BCAT News

The regular season has officially wrapped up for Burlington High School athletics, and several teams will begin their postseason journeys next week. Here’s a look at the latest.

GIRLS B-BALL FINISHES REGULAR SEASON STRONG, COMPETES IN SPARTANS CLASSIC
The Burlington High School girls varsity basketball team won two games last week finishing the regular season with a six game win streak. They defeated the Stoneham Spartans 40 to 30 on the road last Tuesday night. Junior Erin Reilly led the way with 14 points, while sophomore Zarah Ochi added 13.

Their last regular season game was senior night, ending with 51 to 46 victory against Watertown. Seniors Ava Sicari and Briana Thomas led the way with 13 and 12 points respectively. Junior Erin Reilly added 10, and sophomore Alex Gill finished with 9. You can check out the full senior night festivities video below.

In the Middlesex League Freedom standings Watertown finished first at 11 and 7, with Burlington in second at 11 and 9 and the Wilmington Wildcats placed third at 8 and 12. Several athletes from the girls team were recognized by the Middlesex League for their performances. Senior Ava Sicari, junior Erin Reilly, and sophomore Zarah Ochi were all named 2026 Middlesex League All-Stars. 

In the Division 2 MIAA Power Rankings, the Devils are ranked 29th out of 62 teams in the Division 2 MIAA Power Rankings. The Division 2 playoff bracket will be released Saturday on the MIAA website.

Burlington will now prepare for the postseason with a pair of non-league scrimmages, traveling to face the 15 and 4 Billerica Indians on Friday before returning home to take on the 14 and 5 Westford Academy Ghosts next Sunday.

In a non-league tournament, Burlington competed in the Spartans Classic tournament, losing to Central Catholic in the first round 70 to 34. In the consolation game, they lost to Acton-Boxborough by a score of 53 to 39. Sicari recorded a career-high 23 points in the contest, while Ochi added 6.

SENIOR NIGHT FOR DEVILS BASKETBALL

BOYS B-BALL FINISHES REGULAR SEASON ON TOP OF FREEDOM DIVISION
The Burlington High School boys varsity basketball team closed out the regular season with two wins, riding a twelve game winning streak. The Red Devils defeated the Stoneham Spartans on the road 64 to 53 last Tuesday after erasing an eight-point deficit in the second half. Seniors Matt Gray led the way with 20 points, Ryan Ellis and Cole Shannon each added 11, while Charlie Poehler and Justin Gray finished with 8 points each.

They closed out the regular season with a 68 to 54 victory on senior night at home against Watertown last Thursday.  Seniors Charlie Poehler and Matt Gray each scored 21 points, while Ryan Ellis added 11.

Burlington, which had already clinched the Middlesex League Freedom Division title, remains in first place at 16 and 2. Several athletes from the boys team were recognized by the Middlesex League for their performances. Charlie Poehler, Cole Shannon, and Matt Gray were selected as All-Stars for the boys team. Gray also earned Freedom Division MVP honors and was named to the Middlesex League All-Conference team.

In the MIAA Division 2 Power Rankings, the team is ranked 7th out of 59 teams. The Division 2 playoff bracket will be released Saturday on the MIAA website.

The Devils then turned their attention to the Lexington Boys Basketball February Invitational, a non-league tournament on the road this week. Burlington defeated the Westford Academy Ghosts 71 to 38 in the opening round on Presidents’ Day. Matt Gray scored 23 points, junior Leon Ssekandi added 11, and Poehler added 11 as well. Burlington will face the Lexington Minutemen in the tournament finals on Wednesday evening. Lexington advanced after a 75 to 61 win over the Lowell Red Raiders.

GIRLS HOCKEY WIN FIFTH GAME ON THE ROAD
The Burlington High School girls varsity hockey team wrapped up the regular season with two games last week. 

The Red Devils hosted the Malden Catholic Lancers last Wednesday and were defeated 7 to 2. Seventh grader Olivia Steiner scored her first career varsity goal, and freshman Sofia Cleary added the other goal for Burlington.

On Valentine’s Day, the Devils traveled to face the Stoneham Spartans and earned their fifth win of the season with a 4 to 0 shutout. Junior Emma Steiner scored twice, while Cleary and junior Shayla Kocur each added a goal.

Burlington finished third in the Freedom League with a 5 and 13 record. The Wakefield Warriors finished first at 12 and 6, followed by the Melrose Red Hawks at 10, 8 and 1.

In the Division 2 MIAA Power Rankings, Burlington is 23rd out of 34 teams.  Click here for the full list. 

