The boys’ hockey team ended its playoff run and also a strong season this week after losing to Ashland 4-0 shutout in the first round of the division 3 south sectionals Thursday.

The 8th-seeded Vineyarders (12-6-3) held their own against the ninth-seeded Clockers (13-5-3) in a scoreless first period, but less than a minute into the second period Ashland offensive standout Brian Gazard put the puck over Vineyard goalie Mike Metcalf’s right shoulder to make it 1-0. A few minutes later, Ashland forward Matt Milko tacked on another goal on his way to a hat trick.

“There were some jitters. It’s a big stage,” said coach Matt Mincone. “We were just chasing the puck and not getting to it first.”

A missed power play opportunity by the Vineyard and errant shots at the Ashland goalie extended the scoring drought into the third period. Senior goalie Mike Metcalf gave the Vineyard a fighting chance at a comeback until Milko put the game away with a pair of goals for a final score of 4-0 at the buzzer.

“They were one of the top teams we faced all year,” said Mr. Mincone. “Whenever we felt we had some good pressure going, it ended. We were just a half a step behind the whole game.”

Coach Mincone pointed to Metcalf as the player of the game, calling his 20-save effort one of his all-time best performances.

“Mike Metcalf had the game of his career. He kept us in it. He owned his space,” he said.

He also praised the growth and leadership of seniors Hunter Ponte, Colin Henke, Willson Slayton, Sean Hegarty, Ian Trance and Metcalf for giving the team a shot at a playoff run this year and making his 21st season as coach one of his most fulfilling.

“The work ethic of that group I would match up to any senior class I’ve ever had,” he said.

The coach also said the future is bright for the boys hockey program after a number of rebuilding years.

“We’re back,” he said. “There’s some buzz about hockey again. That’s reassuring going forward.”

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The boys basketball team struggled to find a footing in the sectional quarterfinals Friday, falling to powerhouse Bishop Stang 69-49.

The second-seeded Spartans outscored the 10th-seeded Vineyarders 20-4 in the first quarter before a sold-out and loud Spartan crowd. Stang’s full-court pressure defense frustrated the Vineyard offense into sloppy passes that were stolen for breakaway points. By the end of the game, the Vineyarders had given the ball away 31 times.

“Our youth and inexperience showed up big,” said coach Mike Joyce. “Our kids were way too nerved up. We just didn’t take care of the ball.”

The Vineyard found momentum in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 14 at the half. A four-point play at the start of the third quarter by Aiden Araujo made it a 10-point game, but that was the closest the Vineyard would come.

Solon Oliver and Aidan Rogers tied for nine points each, followed by Araujo with seven and senior captain Sam Wallace with six.

Coach Joyce called it a disappointing finish for a talented squad that came back from a two-win season last year to win 12 games this year — including his 200th in 16 seasons as head coach —  and qualify for the tournament. He credited the leadership of seniors including Wallace, Matt Morris, Talon Rusillo, Dylan Dyke and Owen Porterfield.

“For them, it hits home when that final buzzer comes, but they did a great job this year,” the coach said.

“It was a great experience for the younger guys to be in that environment,” he also said. “Hopefully they learn from it and next year when they’re in that situation, they’ll do what they’re capable of.”

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Last but not least, senior Mackenzie Condon closed out her high school indoor track career Saturday by finishing 10th in the 55-meter hurdles at the New England championships at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

Condon’s appearance at the meet was the first for a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School indoor track athlete. She entered the meet with a personal record of 8.58 seconds and was seeded 12th in the pack of 36 runners. Her time of 8.68 seconds wasn’t quick enough to qualify her for nationals, but she said she was proud to finish in the top 10 against the best female hurdlers from across the region.

“I was happy to be there and to run decently fast. I really just wanted to run a good race for me,” she said.

Condon credited head coach Joe Schroeder and assistant coach Joel Graves for training and preparing her all season to compete on the highest level. She said while many of her classmates were on vacation over the past week, she was on the track each day honing her skills so she could give the best performance possible in front of a huge audience Saturday.

“It was an exciting way to cap off my indoor career,” she said.

Condon said her next focus is to make it back to the New England championships in outdoor track this spring for the 400-meter hurdles, a race she said is more her style. Last year, she made it to the national meet in the event, placing 16th overall.