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Coffey named Beverly High athletic director

If you see a young man hanging around the Beverly High athletic teams next fall, don't ask him why he's not wearing a uniform.

James Coffey has run out of eligibility to play high school sports but, at 26 years old, he'll easily be one of the youngest athletic directors in the state, if not the youngest.

Well-rounded Shea does it all in five different sports for Beverly High

It's almost as if Beverly's Kellie Shea had a premonition about her high school athletic career when she was in eighth grade.

Shea was a guard and a kicker on Beverly's Pop Warner 'A' football team the year before she entered Beverly High. She liked playing against boys because, in many ways, it prepared her for the future.

Witches capture NEC Large title with season sweep over Beverly

SALEM | Of the tens of thousands of words that Mike Ward has spoken to his Salem High baseball team over the last two-and-a-half months, the four he chose to use following yesterday's Northeastern Conference Large title-clinching win over Beverly may have been the most meaningful of all.

Tanners finish perfect in NEC after beating Beverly

The Tanners completed their first season in the NEC perfect at 11-0 by beating Beverly twice in the same season for the first time in school history. The Panthers led by four at halftime before Peabody (13-5 overall) came roaring back and won 9-5 on three goals each from Billy Daly and Derek West. Greg Shidler added a pair while Mike Pennachio had a goal and an assist.

Dwyer, defense lead Beverly past Salem

BEVERLY | A hot goaltender can be a great weapon | and yesterday Breezy Dwyer was just that for the Beverly High girls lacrosse team.

Dwyer came up big on countless occasions as the Panthers rode the senior's terrific play in goal to win this defensive battle against Salem, 6-4, on Senior Day at Hurd Stadium.

Fishermen beat Panthers for first time in school history

With its postseason hopes riding on the outcome, the Fishermen picked an opportune time to make history. Gloucester (8-9) knocked off perennial NEC champion Beverly, 6-5, in overtime yesterday when senior attackman Jeremy Fanning (4 goals, 1 assist) scored two minutes into the OT. Avenging a 13-6 loss earlier in the season, the Fishermen beat the Panthers for the first time in school history.  

English nips Beverly

The Bulldogs scored three in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie and send the Panthers home disappointed with a 4-1 loss. Kiki McKenna drove in Kelly Shea | who had pinch run for Beth Cullen | to account for Beverly's run while Elise Perron pitched six innings and allowed just three hits while striking out five.

Beverly lacrosse team make state tourney

The Beverly High boys lacrosse team is a long way from its main goal of winning a state title, but at least the Panthers are going to the postseason.

Joe Reinold scored the game-winning goal with four minutes left and goalie Kevin Ranta made a spectacular save in the final seconds to preserve a 10-9 win over Marblehead yesterday. The Panthers improved to 9-7 and earned a berth in the state tourney with two regular season games remaining.

Late rally falls short for Beverly

Errors doomed the Panthers as four of the Patriots' nine runs were unearned in a 9-8 loss. Beth Cullen hit a two-run homer in the seventh as Beverly scored five times in the final frame but couldn't push the tying run across. It was the second homer of the game for Cullen, who finished 3 for 3 with three runs and five RBI. Monica Casola drove in three runs for Beverly.

Beverly survives second half struggles, edges Danvers

Silly penalties cost the Beverly boys lacrosse team a halftime lead. Greg Pierce made sure they didn't cost the Panthers the game.

Pierce scored an unassisted goal with four minutes left to snap a tie and provide Beverly with a 10-9 Northeastern Conference victory.

Cooper paces Beverly

Janie Cooper notched five goals and Marry Accomando added four of her as the pair provided the bulk of the offense as the Panthers (10-3) clinched a berth in the state tournament with a 12-8 win over Ipswich. A team defensive effort helped Beverly hold off Ipswich, which got a hat trick from Kim Corkum. The Panthers also got goals from Jessica Shaw and Kara Murphy.

Panthers pulverize Classical

Nicki Lemelin won the 100 (12.5) and ran a leg of the winning 4x100 relay to help spark the undefeated Panthers (6-0) over Lynn Classical 106-16. Joining Lelemin in the relay were Heidi Bezemes, Janelle Louis and Helen Amore. Also among the winners for Beverly were Maddy Wrable in the 400 (65.7) and Marianna DiMaggio in the 200 (26.5).

Moran's throws help Beverly down Classical

Beverly thrower Juan Moran won the shot put and the discus as the Panthers (4-2) got by the Rams 99-23. Ryan Flannery won the 400 (59.1), Windy Henry won the mile (5:52), Brendan DeCorcy won the high hurdles (18.3) and Tom Benton was first in the two-mile (12:01) to help Beverly to victory.

