All posts by Jose Rodriguez, Editor-in-Chief / Sports Editor

Sports

Knights Basketball first six game winning streak since 2008-09 season

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On Thursday, Jan. 27 NECC Knights defeated University of Connecticut at Avery Point for a conference division game 67 to 47 it was a 6 p.m. tip off at the Sports and Fitness Center at the Haverhill campus.  

Knights were looking to win six in the row for the first time since 2008-09 season.  

The Knights were 9-7 overall and 6-2 in conference division game heading into Jan. 27 game.  

Before the game I hinted at the possibility to coach Stratton of winning six in a row “I think it will be great for the kids if we can pull of a victory tonight, he said.

“What we are really doing is my captain is doing a great job which we are trying to stay focused and concentrate on the next game which we have all leagues game coming up. I have a funny feeling Bristol is going to get canceled on Saturday with the blizzard coming supposedly, so this game is extremely important to us because after this game we don’t play again until CCRI on Tuesday… every game is important to get a victory but it is always nice when you are in the winning side then being in the losing side.”  

On Nov. 20 Knights beat this same team at Connecticut 62 to 59 “I think it all plays out how we come to play if we come to play at our best I think we’re good as anybody but sometimes we really have a tough time getting going during our winning streak,” Stratton said. “We haven’t had that issue but in the past we had a tough time getting going so hopefully that’s not a problem tonight,” Stratton said.  

Stratton also said they have recently gotten some key players back that wasn’t playing that game (Nov. 20) due to injury. Philip Cunningham, Cristian Kinsley and Matt D’Amato have all returned after being absent on Nov. 20 game because of injury.

Knights won tipoff against UConn at Avery Point. Both teams had nonfoul during the game until the first period with 11:25 remaining and Matt D’Amato hit a foul.

Coach Stratton told me in the post-game interview “I was very surprised but I felt that’s a tribute to a couple of different things I don’t think we (have) been as aggressive so I think we (have) been a little lazy and tributed to not being overly aggressive to not many foul calls the other thing is I felt that we were playing pretty good defense to the point we were communicating well getting a good position…, Stratton said.  

Knights in action vs UConn at Avery Point Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

In the first four minutes the Knights started aggressive going on 10-5 run.

Ashton Ventola of Danville, N.H., who scored 5 points in 14 minutes against UConn Avery Point, told me “We just wanted to stay aggressive that’s our goal to stay aggressive the whole game we wanted to make sure we want them to put them in the hole early. We wanted to,  we were in kill mode all the time that’s what we need to do all the time we jumped on them early, we had a good lead, we were moving the ball well, we were making shot that’s how we able to keep aggressive the whole time.” 

During the game it was a little concerning UConn Avery Point in the first half they were scoring in rebounds the Knights they are one of the best rebounds in the conference Stratton told me “That’s what I was concern we are one of the best rebound team in our regent and in the first half UConn Avery Point was rebounding us. They brought more afait they out hustle us they were aggressive in the glass we really weren’t discipline in our fundamentals we weren’t finding a men and boxing out and it opened up a lot of lanes for UConn Avery Point to attacken and grab the rebounds…, Stratton said.  

Kevin Monteiro just played four minutes against  UConn Avery Point. He got injured in the first half with a low ankle sprain injury, something related to his tendon Stratton told me “It’s a minor injury that he should be able to fight through it he tried to put pressure on it before we coming off from half-time but told me he just couldn’t go so we just shut him down,” Stratton said.  

He should be ready to go for Tuesday Feb. 1, when the Knights hit the road against CCRI who are undefeated 10-0 on Region 21 conference and 12-2 overall during the season.  

In the first half the Knights committed four fouls while UConn at Avery Point made two. The Knights were up 34-22 when they went into the locker room.  

Daniel Almarante of Lawrence had 10 points during the fist half that led the Knights in the game he finished with 16 points.  

In the second period with nine minutes and 20 second left Knights were up 55 to 35. They had a 20-point lead “we came very efficient we talked about it in half time the second half we started much better as you saw  we buckle down defensively. I know Cristian pick up a quick foul, R2 (Mehmet) picked up a foul his third foul in the 19:38 mark. I was going to make the decision to pull him out and he wave me off saying let me play through it which I am happy that I did… I think in the second half we played much much better much better, Stratton said.  

