SCHOOL ROUNDUP
They came close last year.
This season, they sealed the deal.
Following an early season loss at Acton-Boxboro, the Newton South girls gymnastics team fell off the pace for a Dual County League title, the second year in a row a loss at A-B hurt them in terms of the league picture. But after avenging those losses to the Colonials earlier this month to force a tie atop the DCL standings, the Lions completed their quest, topping Lincoln-Sudbury, 134.5-130.55, in their league finale to grab at least a share of the crown.
After finishing the DCL season at 5-1 (9-1 overall), South holds a one-meet edge over A-B (4-1 DCL), which has one league meet remaining. The Lions could win the title outright if A-B loses to L-S tomorrow night (7 p.m.). Otherwise, the Colonials and Lions will split.
South's senior tri-captains led the charge with Amanda Cheung headlining by wining the balance beam (9.0) and finishing second in the floor (9.1). Amy Radding placed second in the vault (8.6) and took third in the floor with a career-best 9.05.
``I'm very happy for the seniors, they deserve this,'' said South coach Greg Beaupre. ``They've been the backbone of this team for the past four years and they're the reason we've been able to challenge for the league title the past few years. And it's because of them that we won our first-ever league title.''
Freshman Sarah Berman took first in the uneven bars (8.4) and third in the beam (8.6), while classmate Cora Visnick set a personal best in the vault (8.55) to place third. Sophomore Emily Heeren turned in a PR 8.85 in the floor.
The Lions finish have two meets remaining, starting today at Ashland/Holliston (7 p.m.) before finishing with Brookline next Tuesday (4 p.m.).
Boys Hockey
Braintree 6, North 2
With a pair of goals from junior Brain Lopez, the Newton North boys hockey team closed within one (3-2) late in the second period, but visiting Braintree carried the play in the third, scoring three goals to take a 6-2 Bay State Conference victory.
Lopez scored from sophomore Mike Asaley off a face-off play at 5:27 and then notched a power-play goal off a feed from his younger brother Mike, but Braintree took advantage of some Tiger defensive miscues in the third period.
``We had some chances to close the gap in the third period, but we didn't play well on the defensive end and our inexperience in that end might be catching up to us,'' said North coach Jay Ferraro.
Senior wing Joe Penta played a strong game, but North fell to 6-9 (4-7 BSC) and must win four of its last five games to qualify for the tournament. The Tigers host Natick tomorrow (7 p.m.).
Wrestling
Methuen Tournament
Waltham senior Drew Jacobs won the 160-pound title at this weekend's Methuen Tournament.
Jacobs, who beat a wrestler from Salem in the final, helped the Hawks to a sixth-place finish overall out of 18 teams.
Freshman Jimmy Coutoumas was third at 103, senior John Coutoumas was second at 119, senior Samson Kiberu was fifth at 145, junior James Paul was sixth at 152 and senior Eddie LeBlanc was sixth at heavyweight.
The Hawks are at Malden tomorrow where they will clinch sole position of the Greater Boston League title with a victory. They then return home for a quad-meet against Newton North, Brookline and Salem on Saturday.
