MIAA: Undefeated Danvers edges Arlington High boys

UPDATED, March 7: The Arlington High boys’ basketball team lost its shot at a MIAA final in Division 2 North title Saturday, March 7, as undefeated Danvers won, 50-47, after a Spy Ponder 3-point try missed. Read Globe game summary here >>

The team had a remarkable 23-2 season overall, including 20 straight, and had beaten Tewksbury, 60-52, Thursday, March 5, at Woburn Memorial High School. Miles Robinson had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Spy Ponders. Nate Tenaglia had 18 points for the Redmen. See ESPN Boston summary >>

In the MIAA North Division 1 semifinal for boys’ ice hockey, Arlington (14-3-4) beat Chelmsford (10-9-1), 4-1, on Thursday, March 5, at Chelmsford. ESPN Boston summary >>

Two hours later at the same rink, Arlington Catholic (12-7-2) played Andover (10-4-6) — and won, 3-0. The Arlington teams face off in the final on Monday, March 9, at the Tsongas Arena, Lowell.

Ryan Smith scored twice and Dylan Morris earned the shutout for the Cougars. ESPN Boston summary >>

Top-ranked AC girls’ hockey upset

The No. 1 Arlington Catholic girls’ hockey team skated into Duxbury’s Kathleen Donato in the MIAA Division 1 quarterfinals in Woburn on Wednesday, March 4. The goalie blanked the Lady Cougars, 1-0.

The Lady Cougars almost scored eight seconds into the game. The Globe reported. The puck got tangled in Donato’s gear, and when it came loose, Donato made a kick save.

For most of the game, the defense in front of Donato forced Arlington Catholic to the outside. Midway in the second period, senior cocaptain Marissa Fichter scored the game’s lone goal.

In the third period, the Lady Cougars had nine shots on net. AC ended 17-3-1. Duxbury is 15-4-2.

In the North Division 3 final in boys’ basketball, Arlington Catholic (15-5) plays Pentucket (13-5) at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Tsongas Center, Lowell.

MIAA boys’ basketball: AHS, AC advance

The Arlington High School boys’ basketball team (23-1 overall), at home Tuesday, March 3, in the quarterfinals of the MIAA tourney, seeded at No. 2 in Division 2 North, beat Malden Catholic (12-8), 64-52. Miles Robinson led the winners with 34 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.

The Arlington Catholic boys’ basketball team advanced to the Division 3 North semifinal Tuesday, March 3, and topped Minuteman High of Lexington at Billerica High, 58-55. Matt Weso had 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Cougars.

The Arlington High girls’ basketball team (12-9), following its upset win over Woburn (19-2), lost to Beverly (14-6) in a heartbreaker Monday, March 2, in the Division 1 North quarterfinal. The score was 56-55

In North Divison 2 girls’ basketball, Pentucket (21-1) topped Arlington Catholic (17-5) at St. Johns’ on Monday, March 2, 34-25. 

AHS boys’ hockey beats St. Mary’s

In boys’ hockey in the MIAA Division 1 North,  No. 3 Arlington (14-3-4) skated at Stoneham on Sunday, March 1, and beat St. Mary’s of Lynn (12-6-3), 2-1.

AHS girls upset Woburn, Ponder wrestlers stand out

In a surprise, the Arlington High girls’ basketball team (12-9) beat top-ranked Woburn (19-2) at its court at Saturday, Feb. 28, in Division 1 North.

Arlington High School state champ wrestler Andrew Ellis defeated Natick’s Kevin Thomas, 6-3, Saturday, Feb. 28, at 126 in Salem in a semifinal MIAA rematch of the Division 2 state championship.

At 226, Arlington’s Nick Rose, Arlington defeated Kenny Kern of Xaverian, 3-1.

St. John’s Prep’s Ian Butterbrodt, a senior who entered the all-state championship with the most career wins in state history (218), got plenty of completion from Rose. The Globe reports that Rose took a 4-1 lead over Butterbrodt, the only takedown the star had given up all year. The defending New England champ battled back to a 6-4 lead at the end of the second period and held on to claim his third consecutive All-State championship.

Top-ranked Arlington Catholic girls’ hockey (17-2-1) beat Westford, 6-2, in first round of Division 1 action Feb. 28. AC faces Duxbury (13-5-2) at Woburn at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 6 p.m.

AC boys’ hockey (14-7-2) beat Burlington (16-3-4), 2-0, Feb. 28. ESPN Boston summary >> The team plays Thursday, March 5, against Andover (10-4-6).

Arlington High girls’ hockey (4-6) lost to Reading, 2-0.

The AC boys’ basketball team (14-5) topped Bedford, 56-47.

