Belmont High Boys and Girls Wrestlers Step Up At 44th Annual Brendan Grant Memorial Tourney

Jonathan Doban

Luke Coelho went to the mat six times to capture 5th place in the 138 division, losing to the eventual champion (Charles Phillips from East Providence) and the third-place medalist. In his final match of a long day, Coelho took the match the entire three rounds to ground out a 4-1 decision.

On Sunday, it was an impressive haul when the second annual Girls’ tournament was held. In the round-robin event, where each grappler wrestled four times in her weight division, a pair of Marauders dominated their classes.

Defending MIAA Division 1 state champion Ava Svistunov (114.3-118 lbs.) dropped just a single point – in her final match with Woburn’s Racia DeSousa – in her four matches, each ending with a pin in the first round. Svistunov came to the meet, winning the prestigious George Bossi Lowell Holiday Tournament at 107 lbs.

Ava Svistunov

Second-year wrestler Eva Cohen (118.7-120.6 lbs.) was equally impressive without dropping a match with three falls. Rookie Clarise O’Neil (112.6-114.1 lbs.) took home two wins while losing one of her matches by a single point to pick up a third-place medal.

Senior night for Belmont High Wrestling will be Tuesday, Jan. 28, vs. Melrose.

Select Board Takes First Tentative Step To A Brand New Belmont

Photo: Branding a new Belmont could be coming this year.

When you say “The Big Apple,” people immediately think of the cosmopolitan vibrance of New York City. Even most non-natives will recognize San Francisco’s iconic Golden State Bridge and the Transamerica Pyramid gracing its new logo. And the symbol of neighboring Lexington is the historic image of the Minuteman statue by Henry H. Kitson.

So, what symbol, image, or saying makes you think “Belmont”? Unfortunately, nothing comes directly to mind other than cut-through traffic and wonky sidewalks. The current unofficial motto of “The Town of Homes” is viewed (especially by homeowners) as somewhat a curse as the bulk of the town’s revenue is generated from taxes on residential dwellings.

But the days of Belmont without a feel-good symbol or a catchy quip could be coming to an end as the Select Board appeared receptive to a plan that would eventually lead to the creation of the town’s own brand. The initial view of the town and the board was a branding campaign that included symbols, images, and a color scheme. This will assist Belmont as it projects a new identity.

“The concern I always had [since coming to Belmont in 2018] is nothing says ‘Belmont,'” Town Administrator Patrice Garvin told the Select Board.

“The concern I’ve always had is that nothing really says to a resident, ‘this is from the town,'” said Garvin. “There’s nothing [that is] uniform, be it business cards to pamphlets, postcards and forms on public hearings and the [town’s] website. It all should look similar.”

Many Bay State municipalities, including Winchester and Everett, have recently undergone branding campaigns. Needham had nearly a dozen separate images used by the library, schools, and several town departments when it began its branding exercise in 2023. By 2024, Needham approved a design featuring a copula with a weathervane, a popular architectural feature found throughout the city, as well as approving a yellow and blue color scheme – taken from the high school athletic teams – which will be used on vehicles, official documents, and correspondence. Needham paid $50,000 (half of the money coming from the city’s ARPA line item), which included revamping the problematic city’s seal.

In the past few months, Garvin has been in contact with Selbert Perkins Design, located on Leonard Street, to discuss the scope and action of a branding campaign. As part of a three-phase process, the initial work is to conduct an audit of all the images and signs used in the community.

An executive summary of the findings will follow the audit. From there, the board will decide if it wants “to take the next step and work on creating a more unified image, whether it be a logo or vision or image, or imagery of the town,” said Garvin.

After the audit, Garvin emphasized a very intense public phase.

“The public really does pick, ultimately, what the end product is,” said Garvin, as Selbert Perkins walked her through its work in Everett. ‘It was a lot of public discussion, taking all the ideas and filtering it up into two final schemes and then choosing one.”

As the town considers moving forward on branding, the Board of Library Trustees has engaged Selbert Perkins to help create a new brand that will coincide with the opening of the new library building in late 2025/early 2026. Garvin asked the design firm if it could “fit whatever the library is doing. They said they could,” Garvin told the board.

Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards

Not that Belmont is bereft of a strong icon – its own Marianne – to lean on in a future branding effort. The town’s seal features Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards, which heralds back to the town’s history as a farming and market garden community. In 2022, the town came close to selecting a gardenia as a central figure in a rebranding plan. But that concept faded when it was discovered that while the flowering Rubiaceae was first germinated in Belmont, it a species that’s better suited in tropical climates.