Peabody walks off with win

Freshman Marykate Helas knocked in Tawny Palmieri to break a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning as the Tanners (9-3) walked off with a 5-4 extra innings win over Beverly. Peabody had rallied to knot the score in the sixth after Beverly (3-9) went ahead 4-3 on a two-run double by Courtney Brennan.

Earlier, Peabody's Michelle Grifoni hit a two-run bomb to get things started and Beverly's Jess Gagnon responded with a two-run double soon after. Nicole Wilson threw all nine innings for the Tanners and earned the win.

Beverly outlasts Swampscott in 12

After battling for 12 innings | nearly the equilivant of two seven inning high school baseball game | something had to give between NEC rivals Swampscott and Beverly. Zak Levine made sure that the tide broke in favor of his Panthers.

Cullen keeping Beverly loose, hungry

Senior second baseman Beth Cullen brings energy and enthusiasm to the Beverly High softball team.

The 18-year-old Cullen has a bubbly personality and a sense of humor that helps keep her team loose. She's also one of the captains and is hitting .594 with a team-high 16 RBIs, giving her considerable credibility and respect.

Accomando sisters power Panthers past Tanners

PEABODY | It may have been Senior Day for the host Peabody High girls lacrosse team yesterday at at Donahue Field, but the day truly belonged to a pair of sisters from Beverly.

The Accomando sisters, senior Alyssa and sophomore Mary, combined for four goals and two assists to guide their Panthers to an 11-8 win over the Tanners.

Beverly ends losing streak

The Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak as junior right-hander Kristen Lojko scattered six hits, struck out five and walked no one. The win lifted Beverly to 3-7.

Beverly got the only run it would need in the bottom of the first. Daryl Powell doubled, Beth Cullen moved her to third with a ground ball and then sophomore shortstop Kiki McKenna singled to plate the run.

All for one mentality works wonders for Beverly

Their strength lies in their seniors.

But two of their biggest contributors have been freshmen.

And they all live by one mantra: keep it simple, strive for consistency and stay mentally tough every time you take the field.

Norman's two homers power Marblehead past Beverly

Samantha Norman had never played third base at the varsity level before. But with her teammate, Northeastern Conference all-star Ashley White, out sick yesterday, Marblehead High softball coach Johnny Gold called on Norman, his junior left fielder, to take her place.

Drinkwater, Leathersich lead Beverly

Paul Drinkwater's three-run bomb highlighted a five-run fifth inning which propelled the Panthers (8-4) over Marblehead, 7-3. The Magicians entered the frame ahead 3-1 but Jack Leathersich's two-run single knotted the score and set the table for Drinkwater's long ball.

It was all the support Leathersich needed, as the senior struck out 16 en route to the win. His lone mistake was a pitch Marblehead's Mike Sahagian took out of the yard for a three-run homer that put the Magicians (4-6) on top. For Beverly, Zak Levine and Franky Mussina each had crucial sacrifice flies to bring in runs.

Accomando's late goal sparks Beverly past Tanners

Alyson Healey, Beverly's rookie girls lacrosse coach, was the victim of some good natured kidding in school yesterday. She happens to teach freshman English at Peabody High and her Panthers were playing | who else? | Peabody.

Winthrop outslugs Beverly

Despite trailing 7-2 after two innings, the Panthers (7-4) came right back to tie it 7-7. The squads were deadlocked 9-9 before the Vikings got the last surge to pull ahead for good and win 14-12. Andy Brown spraked Beverly by going 2 for 4 with three runs scored while Conor Walsh went 4 for 5 and Jack Leathersich and Paul Drinkwater each chipped in two hits.

Winchester gets better of Beverly

Senior Joey Reinold scored four times to keep the Panthers (5-6) in it, but Beverly could never get over the hump and fell 10-7 to Winchester. Sophomore goalie Kevin Ranta stopped 14 shots as Beverly trailed by two most of the way and never led.

Leathersich pitches, hits Beverly past Gloucester

Senior left-hander Jack Leathersich allowed just five hits and struck out 12 for his third win in four decisions as the host Panthers walloped Gloucester, 7-1, at Brother Roberts Field.

Leathersich also helped himself offensively with a 2-run homer to pace the Panthers (7-3).