 Coach Stratton only time out came on the second period with only 5:02 left to go “What I got aggravated at 5:02 mark if you saw that from the 7:00 minute mark to the 5:02 mark we had three offensive possessions and well out of sink Daniel (Almarante) I spoke with earlier he got to get a set his got to get situated. We had guys in wrong position we were taking bad shots we were forcing a lot of things and we become very undisciplined no matter if you have a 15 point lead or 20 point lead you start creating bad habits, that bad habits carried over and in this region this is going to be one or two possession games that you going to need you better be making the right decision and if you start creating bad habits bad habits carried over …, Stratton said.  

 Knights had six fouls in the second half while UConn at Avery Point had two in total during the game the Knights had ten while UConn had four.  

Knights defeated UConn Avery Point 67 to 47 this is the Knights first six game winning streak since 2008-09 season.  

After the game I had a chance to talk to Jasjit Banwait of Malton Ontario who scored 4 points, 5 rebounds and played 17 minutes.

I asked him if he knows this is the first since 2008-09 season that they won 6 in a row “I didn’t know that this is a great team to be a part of we going for a championship we should be winning six in a row,” Banwait said.   

It will be a good battle on Feb.1,  the red-hot Knights Basketball will face Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) in the road. CCRI are 10-0 in conference division game and 12-2 overall. Tipoff is scheduled to be at 7 p.m.  

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Knights Basketball first five game winning streak since 2012-13 season

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On Sunday, Jan. 23, the NECC Knights tried to do something last achieved by the 2012-2013 team – win five straight games.

The Knights also was looking to pick up there first win against Bunker Hill Community College since Jan. 25, 2018.

The Knights defeated Bunker Hill 70 to 56 for a conference division game. The Knights were 5-2 on conference division game and 8-6 overall during the season heading into Sunday contest at noon.

The Knights if they want to win this game they need to control Angel Price Espada of Bunker Hill as he is averaging 36.5 points per game.

Stratton explained how they would incorporate a screen-and-roll technique which involves a teammate putting their body in front of the defender who is guarding the player who has the ball. This technique helps create easier opportunities to score.

“The plan heading to today’s game [is]  we going to start Cristian Kinsley on him. We feel he give us the best match up. Cristian is obviously our best defender that we have in the basketball team the coaching staff feels like. So we’re going to match with Cristian early. We going totally try to deny him the basketball trying to limit his touches and limit his clean looks at the basket what we will tried to do with him coming off of a screen and roll action, we are going blitz the screen and  roll action we will double him off the screen and roll. We’ll play 3 on 4 behind them hoping he gives up the basketball and then adjust off of that,” Stratton said.

This is a big test for Knights as CCRI it is similar to Bunker Hill a team that the Knights got blown out back on Dec 4 . This game this afternoon in my opinion it can be the turning point of the season for the Knights if they get this win.

“I think this game well be a test Nkrumah Jones (Bunker Hill head coach)  is been a veteran coach throughout this region similar to Rick Harris (CCRI head coach) two excellent coaches they been through the region they know what it takes to win in this region as far as CCRI and Bunker Hill goes I think CCRI has a little bit more depth then Bunker Hill but very comparable… so it is a good test for us to feel where we at in the region in this game…” Stratton said.

Stratton also mentioned to me that the four players that have academic issues can practice with the team but coach Stratton and his staff told those players practice with the team when they can to worried more about boosting this grade up. “They have to understand without the academics Basketball can only take you so far most of them the majority of them has been practicing when they can but with winter section ending next Friday we have a good feel what we got coming back for next year. I want to make a point of this to these four kids better not think that they just coming in to play they going to earn there way cause obviously this basketball team is playing very well without them…”Stratton said.

Just before tipoff they were issue with the shot clock a two minute delay. Knights win tip off against Bunker Hill. Knights had one travel in the first period and Bunker hill had two. Kinsley of Lawrence and Mehmet Asik of Ankara Turkey each receive two fouls while Phillip Cunningham of Haverhill receive one during the first period.

Matt D’Amato off the bench in the first period made 13 points including three three pointer’s. D’Amato finished the game with 18 points, which it was a career high after the game he told me “I finally feel good hit a few shots first game hitting a couple like that so definitely a good confident boast and hopefully I can carry it on to the end of the season,” D’Amato said.

