20 years ago: Hillies’ Murphy bounces back 10 years ago: And a freshman shall lead them
After a dazzling run to the Eastern Mass. Division 2 finals in 2003, Central Catholic was expected to ride the core of that team to another big season.
Shelly Szmyt had other plans.
The freshman guard from Pelham became an integral part of the team starting in an impressive 67-55 victory over Lowell. Szmyt scored a team-high 16 points, joining with backcourt mate @text2:Casey Grange (11 points, 9 assists) to lead Central its sixth win in seven contests.
“This was kind of her coming out party,” said Raiders head coach @text2:Sue Downer of the 5-9 Szmyt. “She is finally starting to feel comfortable.”
The emergence continued in Central’s next game.
Trailing Chelmsford by 16 points with 11 minutes left, the Raiders rode seven rebounds, four assists and two steals from Szmyt in the second half alone to come back for a 76-58 victory.
Szmyt finished with 14 points, second only to Grange’s 18.
10 years ago last week: Big games for Lyons, Waldie @text2:Emily Lyons scorched Methuen for 34 points as Haverhill ran away with a 80-47 victory. The Rangers bounced back in a big way, riding 29 points from Meredith Waldie to a 69-64 upset of Central Catholic. … Led by 19 points from area scoring leader Jenny Muller (18.1 points per game), Andover dumped Billerica, 65-36. … Meghan McDonald scored seven clutch fourth-quarter points as Salem, despite missing two starters, beat Londonderry, 68-60.
Miguel Lora had a game-high 18 points and added 12 boards in Lawrence’s 71-58 win over Chelmsford. … With 17 points and 17 rebounds, Wilson Pierre led Haverhill past Methuen, 69-57. … Pat Escabi erupted for 26 points in Pinkerton’s 70-53 triumph over Exeter, then threw down a thunderous dunk as part of a 30-point effort in a win over Londonderry. … David Marion led Greater Lawrence with 19 points in a 63-55 win over Whittier. … Jonathan Cruz and Dan O’Shea scored 13 points for unbeaten Central Catholic in a 58-40 win over Chelmsford. …
Mike Corey scored twice and Steve Johnson (seven goals in his last five games) netted the game-winner as Andover extended its unbeaten streak to seven with a 3-2 decision over Central Catholic. … Freshman Ryan Burke notched his first career shutout, stopping 33 shots in Haverhill’s 1-0 win over Tewksbury. … Pat Halligan had four power-play goals in Salem’s 5-3 victory over Bishop Brady. … Mike Brasseur notched his second four-goal game of the season as North Andover humbled Amesbury, 7-3. … Windham sophomore Dean Feole was immense with 38 saves, but St. John’s Prep couldn’t hold off defending Super 8 champion BC High in a 3-2 defeat. … Cory Schneider turned aside 34 shots in Phillips’ 5-1 defeat of Phillips Exeter. …
Brooks finished third at the Haverhill Invitational. Led by meet Outstanding Wrestler @text2:Kyle Harger, Brooks had three champions. With Joe Manzi turning a 10-2 deficit into a third-period pin, the host Hillies won the title. … Behind champions Josh Rodriguez (119 pounds) and Antonio Morales (140, lightweight MVP), Greater Lawrence was runner-up at the State Vocational Meet. …
Career-bests from @text2:Steph Caruso in the shot put and Erin Doherty in the 300 helped Central Catholic beat Haverhill, 51-35. Andy Verdura, Brett Perron, Ryan McCarthy and Kevin Towler won the deciding mile relay in a 45-41 boys victory over the Hillies. … Wins in the 55 dash, the 55 high hurdles and long jump from Kiah Quarles led Pinkerton past Merrimack. …
Jonathan Kim and Steve Miller were double-winners as the eight-member Salem swim team downed Bishop Guertin and Hollis-Brookline. …
Katie Frechette won the all-around in Methuen’s season-opening gymnastics victory over Billerica. … The 1-2 punch of all-around winner Eric Weiner and Dan Garvin lifted Salem past Andover, 137.2-130.9. …
Top-10 finishes from @text2:Sarah Britton (sixth), Jen Allen (eighth) and Colleen Soraghan (ninth) powered Timberlane to a second-place finish in a 13-school ski meet. … Overall winner Jim Green led Andover to victories over Haverhill and Bishop Fenwick. …
After postgraduate years at Maine’s Bridgton Academy, Salem’s @text2:Pete Clifford and Sean Lynch earned full football scholarships from Michigan State and UNH, respectively. … Londonderry’s Jason Ball — an undrafted free agent — was named Lineman of the Year by the San Diego Chargers.
