RallyNorth.net

Manchester Essex student body showing support for girls hoopsters

Thursday, March, 06 By Matt Langone
Sports editor

It seems as though the Manchester Essex girls basketball team has an unofficial, unspoken deal worked out with their state tournament opponents and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA).

They supply the court and the Hornets will supply the crowd. In their last seven postseason games, the Hornets have played on the road four times and three times on a neutral site. Their record in those games is 6-1, an impressive mark that is aided by the fact that the Hornets bring a large and loyal fan base everywhere they go.

In a sport such as basketball where the home court is thought to be a clear advantage, it's almost blasphemous to think that fans of the home team could be outnumbered. Particularly, considering Manchester Essex has traveled to fairly distant locations this winter such as Lynn and Roxbury.

But road games and neutral sites aren't enough to keep the Manchester Essex faithful, face paint and all, from rooting on their beloved Hornets. In fact, there's a good chance that the Manchester Essex following may grow even larger tomorrow night when the ninth-seeded Hornets (15-8) face No. 3 Mt. Alvernia (17-2) for the Division 4 North title at closer-by Salem State College (6).

"It shows that the students at our school really care how we are doing," said freshman guard Lizzy Ball. "It really helps us step our games up to another level. We want to show the fans how good we are and reward them for showing up."

Thus far, the Manchester Essex student body has definitely been rewarded for their efforts.

The Hornets picked up a 53-43 win on the road at No. 8 Lynn Tech in the first round then added a 68-61 victory over top-seeded New Mission on the Titans home court in Roxbury. In both victories, the crowd was a sea of green and white.

Tuesday night's semifinal victory over No. 5 Fenway at the neutral location of Malden High School, set by the MIAA, was more of the same.

Manchester Essex fans once again showed up in packs and watched the Hornets cruise to a 69-46 win and punch their ticket to the North finals for the second straight year.

"No matter what team is playing from our high school, our students always show up," said Manchester Essex Athletic Director Hardy Nalley. "They are the best fans in the North Shore."

Senior center Dani Ciccone admits that her team's success is related to the support from her schoolmates.

"It means a lot to us, especially because our games are always far away," said Ciccone. "That's the great thing about a small school. I think everyone wants to show school spirit and devotion."

Brian Ciccone, Dani's younger brother, is a center on the Hornets boys basketball team. The boys had a tough winter and failed to make the tourney, but Brian has been amongst the student section at all of the girls tournament contests. He believes there is a purpose being served in the stands.

"Well we (his friends) actually go to every game that we can, it doesn't matter if it's the tourney," said Brian Ciccone, who is a sophomore. "We just try to give them a lift, and I think they feed off our energy."

State title fever is starting to infect everyone at Manchester Essex, as the Hornets are just two wins away from a championship. But when a classmate mentions the possibility of playing in the TD Banknorth Garden for the state title to Ball, she tries not to let the excitement around the school get to her head too much.

"Everyone is talking about it ( a championship)," said Ball. "I just say knock on wood."