By Kevin Devlin
The regular season is winding down and the second season will begin soon as teams play their final regular season games and prepare for the upcoming playoffs.
On Saturday, February 3, at the McDonough gym which is located within the Walsh Community Center, the Gate of Heaven CYO 3rd/4th grade boys’ travel team defeated their counterparts from Milton, 20-12. Saint Agatha’s just didn’t have an answer to stop Gatey star, Evan Pierce, who netted 15 points. Liam Colton also had a terrific game scoring five points for Coach Paul Hogan.
Another game featured the Gate of Heaven CYO 5th/6th grade girls’ travel team playing against Saint Agatha’s of Milton. Gatey took an early lead and enjoyed a 13-6 advantage at the break. In the opening minutes of the second half, the home squad went on a 6-0 run, and at the 10:20 mark, realized a 19-6 advantage. Gatey continued to control the flow of action and defeated their foe from Milton, 27-16. Star center, Teagan Fitzgerald, was all over the court, snagging rebounds, registering steals, and scoring 25 points. She was unstoppable and in the zone.
On Sunday, February 4, in Gatey cadet house league action, the first place and regular season champions, the Jack McDonough Club (7-1), eked out a hard-fought victory against the Boston Home Inspector’s Club. The McDonough Club took an early lead, 7-2. Later in the first half, the Boston Home Inspector’s Club cut the deficit to seven, 23-16, but then the McDonough Club went on a 5-0 run and led at intermission, 28-16.
In the second half, the McDonough Club went on a 9-2 run, and with 8:28 left in the tilt, led by 17, 37-20. But Coach Ralph Mazzeo’s hoop warriors didn’t pack it in, went on a 9-0 run of their own, and cut the deficit to 8, 37-29. His warriors continued to pound the boards and score, and with 1:45 left on the game clock, trailed by only three points. Unfortunately, their heroic bid to overcome the 17-point deficit fell short, and they lost, 42-39. Coach Mazzeo applauded his team afterwards for not giving up and fighting for victory until the final buzzer sounded.
For the McDonough Club, Zack Mitchell and Conor Strickland had 12 points (including two treys) apiece. Linden Cox contributed 8 points, AJ Mansaray had 6 points, and Joey Brink had 5. For the Boston Home Inspector’s Club, Darrell Handy had a tremendous game netting 22 points and James “The Gunslinger” Buzzell finished with 11 points, including two three pointers.
PHOTOS:
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the McDonough gym last Saturday after his game against Saint Agatha’s of Milton is Liam Colton. Liam plays on the Gate of Heaven CYO 3rd/4th grade team which is coached by Paul Hogan.
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the McDonough gym last Saturday before her game against Saint Columkille’s of Brighton is Caitlin Fitzgerald. Caitlin plays center on the Gate of Heaven CYO 7th/8th grade girls’ travel team and is a terrific player.
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the McDonough gym last Saturday is the Gate of Heaven CYO 5th/6th grade girls’ basketball team, which is coached by Peter Alto and Kelly Sanborn.
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CAPTION*** Pictured resting at the McDonough gym last Saturday after her CYO game is Teagan Fitzgerald. Teagan was unstoppable as she scored 25 points against Saint Agatha’s of Milton.
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the McDonough gym last Sunday, before his final regular season house league game, is Conor Strickland. Conor plays on the Jack McDonough Club. He had a great game scoring 12 points (including two treys) against the Boston Home Inspector’s Club in the Gate of Heaven CYO cadet house league program.
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the McDonough gym last Sunday, before their final regular season game, is the Boston Home Inspector’s Club. This Gate of Heaven CYO cadet basketball house league team is coached by Ralph Mazzeo.
