Four, count ’em, four CCL Large titles for Spartan hoop, hockey

Even before three of the four St. Mary’s basketball and hockey teams (girls and boys) have played a tournament game, it has already been a memorable season for the Spartans.That’s because all four squads – boys and girls basketball and hockey – have won Catholic Central League/Large titles this season.”In the division we’re in, the CCL/Large, it’s never happened before,” said St. Mary’s athletic director Jeff Newhall, who is also the girls basketball coach.The basketball teams – both of whom begin the postseason today – had to battle down to the wire, with the boys finishing in a three-way tie for first. The hockey squads, meanwhile, each went undefeated in league play. The three-time defending state champion girls hockey squad, in fact, will take a streak of 99 games without a loss into the tournament.Newhall’s Lady Spartans will inaugurate a basketball doubleheader at St. Mary’s tonight (5:30 p.m.) against Saugus in the Division 3 North first round. The Lady Spartans come in off a 9-3 CCL/Large championship season, “our best CCL/Large showing,” Newhall said, with the clincher being a win over Bishop Fenwick in the regular-season finale.At 8 p.m. tonight, the boys will play St. Clement in Division 4 North first-round action. St. Mary’s shared the CCL/Large title with Cardinal Spellman and Arlington Catholic. A St. Mary’s loss to Cathedral in the regular-season finale sealed the three-way tie.”The kids did a nice job this year,” coach Kevin Moran said.In hockey, both Spartan squads will play in the postseason Saturday. The Spartan boys missed a chance to go to the Super Eight with a 3-1 loss to Central Catholic Monday. However, they became the top seed in Division 1 North and will play the Burlington-Andover winner in the quarterfinals.”It was our first time winning the conference,” coach Mark Lee said, “and to go undefeated was icing on the cake.”The girls, meanwhile, will begin the postseason against either Shrewsbury or Beverly-Danvers.”Every year is a different challenge,” coach Frank Pagliuca said. “We’re in a tough league with Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep and Archbishop Williams.”No matter what kind of road a Spartan squad took to a league title this season, Pagliuca saluted them all for reach their destination.”I think all four teams had a great season up to this point,” he said. “To be able to capture a league title is a great accomplishment for each individual team.”