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North Middlesex Regional

Red Raiders surge past Patriots

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FITCHBURG — In a game at rival Leominster on Jan. 13, Fitchburg High boys basketball coach James McCall lamented his team’s inability to close out games, an issue that had plagued the Red Raiders all season. That night, the guests led throughout and did so comfortably before falling apart in the fourth quarter and losing by 11.

For at least one night, the fourth quarter struggles disappeared.

The Red Raiders played perhaps their best basketball of the night in the final stanza Monday, surging past a pesky North Middlesex Regional side to win 56-49 at the Doug Grutchfield Field House.

The win was the third straight for Fitchburg, which improves to 5-4 on the season with a game at Shrewsbury slated for Tuesday evening. The Patriots fall to 2-9.

Ahead 40-38 entering the fourth, the Red Raiders opened on an 12-2 run to take control in the first 4:35. A pair of baskets by Omar Rodriguez (21 points) bookended a pair of drives by Elijah Jeffreys (14 points, 12 rebounds) before Victor Kutka (10 points) closed the spurt with a pair of hoops for a 52-40 lead.

Fitchburg's Elijah Jeffreys goes up for a layup during Monday's win over North Middlesex Regional. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Gary Fournier)
Fitchburg’s Elijah Jeffreys goes up for a layup during Monday’s win over North Middlesex Regional. (Sentinel & Enterprise / Gary Fournier)

The Patriots answered with a basket by Jackson Hendley and four straight points from Brian Morse (21 points, including six 3-pointers) to cut the lead to 52-47 with 2:26 to go, but turnovers killed North Middlesex late as the guests handed the ball over eight times in the final eight minutes.

A drive by Kutka pushed the lead back up to seven and Rodriguez made three of four from the charity stripe in the final minute to seal the victory.

Behind the hot shooting of Morse, the Patriots made things interesting early on. The junior buried a pair of 3-pointers toward the end of the opening quarter to tie the game at 11 before a drive by Fitchburg’s Joshua Medina gave the hosts a 13-11 edge after one.

Morse hit another pair from long distance in the second quarter, the latter of which propelled the Patriots in front, 22-20.

But every time the Patriots gained some momentum, the Red Raiders ratcheted up the defensive intensity. After Rodriguez scored on an offensive rebound, Jeffreys came up with a steal and layup to put the hosts back in front.

Down 27-26 late in the first half, Zion Ayala converted a pair of free throws and Rodriguez notched a steal and drive to send Fitchburg to halftime ahead 30-27.

The Patriots battled back in the third, pulling even at 35 courtesy of a pair of free throws by Joshua Gallagher with 2:44 left in the quarter. After an old-fashioned three-point play by Joshua Rodriguez gave Fitchburg a three-point lead, Morse responded from well beyond the arc to tie things at 38 with 56 seconds left in the third.

But again, Omar Rodriguez had the answer for Fitchburg, scoring off a jumper to send the Red Raiders to the final eight minutes with a two-point edge.

Wolves claw past Patriots

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FITCHBURG — After starting the season 7-0-2, the Nashoba Regional hockey team had hit a little bit of a rough patch as the Wolves were winless in their previous four contests entering Saturday afternoon’s Roy Conference clash against rival North Middlesex Regional.

Sparked by an outstanding one-man effort from Michael DiTullio who split the Patriots’ defense and potted a shorthanded goal into the back of the net midway through the second period to lift Nashoba to a thrilling 1-0 victory over North Middlesex at the Wallace Civic Center.

With the win, Nashoba picked up its first win in exactly three weeks and in the process ran its record to 8-3-3 overall, while the Patriots fell to 4-8 on the season.

“Effort was the key today,” said Nashoba head coach Matthew Biggs of the difference from the previous four games. “We outshot them for a long time, but they played well defensively so we knew it was going to take a gritty goal. The shorthanded goal was great to see.”

Over the first 15 minutes, Nashoba controlled play and outshot the hosts, 10-5. It was more of the same to start the middle frame for the Wolves as they had 14 of their 25 shots in the contest during the second period.

The goal scored by DiTullio came with 8:03 left in the period when he used his speed to grab a loose puck and split a pair of defenders before throwing a shot perfectly into the top corner of the net.

“(DiTullio) does everything for us,” Biggs said. “Whether he is killing penalties or doing whatever he needs to do, but it was a great single-handed effort to get down there and scored a goal. It was awesome to see.”

In the final period, neither team was able to get much offense going as the Patriots outshot Nashoba, 4-1.

“I think our losses have been by a combined three goals or four goals against good quality opponents,” Biggs said. “For us to get a conference win against a nice little rival is big for us.”

