Region's Teams Ranked Among State's Best

In our weekly look at media outlets' Top 25 lists, there are several teams in the region making an appearance.

Editor's Note: The following story is published in Burlington, Woburn, Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, Tewksbury, Westford and Chelmsford as they are the towns currently included in Patch's region of sports coverage. It's one of the most wonderful times of the year. It's playoff time for high school teams across the region. While track, swimming, wrestling and cheerleading teams have already found success in their postseason competitions, area basketball and hockey teams are just about to begin their own playoffs this week. But before the brackets get underway, we look back at the most recent rankings that were compiled by various media outlets in the area. Boys Basketball In our last version of the rankings roundup, Division 3 North …

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Reading Gets Revenge, Beats Tewksbury, 42-6

Tewksbury failed to upset Reading for the second consecutive year in the Division 2 Semifinal game.

In a rematch of last year’s Eastern Mass. Division 2 Semifinal, the Reading High Rockets got their revenge over Tewksbury with a 42-6 dismantling of the Redmen at Reading High last night. “We definitely had revenge on our mind this year and we were clicking on all cylinders,” said Reading quarterback Drew Belcher, whose incredible night led the Rockets to improve to 12-0 on the season. Belcher completed nine passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, and rushed nine times for 105 yards and four touchdowns. “We worked all offseason to come back and make it to this game,” said receiver Ryan Maney. “They pretty much beat our butt last year,” said the Gronk-like pass catcher who hauled in five catches for 87 yards and had a 61-yard rushing …

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UPDATED: 'Rampage Ed' Leads Redmen Into Playoffs

Eddie Matovu and the Redmen are one win away from playing in a second consecutive Super Bowl.

Bill Belichick would love Eddie Matovu. The kid plays offense, defense, and special teams, and has become one of the best playmakers on a Tewksbury High football team that’s on the last leg of a special season. Born in Uganda, the 6-foot-1, 195 lb. Matovu helped Tewksbury beat Wilmington 18-6 in the 78th Thanksgiving Day meeting between the Redmen and Wildcats. “This was our biggest game of the year,” Matvou said after the game. “It’s great to go home on Thanksgiving with a win." Tewksbury, elated to have a healthy Matovu during the home-stretch, will try to go back to the Division 2 Super Bowl when they face Reading High (11-0) in a playoff rematch on Tuesday. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. at Reading High. Matovu’s skill set has been …

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Redmen Win Fourth Straight, 35-21 Over Dracut

Tewksbury will travel to Wilmington on Thanksgiving then to Reading for a playoff rematch.

“Respect the ‘T,’” is the slogan that was echoed at Doucette Field on Saturday after Tewksbury High beat Dracut 35-21. Tewksbury ended its MVC Small schedule with a win that set their conference record for 2012 at a healthy 5-0. “Tremendous accomplishment,” said Tewksbury head coach Brian Aylward of the undefeated conference record. “It wasn’t an accomplishment that was done easily. This group has earned every yard that they’ve gotten this year and every win that they’ve gotten.” James Sullivan had a pair of touchdown runs in the win. Eddie Matovu and Tom Casey each had a touchdown run as well, and Johnny Aylward had a 35 yard touchdown pass to Kevin Dick. The Tewksbury offense is racking up yardage, but Aylward and his team have no time …

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Redmen Can't Hold Late Lead In Loss To Billerica, 34-26

Billerica came to Doucette Field and stole a win, dropping Tewksbury to 1-2.

After rallying from an early deficit to take a fourth quarter lead, the Tewksbury High football committed three late turnovers, helping Billerica to a 34-26 victory on Saturday at Doucette Field. “We did some things to get back in the game and then we did some things to let them back in it,” said Redmen head coach Brian Aylward. Junior running back Eddie Matovu provided a spark with two rushing touchdowns despite battling leg cramps throughout the afternoon. “He’s been a workhorse for us,” Aylward said of Matovu. Tewksbury took its only lead of the game when Billerica gambled  and lost late in the third quarter. With the score tied at 20, the Indians went for it on fourth down and two from their own 28 yard line. Junior quarterback Jordan …

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Tewksbury National 11s Fall In State Semifinal

Outstanding post-season run ends with a 6-4 loss to Medford National.

It has been an outstanding tournament run for the Tewksbury National 11-year-old All-Stars, one that has included championships at the district and sectional levels. That run came to an end Wednesday evening at Columbus Park in Medford with a heartbreaking 6-4 loss to Medford National. Tewksbury carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, but a four-run rally by Medford, capped by a three-run homer by Gino DiSimone, put Medford on top for good. For DiSimone, it was his second home run of the game. He got things started for Medford in the bottom of the first, scoring Tony Fiorentine ahead of him on a two-run homer for an early 2-0 lead. Tewksbury struggled against Medford pitcher Aiden Park through the first two innings. Park …

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Who Needs Baseball? Cricket Club Thrives In Tewksbury

Saunders Recreation Complex on Livingston Street is home to the local entry in the 106-year-old Massachusetts Cricket League.

Have you ever driven down Livingston Street on a weekend afternoon and wondered what those 22 men in colorful uniforms are doing? Cricket. It’s the second most popular sport in the world in terms of countries that play it, and Tewksbury happens to be the center of the cricketing universe north of Boston. “Without the town’s support it is not possible to play here,” said Mangesh Rane, an immigrant from India and six-year resident of Tewksbury. “It’s a big achievement to be able to play in the town of Tewksbury,” said Rane, a software engineer.   Rane is president of the Merrimack Valley Cricket Club, a team that plays in the Massachusetts State Cricket League. “We have to thank Mr. Brian Gilbert of the Public Works Department, Mr. Richard …

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The Week in Review

Counting Down The Top 5 Stories Of The Week

Here are the stories that Tewksbury has been reading and talking about over the past seven days.

Here are the Top 5 stories, based on readership and comments. 5. Alleged Drunk Driver Blamed For Closing Main Street 4. Break-in Investigated; Accident Sends Woman To The Hospital 3. Selectmen Won't Schedule Special Town Meeting On Charter Changes ... Yet 2.Redmen Are Super Bowl Bound! [video] Live Blog Info And 8 More Things You Need To Know About The Super Bowl Dragons Live Up To Hype, Scorch Redmen, 35-0 1. Teens Use "Sweet 16" Party To Help Others

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The Week in Review

Counting Down The Top 5 Stories Of The Week

The Top 5 stories, based on readership and interaction, for the week ending Nov. 26.

The Top 5 stories in Tewksbury Patch, based on readership and interaction, for the week of Nov. 20-26. 5. TMHS Seniors -- Out Of The Shadows And Into The Thanksgiving Spotlight 4. Simple Traffic Stop Leads To Multiple Charges 3. 5 Reasons Tewksbury Is Better Than Wilmington 2. Saunders Puts It All Together -- Redmen Win A Thanksgiving Day Thriller 1. Why Couldn't Walmart Open at Midnight?

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Tewksbury Teen Named Athlete Of The Month At Nashoba Tech

Skinner a three-sport star for the Vikings.

(Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Nashoba Tech.) Cameron Skinner of Tewksbury has been named an Athlete of the Month for October at Nashoba Valley Technical High School. Cameron, son of Steve and Kristen Skinner, is a sophomore on the Vikings’ cross-country team. He also plays basketball and baseball. Last year, he was one of seven Nashoba Tech student-athletes selected to attend the Massachusetts Interscholastic Association/Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association Sportsmanship Summit. Cameron is in the Engineering Technology program at Nashoba Tech.

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