Three of St. Mary’s winter sports teams, girls basketball, girls hockey, and girls hockey, are still very much in the hunt for Massachusetts state championships.
The girls basketball team, led by head coach Jeff Newhall, has been a force with victories over Ipswich (81-38) and Sandwich (75-22). The Spartans are set to host an Elite 8 game versus Medway Friday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at the Tony Conigliaro Gymnasium.
Kellyn Preira scored the 1,000th point of her career in the victory over Sandwich. Preira has committed to attend Division 1 Monmouth College.
Coach Frank Pagliuca’s No. 1-ranked girls hockey team has advanced to the Final Four following wins over Medford (6-1), Bishop Fenwick (3-1), and Peabody (2-0).
The Spartans will play Billerica/Chelmsford in the state semifinals. Billerica/Chelmsford upset previously undefeated Winthrop, 3-2, Wednesday night at the Cronin Rink in Revere. MIAA officials moved that game from Winthrop’s hometown rink (Larsen Rink at the Mike Eruzione Center), a decision did not sit well with Winthrop officials, reasoning that Winthrop had earned the right to host the game in its own rink.
The upset of the Vikings denied high school hockey fans the opportunity to see a matchup of two of the state’s premier players, Jenna Chaplain of St. Mary’s and Emma Holmes of Winthrop.
Meanwhile, head coach David Brown’s boys basketball team is continuing its quest for a back-to-back state title following wins over East Boston (81-52) and Dedham (73-33). The Spartans will play Tech Boston Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. at Salem State University.
Coach Brown, his wife, Helen Brown, and their son, David Brown Jr., will attend the Massachusetts Football Coaches Association Awards Banquet where David Jr. will receive his All-State Football Team Award. St. Mary’s head football coach Sean Driscoll will also attend the banquet.