This week the Devils competed in the Lobster Pot Tournament at Falmouth Ice Arena. In the opening round, Burlington was defeated 3 to 1 by the Falmouth Clippers, with Kocur scoring the team’s lone goal. The Devils game against the La Salle Academy Rams in the consolation round was canceled. They will be on the road on Thursday afternoon to compete in a non-league game against the 7,8 and 3 Central Catholic Raiders. 

BOYS HOCKEY FINISHES REGULAR SEASON, COMPETE IN CAHOON TOURNEY
The Burlington High School boys ice hockey team closed out the regular season last week with matchups against the Wilmington Wildcats and the Stoneham Spartans.

The Devils hosted Wilmington last Wednesday and were defeated 3 to 1. Sophomore Nick Tulipano scored Burlington’s lone goal.

On Valentine’s Day, Burlington traveled to face Stoneham and was defeated 5 to 2. Sophomore Michael Bannister scored his first career varsity goal, while Tulipano added another goal for the Devils.

Burlington had already clinched first place in the Freedom League and finished the regular season at 13, 5 and 1. The Stoneham Spartans finished second at 12 and 7, followed by the Wilmington Wildcats at 11, 7 and 1.

In the Division 2 MIAA Power Rankings, they are ranked 4th out of 38 teams. Click here for the full list. 

On Presidents Day, the Devils competed in the annual Ed Cahoon Tournament at the Burlington Ice Palace, opening against the Framingham Flyers. Burlington fell behind 3 to 0 after the first period and trailed 6 to 1 after two periods. The Devils scored three times in the third period but were unable to complete the comeback in a 6 to 4 final. Sophomore Nick Tulipano scored two goals, junior Aiden Scalia and sophomore Jake Robitaille each added one.

Burlington will face Medford in the consolation round of the Cahoon Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

WRESTLING COMPETE AT SECTIONALS
The Burlington Red Devils wrestling team finished 6th out of 13 teams at the Division 2 North Sectionals this past weekend. 

Wrestling Team Shines at Sectionals – Photo Courtesy of Paul Shvartsman

Sophomore Max Shvartsman captured the 106-pound sectional title, becoming the first Burlington wrestler to win a sectional championship since Ronan Noke and Timmy Vadnais did so in 2022. Shvartsman was dominant throughout the tournament, pinning his first three opponents in the first period. In the finals, he earned a win over Cruz Ruggerio of the Reading Rockets to secure the title.

At 165 pounds, Cameron Bonnell advanced to the finals before falling in a tightly contested 6 to 5 double-overtime match against Cesar Cruz, finishing as sectional runner-up.

Burlington also had three wrestlers qualify for the state tournament with fourth-place finishes Connor McElroy at 150 pounds, Davi Tonani at 157 pounds and Josh Leavitt at 215 pounds. 

Jordan Ho finished fifth at 120 pounds, while David Vahovskiy at 132 pounds and Lukas Abreu at 138 pounds each placed sixth. 

With one sectional champion and several state qualifiers, the Red Devils now shift their focus to the Division 2 State Tournament this coming weekend.

INDOOR TRACK AT RISING CHAMPIONSHIP & DIVISION 3 MEET CHAMPIONSHIP 
Junior Piyush Mohanty and sophomore William Cline represented Burlington at the MSTCA Rising Championship last Tuesday.

Cline placed 29th in the 600 meters with a time of 1:39, setting a personal record. Mohanty finished 23rd in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:09.

Both the girls and boys teams also competed at the MIAA Division 3 Championship last Thursday.

The girls 4×400 relay team placed fourth with a time of 4:17. Junior Ava Eldridge finished seventh in the 2 mile with a time of 12:08, also setting a personal record.

Junior Perkins Augustin placed second in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 5 inches, earning a personal record. Junior Shane Sheehan finished third in the shot put at 20 feet, 9 inches.

For the full results click here. 

JR. SHAY WOODBURY BREAKS 30-YEAR-OLD RECORD AT STATES 
Burlington junior Shay Woodbury added another milestone to his standout season at the state championship meet. Woodbury placed seventh in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.75, setting a new school record and breaking the previous mark of 49.88 that had stood for 30 years. He also placed sixth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.18. Woodbury caps off the season with multiple new school records and another strong performance on the state stage. Congratulations to Shay on an impressive year in the pool.

GYMNASTIC STARS QUALIFY FOR SECTIONALS AND STATES
The Burlington High School girls gymnastics team competed at the Middlesex League Freedom League Meet, finishing fourth with a team score of 134.2. Hana Ly led the way for the Devils, scoring a 9.1 on vault, an 8.8 on bars, and a 9.3 on floor exercise. Yuvethi Kannan posted an 8.7 on the balance beam. Ly and Kannan both qualified for sectionals and the state meet with their performances.