Knights Daniel Almarante shooting his two free throw shots against Bunker Hill Community College. Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

The Knights were leading 43 to 34 at the half a nine-point lead and never blow the lead ever since.

Daniel Almarente of Lawrence who scored 14 points against Bunker Hill told me “To be honest that was a really tough team they were playing really aggressive and both side we were really weren’t getting to many calls so it was a greedy game today,” Almarante said.

In between the second period Knights was not playing as aggressive as they were coach Stratton told me “We very sloppy very sloppy we were missing good shots opportunity I mean Kevin (Monteiro) missed a couple bunny underneath he usually makes I mean R2 (Mehmet) missed three or four wide open shots that Philip and Metin give them excellent passes off of that.. it comes from mental focus also I am going to give Bunker Hill a ton of credit I think their length and their size coast problem for us tonight…” Stratton said.

Mehmet and Phillip each receive a foul in a span of 26 second to begin the second period. Knights had 8 fouls in the second half while Bunker Hill had 9. Overall the Knights had 13 fouls in the entire game and Bunker Hill 10.

During the game in the second period with 5:55 remaining to end the game Marvel Vilmont of Bunker Hill got injured and did not return to the game Knights were up 60 to 54 at that time and hold on to defeat Bunker Hill 70 to 56.

Knights improve 6-2 in conference game and 9-7 overall.

Knights are looking to make it six in a row as they welcome University of Connecticut of Avery Point on Thu. Jan. 27,  for a conference division game tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.

On Nov. 20 at Connecticut the Knights defeated University of Avery Point 62 to 59 early in the season.

Sports

Knights Basketball first four game winning streak since 2017-18 season

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On Thursday, Jan. 20, NECC Knights was in action and defeated Eastern Nazarene JV 84 to 63.  It was there first game back at home in the spring semester.

They host Eastern Nazarene JV for a non-conference division game. Tip off was at 6 p.m.

Fans are not permitted for the next four home games during the month of January as voted by the NJCAA region 21 athletic director due to the high spike of the omicron variant.

The Knights have won three in a row. Heading into Jan. 20 contest they were looking to win there first four game winning streak since 2017.

Mehmet Asik of Ankara, Turkey, said he did not felt weird at all playing without fans.

“To be honest I didn’t felt weird and I don’t think any of us felt weird ,”he said. “Playing with fans is always more fun and push us more but at the end of the day we do what we do and our job is go and play…I think we were okay but if we had fans that will be more fun for sure.”

I asked coach Darren Stratton what kind of preparation the boys were doing during the break.

“They were doing a strength and conditioning program over a drive once we left on break and the other thing is we started up on Jan. 3 as far our regular practice goes…” Stratton said.

I asked Coach Stratton before the game if playing without fans would affect the players.

He explained, “I think we having an advantage towards that for one reason. We were one of  two junior colleges in our region last year that were able to play during a Covid season. So last year Christian Kinsley, Daniel Almarante, Cameron Stratton played through the Covid season where we didn’t had any fans… I think that they can help the kids on our basketball team get them mentally prepared without fans and that’s a good strength,” Stratton said.

Matt Logue, Elijah Hass, Cameron Stratton and Ezekiel Barning was not eligible to play against Eastern Nazarene JV because of academic issues.

The Knights started off aggressive to begin the game 11-3 run in the first 2 minutes and 57 seconds. During that run Phillip Cunningham of Haverhill had 4 points, Daniel Almarante of Lawrence had 5 points and Mehmet Asik of Ankara Turkey had 4 points.

Coach Stratton talking to his player after he called a full time out against Eastern Nazarene JV Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

Stratton told me during the post game interview “Right now we’re going with a unit that we feel comfortable with for second semester. They really played well, this unit, against Mass Bay and we felt this unit moves the ball very well. They played very well together both offensive and defensively… this unit that we started really seems to play well together and clicked together…” Stratton said.

The Knights had 8 fouls in the first period while Eastern Nazarene JV had 5. Eastern Nazarene JV had 2 turnovers b during the first 6 minutes in the first period. Meanwhile for the Knights Jasjit Banwait of Malton Ontario had a turnover.

Knights were leading 41 to 29 they were up by 12 at the half. Despite the Knights having a 12 points led Stratton told me “I think we left points on the table in the first half and also defensively we gave up some points that I think that we going to give up on the game to comes…” Stratton said.

