Revere High Track Loses Beverly Meet in Final Event

The Revere High boys track team put up a battle with Beverly last week, with the teams separated by a point, 41-40 in the Patriots’ favor, as the meet came down to the final event, the 4 x 400 relay, with all five first place points at stake in the winner-take-all race.

However, despite a valiant effort, the Patriot quartet of Mike Fitzpatrick, Ricardo Maldonado, Johnny Lopes, and  Robert Rose fell short by 1.7 seconds to their Beverly counterparts, resulting in a victory for the Panthers, 45-41.

Up to that point, Revere had won five of the nine individual events: Omar Morales in the shotput with a toss of 45-9; Karim Sahila with a blazing time of 7.0 in the 50 hurdles; Joe Ritchie with a clocking of 5.8 in the 50 dash; Robert Rose in the 300 in 38.6; and Mike Fitzpatrick in the mile in 4:54.

Second place efforts were turned in by: Vito LiCata with a shotput heave of 42-5.75; Kane DiMasso-Scott in the hurdles in 7.9; Rawlings Toglan in the 1000 in 2:55.5; and John Dellorusso in the two mile in 11:31.2.

Adding single points to the Revere score sheet with third place performances were: Tarik Maddrey in the high jump with a leap of 5-10; Younes Hartout in the 50 dash in 5.9; Johnny Lopes in the 300 in 40.5; and Kristi Nushi in the 1000 in 2:56.

“We had 19 personal records (PR) and they had 16,” said RHS head coach Jack Mosko. “It was a great meet on both sides where the competitors reached deep to find what they were made of.

“The Revere boys really had a solid night,” continued the coach, who noted that Rose had a great meet, with a PR with his high jump leap of  5-8;  a 38.6 on a flat track in the 300; and then ran the anchor leg of that great relay final.

Ritchie ran a PR in the 50 dash to take first place in a race where the Beverly runner was favored to win. Maddrey’s high jump of 5-10 was a PR that qualified Tarik for the states.

“It was unbelievable quality from our boys,” added Mosko. “The team did very well.”

MacDonald, Gonzalez win in Beverly meet

Racquel Macdonald and Angel Gonzalez brought home first place finishes for the Revere High girls indoor track team in their individual events against Beverly last week.

MacDonald continues to reign supreme in the 50 hurdles, as she sped past the field in 7.9 seconds, 0.4 ahead of the second place Beverly girl. Racquel also earned a point for her team with her third place effort in the high jump with a leap of 4-6.

Gonzalez captured the shotput with toss of 30-8.25 to edge her nearest Panther counterpart by half an inch.

Other point scorers for Revere in the meet were: Raychel Adreani with a second in the 50 yard dash in 7.0; Alanna Pasco with a second in the 600 in 1:56.2;  Noelle Galli with a third place performance in the shotput with a throw of 28-1.5; Lindsay Gurska with a third in the hurdles with a clocking of 8.6; Comfort Toglan with a third in the 300 in 49.8; and Maggie DiPlatzi with a third in the two mile in 14:57.9.

Boys hoop team defeats Swampscott

The Revere High boys basketball team made it four wins in a row with a 58-55 triumph over Swampscott last Tuesday.

After trailing by two at the half, the Patriots outscored the Big Blue 17-9 in the third period to move out to a six point advantage. However, Swampscott hung tough and pulled within 56-55 in the final minute.

But with 15 seconds to go, sophomore Mike Dreeszen stepped to the foul line and calmly sank a pair of free throws to give the Pats a three point edge. RHS head coach Rick Hayes then directed his squad to play a tight man to man defense to prevent Swampscott from getting off a good look at a three point attempt, a strategy the Pats worked to perfection as Swampscott managed a desperation shot from three point land that front-rimmed the hoop to end the game.

Dom Boyce led Revere in the scoring column with 16 points, including eight for 12 from the free throw line, as the Pats shot a healthy 15 for 21 from the charity stripe. Alex Urena reached double figures with 12 points, Chris Palladino struck for nine, Geo Gomez hit for eight, Dreeszen popped in six, Mike Ciambelli added four, and Tom Sor contributed three.

“It was a very nice win for us,” said Hayes. “We improved a lot at the free throw line and that proved to be the difference.”

Three days later the Pats trekked to Winthrop to take on a Viking team that is undefeated in the Northeastern Conference and which had just come off a big win over EMass power Lynn English.

However, Revere came out firing on all cylinders at both ends of the floor and grabbed a 14-6 lead at the first quarter buzzer. But whatever formula the Pats used for success in the opening period dissipated in the following frame. Revere managed only three points, all on free throws, in the next eight minutes, while Winthrop found its offensive touch, scoring 16 points, to move out to a 22-17 advantage at the intermission.