Cooper's five drives Beverly

The Panthers (7-1) rolled by Medford 12-2 behind five goals from Janie Cooper and a natural hat trick courtesy of Mary Accomando. Adding single goals for Beverly were Kate Williams, Alyssa Accomando, Brie Mari and Katie Von Zwek as a total team effort at both ends of the field sparked the win.

Peabody halts Beverly's 103-game streak

Streaks are meant to be broken sooner or later, and it finally ended for Beverly High's lacrosse team yesterday at Donahue Field.

After winning 103 straight Northeastern Conference lacrosse games dating back to 1997, Beverly's remarkable streak was abruptly finished by Peabody, 9-3.

Streaking Salem steals one from Beverly

BEVERLY | A month from now, the Salem High baseball team might look at yesterday morning's extra-innings triumph over rival Beverly as one of the galvanizing moments in a season that suddenly has as much promise as any on the North Shore.

Munroe paces Marblehead

Juliet Munroe scored four times and the Magicians notched five straight tallies to turn a 9-7 deficit into a 12-9 lead. Janey Cooper recorded three goals for Beverly (6-1), but the Panthers couldn't hang on in a back-and-forth affair that was tied 5-5 at halftime. Alyssa and Mary Accomando each had two goals for Beverly.

St. John's Prep boys lacrosse teaches Beverly a valuable lesson

BEVERLY -- Someday, new Beverly High boys lacrosse coach John Pynchon may be able to recount every single thing that happens on the field. But for now, he's settling on watching just bits and pieces of the play on game day.

Beverly lacrosse team extends NEC streak to 102 games

The Beverly High lacrosse team's remarkable win streak in the Northeastern Conference is still alive. But Panthers coach John Pynchon doesn't want his team putting pressure on itself.

Jack Liacos scored in overtime, off an assist by Dave Cheney, as Beverly tipped Danvers, 8-7, yesterday. Beverly (4-3 overall) has won 102 straight NEC games going back to 1997.

Freshman Helas Leads Peabody over Beverly

Any coach loves to have an impact freshman on his team. The freshman making the biggest impact so far is Peabody High's MaryKate Helas.

Helas, who is the designated player for the Tanners, had her second straight big game yesterday, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs as Peabody defeated Beverly, 6-3. Last week Helas went 4-for-5 with a grand slam homer against Everett, so she is 7-for-9 for the season.

Defensive miscues hurt Beverly in loss to Peabody

PEABODY | After months of wondering, the Peabody High baseball team finally knows what they'll be up against each and every time they take the field in Northeastern Conference play this season.

Beverly still undefeated after stopping Wakefield

Junior Matt Lanza picked up his first varsity win with two innings of shutout relief and the Panthers broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth inning and dropped Wakefield 7-4.

Knocking in runs for undefeated Beverly (3-0) were Connor Walsh, Jack Leathersich, Sam Cohen and Chris Freni. Leathersich slammed the door from the hill in the final innig while Nick Tolanto turned in a solid start.

Nolan's OT Strike Lifts Beverly

Ryan Nolan scored with a minute to play in overtime to deliver a win for the Panthers (2-2), who came from behind to beat Swampscott 5-4. The Big Blue had led 3-1 at the break and saw their advantage erased when Greg Pierce completed his hat trick with under 10 seconds to play in regulation.

Beverly Boys Track Runners To Watch

Coach: Nelson Desilvestre (13th year)

Last year's record: 7-3

Runners to watch: Brendan Norris, Sr., Middle Distance; Tom Mahoney, Sr., Hurdles/High Jump; Juan Moran, Sr., Shot Put/Discus; Brad Olson, Sr., Distance; George Louis, Fr., Sprints/Jumps

Beverly Girls Track Runners to Watch

Coach: Dave Jellerson (18th year)

Last year's record: 10-0

Runners to watch: Nicki Lemelin, Sr., Long Jump/Sprints; Marianna DiMaggio, Sr., Sprints; Kasey Kluge, Sr., Distance; Madeline Wrable, Sr., Distance; Katie Crowley, Sr., Distance; Janelle Louis, Jr., Sprints/Jumps

Winning ... and winning ... and winning: Beverly girls spring track team hasn't lost a meet in over three years

BEVERLY | It would only be natural for the seniors on the Beverly High girls spring track team to be a bit cocky. After all, this group has never lost a spring meet in their high school careers, having compiled 30 consecutive victories.

