By Kevin Devlin
The 2018-2019 Gate of Heaven CYO basketball season is in full swing. House and travel league home games are played at the Martin F. McDonough Gym located within the James “Stretch” Walsh Community Center.
Mike Donovan and Sean Monahan oversee the boys’ instructional league for first and second graders held on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Marie Laundry and Allison Baker are in charge of the girls’ instructional and house leagues and also play on Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The boys’ cadet house league games are played on Sundays at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. The boys’ midget house league games are played at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. In addition to running the instructional league with Mike Donovan, Sean Monahan oversees the boys’ midget house league and also coaches a boys’ travel squad. Yours truly oversees the boys’ cadet house league.
“We are back and it’s time to begin another basketball season,” said Kevin Lally, Gate of Heaven’s CYO Athletic Director. “It’s going to be another gratifying season. We have around three hundred players signed up. We have instructional leagues for the younger girls and boys, and house leagues for both girls and boys. This season we have twelve travel teams, including two high school-age girl’s teams, making us the only parish in the state to afford this opportunity to the older girls.
“We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of coaches, league commissioners, and other volunteers (mentors) who’ll help the players,” Lally added. “The great part is the players will learn to play the game in a productive manner…have fun….and develop new friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Game Notes
On Saturday, December 1, the 7th/8th grade boys’ travel team, coached by Jimmy Geisel, defeated Saint Peter’s of Cambridge, 48-34. Trailing by a deuce at the half, 21-19, Gatey opened up the second half with a 12-0 run to take a 31-19 lead. And then they cruised to victory. For Gatey, Ryan MacDonald was sensational, netting 27 points. Robert Wisniewski played a solid game, as usual, and scored 11 points. Brendan Errico was a monster off the glass hauling down a handful of rebounds on both ends of the court and contributing six points.
In the second game of the day, the 3rd/4th grade boys’ travel team, coached by the Costello brothers, John and James, handily defeated Saint Peter’s of Cambridge, 38-22. For Gatey, Aiden Cleary netted 14 points. Max Donovan and Sean Costello scored eight points apiece, while Jakoby Tatum finished with four points.
On Sunday, December 2, in cadet house league action, the P.S. Deli Club defeated the Boston Home Inspector Club, 73-69. For P.S. Deli Club, Wellington Arias netted 21 points, including 5 three-pointers. James Buzzell was also in the zone, scoring 20 points, while Ryan MacDonald contributed 14. For the Boston Home Inspector Club, Conor Strickland was unstoppable scoring 39 points, including 6 treys from downtown. Tristen Pecevich and Dermot Murray scored seven and six points respectively.
In the second cadet house league game, the Jack McDonough Club defeated the Metro Energy Club, 42-26. For the McDonough Club, Tommy White scored 12 points, Robert Wisniewski had 9 points and Ed Murray had 7. For the Metro Energy Club, Owen Donovan scored eleven points and Alex Polena had six points, hitting two three-pointers from the corner.
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Caption*** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym are (from left) Eddie Tiribassi, Alex Polena, and Henry Gailunas, who play on the 7th/8th grade travel team, coached by Jimmy Geisel.
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Caption*** Pictured at the Walsh Center is the sixteen and under high school boys’ travel team coached (far left) by Matt Hogan. The players are; Jack Matthews, Kevin Cully, Ryan Hogan, Mike Brooks, James Arlauskas, Braeden Kennedy, Chris Fitzgerald, and Jack McGinn. Also pictured (far right) is Kevin Lally, Gate of Heaven’s CYO athletic director.
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Caption*** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym, before the game with their Gatey counterparts, is the Saint Ann’s of Dorchester sixteen and under boys’ travel league squad, coached by Sean McDonough.
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Caption**** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym is (from left) Chase Bell, Tristen Pecevich, Dermot Murray, and Jerry O’Neil, who play on the Boston Home Inspector Club in the cadet house league. They are coached by Scott Bell.
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Caption*** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym is (from left) James Buzzell, Dillon Picard, and Aidan Young, who play on the P.S. Deli Club in the cadet house league. They are coached by Jimmy Geisel.
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Caption**** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym is (from left) Robert Wisniewski, Tommy White, and Stephen Flynn, who play on the Jack McDonough Club in the cadet house league. They are coached by Bobby McGarrell.
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CAPTION*** Pictured at the Walsh Center gym is (from left) Aldo Noury-Ello, Alex Polena, and Owen Donovan, who play on the Metro Energy Club in the cadet house league. They are coached by Chris DiMaggio.
