Girls basketball clinches postseason berth
With still a couple of games left on the regular season schedule, the Marblehead High girls basketball team (11-8) clinched a Division 2 state tournament berth with wins over non-league Shawsheen (54-21) and Gloucester (50-37). They then lost to visiting Peabody on Sunday afternoon in a first round game of the annual Larry McIntire Classic, 44-36.
“We’re so happy with these two wins that got us into the state tournament,” said coach Paul Moran. “The seniors have been awesome, as they continue to show great leadership on and off the court.”
In the game against host Shawsheen on Feb. 9, the Magicians led by 10 at halftime, 24-14. But in the second half, the defense really picked it up to limit the home team to just seven points.
Nora Mahan was on target with her long-range shooting, sinking five of them for 15 points. Anna Cannuscio chipped in with 11. Greta Sachs was close behind with 10. Tessa Andriano and Ainsley McDonald scored five apiece. Carys Moran and Teagen Shaw contributed two points each to the winning cause, along with Eleanor Morgan. Hailey Schmitt and Lucy McDonald buried one free throw apiece.
Still on the road three nights later in Fishermen country, the Marblehead girls made a statement in a venue that’s always difficult for the visiting team to come away with a win.
Marblehead led at the half, 28-17, and was able to maintain that pace to secure another satisfying win on the road.
Andriano was the top gun against Gloucester with 20 points. She had 10 in the first quarter alone. Schmitt was next in line with 10. Sachs poured in eight. Mahan was credited with six. Ainsley McDonald and Moran each sank two free throws. Cannuscio nailed one from the floor for another two Marblehead points.
Hockey Headers win two close contests
After dropping a 7-1 decision to non-league Hopkinton on Feb. 9, the Marblehead High boys hockey team (5-12-1) won two straight against Danvers (4-3, Feb. 10) and the Peabody co-op (2-1, Feb. 12), before losing to non-league Shawsheen last Saturday night, Feb. 14, at Salem State, 6-0.
In the opening stanza against Danvers at Endicott College’s Bourque Arena, the Hockey Headers opened up the scoring at the halfway mark of the period on a power play goal by senior captain Hayden Gallo from junior assistant captain Kellan Laramie and Max King.
But the host Falcons scored the next two to close out the frame with the lead. Sophomore Teddy Dulac, however, returned the favor with two goals of his own to start the second period. Both goals were “beautifully” set up by Dulac’s classmate Holden Ferreira and Gallo, according to first-year head coach Brendan Locke.
Senior captain E.J. Wyman then delivered what turned out to be the game‑winning goal early on in the third period. Wyman initially made a slick move at the blue line to create space, before finishing it off with a smooth deke past the Danvers goalie.
Senior goalie Bowden Laramie was credited with 30 saves to secure the close win, and Locke said after the game, “(Bowden) had a busy night anchoring our defense.”
The Marblehead boys then headed to Peabody, where they defeated the Tanners co-op in another close game.
“This game featured strong goaltending and timely scoring,” said Locke afterwards.
The home team opened up the scoring at the 6:45 mark of the first period, but the Headers responded late in the period on a goal by first‑year varsity player Tyler Machado. A crisp give‑and‑go with Kellan Laramie ignited the tying marker, which was Tyler’s first with the big club.
The visitors then scored the game-winner early on in the second period, while shorthanded, when Gallo stole the puck at center ice, and broke in alone, before calmly putting it past the Peabody netminder.
Bowden Laramie once again did his part to collect the two points. In this game, he made 28 saves, and every one of them counted to seal the deal.
Wrestlers end league season with a win on Senior Night
The Marblehead / Swampscott Black & Blue co-op wrestling team celebrated Senior Night on Feb. 11 the only way it knows how with a big 41-40 win over the Essex Tech / Masconomet co-op. It also marked the end of another regular season.
“Both squads were down starters, so several kids were called on from both squads to step up, which created an exciting atmosphere,” said coach Mike Stamison.
