Basketball: Belmont tops AHS boys, girls; AC boys pull one out

UPDATED, Jan. 12: Both Arlington High basketball teams lost at Belmont on Friday, Jan. 11.

The boys (5-4) went down, 77-54, as senior Danny Yardemian (26 points) netted his 1,000th career point on the final play of the first half for the host Marauders (9-1).

The girls (4-4) lost the earlier game, 48-30, as sophomore Maiya Bergdorf led the fourth-ranked Marauders (9-0) with 15 points.

The defending Middlesex League champion boys, unranked this season, faced Belmont, ranked 11th in the Globe top 20, which averaged more than 80 points in seven of its 10 games.

The Arlington Catholic boys (4-4) rallied from a 26-point halftime deficit for the Catholic Central win in Arlington over Cardinal Spellman, 49-47. “It was a team effort all the way around,” coach Alex Aiello told BostonGlobe.com.

The Minuteman High boys improved to 2-2, with a 51-37 win over Nashoba Valley Tech. The team next faces Medford on Tuesday, Jan. 15.

AHS boys win behind McNamara

Among four town-based high school basketball teams, only the Arlington High boys won on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The Ponders edged Wakefield, 57-53, away, as sophomore guard Brendan McNamara tallied 21 points. Arlington coach John Bowler earned his 150th win.

The AHS girls fell to 4-3, as Wakefield prevailed, 47-39. The team plays at 5 p.m. Friday at Belmont.

The Arlington Catholic boys stand at 3-4 after a 65-57 loss to Archbishop Williams at Braintree. Senior guard Ryan Hanson led the Bishops (4-6) with a career-high 18 points.

The AC girls are 3-3 following a 52-33 defeat by Archbishop Williams. The team next faces Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5.

4 teams rack up victories

Four town-linked high school basketball teams scored wins on Friday, Jan. 4.

Sophomore Brendan McNamara poured in 20 points was 7 for 7 at the free-throw line as the Spy Ponders improved to 4-2, with a 67-48 win over Winchester away.

The AHS girls also prevailed over the Sachems, 52-39, as sophomore Ava Connolly netted 15 points for the visiting Spy Ponders (4-2).

The Arlington Catholic boys crushed Cathedral, 62-39, at Arlington, as one of four Cougars in double figures, senior guard Joey Greenwood, had six steals for AC (3-3).

The AC girls also evened its record at 3-3, topping Cathedral, 70-49. Both AC teams next play Tuesday, Jan. 8, against Archbishop Williams.

AHS boys lose two close games Somerville tourney

The Arlington High boys’ basketball team (3-2) lost a pair in the Somerville Tournament to Malden Catholic, 48-46, on Dec. 27 and to KIPP Academy, 67-64, on Dec. 28 at Somerville High School, Somerville. 

The AHS girls’ basketball team evened its record at 2-2 with a 45-39 win over Holliston on Friday, Dec. 28.

The Arlington Catholic boys’ basketball team fell to 2-2 after a 62-55, loss to Shawsheen (1-1) on Dec. 28. The team next faces Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4.

AHS boys’ home streak continues; AC girls win behind Donlan

The first doubleheader of the young Arlington High School basketball season was held Friday, Dec. 21, and the AHS boys beat Lexington, 71-45, as sophomore guard Brendan McNamara scored 21 points for the Spy Ponders (3-1). 

The AHS boys continued their Middlesex League home winning streak to 34 games.

The girls’ team (2-2) prevailed, 60-48. 

AC girls are 3-1 after topping Fenway, 48-36. Erin Donlan poured in a game-high 20 points as the team rode a second-half surge to a 46-34 win over defending Division 4 North champion Fenway on Friday night. Read a BostonGlobe.com summary >> The team next plays Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4. 

Arlington Catholic boys (2-1) on Dec. 21 lost their first, 63-59, to Lowell Catholic. AC next faces Shawsheen at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28.

AHS boys, girls top Watertown

Both Arlington High School basketball teams came away with wins against Watertown on Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The boys scored a 74-55 victory at Arlington, as sophomore guard Brendan McNamara led the Spy Ponders (2-1) with 27 points. Senior forward James Gascoigne was close behind, with 25.

The team faces Lexington at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21.

The AHS girls won, 39-26, at Watertown, as sophomore guards Claire Ewen and Diana Wicks scored 11 points apiece for the Spy Ponders (1-2).

The Arlington Catholic girls improved to 2-1 on Monday, Dec. 17, with a 51-48 win at St. Mary’s.

The team faces Fenway at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21.

Connaughton drives AC win

The Arlington Catholic boys’ basketball team improved to 2-0 with a 63-37 drubbing of Matignon on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Cambridge.

Senior forward Jack Connaughton scored 13 points and added 11 rebounds to power the Cougars.

 AHS boys, girls lose

The Arlington High School boys’ basketball team is now 1-1 after losing to Woburn, 54-51, on Friday, Dec. 14, at Woburn. Senior guard Ryan Ludwig led the Tanners with 21 points.

The AHS boys next play Watertown at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18.

The AHS girls’ team fell to 0-2 after a 42-35 loss to Woburn (2-0). The team lost to Melrose, 47-44, on Dec. 11.

AHS, AC, Minuteman boys win openers

All three Arlington-related boys’ high school basketball teams won season openers Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Arlington edged Melrose, 48-46, as Spy Ponders’ senior center Jahlani Joshua recorded a double-double, with 10 points and 11 rebounds, as the team won its first in the Middlesex (Liberty).

Arlington Catholic topped Bishop Fenwick, 61-56, as Jack Connaughton led the Cougars, with 22 points and nine rebounds, winning in the Catholic Central (Large).

The Minuteman boys crushed Presentation of Mary, 57-28, in the Commonwealth (Small), at Methuen, as seniors Dan Johanson and Ethan Moore combined for 24 of the Mustangs’ points.

The AC girls lost to Bishop Fenwick, 46-42, in overtime, as senior captain Sammi Gallant scored 25 points (9 in OT) and dished out four assists to lead the Crusader girls over the Cougars (0-1).

Preview

BostonGlobe.com’s preseason view of Division 2 North says: “Coming off the program’s first sectional title since 1975, North Andover is the odds-on favorite to repeat, with Jake McElroy and Darren Watson returning to lead the back court.

“The chief competition for North Andover should come out of the Middlesex League. Belmont returns star point guard Danny Yardieman and 6-foot-4 power forward Danny Seraderian. Sharpshooting junior guard Mac Annus is off to a hot start and sophomore Tim Minicozzi should push for minutes on the wing ….

“Arlington is also a contender despite losing Bensley Joseph to transfer (Cushing Academy). Seniors James Gascoigne and Sam Swift will provide leadership, and Brendan McNamara will look to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Colin. The Spy Ponders expect three-year starter Nick Karalis to return from injury midway through the season.”

This news summary was published Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, and updated Jan. 12.

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