The KIPP Academy boys basketball team, as well as Winthrop’s boys hockey team saw their seasons come to an end Saturday.
In Division 5 hoops, No. 3 KIPP Academy hosted No. 6 Holbrook Middle-High. Unfortunately for the Panthers, their season ended with a 73-70 loss.
Viccee Howard led the Panthers with 29 points, while Hernis Bethancourt netted 15 points and eight rebounds.
KIPP Academy finished the season with a 14-9 record.
“The kids played hard until the very end,” KIPP’s head coach Moody Bey said.
In the Division 4 semifinals, No. 5 Winthrop reached the Final 4, where it matched up against No. 9 St. Bernard’s at the Chelmsford Forum. St. Bernard’s took care of business 6-3 to advance.
Both teams came out firing as the Vikings opened the scoring, thanks to a Bert Kline goal. St. Bernard’s equalized through a Matthew Sylvia goal from a tight angle. Winthrop ended the first period on top when Charlie Ferrara tipped a loose puck into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead.
In the second period, it was all St. Bernard’s, highlighted by two late goals from winger Pheonix Fortier and Evan Walker (4-2).
The Vikings didn’t give up as Joe Pumphret made it 4-3 with less than eight minutes remaining in the game. Unfortunately for Winthrop, St. Bernard’s responded within two minutes to get its two-goal lead right back.
Winthrop emptied its net and Fortier capitalized, making it a 6-3 final.