Daniel Almarante of Lawrence told me “We were moving the ball really well trying to cut, pass work in our fundamentals and like R2 said (nickname for Mehmet) our chemistry got a lot better.” Almarante said.

Daniel Almarante of Lawrence scored 19 points throughout the game 10 in the first half and 9 in the second half.

“I think Daniel is getting better and better every single game I know they is a lot Daniel needs to improve on but he is a kid that always come to work he always puts in the extra time he always listens he always take the criticism positivity…” Stratton said.

Asik of Ankara, Turkey scored 20 points during the game.

Stratton talked to me a little bet about his performance ? “I am going to be honest with you his scoring might have been there but I attribute that to the passes he received from his teammates because Mehmet tonight was struggling defensively that has become a concern for me and we going to talk about…” Stratton said.

In the second period the Knights was struggling in between they started strong when the second period start and when it ended but in the middle it was a problem for them they weren’t as aggressive. The Knights had 9 fouls during the second period overall they finished with 17 fouls during the game.

The performance of Daniel Almarante and Mehmet Asik  combining 39 points together it was enough to defeat Eastern Nazarene JV 84 to 63.

This is the Knights first four game winning streak since 2017.They will host Bunker Hill Community College for a conference division game on Sun. Jan. 23 tip off is scheduled to be at noon.

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Knights snap a four game losing streak

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On Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. NECC Knights faced Massasoit Community College for a conference game at the Sports and Fitness Center at Haverhill Campus. 

The Knights defeated Massasoit 66-54 to snap their four game losing streak.

It was the second give away of the season. All fans in attended received a Matt D’Amato “Mullet Mamba” t-shirt,  including his teammates was supporting D’Amato by wearing it before the game.  

Knights was looking to snap a four-game losing streak their overall record was 4-7 three games under .500 coming into Dec.9  game and 2-2 in conference games.  

Before the game I asked the head coach Darren Stratton, what is the key to play well and to try to break the 4 game losing streak ? 

“I think what they need to do is just focused I think were beating our self against Quincy we currently beat our self against CCRI we beat our self…Daniel (Almarante) right now is one of the only points guard and teams is taking advantage of that, that understanding we’re able to get pressure and we’re just throwing the ball away we need to settle down relax move the basketball…” said Stratton.  

The Knights did not have Cristian Kinsley of Lawrence, Jason Parello of Lawrence, Elijah Haas of Haverhill and Cameron Stratton of Haverhill all of them were out due to injuries except for  Cameron Stratton he is out due to health issues.   

 Kinsley missed five games heading into Dec. 9 contest “Cristian Kinsley goes to revaluation in January to see if he can gets cleared right know the prognosis is he supposed to be back by the second week of January the problem with him is he doesn’t have full range of motion in his shoulder yet…” said Stratton.  

Parello got injured in his last game against Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) “Right know it wasn’t a fracture, so it was great but the diagnosis is he has a heal bruise which put him out for two weeks put him out until the end of the semester,” said Stratton.  

Hass missed two games prior to Dec. 9 match up “Elijah Haas has a pending issues that we need clearance from a doctor from him. Losing him really hurts because he is a viral part of our scoring,” said Stratton.   

Cameron Stratton missed three games heading into Dec. 9 game “Cameron we loss which is a vital part as you see were struggling in the point guard position right know. He handled a lot of that for us.Cameron, he has been sick he was in the hospital, right know he got a double a ern infection with a high fever…” said Darren Stratton.  

The first period during the game the Knights did not came aggressive as they did against CCRI. In the first four minutes and three seconds in the game they were outscored 7-0 and they committed three fouls in less then five minutes. They started slow and did not have momentum but as the first period progressed they were starting to click in, and they were working on those little mistakes, so it would not cost them the game. They ended the first period strong thanks to a wide open three point shot from  Greg Duran of Lawrence.  

Knights in action on their final home game of the fall semester Photo by, Jose Rodriguez Sports Editor

“Greg did an excellent job not as much as the three pointer but defensively he is a spot for us he  is one of (Assistant) coach (Joe) Tardif in the aspect of he mentioned to me to give him a shot… we had guys on foul trouble Daniel (Almarante) pick two quick foul Phillip (Cunningham) pick two quick fouls Kevin (Monteiro) had two quick fouls so we were dealing with some foul trouble issue so we went to Greg knowing what we are going to get out of Greg anything Greg give us offensively is a huge plus because we do not expected defensively we expect every single night from Greg,” said Stratton.  