North Middlesex netminder Aaron Scarelli turned aside 24 shots in a strong effort for the Patriots.

Local roundup: Owls win MASCAC battle over Falcons

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The Fitchburg State men’s basketball team fell 81-63 at Westfield State in MASCAC action Thursday evening.

The Owls (4-14, 4-3 MASCAC) raced out to an 8-0 lead before senior Javon Taylor hit a layup for the Falcons (7-10, 2-4 MASCAC). Westfield State then reeled off another 12 points before jumpers from Mikal Garcia and Tyrone Manderson cut the deficit to 22-6.

Senior Tajahn Joyner had six straight points and Matthew Tanis hit a bucket for Fitchburg State down the stretch, but the Owls took a 36-18 lead to the intermission.

Westfield connected early in the second half with 3-pointers from JT Thompson and Brendan Keaveny to extend the lead to 44-20, but the Falcons countered with a 17-2 run, sparked by a three-point play from Joyner and a pair of buckets from Quincy Taylor to make it a 46-37 ballgame.

Westfield responded with eight points from Brendon Hamilton to forge ahead 58-39 midway through the half. The Falcons responded with treys from Garcia and Joyner and eight points from Jordan Polanco, but Westfield sealed the win with a jumper from Eric Johnson.

Joyner paced the Falcons with 20 points and five rebounds, while Quincy Taylor chipped in with eight points and eight boards.

Hamilton led the Owls with a game-high 30 points to go with eight rebounds, and three assists.

The Falcons return to action Wednesday when they travel to MCLA for a MASCAC tilt starting at 5 p.m.

Boys basketball

Fitchburg 67, St. Paul 53: Elijah Jefferies led the Red Raiders (4-4) with 18 points and Omar Rodriguez chipped in with 14 in the victory.

Worcester Tech 57, Monty Tech 45:  Jaden Jones scored 24 points to lead the Bulldogs (5-6).

Gardner 55, Ayer-Shirley 52: The loss drops the Panthers to 8-4.

Nashoba Tech 73, Sizer 35: The Tigers fall to 0-11 on the season.

Girls basketball

Marlboro 38, North Middlesex 32: Norah Tesini led the Patriots (3-7) with 10 points and Julia Chase added eight in defeat.

Nashoba Tech 52, Sizer 26: The Tigers (1-7) were doubled up by the Vikings.

Local roundup: Wolves stop streaking Rams

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The Nashoba Regional boys basketball team knocked visiting Shepherd Hill from the ranks of the unbeaten Tuesday night with a 61-54 victory in Bolton.

With the victor, the Wolves improve to 7-2. The Rams are now 12-1.

Ayer-Shirley 82, Murdock 48: Zach Iannacone led the Panthers (8-3) with 19 points. Brian Holmes added 17 and Cam Marshall scored 14 points for Ayer-Shirley.

Girls basketball

Ayer-Shirley 73, Murdock 18: Ava Murphy scored a game-high 16 points for the Panthers (7-2), while Taylor New and Emily Churchill each had 11 points. Tess Arakelian added 10 points in the victory.

St. Paul 47, Fitchburg 32: Gianexis Santiago led the Red Raiders (1-10) with 12 points. Gianna Calderon chipped in with 11 and MJ Thammachak had seven in defeat.

Leominster 39, North Middlesex 21: Frankie Bello led Leominster (7-4) with six points. Taylor Boulay, Mia Keenan, Maddie Lemanski and Juliana Pompei each had five points in the victory.

The Patriots (3-6) were led by Gabby Dunham’s seven points, while Julia Landry and Norah Tesini each had six.

Monty Tech 53, Abby Kelley 33: Kylie Neseran netted 16 points to lead the Bulldogs (2-8)

Shepherd Hill 41, Nashoba 36: The loss drops the Wolves to 7-1.

Oakmont 33, Groton-Dunstable 29: The Spartans improve to 7-3.

College track and field

Fitchburg State junior Taban Manyok was selected Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and senior Eric Shimiyimana was selected Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.

Manyok notches his second straight week accolade on the season after collecting a pair of first-place finishes for the Green and Gold at the 2023 Branwen Smith-King Invite on Saturday. Taban placed first in the 5,000 meter with a DIII NE qualifying time of 15:22.84, while also taking top honors in the 3,000 meter with a time of 8:58.76.

Shimiyimana collects his third weekly honor of the season after placing first in the triple jump with a DIII New England qualifying mark of 13.74 meters as well as finishing fourth in the long jump with a jump of 6.42 meters for the Falcons at the Branwen Smith-King Invite.