Winthrop outscored Revere 13-6 after the half to make it a 35-23 contest after three quarters. However, the Pats refused to quit and they went on a nice 9-2 run at the start of the fourth frame to get back into it, 37-32.

But Winthrop hit a three pointer and then after Revere failed to score on its next possession, Winthrop scored again to move back in control, 42-32, and quell the Revere momentum. The final tally showed Winthrop coming out on top, 55-48.

“We had it going in the first period, but we lost it in the second,” said Hayes. “Winthrop is a good team and you cannot afford to have a scoreless stretch like that because it will cost you. However, the boys refused to quit and fought back nicely in the fourth period.”

Boyce once again led the Revere scoring parade with 15 points. Gomez was next with nine, followed by Urena with eight. Sor, Dreeszen, and Palladino chipped in with four apiece.. Ciambelli added three and Jason Siegal sank a free throw.

The Pats, who now stand at 4-6 at the halfway mark of the season, travel to Chelsea tomorrow (Thursday), host Marblehead Friday, and then entertain Chelsea in a rematch on Monday.

RHS hockey team drops two encounters

Revere High hockey team played well against two of the top teams in the Northeastern Conference this past week, but came up short in both of games, dropping decisions of 5-1 to Winthrop and 6-1 to Saugus.

The Patriots battled Winthrop to a scoreless duel through the opening period of their encounter last Wednesday at Cronin, and then grabbed a 1-0 lead five minutes into the middle frame when Marco Mazzarelli put one past the Winthrop goalie, assisted by Pat Bartol and Drew Lauria.

Winthrop tied the score before the period ended, leaving matters at 1-1 entering the final 15 minute stanza. The opening 20 seconds of the third period then proved crucial as Winthrop put home two goals, at 16 seconds and 20 seconds, to take a 3-1 lead.

Although Revere settled down thereafter, the Pats were unable to get back into the contest. Winthrop scored two goals late for the 5-1 finale.

The contest with Saugus likewise saw Revere play well at the start, with Saugus taking a slim 1-0 after one period. However, the Sachems added to their margin with a trio of lamplighters in the second stanza. Chris Whalen got Revere on the board at the start of the third period, with Lauria and R.J. tiorano earning assists, to draw the Patriots to within 4-1.

However, that would prove to be as close as Revere would get, as Saugus tacked on two more tallies for the 6-1 finale.

“We’re playing well up to a point, but we need to score goals,” said RHS head coach Jim Palumbo, who noted that his team has lit the lamp just 20 times in their nine games. “Our defense is playing well (a 3.33 goals against average), but we need to put the puck in the net if we’re going to win some games.”

Palumbo praised the play of his goaltender, Jon Papasadora, who was outstanding in both contests, particularly against Winthrop in which he turned aside 44 shots by the Vikings.

The Patriots, who now stand at 2-5-2 on the season, will seek to get back on the winning track tomorrow night (Thursday) when they take on the Northeast Regional Vocational School. Palumbo and crew return home to host Danvers Saturday at Cronin. Face off time for that tilt is 5:10.

Lady Patriot hoop teams drops pair

The Revere High girls basketball team dropped both of its contests this past week, falling to Swampscott, 48-37, last Tuesday and then to Winthrop, 50-43, on Friday.

The Swampscott encounter was a homecoming of sorts for new RHS head coach Katelyn Leonard, who starred for the Lady Big Blue in the mid-1990s. But the story of the game was Swampscott’s pressure defense, as the host team showed why it is rated as one of the best in the Northeastern Conference.

“They made it very hard for our team to get good, open looks at the basket,” said Leonard. “They also caught us out of position on defense and took advantage.”

Gena Restiano led the Lady Patriots in the scoring column with 14 points, followed by Caitlin Caramello and Amy Rotger with eight apiece, Venous Hamza with five, and Tiphani Harris with two.

Rotger pulled down seven rebounds and Restiano dished out four assists to pace the Lady Pats in those departments.

Three nights later Revere took on a Winthrop Lady Viking squad which has been resurgent this year after a couple of lean seasons.

The key to the win for Winthrop was its dominance on the offensive boards. In addition, whenever the Lady Patriots got close, Winthrop hit a big three pointer or made a three point play to stymie the Revere momentum. Another key factor in the final outcome for the Lady Pats was their free throw shooting, as Revere hit on just six of  15 attempts from the charity stripe

“Our inability to shoot free throws, especially down the stretch,  proved a huge difference,” said Leonard.

Restiano once again led Revere with 16 points. Hamza also reached double figures with 13 and Caramello, who grabbed nine boards, added seven points. Fajardo, Rotger, and Tiphani Harris chipped in with two points apiece and Michaela Maguire sank a free throw.

The Lady Patriots were looking to get back on track against Medford last night (Tuesday) and will travel to Marblehead Friday night.