 Duran of Lawrence just played seven minutes during the game including scoring three points the three pointer late in the first period.  

The Knights in the first period had nine fouls while Massasoit had eight and the Knights had a two points lead at the half 27 to 25.  

Having a two-point advantage at the half did not change the mentality and the game plan “It didn’t really change the game plan every time at the half we think is zero zero it doesn’t matter if we were down two or up two we would’ve came the same way at half time,” said Jaleek Urena of Methuen.   

The Knights came aggressive attacking the zone as they began the period with a 7-0 run and Massasoit fought back. Massasoit had a 7-0 run as well on their own after the Knights struck back with a 10-0 run. The Knights fought through  it and it frustrated Massasoit knowing it is going to be difficult for them to comeback against this Knights team and the time was running out. “We played hard we ran in the court and we got fast break and we got defensive stop and we got a lot of basket in and pretty much get us get the lead,” said Philip Cunningham of Haverhill. 

Cunningham played 37 minutes with 12 points, nine rebound and two assist.  

The Knights in the second half committed eight fouls one foul less then the first period while Massasoit committed 10.  

Metin Yavuz at the last play of the game it looked like he got injured. When the game ended, he was attended to by Maureen the trainer. “I think it was his IT band Metin is seeing Maureen she said that she will evaluate him tomorrow… but the last play of the game he said he got knee in his hip area which it was his IT band that went all the way down to his ankle he felt numbness …”  said Stratton.  

The Knights defeated Massasoit 66-54 to snap their four game losing streak. They will be on the road on Sunday Dec. 12 to face against Holyoke game time is scheduled to be at 6 p.m. 

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Knights Basketball lost four in a row plus more injuries

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On Dec 4. NECC Knights got blown out 94 to 51 against the red-hot Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) at noon.

The Knights have been struggling lately coming into today game Knights have lost three in a row meanwhile CCRI have a six game winning streak coming into the game and their only loss there only lost was to begin the 2021-2022 campaign.  

The Knights are in a middle of a 4-game division conference stretch they lost to a non-conference division game against Great Bay Community College and a conference division a nail biter game to Quincy College 75 to 71 in the road.  

Before the game we find out that Knights won’t have Christian Kinsley of Lawrence until at least January. This team is battling with injuries all season long. Cameron Stratton of Haverhill has missed two games and it was out of today contest against CCRI. 

In the first period the Knights began the game strong with an 8-0 run. Matt D’Amato of Peabody shot a 3-pointer followed by Mehmet Asik of Ankira, Turkey two 2 pointers and Philip Cunningham of Haverhill steal the ball then went to the free throw and made one of two shots. 

Knights in action versus CCRI Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

Ashton Ventola of Danville N.H. who played 16 minutes and 8 points during the game “I was just trying to give my team a spark you know we got a good start you know like you said 8-0 run we got up pretty well and they start to fight back and coach puts me in so you know I am just trying to be aggressive you know not be afraid to shot and just keep attacking the whole work my shot into it… I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team,” said Ventola.

 Then the Knights collapsed after having a commanding  8-0 run they were trailing 18 to 13 coach Stratton told me in the post-game interview “I think this team doesn’t know how to overcome adversity  right now I think we‘re trying to struggle,  find ourself and I think that was the case when a team make a run on us we attempt to hold our heads instead of fighting through it.  I think we need to find some kind of leadership for someone…,” said Stratton

The Knights need someone to step up and fight. They need to keep their head up in the game is basketball and make a run and not gave up during the game anything can happen. Is not over until the buzzer hit at the end of the second period anything can happen.

The Knights after they gave up the lead they were playing sloppy and they weren’t playing smart basketball Stratton told me “Turnovers are atrocious but you know Jose I am going to be honest with you that has been an illing  problem for us through the first eleven games so far I don’t think you can find one game that we haven’t turnover the basketball more than 15 times…” Stratton said. That is the big key and why this team is under .500 other than injuries right now they need to improve in every aspect as they can to be above .500 and finish the season strong.

 They were down 44-29 at the half. 

Coach Stratton still feel a chance they can win the game against a very good CCRI game “100 percent I felt we had a chance to win the game we came back from 16 down the other night against Quincy I told them at half time were beating our self… if we don’t turn the basketball over there and were play discipline basketball that game is a lot different…” said Stratton.  

