There is one Algonquin team still striving to become State champs.
MIAA Girls Ice Hockey skipped district tournaments, putting Division 2 teams directly into a 24 team bracket for States. The 13th seed Algonquin/Hudson team has already dominated in their three playoff games. That included besting two upper seed teams.
The latest was Friday’s 3-2 triumph over Dennis-Yarmouth in the Quarter Finals.
Now they’ll face off against the state’s top seed team, Wellesley in the Semi Finals at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton. That will take place tonight, March 12th, at 6:00 pm – if weather doesn’t interfere.
Wellesley entered the tourney with only 2 losses vs Gonk’s 9. But the odds may not be as low for Gonk’s winning as that sounds. The telegram writes:
Algonquin made the postseason with a record of 11-9, earning the No. 13 seed in Division 2. But the Tomahawks weren’t playing against strictly lower-level competition, preparing themselves for the tournament by squaring off against the likes of Shrewsbury (twice), Masconomet (twice), and Tewksbury-Methuen, considered three of the top teams in the state.
While Algonquin may have lost all five of those games, playing those teams helped make the Tomahawks better, and it’s paying off at the most important time. (read more)
Algonquin Cheerleaders also competed in the State championships over the weekend. The Girls scored 8th place for Division I.
Last I posted, two other teams were vying for spots in their State tournaments. Those journeys ended at District Finals over the weekend. Here are highlights from the Telegram’s coverage of the Algonquin teams’ efforts and defeats.
Boys Basketball:
The seventh-seeded Tomahawks ousted No. 10 Acton-Boxboro, No. 2 Wachusett and No. 6 St. John’s to reach the final of the Central Mass. Division 1 Tournament and find themselves a win away from capturing their first championship since 2001 when they repeated in D2.
“We talked about it all year,” Algonquin coach Brian Doherty said. “These kids weren’t very well respected all year in Central Mass. No one gave us credit, no one thought we were going to go very far and we took that personally. When we got to the tournament we talked about making a run and we did.”
However, the impressive roll ended Friday night as top-seeded and defending champion Franklin didn’t allow a point in the final two minutes and generated just enough offense to secure a 58-53 win in a game overflowing with intensity, emotion and excitement at WPI’s Harrington Auditorium. (read more)
Boys Hockey:
In a game that featured plenty of shots — both with sticks and bodies — the top-seeded Colonials grabbed an early lead and never let it go while defeating the No. 2 Tomahawks, 4-1, on Sunday night to claim their second consecutive Central Mass. Division 3 championship at the Wallace Civic Center. . .
“Them grabbing that lead was key and then building on it was huge,” second-year coach Greg Cappello said. “But I’m super proud of the way our guys played against a really good hockey team. They didn’t give up; there’s no give up in these guys.” (read more)