But as with all projects, there is a cost. Garvin said the price tag for the initial audit is $18,000.

“We have money to do it in this year’s budget,” she said.

While the overall concept received a favorable vibe from the board, it also acknowledged that money could be an issue. Board Chair Elizabeth Dionne noted that “$18,000 may not seem like a lot, but for a town like us, it is.” She said she was “a little concerned about potential perceptions in the community around spending scarce dollars on this.”

“So I think we need to have a fairly concise argument as to why we’re doing it. I think we can make that, but I think we need to have [the discussion],” said Dionne, noting that “I’m open to the idea.”

A positive argument for Dionne was as the town is positioning itself to be more business-friendly and have at least some modicum of commercial development, “I’d like to project an image of a town that is sufficiently coordinated and organized that it does have a unified image, that our image does matter when we’re trying to present ourselves to potential partners.”

The next step is for Selbert Perkins to appear before the board in the next few weeks to present its model, a time frame, and the project’s total cost.

Belmont World Film’s 22nd Annual Family Festival This Holiday Weekend Jan. 18-21, and Jan. 26

Photo: Robin and the Hoods (2024) is one of the feature films presented by Belmont World Film’s Family Festival

One of Belmont’s most cherished annual cultural events is back as the German International School of Boston presents Belmont World Film’s 22nd Family Festival which takes place from Jan. 18-20 and 26.

This year’s lineup, which features numerous North American and US premieres and cinematic gems geared to children from 3-12, will he screened in West Newton, Arlington and Cambridge.

  • Saturday, Jan. 18: West Newton Cinema
  • Sunday, Jan. 19: Regent Theatre, Arlington
  • Monday, Jan. 20: Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
  • Sunday, Jan. 26: Regent Theatre, Arlington

Pick up a broucher of the films being screened here.

Two examples of long form films at this year’s festival:

Films inspired by beloved classic and contemporary children’s books are a festival hallmark. More than half of this year’s selections are adapted or re-imagined from literature. These films ignite a love for books and reading, and also complement the Massachusetts Public School Curriculum Frameworks. They will be shown on Sunday, Jan. 19 and Monday, Jan. 20; films devoted to reclaiming green spaces will screen on Sunday, Jan. 26.

The festival also welcomes renowned animator David Feiss, director of the recent animated hit, Hitpig!, who will participate in a Q&A after the screening of his fim. He will also lead a workshop where kids can learn to draw characters from the Minions and Hotel Transylvania films.

Tickets & Passes:
Feature length films: $12
Shorts programs: $8
Films Only Pass: $35 Includes admission for one person to all 15 screenings (best if you plan to watch at least 3 films)
VIP Film Pass: $100, includes admission for one person to all 15 screenings and the workshop, a Family Festival t-shirts, recognition in our programs for a year, and our appreciation.

Obtain tickets here

Hanukkah’s Light Shines A Third Time In Belmont Center

Photo: Rabbi Avi Bukiet of the Center For Jewish Life of Arlington-Belmont

The third time was more than a charm for Belmont’s Jewish holiday tradition.

During this year’s third annual Belmont Grand Menorah Light Celebration, Rabbi Avi Bukiet of the Center For Jewish Life of Arlington-Belmont told the two dozen attendees at the second-night lightening at the outdoor menorah—a candelabra with holders for eight candles—in the Belmont Center delta that something that happens three times in a row has a special meaning in Judaism.

“This is our third year in a row in Belmont, and the Talmud says that when you do something three times, it has a chazakah, which means ‘a strength.’ Now it’s a permanent pattern,” said Bukiet, who praised the town’s administration for being the first town in the Center’s service area, as opposed to a synagogue or other religious organization, to support the placement of an outdoor menorah.

“The Center for Jewish Life has built over the last few years a wonderful relationship with the town of Belmont, and we’re really thankful for those who helped make it happen. When I came for approval in the town, it didn’t even want to bring it up to the Select Board. It was already a done deal,” said Bukiet.

“The town has been welcoming, and everyone has been wonderful in making this happen and wanting this to happen. Thank you for including the Jewish community as part of the Belmont celebration. It’s important that we’re here and have a presence here.”

With Christmas and the start of Hanukkah falling on the 25th, which happened to be one of the coldest days of the winter, the number of participants was half that of the previous year. But those who attended – including visitors from Oregan and other out-of-towners – would have their fill of latkas from Whole Foods (editor’s note: tasty) and get to guess the number of dreidels in a dreidel container.

