RHS Patriots Sports Roundup

Revere winter teams show growth amid tests, tough starts and statement wins

By Dom Nicastro

The winter season continues to test Revere High athletes across multiple fronts. While results have been mixed, Revere teams are showing flashes of growth, resilience, and identity as they navigate young rosters, demanding schedules, and a stretch of games that leaves little room for error.

Coaches across programs continue to emphasize consistency, effort from the opening tip, and learning through competition as the calendar turns toward the heart of the season.

  Boys’ basketball: Slow starts against experienced opponents continue to test young Patriots

The Revere High boys’ basketball team faced a challenging week with back-to-back losses against Chelsea and Malden, both of which exposed a recurring theme the Patriots are working to correct — slow starts against experienced opponents.

Revere came out strong against Chelsea, jumping to an early lead behind baskets from sophomore guard Charles Dobre, junior forward Bryan David, and junior guard Lucca Albano.

However, Chelsea’s experience showed as the Red Devils settled in, regained momentum, and built a halftime lead. Despite a stronger defensive response in the second half and contributions from Dobre, senior center Zaney Kayembe, Bryan David, and junior forward Nathan Brown, Revere was unable to fully close the gap in a 55-50 loss.

Two nights later at Malden, the Patriots again struggled early, falling behind after managing just four points in the opening quarter. While Revere received steady contributions from Devin Berry, Chris Recinos, Bryan David, and Nathan Brown, Malden’s perimeter shooting proved difficult to contain, leading to a 58-41 defeat.

Head coach David Leary pointed to consistency and decision-making as areas of focus for his young team.

“That’s a tough team we just played,” Leary said after the Chelsea game. “We just cannot keep getting off to these slow starts and expect to come all the way back against good teams.”

Following the Malden loss, Leary emphasized the need for sustained effort.

“We are showing signs of improvement at certain things, but it hasn’t been consistent enough to start winning games. We have to do it for 32 minutes,” he said.

Revere now sits at 2-6 on the season and faces a busy stretch with four games in seven days, hosting Northeast Vocational and Everett before road trips to Somerville and Chelmsford.

Girls basketball: defensive pressure and balance fuel back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Malden

The Revere High girls basketball team put together an impressive week, earning convincing wins over Chelsea and Malden while showcasing balance, defensive intensity, and depth.

In a 46-35 win over Chelsea, the Patriots (4-2) spread the offense around and leaned on their bench. Sarah Lechheb led the way with 11 points, including three 3-pointers, while adding four steals. Allyson Ollivierra scored 13 points and recorded five rebounds and five steals. Haley Peralta chipped in eight points and nine rebounds, and captain Shayna Smith anchored the effort with 10 rebounds and four assists.

Revere followed that performance with a dominant 51-34 win over Malden, highlighted by aggressive team defense and multiple scoring contributors. Smith posted 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals, while Ollivierra added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. Lechheb contributed across the board with eight points, six assists, and six steals, and Addison Ulwick added nine points.

Coach Ariana Rivera praised the team’s collective effort, pointing to the defensive presence of Haley Peralta and Rebecca Mercado, strong rebounding from Smith and Ulwick, and the tone set by Lechheb and Ollivierra on both ends of the floor.

Girls indoor track: historic relay performance highlights strong showing at Northeast Invitational

The Revere High girls indoor track team delivered several standout performances at the MSTCA Northeast Invitational from Jan. 9–11, highlighted by a historic relay showing.

Revere’s 4×800-meter relay team posted a time of 10:55.33, the 21st-best mark in Massachusetts this season and the fastest 4×800 run by a Revere squad in 10 years. The relay featured Gemma Stamatopoulos, Olivia Rupp, Rania Hamdani, and Zizi Kalliavas.

Individually, Rupp ran a season-best 5:47.78 in the mile as she continues to return from illness. Stamatopoulos took on multiple events, clearing 4 feet, 8 inches in the high jump and running a 3:20.68 in the 1,000 meters. Junior Emma DaCrosta posted a 17-second personal best in the same event.

Hamdani narrowly missed her lifetime PR in the 300 meters with a 45.97, while Basma Sahibi competed in the 55-meter hurdles, finishing in 11.99 seconds.

The Patriots will next compete at the Division 2 Relays on Sunday, Jan. 17.