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Boston Globe
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Photos of the month: February 2025
English's Darvens Alcime flipped over Holland Tech's Ian Piper while defending on the play in the Boston City League basketball final at Madison Park High School on Feb. 20. Barry Chin/Globe Staff The curtain went up at the start of the Mutts Gone Nuts acrobatic dog show on Feb. 20 at the Company Theater in Norwell during its national tour. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Canada's Connor McDavid celebrated his game-winning goal with teammates Devon Toews (5), Cale Makar (8), and Mitch Marner (16) against the United States during the overtime period action in the 4 Nations Championship game at TD Garden on Feb. 20. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Isabelle (left) and Vanessa prayed as a Rainbow Six Siege team from Brazil competed at the Esports World Championship at the MGM Grand Music Hall in Boston on Feb. 16. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe A Monet-like view on Newbury Street as snow changed over to freezing rain on Feb. 16. Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff Nate Eaton worked out outside the clubhouse during Boston Red Sox spring training at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 15. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Morris Gifford warmed up for the first of three competitions during Red Bull Heavy Metal at City Hall Plaza in Boston on Feb. 22. Loon Mountain provided 300 tons of snow for the event that featured some of the world's best snowboarders. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff A visitor explored ice formations at the Ice Castles attraction in North Woodstock, N.H., with the White Mountains visible in the background on Feb. 18. The structures, reaching 20 to 25 feet high, display a natural blue hue created when white light hits the dense ice, absorbing all colors except blue. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Demonstrators walked along Winter Street in Downtown Crossing on Feb. 14, denouncing the Trump administration. Erin Clark/Globe Staff Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm and Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Strome received matching penalties during this first-period scrum on Feb. 22. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Dog trainer Amber McCune was surrounded by her pack of border collies in her office. She owns and typically competes with no fewer than eight border collies — a breed she calls 'the Ferraris' of the agility racecourse. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff A customer passed roses for sale in the window of Brattle Square Florist at Harvard Square in Cambridge on Feb. 13. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Endicott Gulls captain Jack Smiley made his return to the ice on Feb. 15 after suffering a stroke and partial paralysis three years ago. He got a standing ovation and hugs from his mom, Debi, as he was introduced last during Senior Day. "I'm a mom, and yes, I was very worried," she said. "But I was very excited for him because he's worked really hard for this moment." Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff Reenactors lined up with guns at the ready during a reenactment of the confrontation between British troops and colonists called Leslie's Retreat for the 250th anniversary in Salem on Feb. 22. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff From left, honorary pages Sadie Archer, Grace Hawkers, and Rose Charland got a chance to work on the floor of the House of Representatives inside the Maine State House in Augusta on Feb 11. According to the Maine House of Representatives website: 'Honorary Pages have the opportunity to see what it's like to work on the floor of the House and be part of a Legislative Session. Pages perform such duties as delivering messages to Legislators and distributing Amendments and Supplements in the Chamber.' Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff Isaura Mendes greeted Milton DoSouto near the graves of her sons Bobby and Matthew, who were killed amid gang warfare in Dorchester. The 74-year-old Mendes has become a peace advocate for her community alongside DoSouto, who has two brothers — Luis and Alex — buried at the New Calvary Cemetery in Mattapan, both killed by gunfire. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Christina DoSouto stood in her family's living room in their home on Hamilton Street in June. Her mother, Luisa, used to look out the window at the spot where her son Luis was fatally shot. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Dawn Stratton held the American flag that draped her father-in-law's casket during a funeral for Richard A. Stratton, a retired Navy captain and one of the longest-serving prisoners of war of the Vietnam War, at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy on Feb. 1. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff Boston Red Sox pitchers worked out during spring training at JetBlue Park on Feb. 21 in Fort Myers, Fla. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Samantha Francois smoked marijuana during a Bhang Yoga class at Diaspora, a private membership club in Cambridge where attendees are allowed to consume cannabis while participating in the class. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and guard Derrick White gestured together after Tatum made a three-point basket against the New York Knicks at TD Garden on Feb. 23. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Lesley University guards (from left) Madalynn Biagi, Baileigh Sinaman-Daniel, and Mariana Richwine held hands before a game against Fisher College on Jan. 28. Sinaman-Daniel, born with one arm, is believed to have made NCAA history when she scored a basket during a recent game. 'I didn't start playing basketball until my freshman year of high school because I never saw anyone who looked like me on the courts. I assumed I would never get an actual shot. I hope my story motivates everyone,' she said. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe
Boston Globe
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Melissa Cuevas sparks O'Bryant girls' basketball to Boston City League championship
O'Bryant (17-2) took an early lead and never gave it up, although Snowden (19-1) made several runs to keep the game competitive. Junior forward Melissa Cuevas led the Tigers with 19 points and 22 rebounds, and senior forward Nia Buyu added 8 points. Advertisement But the key to victory was O'Bryant's defensive intensity, particularly in the second half. The Tigers held the Cougars to just 14 second-half points and won the fourth quarter by a 13-4 margin. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'We were able to get some turnovers and some easy buckets on the other end,' said Smallwood. 'We've been hanging our hat on our defense all year.' O'Bryant 's Aissatou Bangura, (2) and teammates celebrate after defeating Snowden to win the Boston City League girls' basketball championship Thursday at Madison Park. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Early on, O'Bryant struggled to contain Snowden freshman guard Jenalis Mercado, who scored 21 of her 27 points in the first half and was named the tournament's most outstanding player. Mercado's brilliance kept the Cougars within three points of O'Bryant at halftime, and at the end of the third quarter. But the Tigers found ways to slow Mercado down the stretch. 'We were making sure that everybody was pressing the ball and we didn't let her shoot any threes,' said Cuevas. 'We were just making sure we were hustling and being quick on defense.' Cuevas added that the City League title had been O'Bryant's goal since the start of the season — especially since the team lost to New Mission in the semifinals last year. 'We locked in,' Cuevas said. 'We all communicated to win.'