Bukiet said the strength projected by lighting a candle every evening is especially poient this year as approximately 100 of “our brothers and sisters across the world are being held hostage and are not able to celebrate with their families and with their communities for the second Hanukkah in a row.

“Let’s pray and hope and let’s wish that before the end of Hanukkah, the hostages are brought home to Israel, and those that are fighting for their freedom should continue to have strength from strength to strength to make this happen and to protect the Jewish people in Israel and all around the world as we continue to do our part.”

Bonnie Friedman, who came dressed in colorful tights and a coat with florescent sneakers to celebrate the holiday, said that despite the cold, holding an outdoor observation has significance in raising awareness of the Jewish community in Belmont.

“What’s beautiful about this is everyone has a menorah at home. It’s important to feel and be Jewish at home, but it’s also important to show our Judaism on the street. It’s important to show our pride, show the strength that we have, and be proud to be who we are,” said the Belmont resident.

Select Board member Roy Epstein hopes the menorah sheds light on current events.

“Hannauka is an event that happened in the Middle East a long time ago. A lot of people got slaughtered, and it was ended by a miracle. And I think here in 2025, I would like people to stop getting slaughtered, but I don’t think we can count on a miracle,” said Epstein.

I think what we have to hope for is for people of goodwill and courage to step forward and try to find an end to this madness and have a decent life for everybody, for Israel and everybody else in the Middle East. It’s one planet, and we’re all supposed to live here,” said Epstein.

More Than Three Dozen Belmont High Musicians Earn Placement In NE Senior District Festival On Jan. 8-11

Photo: Belmont High musicians will participate in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The Massachusetts Music Educators Association holds its annual District Auditions across the state for students to be accepted into honors Bands, Choruses, Orchestras, and Jazz Ensembles. Northeast Senior District Auditions for high school musicians were held on Saturday, Nov. 16, at North Andover High School. 

This school year, 91 students from Belmont High auditioned for at least one MMEA-Northeast District Ensemble, and 13 students auditioned for more than one. These students practiced for several weeks and months leading up to audition day, putting in hours of work on their own with their ensemble directors in school and many with private music teachers outside of school. 

This year, 43 students were accepted to perform in the MMEA Northeast Senior District Festival, which will take place from Jan. 8 to 11, 2025.

The fact that ninety-one of our high school students took the chance to audition for Senior Districts speaks to how highly our community values music and the arts as a part of our student’s lives,” said Arto Asadoorian, Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Belmont Public Schools.

“There are few communities in the state where these many students perform at a Senior District level and where these many students feel prepared and brave enough to audition in person for Honors Ensembles,” said Asadoorian. “Our music faculty is proud of every single student who auditioned for Senior Districts this year, for their time, effort, and preparation, and for representing Belmont High School’s music department in a very positive way.”

The student musicians honored to perform at the senior district festival include:

* Denotes students who have earned recommendations to audition for the MMEA All-State Festival

  • Max Abouzeid, trumpet
  • *Peter Aloisio, trumpet
  • *Parker Brookins, trumpet
  • *Sophia Bufano, trombone
  • *Noah Chin, cello
  • *Mark Chumack, trumpet
  • *Eli Coleman, bassoon
  • *Bethany Eagar, French horn
  • *Sophia Edrington Martinez, chorus
  • Sam Engler, string bass
  • Brendan Han, viola
  • Lynn Han, violin
  • *Hank Hicks, bassoon
  • Derek Huang, trumpet
  • Ethan Kim, trombone
  • Hanna Kim, flute
  • Barnabas Kwak, clarinet
  • *Caroline Lafkas, chorus
  • *Daphne Lee, violin
  • Sunho Lee, cello
  • Lauren Lin, viola
  • *Daniel Liu, violin
  • Austin Mann, chorus
  • Henry Moriarty, clarinet
  • *Stella Ovcharova, timpani
  • *Ryan Park, jazz trumpet
  • *Hailey Peck, violin
  • Andrew Quinn, cello
  • Lili Rigoulot, euphonium
  • *Fiona Rodriguez-Clark, cello
  • Luka Rozgic, string bass
  • *William Sattler, chorus
  • *Marcus Sendzik, viola
  • *Liam Sinclair, chorus
  • Sophia Sun, clarinet
  • William Sun, alto saxophone
  • *Ken Takayama, jazz tenor saxophone
  • *Rayna Thomas, chorus
  • *Qingyin Yang, clarinet
  • *Hibiki Yoshikawa, trombone
  • *Yolanda Yu, flute
  • *Evan Zhang, clarinet
  • *Emily Zhou, flute

Done! After Two Decades Of Delays, Beaver Brook Culvert Finally Replaced

Photo: The new roadway over the Beaver Brook culvert at the Waltham/Belmont line.

