Last game for Rams seniors

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Shepherd Hill Rams girls' basketball team was eliminated from the District 1 playoffs by a familiar foe last week Tuesday night at Clark University, when they went down for the fourth time this season to the Holy Name Naps 55-33.

Along with another loss to an excellent Holy Name team came a final game for the team's seven seniors, some of whom have been a big part of this basketball team for the last few years.

by Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – The Shepherd Hill Rams saw their season come to a close following a 61-51 loss to Fitchburg in the Division 1 boy’s district basketball playoffs last Tuesday night, February 26, at the Hill.

Freshman Michael Rapoza led the Rams with 10 points while seniors Tyler Martin and David Bianculli, and sophomore Chris Lindstrom all finished with nine points in the loss.

Senior Justin Terlizzi also had eight points in his final game in a Rams uniform.

The Rams had a very good season, finishing with an impressive13-8 record overall.

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Gauvin, JoJo lead the way

by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Shepherd Hill Rams used a swarming defense and strong offensive efforts from seniors Tina Gauvin and JoJo L’Heureux to devour Doherty 58-45 and advance to the Division 1 district playoffs, setting up a fourth encounter with archrival Holy Name.

Gauvin had an outstanding shooting night, especially in the second half, when she scored 19 of her team-leading and career-high 21 points to lead the Rams. L’Heureux, who always seems to play big in key games, scored 18 points and added a career-high five steals.

Worters comes in third in 1000 meters

Text and photos By Steev Riccardo    

BOSTON – Oxford High School senior track star Emily Dawidczyk shone at the MIAA All-State meet this past Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Arena in Boston, winning both the 55-meter hurdles and the long jump.

Dawidczyk recorded an 8.29 in the 55-meter hurdles and a personal best 17’ 9 1/2” in the long jump in a dazzling effort.

“I wasn't expecting two wins at all,” said Dawidczyk. “It felt really good to win the hurdles after hitting two last week. Right before my race I really had to focus in and pump myself up, I was nervous that I'd hit a hurdle again. Getting back in the 8.2 range definitely meant a lot, it makes me feel a little more confident going into New England's.”

By Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – They say it’s hard to beat the same team three times in one season, and the Shepherd Hill Rams will be the first to attest to that after falling to the Quabbin Panthers 52-51 in a classic encounter in an opening round game at the Clark Tournament on Monday night.

The Rams beat the Panthers 46-43 early in the season and squeezed by them 42-40 in the last meeting only weeks ago, but they fell short in their bid to sweep their rivals.

Gigi scores 14

Photos and text by Steev Riccardo

WORCESTER – The Holy Name Naps led from start to finish and once again dominated the Shepherd Hill Rams 62-39 in a battle between the two top-gten-ranked Central Mass girls teams on Tuesday (February 12) at Holy Name.

Beat Shrewsbury, lose to Auburn

By Steev Riccardo

Dudley – The Shepherd Hill girls lost to Auburn 44-31 on Thursday (February 7) but rebounded nicely with a thrilling 49-45 win over Shrewsbury on Sunday (February 10) on seniors night in their last regular season home game.

Senior co-captain Taylor Daniels led the Rams with nine points in the loss to Auburn, while junior Brooke Packard and sophomore Ciara McKissick had eight points a piece.

 

AUBURN – The Shepherd Hill Rams fell to the Auburn Rockets 57-51 in another heated battle between the two Southern Worcester County League rivals.

The two teams met on January 12 in a physical game that had a little bit of everything, with the Rams coming on top 60-50. This time around the 12-6 Rockets got the best of the 12-6 Rams to equal the series.

Tyler Martin had a nice game in a losing effort with 22 points for the Rams.

Rams on seven game winning streak

by Steev Riccardo

OXFORD – By the time the Oxford Pirates take the court Wednesday night, Jan. 23, against the Shepherd Hill Rams, they will have had a nine-day layoff due the snowstorm, which cancelled their game against Auburn last week.

With a 6-5 record and coming off three straight losses to Southern Worcester County League opponents Tantasqua, Uxbridge, and Quaboag, tonight’s matchup with the Rams is huge.

“We are really looking forward to this game with Shepherd Hill,” said Pirates coach Sean Halloran. “We are coming off this three-game losing streak so we are chomping at the bit to get at them.  I went to see them play the other night and they are a very well coached team, as always.”

By Steev Riccardo

DUDLEY – It was a fine homecoming (sort of) for Gigi Guenther as she led the Holy Name Naps past the Shepherd Hill Rams 46-22 with 17 points and eight rebounds on Thursday night at Shepherd Hill.

Guenther, who grew up in Webster and attended St Ann’s School, came off the bench and played superb basketball in front a large crowd that included many of her family and friends. In fact some of those “friends” happened to be wearing maroon and gold uniforms and were on the other side of the court.