The first eight minutes of the second period CCRI was on a 23-7 run. The Knights they were struggling they couldn’t make the ball inside the bucket, and it was going to be extremely difficult to win as they were down 67-37 with 12 minutes left in the quarter. 

“We struggle to score and is sad to said like coach Canery and coach Tardif we need kids to work on their  fundamentals we don’t have kids that work on their there skill set they think they are better than what they are and if they watch this film tonight playing against a team like this today you get exposed and if you don’t have the skills and willing to work at your skills to get better stuff like this is going to happen…” Stratton said.  

During the second period the Knights lost another player due to injury Jason Parello of Lawrence he has been fighting a heel issue lately and during the game against CCRI he landed knee first on the ground he was taken out of the game with some help he couldn’t walk under at his own power. 

 The Knights know have a 4-game losing streak. They will face Massasoit Community College looking to end their four game losing skid on Thursday Dec. 9 game time is scheduled at 6 p.m. at Sports and Fitness Center at Haverhill Campus. 

Sports

Dejalee Torres made history

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Dejalee Torres of Lawrence made history on Dec. 1 when she became the first woman volleyball player in school history to earn All American Honors.

During the season she played 13 games 2.81 kill per set, .181 hitting percentage, 0.48 assist per set, 0.29 kills per set, 0.54 service per set, 2.60 digs per set according to neccknights.com She also led in all regions in both kills and kills per set.   

 “When I receive my All American it was definitely surprising, I wasn’t expecting to win All American I know I was nominated but All American is a very big brad like achievement and I know I was nominated but I wasn’t really certain that I was going to win it was very surprising and also confident that knowing that I am a good player, not within the region but around the country,” said Torres.  

NJCAA All-American Dejalee Torres
NJCAA All-American Dejalee Torres Courtesy neccknights.com

She also told me that she felt very blessed and honored to win the award. She been playing volleyball since middle school and-all that hard work is paying off in a positive way. She never envisioned or imagined in her first year at NECC something magical would’ve happened in on her career. 

 “To be honest a lot of the achievement that I received this volleyball season were all very shocking just for the simple fact our team this year wasn’t really the best we started off with having a NJCAA All-American  whole lot of girls and we slowly lost a lot of players due to injury so I wasn’t expecting much out of the season so for us to go far as far as we did and also for me to get all the recognition it was very surprising,” said Torres.  

In the future when she leaves NECC she is not sure if she wants to continue playing volleyball, but she knows she will be playing volleyball 100 percent for NECC next upcoming season as Torres will try to help the team to capture region 21 championship. As of right know she hasn’t received any kind of offers once she leaves the Northern Essex.

 “Overall Torres will become the 42nd name (17th female) added to the All-American wall in the annals of the Knights athletic program and second this  calendar year joining baseball’s Nick White,” according to neccknights.com  

Watch out for Dejalee Torres I see a bright future on her and let’s see if she can repeat what she did this past season after an unbelievable 2021 campaign that helped the team to become NJCAA runner-up champions  after losing on the finals to Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) on late October. 

Sports

Xavier Nunez named softball head coach

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Former NECC Baseball Player Xavier Nunez and the current assistant baseball coach under  Jeff Mejia was named the softball head coach earlier this year for the upcoming season in 2022.

Nunez played baseball under coach Mejia from 2016 and 2017 before transferring to New England College in Henniker, N.H.

Nunez as a senior played in 46 games batted .383

He helped the team to earn there first ever conference championship in NECC history and advanced to NCAA Division three tournament where they won the New England Regional championship before losing in the Super Regional.

NECC softball head coach Xavier Nunez Courtesy neccknights.com

“For the past five years he has worked with area softball players through Rams Athletic Complex Softball clings at the North Reading based facility. At the facility he has also conducted private instruction for both softball and baseball. He was two years of club coaching experiencCourtesy neccknights.come as well with both Team Boston and New Hampshire prospects,” According to neccknights.com

Nunez said he thanks Mejia and Blair for this opportunity.

“I’m very proud it is a happy moment definitely in my career. It’s my fist job coaching college sports I been helping Jeff (Mejia) coach the baseball team and I’m happy him and Dan (Blair) were confident me enough to give me this job I’m excited about it and move the program forward,” Nunez said.

