Sports 03-09-2016

Great Scott

Senior forward remains solid in Revere Girls’ win;

Pepic, Gonzalez also shine in state tourney action

By Cary Shuman

The Revere High School girls basketball struggled in the first half against a very good Lexington team and its superstar scorer Anna Kelly.

But the second half was Revere’s finest hour of the season as coach Diana Finn’s contingent scored 45 points on its way to a 64-45 victory in the Division 1 North quarterfinals Saturday night at the Roland Merullo Fieldhouse.

A key to the victory was the defensive effort in the submitted by senior Maritza Scott. The 5-foot-8-inch forward has been on a tear offensively with 22 points in the NEC finale versus English and 19 points in a 64-39 win over Arlington in the State Tournament opener.

But it was Scott’s work in containing Kelly – who had scored her 2,000th career point in the first half – that made the difference. Kelly finished with 27 points, eight in the second half when Scott was at the helm of the Patriots’ defensive alignment.

Scott said it was “a group effort” that allowed her team to hold Kelly and the Minutewomen to 13 points in the second half.

“I was the one covering her [Kelly] but if it weren’t for the rest of my team and their help on defense, I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” said Scott. “I was a little nervous when we were down [32-19] at the half but everyone came back a lot stronger and more confident. We didn’t want this to be the last game of our season.”

Pamela Gonzalez showed why she’s one of the best sophomore guards in the state, scoring 27 points in the victory. Gonzalez was immense in the second half as she consistently penetrated the Lexington defense for baskets and assists.

Valentina Pepic, a 6-foot-2-inch sophomore center, saved her best for the second half, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Ally Hinojosa once again drew chants of “Hino-josa” from the Revere rooting section after launching the second-half comeback with an early three-pointer. Hinojosa’s three-point accuracy was crucial in the fast start versus Arlington as well.

Senior point guard Adanna Hector played well before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Junior center Meaghan Gotham and guards Tatianna Iacoviello, Natasha Iacoviello, and Emily DiGiulio also contributed to the victory with their stellar play in the backcourt.

Diana Finn knew that Kelly would be a tough assignment for her team but she was confident that her team would play much improved basketball in the second half.

“Anna Kelly is one of the best players I’ve ever seen in Massachusetts – she’s really awesome to watch,” said Finn. “I was happy with our teamwork in the second half. I didn’t know we were going to win but I knew we were going to come back in the second half because of our defense. We had worked really hard focusing on her tendencies and Lexington is a really good team. I was happy to see the response from our players in the second half and our experience paid off. I’m proud.”

Finn and the Revere athletic program showed tremendous class and sportsmanship by announcing Anna Kelly’s 2,000-point achievement immediately after the game [Kelly had requested that there be no stoppage in play during the game] and allowing Lexington to keep the game ball for its school trophy case.

Gonzalez stars for the RHS hoop team

Pamela Gonzalez was not going to allow the Revere High season to end their careers on her homecourt.

Gonzalez scored 27 points as Revere stormed past Lexington in the second half for a convincing 64-45 victory.

“I think we picked up the intensity in the second half,” said Gonzalez. “I was a little bit worried at the half but we had to step it up and we all felt that this was our game and we had to pick it up.”

Gonzalez said she’s enjoying the State Tournament and wants to keep the postseason drive going.

“It’s really important because we’re really close as a team and really want this. Last year we lost in the second round but we’re picking it up in the practices and the games. I hope we can keep it going.”

Revere High athletic director Frank Shea was impressed by both Gonzalez’s and the Patriots’ performance.

“Obviously it’s the best half I’ve seen them play all year,” said Shea. “They played like they really wanted it and didn’t want to go home and it showed.”

