Page 10 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026 RHS PATRIOTS WINTER SPORTS ROUNDUP By Dom Nicastro Revere boys hoop looks to the future, girls track shows promise at pentathlon T he 2025-26 winter season has come to a close, with the future on the minds of the boys basketball team and a final strong performance out of girls track circles. Revere boys hoop lays foundation for 2026-27 T he 2025-26 winter season was a study in growth and grit for the Patriots. Revere fi nished 5-15 overall, but that record hardly tells the full story. Game by game, this was a team that battled — and more often than not, was within striking distance. Six of the Patriots’ losses came by fi ve points or fewer, and aside from a couple of late-season contests, Revere consistently entered the second half with a legitimate chance to win. Senior tri-captains Nick Rupp, Isaiah Llanos and Devin Berry anchored the locker room through the ups and downs. Even when the results didn’t tilt in their favor, they kept the group unifi ed and focused. Berry led the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game and was second in rebounding at 6.4 boards per night, providing a steady offensive presence and interior toughness. Llanos found another gear in the second half of the season, shooting the ball with confi dence and closing his Patriots career in style with a career-high 26-point performance in his fi nal game. Rupp, along with fellow seniors Zaney Kayembe, Jadrian Sanchez, Joseph Carlo and Omar Attabou, gave Revere valuable minutes off the bench and helped shape the team’s identity as one that competed every possession. While the Patriots fell short of their ultimate goal, the experience gained this winter could pay dividends quickly. Sophomore guard Charles Dobre emerged as one of the team’s brightest young pieces, fi nishing second in scoring (12.4 ppg) and leading the team in steals (3.3 per game). His ability to pressure the ball and create transition opportunities changed games. Up front, junior forwards Bryan David, Nathan Brown and Nico Cespedes provided toughness and interior scoring, while junior guards Chris Recinos, Wesley Nunez and Adnane Ammime all showed marked improvement handling pressure and running the offense as the season progressed. Wings Ryan Raduazzo and Lucca Albano contributed with physical defense and timely three-point shooting. There’s more help on the way, too. Matthew Leone, Bryan Galeano, Hanley Aristhene and Gio Quintana are among the underclassmen poised to compete for varsity roles next season. Head coach David Leary remains optimistic. If this group commits to the off season and avoids the slow start that accompanied this year’s inexperience, the Patriots believe they can snap a three-year drought without a state tournament berth. In the alwayscompetitive Greater Boston League, that climb won’t be easy — but the foundation appears to be forming. Revere girls track shows strong effort O n the track, Revere’s girls program showed resilience and promise at the MSTCA Pentathlon on Feb. 25. Senior captains Dayana Ortega and Basma Sahibi, along with sophomore Zizi Kalliavas, all competed in their fi rst-ever pentathlon — a demanding fi ve-event test that requires speed, strength and endurance. SPORTS | FROM Page 9 italize consistently — particularly from long range.” Yet the fi nal 16 minutes reRevere girls track: Shown from left to right, Lady Pats tracksters Dayana Ortega, Zizi Kalliavas and Basma Sahibi. Ortega led the Patriots contingent, fi nishing 72nd out of 116 athletes with 1,677 total points. Her highlight came in the 55-meter hurdles, where she clocked a personal record of 9.90 seconds — breaking the 10-second barrier that had been her season-long goal. Achieving that mark in her fi nal indoor meet made the moment even sweeter and sets her up well for the outdoor 100-meter hurdles, an event in which she traditionally excels. Kalliavas placed 89th overall with 1,493 points and also delivered a personal best in the hurdles at 10.72 seconds. She added an impressive 13foot, 2.5-inch effort in the long jump — her fi rst time competing in the event — signaling strong potential as she transitions into the outdoor season. Sahibi, despite battling illness and withdrawing before the long jump and 800 meters, still totaled 1,073 points. She nearly matched her personal best in the shotput with a throw of 23 feet, 5 inches, highlighting her strength and determination even under challenging circumstances. For a trio competing in their fi rst pentathlon, the experience alone was valuable. With Ortega and Sahibi set to graduate, Kalliavas and the returning core will look to build on this momentum outdoors. If the indoor fi nale was any indication, Revere’s track athletes are fi nishing strong — and setting the tone for the spring ahead. vealed a group that didn’t fold. The issue was consistency against experienced, battletested opposition. Central Catholic, despite its 8—12 record and No. 30 seed, came from the rugged Merrimack Valley Conference. Revere, while competitive in the GBL, faced a diff erent level of depth nightly. That diff erence showed early. Still, earning a tournament berth as the No. 35 seed represented tangible progress for a roster many projected as transitional As for the bigger picture, the program has now: • Won a share of a league title. • Posted three consecutive winning or near-winning seasons. • Qualifi ed for three straight Division 1 tournaments under Coach Rivera, which no other Revere winter team can claim in that run. • Integrated underclassmen into major roles. This year’s loss to Central Catholic stung. But it also framed what’s next. Shayna Smith’s leadership anchored this group, but the foundation moving forward rests with the underclassmen who logged heavy minutes — players who have now experienced playoff pressure twice. “Shayna was a varsity player for all four years and one of our strongest competitors,” Lake said. “As a freshman, she was immediately placed in the post, facing talented and experienced opponents. Over time, she worked relentlessly to become a consistent starter and a dominant presence in the paint. Her physicality and toughness were key assets for our team.” Beyond Smith, the rest of the senior class helped shape the program in quieter but meaningful ways, each leaving a distinct imprint on this year’s team culture and identity. • Sonia Haily — A steady and vocal leader, Haily set the tone in practice huddles and halftime discussions and kept teammates connected with encouraging messages throughout the season. Even after a knee injury ended her year early, she remained fully present, attending every game and practice while bringing energy and visible support from the bench. • Sara Sbai — Sbai’s four-year progression stood out. She developed from a fundamentals-focused freshman into a composed varsity contributor who embraced big minutes, attacked the basket with confi dence and consistently played with hustle under pressure. • Zohra Benkreira — Benkreira’s infl uence extended beyond the stat sheet. She took initiative in promoting the program, helping organize fundraising eff orts and increasing visibility for RHS girls basketball, reinforcing a strong sense of team community. • Asmaa Azeroual — Though her time in the program was shorter than some of her classmates, Azeroual steadily improved her game and approached the season with determination and positivity, earning respect through her work ethic. The last three tournament exits have followed a similar pattern: early deficit, opponent run, uphill climb. Breaking that cycle will be the next benchmark. “Looking ahead to next season, we have some really solid returners that are on the younger side,” Lake said. “They gained valuable experience this year and will be great getting to continue to develop their skills. They were mainly the reason we were consistently a tougher defensive team this year.” The foundation of the program extends beyond varsity. “The JV team was truly a pleasure to coach this year,” Lake said. “This group brought an incredible passion for learning the game and showed up every single day with a genuine desire to improve. As a coach, eff ort and heart are the most important things I ask for, and this team delivered that every day.”
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