Nunez believe he is fully prepared to coach. He also is learning more thinking every day that it will help him to be a better coach than what he already is.

Coach Nunez also announced when tryouts can possible be available for softball players who are interested participating and trying to make the time.

“I will be holding tryouts probably early March to late February you know depending on what we are looking for the number,” he said.

Then how you determine if a players fits well on the team?  “If you can help the team win games you going to be in the team it’s pretty straight forward… I’m not a big favored guy my favorite player is the one that want to be there the most…”

Sports

Track and Field coach looking to recruit for spring

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The NECC Knights Track and Field head coach is Nelson Desilvestre he coaches both men’s and women’s.

He came to NECC in 2017. Before coming over to Northern Essex he was the head coach of Winter track at Manchester-Essex Reginal High School for four season.

According to neccknights.com “Prior to Manchester-Essex, Nelson was the Head Boys Coach at Beverly High School for 18 winter seasons and 17 spring season. He accumulated 214 wins with a .680 winning percentage, and was voted coach of the year on two occasions.”

Desilvestre he has a lot of coaching experience. He has coach more than two decades.

If you still undecided to play Track and Field Desilvestre said it can be a positive experience.

NECC Track and Field both men and women head coach Nelson Desilvestre Courtesy neccknights.com

“It’s a good thing to participate other than just studying we try to have some fun we try to make it entertaining and positive experience so that they will hopefully develop friendship that will last the rest of their lives and memories that can tell their friends and family on the future…” Desilvestre said.

I ask him how it’s different men and women teams.

“Whatever I do with the men I do with the women — the workout is basically the same their designed basically for what ever their ability is so it’s equal opportunity situation everyone is treated the same…” It’s nothing different everything is the same.

Last year it was difficult not having a season in the spring because of the virus, he sad.

“It was extremely difficult I think it hurt us in many ways the kids that wanted to join the time obviously couldn’t… being a community college and only have them for two years… this year it’s basically started from scratch starting from zero…” Desilvestre said.

They are no tryouts if you are interested to join the team you can the more athletes joining the team the better it is. You just need to get an athletic physical form at the sports and fitness building in the Haverhill campus. Athletes that is interested to join can get in touch with the head coach Nelson Desilvestre and the athletic director Dan Blair. This season will start some point on the spring when student return back to class.

Slider, Sports

Controversial call sends it to overtime Knights lost in double overtime

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On Thursday, Nov.23, 6 at p.m. Great Bay Community College visited NECC Knights for a non conference  game at the Sports and Fitness Center at the Haverhill campus. The Knights were 4-3 coming into today’s game with  a two game winning streak.

It was the first and probably the last giveaway of the season. Twenty-five fans in attendance received mullet wigs in honor of Matt D’Amato’s recent brush with viral fame. The video got viral on Instagram SportsCenter, with one commenter calling D’Amato the “The Mullet Mamba.”

They were 197 people in attendance that’s the most fans in attendance at home so far in the 2021-22 season.

Before the game in the tunnel I talked to the coach before the game and I talked to him about the video that went viral on Instagram “I thought it was very interesting that I don’t have social media so it was very intriguing to me. I am still trying to grasp all of this about the viral video about Matt and his haircut. It is funny that you mentioned that Matt asked me at the beginning of the year before our first game, he asked if I wanted him to cut his hair and I said absolutely not. As long as he keeps on the ball on the basket I don’t care what he wore for a haircut,” Stratton said.

Matt D’Amato and Jaleek Urena was in a minute restriction as they don’t want to push them to much as they re progressing coming off from a injury little by little. Jaleek  missed six games while Matt missed four games heading into the game against Great Bay.

Mehmet Asik was ready for the road trip as he was battling an illness. He played against Eastern Nazarene JV and University of Connecticut at Avery Point on the road trip. “Mehmet is just working his way back and still doesn’t have his conditioning as you’ll see tonight, we been trying to put him on  a minute restriction, increasing his minutes game by game. I was forced last game against UConn Avery Point to play him a little bit longer just because we had six game out… so he was forced to play a little bit longer…” Stratton said.

Knights in a classic game against Great Bay Community College Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

During the game in the first period Knights started off strong. They were rhythm, everything was going in their  favor as they started the game with 14-4 run. They were in the row throw line early on and they were making their shot.