Beverly Softball Preview

Last year's record: 16-7  

Coach: Megan Sudak (1st season)

Returning players: Beth Cullen, Sr., 2B; Jayne Spiridigliozzi, Sr., 3B/OF; Jess Gagnon, Sr., SS; Christy Nichols, Sr., OF; Daryl Powell, Jr., 3B/C; Kiki McKenna, So., SS; Elise Perron, Sr., P; Kristen Lojko, Jr., P; Courtney Chalifour, Jr., C/2B

Beverly mound duo combines for one-hitter

Beverly baseball coach Dave Wilbur was counting on a pair of his senior pitchers to get the Panthers off on the right foot yesterday afternoon. He had no idea, however, that Jack Leathersich and Nick Colanto would completely shut down St. Mary's of Lynn in the season opener.

Beverly Baseball Preview

Last year's record: 10-11 (Lost in Division 1 North first round)

Coach: Dave Wilbur (Seventh year, 60-66)

Key returnees: Jack Leathersich Sr., P/DH; Chris Freni Sr., C; Brian Skerry Sr., 1B; Zak Levine Sr., P/OF; Sam Cohen Sr., SS; Matt Lanza Jr., 2B; Nick Tolanto Sr., P; Conor Walsh Sr., OF; Paul Drinkwater Sr., OF

Beverly basketball ousted from tourney

BEVERLY | The Winchester boys basketball team had a big-time spurt over the first 2<1/2> quarters, when time wasn't an issue. Beverly, on the other hand, answered with an impressive run of its own, but it came against two opponents | the Sachems and the clock.

Beverly Finishes the season strong

Fourteen games into the season the state tournament was already out of reach for Beverly, but that didn't stop the Panthers from making a great run late in the year. After going 3-11 through 14 games, Beverly concluded with a 5-1 sprint to the finish line, with the only blemish coming at the hands of Masconomet in the North Shore Invitational final.

Fenwick over Beverly

The tournament bound Crusaders (12-7-1) shook off Monday's Carlin Cup defeat against Peabody by coming from behind to best Beverly. The visiting Panthers had a 2-1 lead in the third before the Crusaders struck with power play tallies from Mark Sparaco and Dale Crispin to snare the victory.

Bradley, Lady Headers ice Panthers' tourney hopes

The only thing colder than the toes of the spectators inside Kasabuski Arena last night was the deep freeze Marblehead goalie Moe Bradley laid on host Beverly's offense. Behind 24 stops from the sophomore netminder, the Lady Headers handed the Panthers a 4-0 defeat.

Konaxis helps put Beverly girls hockey on the map

The ways in which Rachel Konaxis is weaved into the very fabric of the Beverly High girls hockey program are almost too many to count.

For starters, the senior center is the program's all-time leading scorer with 109 points and is the first female player in school history to hit the century mark. She's also been a captain all three years the Panthers have had a varsity program.

Chieftains confuse Beverly, capture third straight NS Invitational

Nineteen times this year, a look of confusion has been painted on the coach's face opposing the Masconomet girls basketball team.

Last night, it was time for Beverly's Matt Smith to take a turn.

"If they're not the best Division 2 team in the state, then they're the best (Div. 2) team in Eastern Mass.," Smith said after the previously red-hot Panthers were dealt a one-sided 64-36 loss in the final of the North Shore Hoop Invitational.

Bishop Fenwick basketball trounces Beverly

DANVERS | The excitement is never written on Mike Clifford's face. That's just his personality.

If you'd run into Bishop Fenwick's junior center after the first round of the North Shore Hoop Invitational Saturday night, you never would've guessed from his demeanor whether his team won or lost.

Freshman Reyes sparks late Salem rally past Beverly

Antonio Reyes has the poise of a Scoonie Penn or a Rick Brunson at the freshman level | and that's not a reach. The 6-foot all-star and pride of Prospect Street is probably the best fresman prospect to wear the Salem High Witches uniform since Erik Groszyk.

Streaking Panthers a threat in North Shore Invitational

Bishop Fenwick girls basketball coach Tim Harrington needs another victory for his team to qualify for the Division 2 North tournament.

Two weeks ago, Harrington would have been thrilled to see Beverly High on the schedule for such an important game. But not anymore.

Beverly boys seeking first North Shore Invitational title

Coach Scott Lewis and the Beverly High boys basketball team can justifiably take pride in upgrading the program in recent years.

The Panthers are rolling along with an 11-6 record this season and will be going to the state tournament for the third year in a row. Last year, Beverly went 12-8 and made its deepest postseason run in decades, reaching the Division 2 North semifinals before losing to Belmont.

Danvers flexes its muscle, puts Beverly on tourney brink

If this one game represented a fork in the road, you can plainly see how the Danvers and Beverly High hockey teams took very different paths.

