued its hot shooting from behind the arc in the final period, the Lady Crimson Tide reasserted themselves on offense and pulled away for the win.
“Although we never let Malden get our lead under 10 points in the second half, we never could quite shake them,” said EHS head coach Tammy Turner. “Whenever we pulled ahead by more than 15, they hit some threes to get back into it.”
Yasmeen Guerrier led Everett inn the scoring department with 18 points. Kiana Wilkerson and Nyomi Dottin both reached double figures with 10 points, followed by Jalissa Harding with seven, and the trio of Haley Powers, Carolanne Cardinale, and Jackie Emmanuel with four apiece.
Three nights later Turner and her crew clinched the GBL championship with a 40-27 triumph over Somerville. “This was an ugly win,” note Turner. “We couldn’t hit our shots, but we played tough defense and that was what won us the game.”
The Everett offensive consistency was hampered by the departure of Guerrier in the second period with a turned ankle, and after she returned, the loss for the rest of the game of point-guard Emmanuel in the third period, also to an ankle injury.
The Lady Crimson Tide held a 22-13 lead at the half, but scored only five points in the third period as Somerville cut the EHS advantage to 27-21 entering the final frame.
Everett passed the ball better in the fourth quarter and worked the ball inside to Dottin. On defense, the Lady Crimson Tide tightened up their play to outscore Somerville 13-6 to come away with the win and the GBL title.
Dottin was high scorer for Everett with 15 points. Emmanuel was next with eight points, followed by Guerrier with six, Powers with four, Cardinale with three, Harding with two, and Kloe Cardillo with two.
In between the twin GBL wins, the Lady Crimson Tide traveled to Methuen Thursday night — a lengthy journey that might have explained Everett’s sluggishness the following night against Somerville — and came home with a hard-fought, 59-53 win.
The contest was a close affair all the way, with the Everett girls holding slight leads of 24-19 at the half and 39-38 after three periods. The teams were level at 50-50 late in the fourth quarter when a succession of steals ( two by Guerrier and one by Powers) that led to three breakaway baskets (two by Guerrier and one by Emmanuel) gave Everett some breathing room, 56-50, from where the Lady Crimson Tide held on for the victory.
Emmanuel and Dottin led the way with 15 points each. Guerrier hit for 11 points, followed by Wilkerson with eight, Powers with four, and the threesome of Harding, Kloe Cardillo, and Maddie Duraes with two points apiece.
Turner and her crew, whose trio of triumphs moved them firmly above the .500 mark at 8-5, host Marblehead tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 7:00 and entertain No. Reading Sunday at 1:00. They travel to Triton Tuesday.
EHS hockey team defeats Somerville
The Everett High hockey team earned a satisfying win against its chief Greater Boston League archival, Somerville, by a score of 3-2 last Wednesday evening at Allied Veterans Rink.
Crimson Tide captain and leading scorer Marc Faia notched the hat trick. Marc, who has surpassed the 100-point career mark, scored the game-winning goal late in the third period when he skated in cleanly on the Somerville goalie on a breakaway.
Nathan Johnson and Bryan Bessler both were credited with two assists on the night. EHS goalie Brendan Calderon turned in a superb effort in net, casting aside 33 Somerville shots on goal.
This past Monday evening the Tide dropped a 4-2 decision to East Boston on the latter’s home ice at Porrazzo Rink. Ryan Snook and Domenic Saia scored the Everett goals, both of which were assisted by Bessler.
“Bryan (Bessler) is the most unselfish player on the team,” noted Kainen of his senior captain, who is closing in on the 100-point career plateau. “He’s a selfless player who works very hard.”
The coach also lauded Saia, who has been moved between defense and offense this season, who scored his first goal of the season. “Domenic is a gritty player who has done whatever we have asked of him,” said Kainen. “He also works very hard and is not afraid to battle in the comers.”
The Crimson Tide host Medford Saturday at Allied Veterans with a face-off scheduled for 6:30. Prior to the game they will hear an inspirational talk from a special guest, Iraqi war veteran Brian Fountaine.
They will travel to Methuen Saturday.