READING — Replacing a local legend is never easy, but new Reading High girls’ swimming coach Lianne Bradley is certainly up to the challenge.

STONEHAM — Four of the last five years, the Woburn High girls' hockey team has concluded its season as tournament champions, which is a remarkable run.

BURLINGTON — In a game that became an instant classic, the Burlington girls basketball team outlasted Arlington, 43-40, in the Middlesex League playoff final on Saturday morning at Vanella Gym.

WATERTOWN — Perhaps the best thing to come out of the covid season is the Middlesex League playoffs, at least the teams that won a game think so.

WOBURN — On Friday afternoon, the Reading High boys hockey team thought its season was over and Winchester thought it was going to play Belmont in the Middlesex League tournament championship game on Saturday.

WOBURN — The Burlington High boys' hockey team pulled off a first-round surprise in the Middlesex League playoffs, knocking off top seed and Middlesex League Liberty champion Woburn, 4-1, Wednesday at O'Brien Rink.

BURLINGTON — After a scoreless first half of hockey, the Burlington girls hockey team exploded for five second-half goals en route to a 5-1 victory over Reading on Wednesday night in the first round of the Middlesex League playoffs at the Burlington Ice Palace.

WINCHESTER — The Woburn High boys' basketball team had an unfortunate draw in the Middlesex League playoffs of having to face the same Winchester team that just won its first Middlesex League title, including two wins over the Tanners over the long weekend.

Winchester’s fine season continued on Thursday as the Liberty Division champions held off Reading, 50-42, in the semifinals of the Middlesex League boys basketball playoffs.

WOBURN — The Woburn High girls hockey team continues to impress as it moves on to the Middlesex League finals with a solid 6-1 team win over Burlington.

There may not be an MIAA tournament but the Reading and Burlington High boys basketball teams nevertheless locked up in a tournament-like game.

Taking a cue from what a few leagues did in the fall to cap off that season, the Middlesex League is holding a first-ever playoffs beginning Wednesday and that is creating a nice buzz to finish this pandemic season that has been like no other before.

WOBURN — Two days after Woburn came back to defeat the Winchester High boys hockey team, Winchester flipped the script on the Tanners, posting a 3-1 victory on Monday at O’Brien Rink.

A furious fourth-quarter rally helped the Reading High boys basketball team rally back from a nine-point deficit after three to take the lead, and pull away in the final minutes to come away with a 49-43 victory over Lexington at Hawkes Field House on Monday afternoon.

WINCHESTER — The Winchester High boys’ basketball team made it official; the 2021 squad is the first to win a Middlesex League title of any kind since 1974.

In an unusual rubber match during a regular season, the Woburn High girls' basketball team continued the trend of home teams winning as it edged Belmont, 47-45, last night at Torrice Gym.

READING — After settling for a tie against Arlington last week, the Reading High girls hockey team suffered a tough loss this time around.

The Woburn High girls' hockey team exploded with four goals in a four-minute span of the first period, paving the way for a 5-1 victory over Belmont, last night at O'Brien Rink.

BELMONT — The Woburn High boys' hockey team suffered its first loss of the season when Belmont avenged its loss from the first game between the two teams with a 3-1 decision, last night at Viglirolo Rink.

WOBURN — The Woburn High boys’ basketball team continues to thrive on its home court. The Tanners took control against Belmont in the second quarter and then waltzed to a 64-47 victory, Saturday afternoon at Torrice Gym.

READING — An impressive comeback bid helped the Reading High boys basketball team rally back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to take a two-point lead.

The Woburn High boys' hockey team moved two points closer to claiming the Middlesex League Liberty Division title with an impressive, 3-0 shutout of Belmont, Wednesday afternoon at O'Brien Rink.

READING — Still on the hunt for its first win of the season, the Reading High boys hockey team got it done in a big way against Arlington.

BELMONT — The Woburn High girls' hockey team scored three times in the first half, putting the Tanners well on their way to a 4-0 victory over Belmont, Wednesday night, at Viglirolo Rink.

A Reading resident for almost 20 years, Rob DiLoreto was never that far removed from Everett — both logistically and in his heart.

WOBURN — The Woburn High girls' basketball team rebounded from a sluggish first half to blitz Lexington in the second half, on its way to a 68-46 victory, Saturday at Torrice Gym.

READING — Just when it appeared the Reading High boys basketball team was about to blow a big lead and lose a second straight game, some big shots and plays in the waning minutes helped the Rockets regain the lead, and hold on at the end for a very impressive win.

WAKEFIELD — A valiant comeback in the fourth quarter by the Burlington High boys basketball team managed to force two overtimes, but ultimately Wakefield used a big advantage from the free throw line to come away with a 89-86 victory over Burlington at Charbonneau Field House yesterday.

WINCHESTER — Winchester High is among those high school, collegiate and professional athletic programs changing their “nicknames” and mascots to promote equality and social justice reforms.

READING — Led by sophomore Sophia Isbell’s dominant performance in the all-around competition, the Reading High Gymnastics team earned its first win of the season.

WOBURN — The Woburn High girls' basketball team made an incredible turnaround on Saturday afternoon against Middlesex League Liberty rival Belmont.

WOBURN — The Woburn High boys’ basketball team gave a glimpse of how good it can be when the offense is flowing, as was the case, Saturday afternoon, when the Tanners blew past Lexington, 82-61, at Torrice Gym.

BELMONT — For three quarters the Reading High boys basketball team not only competed against one of the league’s best squads, but was leading for most of that time. But ultimately the Rockets didn’t have enough firepower to finish the job, and lost their lead and the decision in the final minutes.

By MARK NADEAU

The Reading High boys hockey team was on the hunt for its first win of the young season, but ran into a tough Belmont team in the process.

READING — In a close battle throughout that could have gone either way, it was the Reading High boys basketball team that persevered through some rough stretches, and hit just enough shots down the stretch to come out on top.

READING — In the second meeting of the young season between the Reading and Woburn girls hockey teams, it was the Tanners that got the upper hand again.

WOBURN — After an expected sluggish first game performance by the Reading boys hockey team a week ago in a loss to Woburn at Burbank, the Rockets looked to be headed to a similar fate on Monday.

READING — The Reading High boys hockey team’s return to the ice was spoiled by a red-hot Woburn team that came into town.

The Reading High gymnastics team’s drive for their fifth consecutive Middlesex League title quickly came to a crashing halt.

On and off the ice Cassandra Connolly has been a leader for over a decade. After being a key asset for the Woburn High girls’ hockey team during the early-2010s, then as an assistant coach with the Stoneham/Melrose girls hockey team, Connolly, at age 25, is now a first-year head coach of “St…