Similar to the way their seasons have played out. Playing some of its best hockey of the year, Danvers continued on its late-season roll by scoring three times in the final period and owning all areas of the ice. Paced by junior Troy Thibodeau's hat trick, the Falcons turned a close game into a blowout by hammering the Panthers, 5-1, at the Rockett Arena.

Division 2 North Sectional

Six days after the New England Patriots failed to make history, the Greater Lawrence wrestling team made a lot of it yesterday at the Division 2 North Sectional at Beverly High School.

The Reggies, who are the defending Division 2 dual-meet champions, overwhelmed the 12-team field to finish first with 278 points, placing seven in the finals, crowned four champions, placed all 14 wrestlers (top six) and advanced 12 to next week's Division 2 state meet at Reading.

Panthers forced to settle for scoreless tie with Winthrop

Desperate for points in their quest for a tournament berth, the Panthers outshot host Winthrop, 27-15, but couldn't find the back of the net in a scoreless tie at the Larsen Rink.

Beverly (7-8-2) got 15 saves in goal from sophomore goaltender C.J. Cacciatore, while senior Alex Baker, moved up from defense to forward, generated several excellent scoring chances.

North Andover rules CAL

The gap is closing just a bit, but North Andover continues to rule the Cape Ann League.

The Knights captured the CAL meet at Wilmington for the seventh straight time, and 10th time in the last 11 years by scoring 205 points. Masconomet was second (170) and Lynnfield/North Reading (138) came in third.

Beverly beats Peabody, has won eight straight

Beverly High boys basketball coach Scott Lewis can't complain about the way his team closes out a game. In fact, he can't complain about too much these days.

With the issue in doubt late in the game, Beverly went on a 12-2 run to finish off Peabody, 50-41, in the Northeastern Conference.

Beverly football duo make their college choices

Playing football at the college level never really crossed the minds of Beverly High teammates Brian Kureta and Greg Pierce.

That is, until they were both preparing for their senior years.

Both have chosen to continue their careers at the Division 3 college level, with Kureta heading off to powerful Curry College while Pierce will ply his trade at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

Peabody hockey qualifies for state tourney

PEABODY | Coming off its worst loss of the season, the Peabody High hockey team felt an urgency to get back on track. But it knew the job wasn't going to be easy against a Beverly team that had beaten the Tanners last month.

Tobin, Beverly sink Big Blue in OT

One thing about the Beverly High boys basketball team has become abundantly clear: no matter how dire the situation, it doesn't back down against anybody.

Moreover, the Panthers seem to be at their best in crunch time.

Beverly midseason grade: C+

First half analysis: No question there's talent here | far too much to have a five-game losing streak, as they are currently mired in. Too often, lack of discipline has hurt the Black-and-Orange, leading to trips to the penalty box and/or goals by their opponents.

Beverly wrestling program taking shape

Think of the 2006-07 Beverly High wrestling team as a lump of clay.

The clay is lifeless with no polished corners or perfectly rounded edges. It holds no signs pointing to a road of greatness. Yet, it has infinite potential.

Beverly beats Marblehead in final minute

The Beverly High boys basketball team would've been kicking itself if it lost to Marblehead last night. Instead, the Panthers may look back at this one as a turning point in the season.

In a game that might've been as wild as anything that's been seen in the Northeastern Conference so far this year, Beverly squandered a 14-point first half lead and trailed by nine in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers had all the right answers in the final minute and pulled out a 60-57 win.

Marblehead, Beverly to lock horns for area supremecy

It's going to be a memorable weekend for sports fans around the North Shore, without question. There's Saturday night's boys hockey showdown between Peabody and Gloucester, in addition to the usual weekend slate of on-ice match-ups. Who could forget that the Patriots will look to bring their perfect season to the Super Bowl in Sunday's AFC Championship showdown against San Diego?

Beverly can't slow down Fishermen

SALEM | Bob Gilligan stepped out of the Beverly High hockey team's locker room in the bowels of the Rockett Arena after his postgame address to his club and reached for the game scoresheet.

"Let's take a look at the damage," Gilligan sighed. For the second time in a two-week span, Gilligan's Panthers didn't have any answers for a very talented Gloucester team.

Panthers snap skid, hand host Winthrop first loss

After three straight losses, the Beverly boys basketball team was ready to take its frustrations out on someone. Last night, their wrath came down on host Winthrop as the Panthers invaded the previously unbeaten Vikings' gym and came away with a 71-64 victory.