At 106 pounds, seventh grader Kristian Drolette fought through to the second period, before ultimately getting pinned.
At 113, Elliot Donato, another seventh grader who filled-in admirably for one of Marblehead’s starters, took on the talented veteran Mat Xiao.
At 120, freshman Kenny Drolette continued his late season surge with a pin.
At 126, Dylan Soule, also a freshman, stepped up big-time to secure a 15-0 technical fall win. “This was his biggest win of the year,” said Stamison.
At 132, sophomore Ilan Hod ended his season with a tough loss, but still managed to earn a point for his teammates by refusing to be pinned. Later on, Hod went on to win an exhibition bout, 10-3. “We are looking for big things from this sophomore in the future,” said Stamison. “He’ll be one of the most senior members of the team next season.”
At 138, senior captain Liam O’Brien closed out his final regular season on the high school circuit with a decisive win. He built up a 12-1 lead, before pinning his opponent early on in the third period.
At 144, sophomore Phil Duclos nearly caught his opponent for the win.
At 150, freshman Nolan Glass turned his opponent around in time to earn a tie.
At 157, junior Andrew Delisle wrestled tough, and kept from being pinned, losing via technical fall.
At 165, seventh grader Ollie Dion picked up his first-ever varsity win in a forfeit.
At 175, freshman Max Letwin stepped up big time to earn a pin in the first period, while filling in for injured senior captain Colin Hart.
At 190, junior Colin Homan wrestled well, before getting pinned.
At 215, the coaching staff elected to go with freshman Ryker Genest, who had to face Essex’s captain Trevor Purcell. Genest gave Purcell a good match, before getting pinned.
At 285, senior Xavier Tejeda took a seat to give teammate Phineas Jakious a chance to wrestle in the heavyweight class, and Jakious didn’t disappoint. He got the pin that secured the team’s fourth win of the year. “It was a huge win on the edge of the mat,” said Stamison. “This was a great way to end the steady senior’s high school career. It was also his 40th career (high school varsity) win overall.”
In exhibition matches, Hod and Tejeda picked up the wins.
During the Senior Night ceremony, Stamison thanked his two graduating seniors Hart and Jakious and their families for their contributions to the program the last four years. “They are all great people, who will be sorely missed,” he said.
Time for the awards
It’s the end of another wrestling season in the Northeastern Conference/Cape Ann League, and you know what that means, it’s time to hand out the awards.
Liam O’Brien (138) is the Black & Blue co-op representative on the all-conference team. Liam is joined by Beverly’s Ethan Skaza (106), Brayden Pouliot (113), Charlie Frost (190) and Joao Reis (285); Gloucester’s Jayden Chadwick (120) and Max Thomas (215); Salem / Hamilton-Wenham co-op’s Kevin Spoon (126) and Justice Bower (144); and Saugus / Peabody co-op’s Jackson Deleidi (132), Michael Maraio (150), Justin Bremberg (157), Cesar Cruz (165) and Jaden Ceac (175).
Colin Hart made the all-star team from the Black & Blue crew. Beverly’s Carter Lang, Enzo Gois, Brody Lehmann and Kasey Nako; Danvers’ Logan Jacques; Gloucester’s Aiden DeCoste and Anthony Murawski; Salem / Hamilton-Wenham’s Chase Bower and Connor Buckley; and Saugus/ Peabody’s Camdyn Lanning, Jake Murray, Lukas Fondulis, J.J. Figueroa and Matthew Dresser are also on that elite squad.
Coach Mike Stamison’s Black & Blue team were also given the sportsmanship award, voted on by the league coaches, who also picked the aforementioned conference and all-star teams.
The Saugus/Peabody co-op is this year’s regular season champion, and then backed it up by also winning the league’s postseason tournament. Gloucester’s Max Thomas is the Wrestler of the Year. The Coach of the Year Award belongs to Saugus/Peabody’s Wayne Moda.
