Several Lynn squads ready for first games of 2011

Now that the First Night fireworks are over, it is time to get back to the games.A few Lynn teams are among the schools playing tonight in MIAA action. They include the St. Mary’s boys and girls basketball teams and the Lynn Jets hockey team.The Lady Spartans play at Catholic Central League foe Matignon tonight (6:30) while the boys team plays a home game against Cathedral, also at 6:30. The Jets, meanwhile, play Salem tonight (5) at Salem State University.The St. Mary’s girls enter tonight’s game with a 7-0 record after taking home the Boverini Tournament championship this past week.”I think, certainly, the things you want to do every year, the Boverini Tournament is at or near the top of everyone’s list in Lynn,” Lady Spartans coach Jeff Newhall said.The St. Mary’s girls defeated Classical in the first round and English in the final. Two of their players – tournament MVP Kirsten Ferrari and Tori Faieta, both of whom are Lynners – made the all-tournament team. And of the 13 players on Newhall’s roster, nine are from Lynn.While the Lady Spartans are undefeated, Matignon (5-2) is riding a four-game winning streak, and is coming off a tournament title of its own in the Malden Christmas Tournament. Matignon defeated Swampscott and Malden to claim the championship.”They’re a team you have to respect,” Newhall said.The Jets, meanwhile, come into tonight’s game against Salem after a tough week that saw their record drop to 2-3.”I’m hoping that we’ll do a better job defensively in our zone to give ourselves a better chance to win,” coach Joe Conlon said.Conlon said that Salem is “similar to us,” and that he expects a tight game.The Jets will be without two players – Nick Comeau (“We’re waiting for the official word on his knee,” the coach said) and Brett Erelli.”Other than that I think we’ll be ready,” Conlon said.The Jets practiced on Friday and had a workout yesterday, and the coach said, “I think everyone’s looking forward to the game.”Conlon did have one other commitment over the weekend.”I was actually at a family wedding on New Year’s Eve,” he said.