Penney Earns 200th Win as RMHS Boys and Girls Hoops Keep Rolling

With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, Reading’s student-athletes got back to the business of ... well ... taking care of business.

BASKETBALL

RMHS Boys: Since the heartbreaking one-point loss to Melrose on opening night, Dec. 16, the Rockets have been on a tear. The current ML Large bosses already boasted a four-game winning streak coming into the week, and all they did was add two more to the total, downing Winchester and Lexington on the road. The Rockets have now won six straight games—the last four on the road. on Jan. 3, behind the stifling defensive play of junior guard Nate Clarke (10 points, 3 rebounds). Clarke bagged four steals, and thoroughly harries the Sachems’ point guard all night, creating many turnovers. Jerry Ellis-Williams led the Rockets offense, claiming his customary 20 points. Ellis-Williams added six rebounds and a pair of blocks as well.

, it was Kenny Reed who led the Rockets to victory. Reed snagged 18 points, six assists and four steals as Reading took down another league rival, this time, with a 64-56 win. Clarke (12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals), Ellis-Williams (11 points, 7 rebounds) and Dominic DeSimone (11 points, 5 rebounds) all chipped in as well.

Austin Prep Boys: Things haven’t been going all that well for the Cougars this season, and they didn’t get any better last week, as AP dropped a 68-37 decision to CCL rivals Bishop Fenwick on Jan. 6. Austin Prep is now 0-4 on the year, and sitting in last place.

RMHS Girls: The Lady Rockets had a busy week. With three games on the docket, it would be hard to fault them for being fatigued towards the end of the week, but if Kim Penney’s squad was tired, it sure was hard to tell. Olivia Healy and company ripped through their opposition last week like a jackhammer through whipped cream, flattening the Winchester Sachems, 72-25, on Jan. 3, before rolling into Lexington High and thumping the home team, 82-34, on Jan. 6. The win against Winchester represented a milestone for Coach Penney, as it was her 200th win at the helm of the RMHS girls basketball team. The following day, the Lady Rockets welcomed Wachusett Regional to Hawkes Field House, but that was the extent of their generosity. Reading sent the visitors home with a 20-point loss to occupy their thoughts during the lengthy bus ride, running to a 63-43 win on Jan. 7. The Lady Rockets are a perfect 6-0 overall, and 2-0 in league play.

Austin Prep Girls: The Lady Cougars played at Shawsheen on Jan. 4, and ran out to a 45-37 victory. Against Bishop Fenwick on Jan. 6, Austin Prep was again victorious, this time by a 48-27 margin. The Lady Cougars are now 4-4 overall, and 1-3 in CCL play.

HOCKEY

RMHS Boys: The Rockets opened league play in the Holiday Tournament against Arlington (1-5-1, 1-2 ML) on Dec. 27 with a 3-2 win, providing somewhat of a silver lining to the 5-2 defeat suffered at the hands of Billerica in the . Middlesex League Large School Division play continued last week, but the results weren’t quite as favorable for the locals as the Winchester Sachems (3-3-2, 1-0-1 ML) dueled the Rockets to a 1-1 draw at Winchester on Jan. 4. The result leaves Reading at 3-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in league play, good enough for second place, behind only the powerful Tanners of Woburn (5-1-1, 2-0 ML).

Austin Prep Boys: The Cougars came into the week at 3-2, with Bishop Fenwick  and Arlington Catholic on the horizon. The AP icemen took on the Crusaders on Jan. 4 at home, having already thumped Fenwick, 8-3, on Dec. 28. This time, they kept the ledger a bit neater. The Cougars blanked the Crusaders 6-0, behind three goals and one assist from Scott Cochran and a strong showing from Ryan Quinn, who collected a goal and assisted on another. Austin Prep next skated on the road, at Arlington Catholic, and left with what is, no doubt, a disappointing 4-4 draw. AP led by as many as three goals before AC came roaring back and leveled the affair with 5:53 left in the game. The Cougars are currently second in the Catholic Central League Large School Division, trailing St. Mary’s of Lynn, and are 4-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in CCL play.

RMHS Girls: The Lady Rockets played twice last week, and, unfortunately, weren’t able to come away with any points, dropping both contests. Reading skated at Winchester on Jan. 4, falling to the Lady Sachems in a close 2-1 clash. The Lady Rockets welcomed Lexington to Burbank Arena on Jan. 7, and the visitors showed their appreciation by handing them a 5-2 defeat. Reading is now 1-5 overall, and 0-2 in league play.

Austin Prep Girls: The Lady Cougars took on Fontbonne Academy at home on Dec. 31, and things didn’t go all that well for the AP skaters as they fell, 2-0, against the Ducks. On Jan. 5, Reading made the trip to Milton for the rematch and things went even worse. AP was soundly defeated by Fontbonne Academy, falling 4-1. The loss leaves the Lady Cougars at 2-5 overall, and 0-1 in league play.

INDOOR TRACK

RMHS Boys: The Rockets improved to a perfect 4-0 on the year with a convincing at Harvard University on Jan. 2. Ryan Maney led the way in the 55-meter dash and the high jump, placing first in both events. Other Reading highlights included first-place finishes from senior captain Connor McCarthy (300m), junior Dylan Swaebe (600m), junior J.D. Greenfield (1000m), senior Billy Tucker (2-mile), senior captain Mike McGlathery (55-meter hurdles) and junior Brian Callahan (shot put). For more details, read the full story here from Reading Patch blogger Kathy Greenfield.

GYMNASTICS

RMHS Girls: Reading (1-0) kicked off the season against neighboring Stoneham (0-1) on Jan. 3, and did so in fine fashion with 123.450 to 121.6 victory over the Spartans.