Boston Globe
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Boys' basketball notebook: Fledgling Muñiz Academy program soaring despite players still learning to play organized games
Learning on the fly, the Muñiz Academy Phoenix won 11 games and advanced to the state tournament in their inaugural journey, and they've taken another leap this year by winning the Boston City League East division and taking down East Boston, 57-55, in the BCL quarterfinals to make the conference semifinals at Madison Park, where they battled former co-op partner English in a close 67-64 loss Wednesday afternoon. Related : Advertisement 'It works because the players have bought into it,' said Silva, the son of legendary Marshfield football coach Lou Silva and a longtime assistant coach at his alma mater (class of '92). Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'And they've bought into it because they've shown some trust in me, and in each other. We have some kids who can play, and just because they haven't played organized basketball before, doesn't mean they can't play. We've had a lot of success this year and it's been a steep learning curve, but they've done really well to meet every challenge along the way.' Muñiz Academy's Ramón Cepedes put up a shot over English High's Edgar Escano in the Boston City League semifinals at Madison Park High School. Barry Chin/Globe Staff The challenges began three years ago when Silva was hired and began working as an athletic coordinator at Muñiz. Surveying students and staff to gauge their engagement, the administration was able to get approval for five athletic teams (boys' and girls' basketball, girls' volleyball, baseball, and softball) at the school, which previously only offered co-op athletics with other Boston Public Schools. Related : In March 2023, the school received the green light to plan for athletics starting the next fall, and the staff and roughly 400-member student body voted on a mascot and school colors. After playing all games on the road or at neutral sites, the school received funds to renovate a 50-year-old gymnasium, allowing for home games this year. 'Now we have to think about seating capacity because our gym fills up,' said Muñiz principal Dania Vázquez , the founding headmaster at the 13-year-old school located in Jamaica Plain, which offers learning in English and Spanish for mostly bilingual students. Advertisement 'The kids were super excited about starting athletics programs and we were fortunate we had the right staff to pull it together. Now they seem really connected. It's inspiring. They have someone to cheer for, and it's a part of high school life.' English High's Ronniel Luna tried to get to the hoop but found Muñiz Academy's Anibal Hatton in his way in the Boston City League semifinlals at Madison Park High School. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Senior captains Anibal Hatton and Jaden Barros are in their second year. Junior captain Koby Nelson was the only member of last year's team with organized basketball experience since he played JV for English High as a freshman. Zyheire Carr transferred from Holland (Burke) and senior Ramón Cepedes offers international basketball experience, but many players are still learning the game. 'It definitely changed the whole game for them,' Nelson said of teammates who are newer to organized basketball. 'But it helped people get closer. We started taking things more seriously, with more teamwork coming into it. We had a few ups and downs, but we worked through it together. Now it feels amazing to know I have a team that has my back and that we all worked together to build it.' For Vázquez, these second-year players are the founding athletes of a boys' basketball program that should gain momentum. Having athletics programs allows the administration to tie academic performance to eligibility, leading to notable improvement in the classroom. Suiting up for a team with their school name on the jersey has motivated many athletes who didn't feel as connected in a co-op model, despite the welcoming attitude from English boys' basketball coach Eric McKoy and other host schools. Muñiz Academy's Zyheire Carr tried to battle through a trio of English High defenders in the Boston City League semifinals at Madison Park High School. Barry Chin/Globe Staff 'It was a great opportunity and experience, but I didn't feel very comfortable,' Hatten said about trying out for English his sophomore year. 'Playing for another school and coming back to my school the next day, it didn't sit right with me.' Advertisement While he deflects credit, Silva has 29 years of coaching experience as one of the stewards of Muñiz athletics. He grew up learning from his father at Marshfield, became an assistant in 1996 when the Rams won a Super Bowl, learned basketball as an assistant at Holbrook, Middleborough, and coached track at Apponequet and Middleboro before getting his first crack to head a boys' basketball program at South Boston from 2010-16, taking the team to the BCL semifinals in 2013. 