RHS sports Through the Years

10 years ago

March 8, 2006

The Revere High hockey team bowed out of the Division 2 state tournament with a 5-2 loss to Danvers, a Northeastern Conference rival that had defeated the Patriots in both of their encounters during the regular season. Pat Weber, Revere’s senior captain and leading scorer, gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead at the start of the game with an assist from Rick Mastropietro. However, despite outshooting Danvers 10-6 in the opening period, the Patriots could not expand their lead. Danvers pulled ahead 4-1 before Marcus Dow lit the lamp in the final period, assisted by Matt Leslie and Gerard Salvati.

20 years ago

March 6, 1996

The Revere High hockey team was eliminated from state tourney play with a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to St. Peter-Marian Monday night before a large crowd of local fans who made the trek to Marlboro. Gerry Gosselin, Dave Patch, and Peter Gianelli scored the goals for Revere.

Former RHS sports star Mike Mucci has been named the captain for the RPI football team for the upcoming 2006 season. Mucci has been RPI’s starting fullback for the past three years.

40 years ago

March 3, 1976

The RHS hockey team was eliminated from the state tourney in the opening round with a 4-2 loss to Braintree. Junior Steve DiCarlo scored both of the Revere goals. Junior goalie Bobby Troisi was superb in nets, making 33 saves. Senior Mike Gordon was named the Revere Journal’s Most Valuable RHS hockey player.

Guy Meli has been elected the President of the Revere Little League for a two-year term.

50 years ago

March 10, 1966

The Revere High hockey team, the Metropolitan League champion, dropped a 6-2 decision to Natick in the opening round of the state tourney. Charlie Terban and Steve DeAngelis scored the goals for Revere.

Mike Carabba has been named to the Catholic Suburban League all-star basketball team. Carabba, a junior, previously was named to the all-star football team this past fall.

Youth baseball plans for 2016 season

By Taylor Giuffre-Catalano

As the frost of winter melts away, and the warmth of spring sets in, questions about a traditional staple within Revere arise as opening day for baseball season comes closer. Saint Mary’s Park, home of Revere Youth Baseball and Softball and the Revere High Baseball and Softball teams, has been under construction since the fall.

Dan Dacey, President of Revere Youth Baseball, stated that the field should be ready to go for the 650 or so players in the league by the start of the season. Contractors are slated to be back to work on the fields by March 14th, and by opening day, “there will be at least two fields ready.” He explained, “They are going to be doing a very similar Snack Stand to the one at the stadium… depending on the price of that, they will decide if [the Snack Stand] is going to be done in time.” He also stated that if the field was not completed in time, games would be played on fields such as the one at the Whelan. “The goal is to have one field ready for the 29th, the high school’s opening day,” Dacey said.

Dacey’s favorite part of running the league is the “family” it creates. “If you go down there on a Friday night, there’s a lot of kids there… parents are there watching games even if their kids aren’t playing.” He explains that many people who played on the Saint Mary’s field, such as himself, now coach there, and their kids play there.

James O’Donnell, pitcher for the Revere High School Baseball team, agrees, “It’s a great place to go at any age… I went to hang out there every night during spring and summer when I was younger.” O’Donnell, who has played on the Saint Mary’s fields for years, added, “The new field is going to let this tradition be passed to the next generation, and I cannot wait to see when my kids and their friends start playing and hanging out down there in the future.”

Gonzalez stars for the RHS girls hoop team

Pamela Gonzalez was not going to allow the Revere High season to end their careers on her homecourt.

Gonzalez scored 27 points as Revere stormed past Lexington in the second half for a convincing 64-45 victory.

“I think we picked up the intensity in the second half,” said Gonzalez. “I was a little bit worried at the half but we had to step it up and we all felt that this was our game and we had to pick it up.”

Gonzalez said she’s enjoying the State Tournament and wants to keep the postseason drive going.

“It’s really important because we’re really close as a team and really want this. Last year we lost in the second round but we’re picking it up in the practices and the games. I hope we can keep it going.”

Revere High athletic director Frank Shea was impressed by both Gonzalez’s and the Patriots’ performance.

“Obviously it’s the best half I’ve seen them play all year,” said Shea. “They played like they really wanted it and didn’t want to go home and it showed.”