Prep starts fast, beats Arlington

SCHOOLS

The St. John’s Prep basketball team had the size advantage, and the Eagles took advantage of it right away.

Along with some stingy defense and quick baskets, the Prep took down nonleague visitor Arlington, 66-45, yesterday in Danvers.

“I thought we got out to a fast start and it sort of just snowballed from there,” said Prep coach John Dullea.

Senior Tommy O’Neil scored 10 points in the first quarter to help the Eagles (5-1) build a 28-9 lead.

“Tommy most games is going to have a height advantage,” Dullea said of his 6-foot-7 forward, who finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. “He has been fantastic for us all year. Tommy was typical Tommy for us today.”

After O’Neil shined in the first quarter, sophomore Jarnel Snow-Guzman put on a show in the second with eight of his 16 points in the frame, including a 3-pointer for the Eagles’ final points of a dominant half as the hosts carried a 42-19 lead into intermission.

Arlington (5-2) had eight turnovers in the first half and made just three field goals in the second quarter.

In the second half, both teams combined for 19 turnovers as the Spy Ponders cut the deficit to 54-37 with a three-point play off a steal by junior Nicholas Karalis. But a big quarter by Prep sophomore Liam Dunfee (eight points) in the fourth put the game away.

In the Dual County Large, PJ Crann and Robbie Hudson combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds as Westford Academy (4-4) beat Lincoln Sudbury, 60-53.

Girls basketball

Alle Purcell netted 14 points as Wakefield (7-0) defeated Watertown, 61-22, in the Middlesex League.

Caroline Stover posted 23 points and 14 rebounds to guide Cardinal Spellman (4-3) to a 56-46 win over Austin Prep in the Catholic Central League.

In a nonleague tilt, Anna Shaughnessy piled up 23 points and 14 rebounds as Bishop Feehan (4-2) earned a 56-36 victory over Bishop Guertin.