After two decades of delays in deciding who would pay what part of a several million-dollar infrastructure project, a brand new tunnel carrying Beaver Brook under the main thoroughfare between Belmont and Waltham is now in operation.

The days of vehicles bouncing over steel plates as they crawled over a crumbling underground culvert, which allowed Beaver Brook to cross Trapelo Road at the border of Waltham and Belmont, have finally ended.

“The culvert? It’s finished,” said Glenn Clancy, Belmont’s long-serving Town Engineer, at a recent Select Board meeting. But don’t expect a ribbon cutting when the remaining items on the “punch list” are tidied up in the new year.

“I think everyone involved is just happy that it’s done,” said Clancy, Belmont’s contact on the project.

The more than three-decade delay in the rebuild was due to the culvert’s location: half of the infrastructure lies in Waltham, and the other half in Belmont. During this time, the two municipalities could not agree on which should pay for what.

“That’s always been a contentious thing. We knew we wanted to replace it, but the biggest issue preventing that was jurisdiction: was it Waltham? Or was it Belmont,” said Clancy.

Finally, in 2019, it was agreed that the two communities would split the project 50/50, although, in the end, Waltham performed more work and accrued additional costs, said Clancy. Belmont’s Town Meeting approved spending up to $800,000 from the town’s Sewer Enterprise Fund, accompanied by a $100,000 state earmark.

In 2022, the state legislature responded to requests for funding by appropriating $2 million to replace the culvert. In October 2022, Waltham—which took the lead on the work—requested bids and, in March 2023, granted the contract to E.T. & L. Corp.

The work began in early July 2024. It included razing the existing culvert and building the new tunnel and its wing walls. It also called for creating a new block wall on the downstream/Waltham side, constructing a moment slab and bridge railing, and constructing a flood wall on the upstream/Belmont side. Finally, minor drainage work, new sidewalk construction, paving, guardrails, and other minor work were and will be completed.

A Spotlight Now On Belmont High Wrestling As Program Grows In Numbers, Competitiveness

Photog: Belmont High’s Josh Hartley celebrates pinning his opponent in the 165-pound bout in the season opener vs Reading Memorial High

After several decades in the dark, Belmont High wrestling is now under the spotlight.

And that’s an actual spotlight, the Wrestling Mat Light, a 500-watt LED bulb that illuminates the competition circle with 50,000 lumens, that now hangs from the ceiling of Wenner Field House. 

And there’s a good reason for the program to be seen in a new light. Under the leadership of Belmont Head Coach Craig Janjigian and his assistant Andrew McCahill, wrestling attracted an ever increasing number of athletes who dedicated themselves to the sport.

The program had not presented a complete competitive roster since the golden age of Belmont wrestling in the early 1990s when the Baghdady brothers and cousins led the program to individual and team titles. Now with 45 student-athletes on the roster, the program matches the size of some of the strongest state programs.

“I think last year was our first year with a full varsity lineup, and this year we do have another full varsity lineup, and each one of those kids have been getting better and better,” said Janjigian.

The squad’s new found popularity was evident when the Marauders hosted Reading Memorial in the season’s opener. The parking lot was filled, and the stand was crowded as fans entered a dark Wenner Field House, with a single light illuminating the mat. Music blared during the pre-match warm-up, while the score and time were projected on the fieldhouse wall.

In the opening match, the second (or third) generation of Belmont’s vaunted wrestling family hit the mat as first-year Romy Baghdady started the dual match with an exciting 106-pound bout that went the distance, ending at 7-9.

Belmont’s Romy Baghdady

In the following contest, Belmont’s reigning state Div. 1 champion junior, Ava Svistunov, took on her male opponent. (Duel meets allow for co-ed competition since most teams don’t have many female wrestlers). After a guarded first round, Svistunov dominated the second round with speed and grappling prowess, winning via pin. [On Dec. 21, Svistunov pinned her female opponent to take the 107-pound title at the prestigious early-season George Bossi Lowell Holiday tournament]

Unlike past seasons when Belmont would win one or two of the matches, the squad has developed experienced grapplers that are competitive in nearly all weight classes and especially in the middle weight divisions. Will Babcock (150) won in the first round on a quick pin, while Ryan Murphy (157) followed with a big 5-0 third round to win his match. Josh Hartley (165) battled in a high-scoring bout and was leading 10-8 in the third when he used his height advantage to get enough leverage to pin his Reading opponent.

