The defending State Champion Watertown Raiders boys’ hockey team plays its first home game on Saturday.
The Watertown winter sports teams will have quite a time coming up with a better encore for the 2015-16 season, after the boys hockey team won its first state title and the girls basketball team made it to the Garden for the EMass final.
The Raiders hockey and basketball teams will hold their home openers this weekend, with the hoops squads tipping off Friday and the pucksters teams hitting the ice on Saturday.
Both sports opened their seasons on the road this week, but only one of four teams came away with a win.
Hockey
The defending Div. 3 State Champion boys hockey team is ranked 22nd in the ESPN Boston poll and has experienced forward lines, but an inexperienced defense and goalie. The Raiders fell on the road to Arlington by a score of 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Watertown is lead by senior Tyler Gardiner, who scored both of Watertown’s goals in the state final last spring. He was recently featured in the Boston Globe (click here to read more).
On Saturday, Dec. 19, Watertown plays Winchester on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at John Ryan Arena (1 Paramount Place, near Russo’s).
Following the boys’ game, the girls’ hockey team takes on Winchester at 2:30 p.m.
The girls squad has played as a co-op team for the past several years, first with Melrose and last year with Belmont. This year the team will just be Watertown players, and the Raiders return their outstanding goalie Jonna Kennedy. The Raiders lost their season opener Wednesday at Arlington 3-0.
Charlie Breitrose
The Watertown head girls basketball team looks to grab another section title in 2016 after reaching the state semifinal last year. The Raiders play their first home game Friday night.
Basketball
This year, the girls basketball team seeks to repeat an outstanding season a year ago when they won the Middlesex League, went undefeated in the regular season and made it to the EMass Final – the state semis.
The Raiders got off to a strong start, defeating Arlington 52-25 in season opener. Senior guard Michaela Antonellis scored a game high 17, and senior forward Katelyn Rourke scored 13 and had 10 rebounds, six steals and four blocks, according to the report on Wicked Local Watertown. Junior Shannon Murphy also had a double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
On Friday, Dec. 18, the girls take on Winchester at 7 p.m. at the WHS Gym. They play the second half of a twin bill after the boys take on Winchester at 5 p.m.
The Raiders boys basketball team fell in the season opener at Arlington 79-68. Watertown had four players score in double figures, according to the story on Wicked Local Watertown: senior Derek Diepietrantonio – 21 points, freshman Bondre Chase – 14 points, sophomore John Korte – 13 points, and senior Nathan Nebiye – 13 points.
Should either of the Raiders basketball teams make the state finals in March, they will play in Springfield, instead of Worcester in 2016. The games will be played at the Mass Mutual Center.