'We're trying to build a program and a culture for all our sports. And that's hard to do. I know that because I lived it,' said Silva, who uses analytics to demonstrate the importance of ball security and hustle stats to his team. 'I've taken so much from what I've learned from my father, and [current Marshfield football coach Chris ] Arouca , and so many others along the way. I try to fit it with our school's culture and it's worked so far.' Courtside chatter ▪ Behind a 29-point performance from junior guard Giovanni Jean , Lynn Tech earned a 68-64 win over previously unbeaten No. 6 St. Mary's on the final day of the Spartan Classic. After starting the season 1-6, the Tigers closed the regular season by winning 10 of their last 11. 'It was a rough beginning, but second half of the season, guys caught their winning,' said Lynn Tech coach Corey Bingham . 'They started understanding their roles and understanding the system, and we've been rolling ever since.' Advertisement The Tigers slowed down St. Mary's star JJ Martinez by limiting his free throw opportunities and forcing him to take tough shots. On the other side, Jean and Travis Sanchez (16 points) delivered timely buckets for Lynn Tech. 'It was just a great Lynn basketball game with two of the best teams in the city, and arguably in the state,' Bingham said. ▪ Westport senior Owen Boudria has been lighting it up, averaging nearly 28 points per game with multiple 40-point performances — including Tuesday's 41-point effort in an 83-80 overtime win over Carver. 'It's really just been my teammates coming through and taking the pressure off of me,' Boudria said. 'I'm not going into any games worrying about me scoring. I know I don't have to score for us to win. It just happens.' Boudria is 33 points away from breaking the program's career record. ▪ In another stunning result Tuesday, Xaverian handed No. 1 Franklin its first loss of the season, 40-38. Senior Manny Duran led the Hawks with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals, and Xaverian buckled down defensively, holding the Panthers to a season low in points. 'We played with great energy and never gave in when Franklin got up by double digits,' said Xaverian coach Ryan Sheehan . 'We knew it would be an up-and-down game but we just wanted to stay level-headed and play possession by possession.' ▪ The MIAA regular season wraps up Thursday, with brackets to be released Saturday. The tournament will begin on Monday, Feb. 24, although games are allowed on Sunday, Feb. 23. State finals will take place March 14-16. Correspondent Mitch Fink contributed to this story. Advertisement
Boston Globe
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
By solving Fenway's zone, Holland (formerly Burke) solidifies its spot atop the Boston City League standings
Related : 'Look at how [Fenton is] leading us,' said Chatman. 'I think he's the best point guard in the state right now. He's dominating both ends of the floor, being a leader, and shooting better than he ever has.' Advertisement 'Today, our pressure really bothered [Fenway] and once we started making shots we just overwhelmed them in the second quarter.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Jasaad Fenton had 14 points and six assists in the first half. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff The Bulldogs (11-2, 7-0) are the only undefeated team in Boston City League play with two league games remaining against English (7-6, 4-3) and New Mission (10-6, 5-2) next week. The win moves them close to clinching the top seed in the BCL Tournament and further solidifies their status as the top-rated team in the MIAA Division 4 power ratings. Related : While Fenton and Amghar often lead the scoring, and 6-foot-7-inch center Gerald Banks controls the paint, the Bulldogs are made whole by connecting wings Kamron Gordon and Ian Piper, who finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals. Gordon is a 6-4 lefty wing capable of guarding all five positions and Piper is an excellent rebounder and defender at 6-3. Related : With the regular season coming to a crescendo in February, Chatman is looking to keep his team focused while dealing with lofty expectations. 'At [Holland], we have a one-game mentality,' said Chatman. 'The next game is the biggest game of the season. When you have that bulls-eye on your back, you can start counting your eggs before they hatch, and I don't believe in that and the kids don't believe in that. It's easy to get caught up in that stuff when you hear you're the favorite to win the [BCL], so I try to keep those guys clear-headed and focused on the next game.' Advertisement Yassine Amghar (left) snags one of his four steals with help from Holland (Burke) teammate Kamron Gordon (right). Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Yassine Amghar of Holland (Burke) finished with 21 points and six assists. Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff Fenway's Jhoscar Ortiz has his shot blocked by Holland's Camilo Arno (right). Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