Belmont’s Ava Svistunov

When Enzo Passos (215) pinned his Rocket competitor, the Marauders came into the ultimate bout down by a single point, 33-34, a margin against Reading that hadn’t been seen in recent memory. Ultimatley Belmont would come up seven points short, 33-40.

Belmont’s varsity grapplers at the opening of the season included Max Devitt (120 pounds), Rayan Azhari (126), Walter Pressey (132), captain Luke Coelho (138), who took his match to overtime, Jonathan Doban (144), Max Lewie (175), Jack Papazian (190), and Will Lockwood (285).

Belmont will host the annual Brenden Grant Tournament: Saturday for Boys and Sunday the Girls, Jan. 4 and 5.

Yet it’s not just the wins the wrestlers attained or the popularity the sport has achieved that Janjigian sees as the program’s most valuable asset.

“It’s certainly the participation but it’s also the enthusiasm. There’s a clear sense of joy that the kids are having. That’s my whole thing because it’s one of the most demanding sports you can do, and if you’re not having fun doing it, what are you doing? I like to see the vast majority of the team actually having fun doing it. It is something that I’m very proud of.”


Celebrate Chanukah With Menorah Lighting at Belmont Center, Thursday Dec. 26

Photo: The poster of the Belmont Center Menorah Lighting

Join your neighbors at this year’s Belmont Center Menorah Lighting taking place on Thursday, Dec.26 at 6 p.m. The ceremony featuring music, songs, and Chanukah treats will take place at the delta (Concord Avenue and Leonard Street} in front of the M&T Bank branch.

The annual event is coordinated by the Center for Jewish Life Arlington-Belmont which provides synagogue services, spiritual guidance, community outreach and education to inspire all Jewish people to discover a common bond of faith and observance.

What’s Open And Closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas in Belmont

Photo: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Christmas is a day of gift-giving and reflecting on cheerful times from past years around the tree, gift giving, before decamping to the dinner table to watch the latest holiday movie on the Hallmark Channel and professional sports events or just relaxing with family and friends.

For those who don’t celebrate the day, several fine Chinese restaurants will be open, and movies are premiering on the big screen on Christmas. A Complete Unknown the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, and three animated pics: Mufasa: The Lion King, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and Moana 2.

And if you have a “need” to get out of the house, here are a few places around town closing early Christmas Eve and open on Christmas:

Christmas Eve early closings:

  • Star Market at 535 Trapelo Rd. will close at 6 p.m. The pharmacy closes at 5 p.m.
  • CVS: The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 10 p.m. (the pharmacy at 6 p.m.) and 60 Leonard St. at 10 p.m. (with the pharmacy shutting its doors at 6 p.m.)
  • Starbucks at 110 Trapelo Rd. in Cushing Square will close at 5 p.m.
  • Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. is closing at 8 p.m., while the store at 52 Church St. is closing at 7 p.m. The store at 350 Pleasant St. will shut down at 6 p.m.
  • MBTA buses and subway lines will run on a Sunday schedule. The commuter rail is on the weekend schedule.

Christmas Day

Dunkin’

  • The Dunkin’ at 353 Trapelo Rd. will operate from 4:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.
  • The 52 Church St. location in Waverley Square will be open from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 350 Pleasant St. will be open from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Starbucks

  • The “Cushing Village” location at 110 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

CVS Pharmacy

  • The store at 264 Trapelo Rd. will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • The operation at 60 Leonard St. in Belmont Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Christmas.
  • The pharmacies on Trapelo Road and Belmont Center will be closed.

Star Market

  • Belmont’s supermarket, located at 535 Trapelo Rd., is closed for the holiday.

If you are looking to get around on the MBTA:

  • The Fitchburg/South Acton Commuter Line will operate on a weekend schedule, and buses in Belmont will also operate on a Sunday schedule.

Opening Day For Belmont High Hoops an Up (Girls) and Down (Boys) Affair

Photo: Belmont vs Melrose

It was an up-and-down result for Belmont High’s Hoop teams on their opening day of the 2024-25 Boy and Girls’ campaign on Friday, Dec. 13. While the Marauders Girls romped past Melrose, the Boys wasted the efforts of a pair of impressive sophomores as the Raiders took home the victory from the Wenner Field House.