White's 3-pointers key Salem past Beverly

SALEM | When the pressure of the game got hot, Ashley White stayed cool | and came up big for the Salem girls basketball team.

White came up with clutch baskets when the game was on the line to power the host Witches to a 61-48 win over archrival Beverly last night at Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse.

Despite missing two starters, Witches knock off Beverly in Tobin's return

BEVERLY | There wasn't much the Salem boys basketball team could feel good about coming into the Henry Cabot Lodge Fieldhouse last night.

Losers of three of their first four games, the visiting Witches also had to deal with the proposition of battling a Beverly team amped up on the return of senior forward Matt Tobin without two of their own starters.

Walsh's first varsity shutout leads Beverly

Freshman goaltender Tony Walsh put forth a strong third period to earn his first career shutout in net for the Panthers (5-1-1) in a 5-0 shutout of Swampscott.

Making his fourth career start, Walsh stopped all 20 shots he faced while getting scoring support from Chris Bushey, Ryan Karp, Mitch Hamor, Jack Leathersich and Chris Freni. Three third period goals sealed the deal for the winners.

Fishermen knock off Panthers, punch ticket to tourney finals

Without junior captain Josh Salah, one might think that the Gloucester hockey team would have trouble with previously unbeaten Beverly in the first round of the Cape Ann Savings Bank Holiday Tournament.

Irving's two goals power Panthers past Peabody

SALEM | It was a gift that not even Santa Claus could have given Kyle Irving. Only he could get it for himself.

And get it he did.

Irving treated himself to the first 2-goal game of his high school hockey career Saturday afternoon, paving the way for the unbeaten Beverly Panthers to skate past Peabody, 5-2, before a festive crowd at the Rockett Arena.

Panthers hard pressed to stop Bulldogs in loss

Eugene Turner and the Lynn English boys basketball team are quickly and efficiently serving notice that they are one of the teams to beat on the North Shore boys hoop scene this winter, which is quite appropriate since it's a quick and efficient defense that's putting them in that position to begin with.

Beverly off to good start

Beverly has been everything advertised and then some, sprinting out to a 3-1-0 start with an eye-popping aggregate score of 23-4. One of the biggest reasons for their success has been the play of senior captain Rachel Konaxis, who has taken on a new role as playmaker this season.

Konaxis leads Beverly over Gloucester

The youth movement has definitely taken over on the Beverly girls hockey team with 10 freshmen and two eighth-graders taking regular shifts. But while the Panther are very young with only two seniors, they are also very skilled.

Back and forth action leaves Beverly, Danvers all tied up

What didn't this game have?

There were big hits, big saves and big goals. There were plenty of power plays, a bevy of backchecking and a cavalcade of chances for both teams.

We saw a freshman forward score on a freshman goaltender; the lead see-saw back and forth like a broken teeter-tooter, and even a rare, rocket shot from center ice that beat one of the goaltenders cleanly.

Baker glad to be back in Beverly

There was no giant metamorphosis that took place or light that went off in Alex Baker's head, telling him it was time to go back.

The talented 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenseman simply decided to forgo his plans to play junior hockey exclusively and join the team he had skated with for the last three winters at Beverly High School.

Juniors lead Beverly girls basketball to first victory

Thanks to its junior class, the Beverly High girls basketball team now has its first victory of the season.

Junior guards Kellie Shea and Jess Shaw both scored 16 points last night as the Panthers went on the road to defeat Revere, 74-52, in Northeastern Conference action. Fellow 11th grader Meghan Chatellier, a forward, dropped in 11 points to help aid the victory. Breezy Dwyer added four points and eight rebounds and Alex Vavladellis chipped in with five steals and a basket.

Beverly Wrestling Preview

Last year's record: 6-13-1

Coach: Mark Thomas (2nd year)

Key returnees: John DePaula, Sr., 112 lbs.; Raz Davidyan, Sr., 140; Brian Kureta, Sr., 250; Michael Tarr, Sr., 119; Sam Rinaldo, Sr., 152

Peabody girls hold off Beverly in NEC hoop debut

Welcome to Northeastern Conference girls basketball, Peabody High School, where the competition is stiff on any given night.

The Tanners, for years a perennial powerhouse in the Greater Boston League, learned a lesson last night in their first ever contest as a member of the NEC. They left victorious after a hard fought, 48-44 victory over Beverly High at the Henry Cabot Lodge Fieldhouse.

Beverly spoils Peabody's NEC debut

Had Beverly junior basketball captain Nate Knudson asked out of last