Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/tag/state-tournament/page/22/)
WAKEFIELD – The Watertown girls basketball team had to be on its game to defeat Triton Regional. The Raiders prevailed 43-29 in the MIAA Div. 2 North Section semifinal Wendesday night in Wakefield. The normally high scoring Raiders (19-3) were held to 16 points in the first half, but still held a six point lead. In the second half, Triton stayed within reach of Watertown.
The Watertown boys hockey team got its offense in gear in the second period of the MIAA Div. 3 North Section quarterfinal and swept past Weston 8-1 Monday night.
The Raiders (11-11) wore the road uniforms, but looked at home on the familiar ice of John A. Ryan Arena in Watertown. The teams skated to a scoreless first period, but Watertown head coach Mike Hayes said he made some adjustments. “We were beating their D about halfway and taking shots instead of driving to the net,” Hayes said. “We wanted to come out in the second and take them wide and take it to the net.
The Watertown girls basketball team had two weeks off before its Div. 2 North Section quarterfinal against Danvers, but the Raiders showed no signs of rust as they rolled to a 52-33 win Friday night.
Watertown (18-3) sprinted out to an 18-6 first quarter lead. Raiders’ head coach Pat Ferdinand said things went well from the beginning, even if it was not the way he drew it up for them. “I think that we started off really really hot, hit some jump shots, but it almost took away from what we wanted to do offensively,” Ferdinand said. “It almost came too quickly.
Thursday night the Watertown Raiders boys hockey team pulled together to defeat Northeast Metro Tech 3-0 in the first step toward defending their state title. Watertown finished the first period strong, with senior Matthew Busconi setting the tone with by giving the Raiders a 1-0 in the MIAA Div. 3 North Section first round game at Billerica High School. Watertown head coach Mike Hayes said he was pleased with his team’s effort. “Although we haven’t played for three weeks, I can definitely say that we deserved this win by the way we played tonight,” Hayes said.
On Super Tuesday, Watertown won by a landslide victory, 76-48, over Ipswich in the first road MIAA Div. 3 North Section Tournament .
The game was all but over by halftime of the game at Watertown High School. The Raiders held Ipswich to just 10 points in the first quarter, and posted a 49-26 halftime lead. “The key was our pressure defense. We just went after it and turned them over a ton,” said Watertown head coach Steve Harrington.
The seedings are out for the MIAA state basketball tournament and Watertown will host a boys and girls first round matchup. The Raiders girls squad finished the regular season record of 17-3 and earned the top seed in the Div. 2 North Section bracket. Watertown also got a bye for the first round, and will host a quarterfinal game on Friday, March 4 at 7 p.m.
Watertown will face the winner of the Chelsea-Danvers game, according to Athletic Director Michael Lahiff. Last year the girls reached the Eastern Mass final at the TD Garden.
Along with the cheers of joy during the Watertown High School field hockey team’s championship celebration on Saturday, there was also some sighs of relief. After beating Auburn in Worcester, both Head Coach Eileen Donahue and senior co-captain Michaela Antonellis mentioned they were so happy after “all they had gone through this year.” One reporter, who had not followed the Raiders so closely, wondered if some tragedy or off the field difficulty had befallen the team. No, it was just a season in the spotlight – setting a national record for longest unbeaten streak and winning another state title. Donahue said neither she nor her players like to be the focus of media attention.
WORCESTER – The Watertown field hockey team survived an early onslaught by Auburn and pulled away to win the MIAA Div. 2 State Championship 6-0 on Saturday at WPI. The title is the Raiders’ seventh straight, and completed an historic season that also saw the team set the record for the longest unbeaten streak in the nation. After the final whistle blew, senior Michaela Antonellis fought back tears of joy as she embraced fellow co-captain, senior Ally McCall. “It was just never losing a game – me and Ally …