The Winthrop High boys basketball team earned its first victory of the season with a 69-52 triumph over Excel Academy (formerly South Boston High) in the consolation game of the fourth annual David Green Memorial Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the WHS gym.
The Vikings sprinted to a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes of the contest and never looked back. Senior captain Matthew Reardon opened the scoring with a nifty reverse lay-up underneath, junior Noah Bayensdorfer drained a three-pointer to make it 5-0, and Reardon sank a free throw for a 6-0 Viking lead.
Bayensdorfer continued to have a hot hand in the period, hitting two more from three-point land and scoring an old-fashioned three-point play when he rebounded his own miss and put back the rebound on which he drew a foul.
By the time the period ended, the Vikings, who employed a stifling defense, held a commanding 21-5 advantage and were well on their way to the win.
“I’m very excited about this year’s team,” said second-year WHS head coach Quinton Dale. “We’re young and have gone through some growing pains through the first part of the season, but the boys are committed to the new system and culture, and are improving every day.
“Our defense has made significant improvements over the last two weeks and our shots are starting to fall more consistently,” Dale continued. “We have a very unselfish group of players, led by senior captains Matthew Reardon and Spencer Parco, who are committed to playing team ball, and doing the little things that put the team in a position to win.”
Dale and his crew, who stand at 1-5 on the season, are scheduled to host Northeastern Conference South Division rival Saugus this Friday evening (January 3) for a 7:00 opening tip. They will entertain Salem on Monday before traveling to Peabody next Thursday.
WHS boys hockey hosts Masco next Wed.
The Winthrop High boys hockey team, which split its two contests in the Michael Giordano Hockey Tournament in South Boston during the vacation week, defeating Lynnfield 4-2 in the preliminary round before falling to Boston Latin (the defending Division 2 state champion) in the championship contest, 3-0, will entertain Northeastern Conference rival Masconomet next Wednesday (January 8) at Larsen Rink. The opening face-off is set for 6:10.
Prior to the contrast with Masco, coach Dale Dunbar and his Vikings, who stand at 2-3 on the season, will make the long trek to Gloucester this Saturday evening (January 4) for a 6:00 opening face-off with the Fishermen at Dorothy Talbot Rink.
WHS girls hoop
hosts Peabody
next Thursday The Winthrop High girls basketball team will have a busy week ahead with four games in seven days. Coach Anthony Hatzisavas’s Lady Vikings, who stand at 1-4 on the season, will hit the road for three contests starting at Saugus this Friday (January 3). They will trek to Salem on Monday and then to Cambridge Rindge and Latin on Tuesday before returning home to host Peabody next Thursday. The opening tip for the home matchup with the Lady Tanners is set for 6:00.