It’s been quite the stretch for St. Mary’s boys basketball star JJ Martinez. Not only did he net his 1,000th career point earlier in the week, but played hero yet again Wednesday night.
Or, at Newburyport High School in front of a packed crowd, the villain in a 62-60 Spartans’ win.
Carson Gretz of the Clippers thought he secured overtime late in the fourth quarter, but Martinez (19 points) had other plans, scoring a game-winning layup at the buzzer. The do-it-all scorer created separation and broke free from his defender before driving to his right and scoring a contested basket.
Jake Fortier joined the offensive display with a 15-point performance for St. Mary’s (20-0).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Saugus 54
Minuteman 40
Saugus’ Ryan Shea exploded for 28 points in his team’s double-digit road win. Also contributing were Jordan Rodriguez (10 points), Ryan Dupuy (7), and Cam Victor (6). The Sachems (6-11) travel to face Northeast Metro at 5 p.m. on Monday.
Lynnfield 64
Triton 32
With Alex Fleming (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Madux Iovinelli (16 points, 12 rebounds) each securing double-doubles, the Pioneers upped their record to 13-5 and 13-3 in the Cape Ann League.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Medfield 57
St. Mary’s 53
It was a battle between No. 1 seeds as Medfield (Division 2) and St. Mary’s (Division 3) squared off at the Tony C. Gymnasium. Despite double-digit scoring performances from Reese Matela (18 points) and Bella Owumi (12), plus another nine points from Juliana Conte, Medfield (16-1) executed down the stretch after leading by just two points through three quarters. Naya Annigeri scored a game-high 23 points, while Jailen Annigeri added 13 for the visitors. Coach Jeff Newhall and the Spartans fell to 18-3.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Malden Catholic 2
Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading 1
Avery White and Nevin Mustone netted goals in No. 3 Malden Catholic’s (11-2-3) narrow home win against No. 10 PLNR (13-3-1). Sydney Zizza found the back of the net for PLNR to extend her goal-scoring streak to three games, while netminder Alyse Mutti played a “huge game,” according to coach Michelle Roach, with 39 saves. Roach also credited Shirley Whitmore and Eleni Spack for strong performances.
St. Mary’s 5
Bishop Fenwick 0
The Spartans (8-10-1) were back in the win column as they took down host Bishop Fenwick, 5-0, behind Alyssa Norden’s first-ever hat-trick. Mya Jewell and Emma Gustin also scored, while goalie Avery Sico secured a shutout.
WRESTLING
Due to unfilled weight classes, Lynn’s co-op team was forced to forfeit on its home mats.
“But once Lynn’s wrestlers took the mat, the wins continued to pour in as they put on one heck of a performance that made those in the bleachers stand and cheer over and over again,” said Lynn coach Frank Vieira.
Catching eyes for Lynn were Pablo Maldonado, Omar DeJesus, Danny Ortega, and Eric Ayala, among others.
“What a great night for Lynn. Coaching such polite athletes, who all listen and are so hungry to learn, is like a dream come true for me,” Vieira said. “I could never express just how very, very proud of each and every one of them I truly am. They have come so far and I just can’t wait to see them perform next year when we fill our holes and show our conference that Lynn is a force to be reckoned with.”