The Fitchburg State indoor track and field team returns to action on Saturday as it competes at the 2023 Wesleyan Indoor Invite.

North Middlesex Regional High School alum and Emmy award-winner Adam Hamilton visits local students

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TOWNSEND — Pushing students to “find what you love” and to “be great,” North Middlesex Regional High School alum and “Ted Lasso” Coordinating Producer Adam “Chip” Hamilton returned to the high school last month in a bid to inspire students.

A 2002 graduate, the Emmy award-winning Hamilton, who has also worked on “Avengers: Endgame,” “Manchester By The Sea” and “Little Women,” among other projects, shared his story as students discussed their passions and interests. Hamilton’s visit came as part of the school’s “Where Are They Now” program, which is meant to highlight the careers and achievements of former NMRHS graduates.

During his time back, Hamilton touched on a lack of diversity in the area during his time at NMRHS and said that lack, among other struggles during his time as a student, contributed to his desire to help inspire students to chase their dreams.

“I would like to think that I am living proof that dreams do, in fact, come true, and that just because you’re from a small town doesn’t mean your dreams are too big,” Hamilton said as he thanked his parents and several mentors at the high school for pushing him to pursue his dreams and “expand his horizons.”

As he closed, Hamilton did his best to impart the same message to current students.

“Find what you love to do and don’t be good at it — be great,” he said. “Even if being great at it means extending yourself beyond the borders of your high school or town.”

NMRHS Principal Timothy McMahon thanked Hamilton for his “quality time” as he highlighted Hamilton’s passion and celebrated his message to NMRHS students.

“On behalf of all of North Middlesex Regional High School, I’d like to express our gratitude for Adam’s openness, time and inspiration,” he said. “He has a passion for what he does, but he also has a passion for inspiring young people to pursue their dreams.”

“Overcoming a number of obstacles to get where he is today, Adam’s story resonates with so many of our students. We are tremendously fortunate to have someone like him from our community doing so much good in the world right now,” McMahon said.

Local roundup: Fitchburg State rallies past Rams

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The Fitchburg State men’s basketball team pulled out a dramatic win on the road Wednesday night, topping Framingham State, 64-63.

Down one with less than a second left, Matthew Tanis sank a pair of free throws to allow the Falcons (7-6, 2-0 MASCAC) to win on the road.

Sophomores Frederick Siayor and Tajahn Joyner led Fitchburg State with 14 points apiece. Tanis and Dayne Allen (10 rebounds) each chipped in with 12 points in the victory.

Framingham State grabbed a 6-2 edge to open the contest on buckets from Jahden Erold and Juran Ligonde, but Fitchburg State answered with a 3 from Siayor to trim the lead to 6-5.

The Green and Gold battled back to knot the score at 14 on a Tanis layup before taking a 22-18 advantage with Javon Taylor and Allen notching baskets.

The back-and-forth affair continue as the teams traded leads over the final five minutes of the first half before the Rams closed out the frame on a 6-3 run to claim a 32-29 margin going into the break.

Following the intermission, Fitchburg State went on a 9-0 run as Allen, Siayor and Tajahn Joyner connected on buckets for a 38-32 lead. Framingham State responded with a 15-0 run, capped by a 3 from JD Okafor for a 52-40 edge.

The Falcons answered back though with senior Quincy Taylor, Javon Tayor and Siayor hitting layups, while Joyner added a pair from the charity stripe to reduce the lead to 52-49, The Green and Gold continued the rally as freshman Tyrone Manderson threw down a dunk, but the Rams halted the momentum when Okafor sank two free throws to put the host up 54-51.

Fitchburg State battled back, setting up the dramatic finish.

Boys hockey

Fitchburg/Monty Tech 2, Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley 0: Colin Hines and Kyle Gendron each scored a goal for the Red Raiders (6-4).

Fitchburg/Monty Tech goalie Owen Richards stopped all 18 shots he faced between the pipes to preserve the shut out for the Red Raiders.

The Blue Knights fall to 3-4-2.

Gardner 4, Oakmont 2: The loss drops the Spartans to 2-6.

Westboro 8, Leominster 1: The Blue Devils fall to 0-9 on the season.

Marlboro 3, North Middlesex 2: With the loss, the Patriots drop to 4-6.

Boys basketball

Monty Tech 57, Bethany Christian 39: Michael Cannon led the Bulldogs (3-4) with 15 points and Jaden Jones added 14 in the victory.

Women’s basketball

Framingham State 85, Fitchburg State 32: Kathryn Hart led the Falcons (3-11, 1-1 MASCAC) with 11 points, while Stephanie Hart had four points and 12 rebounds.