With Tuesday’s 67-49 road win in Somerville, Peabody Coach Thad Broughton’s boys basketball team (11-10) clinched its spot in the MIAA Division 1 state tournament. Ten wins clinch a tournament spot, but one of Peabody’s victories came in an endowment game.
“We had to win our final three games to get in,” Broughton said. “I’m very proud of this group for persevering at the end.”
In this one, no one was bigger than Jimmy Festa, a Peabody energizer who scored a career-high 23 points to go with six rebounds.
“Jimmy was huge down low for us,” Broughton said.
Jariel Tolentino did a little bit of everything with 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Also contributing were Thad Broughton Jr. (10 points, 3 assists), Marc Mendonca (9 points), Aneudy Medrano (4 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), and Miguel Maria (3 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists).
BOYS BASKETBALL
Lincoln-Sudbury 59
Lynnfield 58
Theatrics were in the air at the Tony C. Gymnasium in Lynn for Tuesday’s Spartan Classic championship game. Nolan Martindale scored the final five points – including the game-winner as time expired – to sink Lynnfield (14-6).
Alex Fleming of the Pioneers made the all-tournament team and finished with 15 points. Madux Iovinelli joined the fun with 14 points, while Kelan Cardinal and Zach Pincus scored nine points apiece for Lynnfield, which took a 28-27 lead into halftime.
Lynnfield currently ranks No. 15 in Division 3, wedged between No. 13 Swampscott and No. 16 Lynn Classical.
Hamilton-Wenham 59
Saugus 54
It was oh, so close for Saugus in the championship game of the Patton Tournament held at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. In the end, the Sachems (7-13) dropped a close one, despite 18 points apiece from Ryan Shea and Huey Josama.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lynn Tech 50
Shawsheen 48
Lynn Tech’s Engelyz Bingham continued her dominant senior season with a 20-point performance. The Tigers (14-6) also received strong names from Jaylianniez Beauchamp (19 points) and Allison Morales (6).
“Another great team win,” said Coach Kaitlyn Wechsler, whose team eyes a state tournament run beginning next week.
As of Tuesday morning’s MIAA power rankings, Tech checked in at No. 44 in Division 4.
Lynnfield 54
Swampscott 45
Lynnfield capitalized on its home-court advantage to take down Swampscott and capture its highest point total of the season. After carrying a 30-24 lead into halftime, the Pioneers put it all together in the second half to escape victorious.
A one-possession game (42-39) with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, Lynnfield’s Chloe Grieves and Erika Pasquale made baskets for some much-needed breathing room.
After two free throws from Grieves, four more from Pasquale, and a bucket from Hayden Valiton, the Pioneers put the pressure on Swampscott, which failed to mount a comeback.
“This was a great win for the team. It was an intense game,” said Lynnfield Coach Sue Breen, whose team had 15 assists on 20 made baskets. “I’m proud of the team for playing good defense and for finding their teammates.”
Lynnfield upped its record to 9-11. The team was guided by Grieves (season-high 18 points, 23 rebounds) and Pasquale (season-high 14 points).
“We had great contributions from lots of players,” Breen said.
Marblehead 54
Ipswich 37
No home court, no problem for Marblehead (14-5), which took a 24-20 lead into halftime before exploding in the second half. Tess Andriano led the way with 21 points, followed by Olivia Goldwater (8 points), Ramona Gillett (6 points), and Samara Dosch (5 assists, 3 rebounds).
BOYS HOCKEY
Pope Francis 4
St. Mary’s 1
At Olympia Ice Arena in the Cardinal Classic, No. 10 St. Mary’s (13-7-1) ran into trouble against top-ranked Pope Francis (18-3), which celebrated its Senior Night in style. The Spartans were outshot, 48-27.
“Pope came to play; tough second period,” said St. Mary’s Coach Matthew Smith. “We got beat in front of our net a lot – something to work on moving forward.”
