CHS boys basketball defeats Everett, Somerville
The Chelsea High boys basketball team opened its season with an impressive 67-56 victory over Somerville last Tuesday at the Chelsea High gym and then followed that up with a thrilling 44-43 victory over Everett on Thursday when Roify Otanez Del Rosario drained the winning three-pointer from the wing with five seconds to play.
In the Everett contest, Chelsea trailed 43-41 and took possession with about 15 seconds on the clock. The Red Devils worked the ball around the perimeter until Hussein Mohammed made a move to drive through the lane from the right. When the Everett defense collapsed toward him, Hussein dished the ball back to Del Rosario, who was uncovered beyond the arc on the left, halfway between the top of the key and the corner.
Roify calmly set his feet, stepped into the shot, and delivered a textbook jumper that cleanly swished through the hoop with five seconds showing on the clock, setting off a jubilant celebration among the large crowd of Chelsea supporters. Everett sped downcourt after inbounding the ball, but could only manage a desperation heave from halfcourt at the buzzer that did not come close.
The winning shot climaxed a furious Chelsea comeback in the final 90 seconds in which the Red Devils overcame a six-point deficit thanks to some aggressive defense that created Everett turnovers.
The victory over the Crimson Tide reportedly marked the first triumph for a CHS basketball team over Everett since 1988, a span of 37 years. However, the teams did not meet for most of those decades. Chelsea moved from the Greater Boston League (GBL) to the Commonwealth Athletic Conference in the early 1990s, where the Red Devils continued to play until a few years ago.
Everett remained in the GBL and then moved to the Northeastern Conference with the other GBL teams, until the GBL was reconstituted a few years ago.
Still, the triumph marked a major milestone for coach Cesar Castro and his crew, for whom this was the program’s first win over Everett in the four years since Chelsea has rejoined the GBL.
Chelsea was scheduled to meet GBL foe Malden this past Tuesday. The Red Devils will host Boston English on Friday, January 2, at 2:30.
CHS girls basketball battles fiercely in contest with Everett
Although the Chelsea High girls basketball team came up on the short end of a 46-42 decision in a contest with Everett last Thursday, coach Bruce Harrison’s squad battled hard to the final whistle.
Leading the way for the Lady Red Devils in the scoring department was Monica Cespedes-Cruz, who struck for a game-high 18 points and dished out seven assists. Jayliah Santiago Lozada turned in a superb all-around effort, hitting for 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and making five assists.
Lidya Castillo Rodriguez was a force underneath, snaring 10 boards to go with four points. “Lidya played great defense,” said Harrison.
The Lady Red Devils, who two days earlier dropped a 49-26 decision to Somerville and now stand at 1-2 on the season, were scheduled to host Malden this past Tuesday. They then will be off until after the vacation break.
CHS girls, boys track defeat Lynn English
The Chelsea High girls and boys indoor track and field teams earned their first victories of the season with triumphs over their counterparts from Lynn English in a tri-meet with Revere last Friday at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury.
Junior Lilly Serrano led the way for the Lady Red Devils. Lilly sped to victories vs. both opponents in both the 55 meter dash (in 7.61 seconds) and the 300 dash (with a sprint of 44.17). She also earned second place in the high jump vs. Revere and first vs. English with a leap of 4’-8”.
All three of Lilly’s performances ranked among the top of all of the GBL girls competing at the Reggie Friday night. (All eight of the GBL teams compete among each other on Friday evenings at the Reggie in eiter dual or tri-meets.)
Fellow junior Thania Simon outclassed the field in the long jump with a flight of 17’-5.75”, a distance that was almost two feet further than her closest competitor among all of the GBL schools.
Thania also ran a strong race in the 300 dash with a time of 46.53, which was the fourth-fastest clocking among all of the GBL girls.
Senior Hazel Hatleberg turned in a strong effort in the 1000, taking first vs. English and second vs. Revere with a time of 6:37.39, which ranked as the fourth-fastest of the night.
On the boys’ side, Xavier Guzman 600 dash clocking of 1:34.02 was the second fastest of the night at the Reggie.
Full details of both meets will appear in next week’s Record.
Romero-Molina places fifth at Speed Classic
Red Devil Kevin Romero-Molina brought home a fifth-place medal with a toss of 34’-3” in the weight throw at Sunday’s MSTCA Speed Classic that was held at the Reggie Lewis Center.
Kevin led a contingent of five Chelsea boys, including teammates Nathan Pleitez, Ugali Thomas, Philip Robles, and Xavier Iraola, who competed in the event.
On the girls’ side, senior Harmony Rogers finished in eighth place with a throw of 20’-8.50”. Eighth-grader Aria Green finished in 11th place.