AHS boys’ basketball team win

The Arlington High School boys’ basketball team, at home Friday, Feb. 27, in the MIAA tourney, seeded at No. 2 in Division 2 North behind Danvers (21-0) and followed by Tewksbury (18-4), beat No. 18 Marblehead (10-10), 63-41.

The Spy Ponders (22-1 overall) were led by senior Miles Robinson, who had 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists. Senior Gabe Adams-Keane scored 14 points.

Arlington plays in the quarterfinals at home Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m. against Malden Catholic (12-8), which edged New Mission, 62-61.

Ponders spy some history

The Arlington Catholic girls’ basketball team (17-5) topped Burlington (10-10), 42-37, on Feb. 27, to advance in Division 2 North. The team faces Pentucket at St. Johns at 7 p.m. Monday, March 2.

AC boys’ hockey team advances

In Super 8 hockey action Thursday, Feb. 26, the Arlington Catholic boys (12-7-2) beat Billerica, 4-2.

In other Arlington-based teams play in the early rounds of the Super 8, No. 2 Arlington Catholic girls (17-2-1) draw a bye and first plays 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, against Burlington (10-10).

(All won-lost records are according to the MIAA.)

In its Feb. 23 preview of the girls’ tournament, The Globe reports that in Division 1 “From top to bottom, this division is stacked. Anything can happen in the postseason, but the front-runners in the bracket are Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep, Barnstable, and Acton-Boxboro.”

But its prediction is “Barnstable over … Austin Prep or Reading …. Arlington Catholic and Acton-Boxboro are led by upperclassmen and solid goaltending, and the programs are no stranger to making a run in the postseason.”

In its boys’ tourney preview, The Globe touts Springfield Catholic and notes that after tying Burlington, Arlington (14-3-4) moved up to 17th place in its rankings. Arlington Catholic (12-7-2) is No. 10.

MIAA hockey: 7th grader helps AHS girls top Woburn

Sophomore Molly Stanton scored in overtime for the Spy Ponders, and goaltender Dani Bernstein, a seventh grader, made 22 saves, in MIAA Division 1 North play, as No. 16 Arlington (10-8-2) beat No. 17 Woburn (12-10-0) at Arlington on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1-0, in overtime.

Coach Jeff Mead wrote in an email Feb. 26 that she “played solid in goal and gave us a chance to win. Whole team played solid.

“A lot of players were under the weather and showed a lot of character — winning one-on-one battles all night.

“Puck management was good. Molly Stanton played her best game of the year, not just because she scored the game winner in OT. She just did alot of things real well tonight.”

AHS girls’ basketball team advances in MIAA

The Arlington High girls’ basketball team (11-9) advanced in the MIAA tourney, beating Waltham (10-10), 70-45, on Monday, Feb. 23. They meet top-ranked Woburn (19-1) at its court at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, in Division 1 North.

Leading the Spy Ponders was Grace Carter, with 17 points. Key contributors were Meghan DeCourcey (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Mallory DeFeo (14 points, 14 rebounds).

2 AHS wrestlers shine; MIAA basketball seedings announced

Arlington High School had two winners in the MIAA Division 2 wrestling semifinals at Beverly on Saturday, Feb. 21, and the lineup for the state basketball tourney has been set.

Top-ranked wrestler Andrew Ellis scored a 10-2 major decision over Natick’s Kevin Thomas at 126, and Nick Rose defeated Burlington’s Brad Basham, 7-3, at 220.

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Associationtournament pairings, reported by The Globe Feb. 22 and the MIAA show:

For the boys, Arlington High (21-1 overall) plays in Division 2 North, seeded at No. 2 behind Danvers (21-0) and followed by Tewksbury (18-4). AHS plays at home 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, in the first round against No. 18 Marblehead (10-10), which topped No. 15 Wilmington (10-10), 74-51, on Feb. 24.

Arlington Catholic boys (15-5) play in Division 3 North, seeded at No. 3 behind No. 1 Greater Lawrence (16-4) and Minuteman (15-5). The quarterfinal set for Saturday, Feb. 28, in Arlington at a time to be announced between the winner of No. 6 Watertown (11-8) and No. 11. Bedford (6-14).

For the girls’ team, 16th-seeded Arlington (11-9) plays in Division 1 North, led by No. 1 Woburn (19-1), Andover (18-2) and 3. Chelmsford (17-3). In the preliminary game 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 17. AHS faces Waltham (10-10).

In Division 2 North, Arlington Catholic (17-5) is seeded third, behind No. 1 Watertown (18-0) and Pentucket (21-1). The team draws a bye and then plays Saturday, Feb. 28, against an opponent to be announced.

Among five girls’ hockey teams to watch in the Super 8, The Globe on Feb. 22 reports that “A year after falling in the Division I semifinals to Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep (13-3-2) is back in the hunt.” AC is ranked No. 1 by The Globe.