A chance for a state title remains in play for three Belmont High School winter sports teams.
The Marauders boys and girls hockey teams and girls basketball team all qualified for the MIAA Division I state tournament and learned their seedings during Saturday’s bracket release.
Boys Hockey
Boys hockey (15-6-1) earned the highest seed of the three. Ranked No. 6 in the 33-team bracket, the Marauders will play No. 27 Bishop Feehan in the Round of 32 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at John A. Ryan in Watertown. Last year, Belmont was the No. 17 seed and lost at No. 16 Wellesley.
“I don’t think anybody even had us in the top 20 preseason,” coach Tim Foley said. “We knew that we could play and had a pretty good team, but it’s always good to be an underdog, underrated, and prove on the ice what you can do.”
Being overlooked fueled the standout campaign. Senior captain Adam Bauer leads Belmont with 23 goals and 23 assists in 22 games, an impressive scoring clip. Linemates junior Leo Packard (22 goals, 20 assists) and sophomore Liam Guilderson (21 goals, 25 assists) round out one of the state’s most dangerous trios. Sophomore Ethan Bauer, Adam’s younger brother, developed into a standout goalie, posting three shutouts and a 1.69 goals-against average.
The team enters postseason play on a two-game winning streak, including knocking off the tournament’s top seed, Pope Francis, to close the regular season and avenge an early-season loss.
“We feel good about having some success at the end of the season though we did lose to Arlington for the league championship,” Foley said. “We bounced back well and I’m feeling good about where the team’s at now.”
Girls Hockey
Youthful girls hockey (15-1-4) earned the No. 8 seed in a 33-team bracket and matches up with No. 25 Arlington Catholic in the Round of 32 on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at John A. Ryan in Watertown. The Marauders suffered their only defeat in the regular season finale, a 3-2 loss to Waltham, the No. 21 seed in the tournament. Belmont defeated Arlington Catholic 1-0 in a Feb. 10 matchup.
Despite graduating eight seniors and losing a few transfers to prep schools, Belmont posted an impressive regular season behind a roster of four eighth graders, five players apiece from the freshmen-junior classes, and only one senior.
“Back-to-back Middlesex League champs, so the regular season run the girls had was amazing,” coach Brendan Kelleher said. “Now we’re into the second season in survival and advance mode. You’ve got to throw the records out once you start the tournament.”
Junior Mackenzie Clarke (13 goals, 7 assists) and Sadie Taylor (12 goals, 9 assists) provided, as Kelleher said, “immeasurable impact” not only in scoring but leading by example after not playing last winter. Six other Marauders have multiple goals. Junior netminder Jil Costa boasts a 95.3 save percentage, eight shutouts, and gives up less than a goal per game.
Girls Basketball
Girls basketball (13-7) won nine of 10 games during a midseason hot streak to set themselves up for a tournament berth. The No. 15 seed in a 38-team field, they’ll play No. 18 Newton North in the Round of 32 Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Belmont’s Wellington Gymnasium.
Senior Linda Sheng and junior Sophia McClendon lead the team in scoring. Seniors Gabby Orfanos and Ryan Shapazian, sophomore Rebecca Christenson, and freshman Sarah Geller all play key roles.
“My message to the team is always, take care of each other and take care of the ball,” coach Shantell Jeter said. “If you play together and you are patient, no one can stop you.“