Halfway in the first period Knights that’s when the Knights were not starting to play as aggressive as they were in the beginning.

“I feel we got less discipline on defense we weren’t executed as well on offense like we wanted to. We were rushing stuff but few adjustment I feel we going to work on it in practice tomorrow…” said Jasjit Banwait of Malton, Ontario.

Knights were leading 35-30 at the half despite almost blowing 14-4 lead to begin the game.

The momentum at the end of the first period carried on to the second period. They weren’t aggressive “Is laziness playing simple was laziness we came out fouling reaching doing the things we not supposed to do and put our self in bad predicaments and it showed tonight,” Stratton said.

That’s one of the reason that cost the Knights the game  and the referee’s controversial call that blew the Knights there 3 straight win of the season. At the buzzer the referee called a foul on Mehmet Asik of Ankira, Turkey with the Knights up 66-64.

Coach Stratton motivating his player’s during the final three minutes of the second period. Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

Ethan May of Great Bay Community College needed to make at least two of the three free throw to guaranteed an overtime and if they made all three in the Knights lost.  He made the first two in then Coach Stratton called a time out with the game tied at 66 with one shot remaining. For May this would determine if the game went to overtime, or the Knights were going to lose and the game went to overtime as May missed the last free throw.

The game went to overtime tied at 66. It was a classic game at the Sports and Fitness Center but only one can become victories.

In overtime it is five minutes opposed to the regular 20 minutes for each period on the first and in the second period. Both teams scored 5 points  which tied at 71 heading to the second overtime.

That’s when Great Bay exploded in the second overtime. They outscored the Knights 12-1 and it was enough to defeat the Knights 83 to 72.

Coach Stratton post game commented on the controversial call to send the game to overtime at the end of the second period. “I think it was a controversial call but I am not going to blame an official because it was a judgement call. They get paid to do you know basically to rule judgement. I haven’t look at the film I’m not going to blame the official because that was one position… so in a game there so many possessions,  that game shouldn’t come down to that call.  Basically we should’ve won in many possessions during the game that it didn’t get us to that point..”

We also learned that Philip Cunningham of Haverhill didn’t play tonight. He is out with an injury but he was on bench without his uniform on and Christian Kinsely of Lawrence he is sick.

Sports

Knights dealing with injuries face tough lost at home

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On Veterans Day, Thursday Nov.11, the NECC Knights faced Southern Maine Community College.

They didn’t have a big crowd in hand like the past two home games, Ninety-nine people were in attendance to watch the game at the Sports and Fitness Center.

Before the game I had a chance to talk with the head coach to give me an injury update.

This team is currently dealing with several players who are injured early on in the season.

” I want to say probably couple of weeks away Matt (D’Amoto) comeback he has a high ankle sprain that he is receiving treatment for. Jaleek (Urena) he has a groin injury that has been hampering him right after the first game so we basically shut him down until November 20 and then we test him out. Matt will live in week by week I imagine his  2 to 3 weeks out… and we dealing a issue with Mehmet (Asik)… he has been battling with an illness,…” Stratton said.

The first half Southern Maine were leading 34-22 at the half.

Knights in action against Southern Maine Community College on Veterans Day. Photo by Jose Rodriguez, Sports Editor

Overall, the Knights did not have a good game at all and could not keep up the momentum from their last game. Overall, the Knights were shooting 18.8% from the three-point line and a 41.9% from the free throw line. They were outscored.

Southern Maine was taking advantage of the chances that the Knights did not capitalize on and they made them pay for it.

The second half, that is when the game got out of hand, and they were no shot for the Knights to come back. Southern Main outscored them 56-36 in the second half. It was enough to defeat the Knights 90 to 54.

As a result, the Knights suffered their first loss of the season at home during the 2021-2022 season. During the post-game the assistant head coach Joe told me it was going to be hard for me to get an interview with the coach but I can try. Another of his assistant head coach was trying to get a few players for me and it didn’t work out.

The team was frustrated, and I understand why. They lost by 36 points on their home court.

Immediately after Coach Stratton talked to his players in the locker room he went to his office and checked his email.

None of the players wanted to talk to me.

The Knights will go on the road to play against Eastern Nazarene JV on Nov. 17 at 7 PM and on Nov. 20 it will be the second division conference game of the season. They will host University of Connecticut at Avery Point. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 PM.