Girls indoor track teams tops Saugus
The Revere High girls indoor track team ended its season on a winning note last Wednesday, defeating Saugus 49-36 at the Merullo Fieldhouse. The victory ensured the Lady Patriots of a winning season, their first in three years.
The meet was a hard-fought battle throughout, with the teams trading wins in the various events, with both ending up taking five events each (including the relay). “We knew coming into the meet that it would be a close one, so we emphasized that taking second and third places would determine the outcome,†aid RHS head coach Sam Ros.
Pacing the Lady Patriots to the victory with first place finishes in their individual events were: Maggie DiPlatzi, a double-winner in the high jump (clearing the bar at 4-2) and in the two mile run in a time of 14:44; Lindsey Gurska in the hurdles in 8.3 (which led a sweep by Revere in that event); Janice DeStefano in the shotput; and Comfort Toglan in the 300 dash in 46.8.
Revere’s depth proved decisive however, as the Lady Patriots grabbed three points for second place performances in six of the contests: Brenda Rudecindo in the hurdles in 8.6; Angeli Buenaventura in the dash in 6.8; Alanna Pasco in the 600 in 1:59.4; Nikki Nelson in the 1000 in 3:28; Hayley Mangino in the mile in 6:24.6; and Taylor O’Neil in the two mile in 15:10.9.
Adding important points to the Revere total for third place efforts were: Noelle MacDonald in the hurdles in 9.1; Fiona Kerthi in the 600 in 2:08; Cristina Martinez in the 1000 in 3:31.7; Noelle Galli in the shotput; and Danielle Fortuna in the mile in 6:32.1.
The meet was highlighted by Senior Night festivities at which Ros recognized his seniors for their contributions to the girls track program. Track traditionally has not honored its seniors in the way that the other sports do. “But our kids deserve just as much acknowledgment as the other sports,†said Ros. “The Saugus coaches said it was very nice and wished they had their own home track to do the same.
“I told the girls, especially the seniors, that this would be their last chance as a team for a victory and would give them a winning season for the first time since the seniors were freshmen,†continued Ros. “It was evident they wanted it, from the team stretching to the pre-game chant to the cheering on of teammates, and that they had one goal: to win. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and couldn’t be happier for the seniors for getting that winning season.â€
Boys hoop team falls in overtime
The Revere High boy basketball team pulled out all the stops in their game Thursday at Salem (which had been moved up a day in anticipation of the blizzard), but fell short in heartbreaking fashion in overtime, 64-63.
“We gave it everything we had,†said RHS head coach Rick Hayes, whose squad’s last-ditch, game-winning shot in regulation by Mike Dreeszen went in-and-out with about 20 seconds to play.
The encounter was a key one for the Patriots in their quest to qualify for a state tournament berth. Revere was 8-9 coming into the contest and, with two games remaining on their schedule, the Pats were hoping to go into those affairs with a 9-9 record, 10 wins being needed to punch a ticket for a Journey to the Tourney.
The Patriots followed Hayes’s game plan well, especially on the defensive end where the duo of Dreeszen and Dom Boyce,with help from their teammates in the lane, limited Salem’s star player, Dunston, a candidate for league MVP honors who averages 20 ppg., to just three points.
Revere trailed 26-21 at the half, but took a 41-38 lead after three frames. Mike Ciambelli, who had a monster double-double game for Revere with 22 points and 12 rebounds, played a key role in the Patriots’ surge against a Salem quintet who had defeated Revere relatively handily in their first encounter earlier in the season.
Senior Boyce also played his heart out at both ends of the floor. Dom fouled out toward the end of the game after a stellar defensive effort on Dunston and on the offensive end, with a contribution of 13 points, including three treys.
Geo Gomez added 12 points, followed by Dreeszen with eight (including two from three point land), Mike Hinajosa added four, and Tommy Sor and Steve Selevitch chipped in two apiece.
“It was an excellent game by both teams and very well officiated,†said Hayes, whose team was 6-for-10 from the line (Salem was 6-for 9)â€We went into Salem’s gym and played the best we have in a long time there. But it wasn’t quite good enough.â€
Last Tuesday at Lynn Classical, تthe Patriots came out on the short end of a 66-56 decision. Revere fell behind in a big way in the first half, 35-19 (“We couldn’t do anything right,†noted Hayes), but cut down on their turnovers after the intermission to close the gap to 50-42 after three frames.
The Patriots continued to build their momentum in the final eight minutes. They got as close as five points with about 2:30 to play when Gomez drove the lane, made the basket, and the ref called a foul — seemingly moving Revere within three points and a chance at making it two with the free throw. But the ref’s call was for an offensive foul, nullifying the hoop and giving the ball back to Classical. The call took the wind out of the Pats’ sails and they never got closer after that.
Gomez and Sor led the way in the scoring column with 12 each. Boyce added eight, followed by Ciambelli and Doug Zingali with six each, Selevitch and Ravi Ryland with five each, and Dreeszen with two.
So now the Pats know what they have to do. They needed a win last night (Tuesday) at Beverly and have to do likewise tomorrow evening (Thursday) on Senior Night at Merullo Fieldhouse  -to reach the state tourney.
“That’s been our goal for this season,†said Hayes. “We’ve come close, but we want to get there.â€
Boys cruise past Saugus in season finaleÂ
The Revere High boys indoor track team concluded an outstanding season with a 74-12 runaway triumph over Saugus last Wednesday.
First place finishers for Coach Jack Mosko’s squad were: Tarik Maddrey with a high jump of 6-2; Karim Sahila in the 50 yard hurdles in 6.8; Joey Ritchie in the 50 yard dash in 5.7; Bobby Rose in the 300 in 39.3; Rawlings Toglan in the 1000 in 2:58.4; Kristi Nushi in the mile in 5:09.1; Jeff Simbert with a shotput toss of 40-0; and John DellaRusso with a two mile run of 11:25.8. The 4 x 400 relay team also swept to victory, defeating their Saugus counterparts by five seconds with a clocking of 4:13.
Adding three points to the Revere scoresheet with second place finishes were: Maddrey in the hurdles in 7.5; Younes Hartout in the dash in 5.8; Johnny Lopes in the 300 in 39.6; Zack Primo in the 600 in 1:31.4; ; Mohamed Bensadok in the 1000 in 3:07.3; William Troung in the mile in 5:27.1; Mirza Liskovica with a shotput throw of 39-10.75; and Neri Aguilar in the two mile in 11:38.6.
Third place point for the Patriots came from: Rose with a high jump of ت5-8; Simbert with a 50 yard dash of 6.0; تBen Graciani in the 600 in 1:39.2; and Derek Fortuna in the 1000 in 3:07.6.