Behind an incredible 24-point, 17-rebound performance from Tayjuan McKenzie, the No. 9 Winthrop boys basketball team battled back from an 11-point halftime deficit to take down No. 8 Excel Academy, 71-62, in the opening round of the Division 4 North state tournament on Wednesday night. As if that performance wasn’t enough, McKenzie also recorded his 1,000th career point in the win.
Devin Pulsifer actually led the Vikings in points with 29, while Chrono Washington added 11 points in the win.
The Vikings (10-11) will now move on to likely their toughest test of the season: visiting No. 1 Pope John (19-1) in the quarterfinal round on Saturday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Beverly 80, Malden Catholic 59
The top-ranked Panthers had a big night in the Division 2 North opening round. Toskany Abreu had 23 points and four rebounds, while Duncan Moreland had an even bigger night with 23 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Luigi Derrane added 16 points, five rebounds and three steals in the win.
Beverly (16-5) will host Woburn on Saturday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wilmington 53, Saugus 40
Despite a valiant effort, too many things went wrong for the Sachems in their loss to open the Division 2 North tournament on Wednesday. Rachel Nazzaro was having a big game until turning her ankle in the second quarter, and Saugus just couldn’t recover. Alessia Salzillo led the way with 16 points while Taylor Bogdanski added eight points. Allie Kotkowski and Meagan Gannon also played well in the loss.
“It just wasn’t our night out there, unfortunately,” said Saugus coach Mark Schruender. “We went up against a big team that made things difficult for us.”
The Sachems close out the year with a 12-10 record.
Andover 58, Revere 43
The No. 5 Patriots suffered an unexpected early exit at the hands of No. 12 Andover in the first round of the Division 1 North tournament on Wednesday night, ending the season at 16-5.
BOYS HOCKEY
St. John’s Prep 5, Burlington 3
Brian Carrabes led the way with two goals as the No. 3 Eagles notched a win in the first game of the Division 1A “Super 8” at the Tsongas Center in Lowell on Wednesday night. The Prep had to fight back from a one-goal deficit two different times in order to fend of the Red Devils.
David Sacco, Evan Beers and Zach McKennelly each had one goal in the win.
Next up for St. John’s (14-3-3) will be either No. 2 BC High or No. 7 Pope Francis in the winners bracket on Monday.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Winthrop 3, Westford Academy 0
The No. 15 Vikings got one goal apiece from Catie O’Shea, McKayla Norris and Abby Stafford as Winthrop earned a shutout in the opening round of the Division 1 tournament.
Winthrop (13-5-1) will now go up against unbeaten No. 2 Woburn (20-0-2) at a date and time to be announced.
King Phillip 2, Fenwick 1
Amanda Blanchette scored the lone Fenwick goal as the No. 19 Crusaders’ season came to an end in the preliminary round of the Division 2 tournament on Wednesday. Fenwick ends the year with a 9-10-2 record.