Boys: Melrose 51, Belmont 47

Belmont Head Coach Darren Martinez didn’t sugarcoat his team’s opening performance losing to a solid – but hardly great – Melrose squad. It needs to improve everywhere.

“There’s a lot to be learned on both ends of the floor, individually and as a team. We just had a lot of self-inflicted wounds that hurt you, I expected a little bit of sloppiness. I wish we would have come prepared, but just like I’ve always told you past couple of years, players win, coaches lose. So that’s on me,” said Martinez.

But Martinez saw a few sparks of optimism during the game, pointing to a pair of sophomores in Brayden Dargon and Pete McLaughlin who led the Marauders in scoring with 15 and 8 points.

It was somewhat understandable that the season opener would get off on a as Melrose (1-0) ran off to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes only to see Belmont (0-1) go on a 9-0 run behind the slick play of Dargon to finish the first quarter up 11-8.

But just like that, the Raiders said “Hold our Gatorade” and matched Belmont’s surge with one of its own, an 11-0 spurt to snatch a 19-11 lead after 3:31 into the quarter, an advantage it would not give up for the remainder of the contest. Belmont did bring the deficit back to two, 21-19, but would trailed 23-19 at the half.

The third quarter saw the lead stay steady in the four to five-point range as Belmont’s guard kept the Marauders in range with a pair of knockdown jumpers as the Raiders entered the final eight minutes leading 37-32. Once again Belmont began hitting their shots and when Will Murphy hit a corner three with six minutes to cut the lead to a single point, it appeared Belmont had grabbed the game’s momentum for a late-game charge.

But Melrose’s senior big man Owen Mujalli would do what senior captains are expected in the final moments: put the team on his back. Mujalli first stole a cross-court pass and drive for two, then hit a spinning jumper for a deuce, and finished with a line-drive three to give Melrose a critical six-point spread, 47-41, in the final two minutes.

Belmont would fight back with a two-from Williams with 25 seconds remaining cutting the lead to a single possession, 50-47. But an apparent clean steal from a Belmont double team was blown as a foul, much to the noisy consternation of the Belmont Girls team watching in the stands. Mujalli – who scored 10 of his game high 18 points in the fourth – knocked down one of two from the charity stripe and ended the game with a defensive rebound.

“I’m gonna challenge my upper class and my juniors and seniors to be leaders and step up and help the young guys. To have sophomores step up like that is great, but I don’t think any great team is relying on sophomores to carry them,” said Martinez.

Next up for the Marauders will be an early season traveling two miles to historic rival Watertown on Tuesday, Dec. 17. It will be played at Watertown Middle School.

“The team showed its potential at times in the game, but they need to be better prepared mentally and physically for future games, especially against tougher opponents like Watertown, that’s for sure,” he said.

Girls: Belmont 70, Melrose 21

It was all smiles as the Girls’ Marauders entered Wenner Field House after the crimson and white dismantled the host Raiders by nearly 50 points, 70-21. “We beat them. Period,” a Marauder said emphatically describing the game between two mismatched Middlesex League teams.

Senior point guard Gabby Orfanos scored a game-high 18 points which included four threes, and sixth-player extraordinaire senior Brynn Connolly added 11 points. First-year Sarah Geller, who third-year head coach Shantell Jeter is high on after the preseason, started the game and knotted eight points.

Gabby had a real breakout game to show what she can do in every game while having a freshman on the floor to start tonight was also another message that we sent,” said Jeter.

Each of Belmont’s 14 member squad got a chance to get on the court in the game which Belmont outscored 22-1 in the first quarter.

“It was a good team effort,” said Jeter. “While they didn’t really have too much we still had a lot of opportunities to work on” a lot of our stuff” including a chance to mix and match lineups. Jeter also praised the team’s defense, producing a handful of five-second calls

Belmont will host its first home match against Watertown on Tuesday with tip-off at 6 p.m. said the Raiders will provide a much stiffer opponent this time around.

“We’ll have to be more intense. We gotta turn up every game,” she said.

0:18


Like about this game. I’m sure I’ll find some good things as well. When we listen and when we played together, when the ball moved, we got good shots.


yeah, we showed spurn to what we can do, and a lot of that is, you know, the bench has to be ready to play. You know, the starters played a lot in the second half, and a lot of it has to be with guys kind of not being ready, maybe nerds for the first game, a little bit of jitters.

I have to get them prepared, but they have to themselves, be mentally and physically prepared as well, so hopefully we bounce back on Tuesday, but it’s not going to be any easy against Watertown mastery.