20 years ago: Spears erupts for 40 Central Catholic moved to 7-1 as Barry Spears Jr. exploded for 40 points in a 68-51 win over Methuen. … “In my 10 years here, I can’t remember ever scoring that many points,” Haverhill head coach Bob Walsh said of a 97-79 victory over Tewksbury. Kazi Rocker (25 points), sixth man Jamie Quinn (22 points) and Frank Morillo (16 points) led the onslaught. … Julio Joubert (25 points) and Whittier topped Lynn Tech 82-65. … Dan Ronco scored 18 points and Josh Leate (12 points) dropped in the game-winner with a minute remaining as Sanborn edged Somersworth, 51-49. … Jeff Shea (17 points) led Pentucket to a surprising first-half lead but North Andover rebounded behind 22 points from Dean Tridenti to a 75-67 triumph. …
Pentucket gave up the game’s first seven points but recovered behind @text2:Melanie L’Italien’s nine-point effort to beat Newburyport, 29-23. … Sanborn couldn’t stop Milford’s 6-4 center Jackie Swanson (33 points) but 24 points from Wendy Wojtkowski and tough defense on everyone else led to a 45-41 win. …
Frank Rondeau wrapped up a day of pins at 189 pounds, part of Georgetown’s 42-28 wrestling defeat of Nashoba Tech. … In a dual meet tourney at Pittsfield against the top-two teams of each sectional, Haverhill came in third led by unbeaten efforts from Jimmy Warren (125), D.J. Fontaine (135) and Sam Parrish (140). … Haverhill’s Kate Abromovitch scored 20 points in just 27 minutes as part of Fairfield’s 66-60 win over Fordham. …
40 years ago last week: Gaudreau dominates hurdles After tying the Haverhill high hurdle mark earlier in the year, Mike Gaudreau took the record for his own by running a 6.1-second race at the Coaches Meet at Northeastern University then equaled the time twice in dual meet wins over St. John’s Prep and Andover. …
Bobby Knipe scored a personal-best 30 points in Timberlane’s 65-50 win over Exeter. Knipe was averaging 23.2 points going into the game. … When co-captain Ted DeRoche suffered a shoulder injury and was taken to Hale Hospital for X-rays, Jim Surrette stepped up and scored 14 points to help Haverhill defeat Beverly, 59-48. … Playing at Boston Garden before a regularly scheduled Celtics game, Bill LaBelle and Jerry Gordon dropped in 13 points each as North Andover ran past Pentucket, 77-32. …
Nancy Harriman scored 19 points to lead Haverhill past Salem, 48-40. …
Despite @text2:Steve Hayden’s 9-0 victory over Marty Sainsbury at 140 pounds, Pentucket couldn’t hold off Timberlane and dropped a 39-25 verdict. Paul Skinner and Mike Gover had key victories for the Owls.
Who has to step up in Utley's absence?
Lazor on who has the upper hand for the Eagles' starting QB job
How much of a concern is Utley's injury?
Davis discusses 'retraining' Cole and Graham in the new system
Gunn and Mosher on the Eagles' defensive scheme and Barkley's arm strength
Briere thinks Bryzgalov wants to remain a Flyer
Briere shares his thoughts on Voracek's car accident
Does Briere have a career in broadcasting after hockey?
Gonzalez on Eagles' talk about the QB race: 'These guys are awful cryptic'
Corbett's view on NCAA lawsuit gaining supporters
Should the Sixers draft Cody Zeller?
Is Utley on the verge of going on the DL?
DeSean Jackson on Chip Kelly's new system
South Jersey native Frank Vogel is ready to face the Heat
Luukko: 'Bryz certainly wasn't the reason we had a disappointing season'
Blame shouldn't all fall on Manuel
Amaro 'not concerned' with Hamels not talking to media
Jawarski and if Chip Kelly's system can work in the NFL
Why was DeSean Jackson tweeting about pot?
Did the NCAA violate antitrust laws with PSU sanctions?
Sportsnet Central: Rangers state of mind
Felger & Mazz: Is it reasonable to start worrying about WIll Middlebrooks?
Felger & Mazz: Caller challenges Felger & Mazz
Sportsnet Central: Tedy Bruschi selected for Patriots Hall of Fame
Rask: 4th line deserved GW goal
Paille on GW goal: 'I had a perfect view on it'
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
Bruins' defenseman Wade Redden On Potential Return
Globe 10.0: Can the Bruins young defensemen keep playing well?
Kevin Dupont discusses Bruins-Rangers Game 2
Globe 10.0: Is Lundqvist the key to the series?
Blakely: Rivers to return to Celtics next season
Globe 10.0: Do the Sox rely too much on Lester and Buchholz?
Bruins Talk About Rangers Blocking Shots
Bruins' Patrice Bergeron On Selke Award, Matchup With Rangers
Julien: 'I'm a tired coach'
Seguin: Thornton said he expected something from me in OT
Rask: 'It's really disappointing'
Julien: 'We've been a Jekyll and Hyde hockey club'
