After a shaky start against Sandwich last week, the boys’ varsity basketball team picked up a decisive 69-41 victory over visiting Dennis-Yarmouth Tuesday evening in their home opener.

Senior Navardo Anderson put up 23 points to lead the Vineyard scoring.

“We just took care of the ball,” head coach Mike Joyce said after the game. “We’ve got a lot of skilled guys out there...we’ve just have to hold on to the ball.”

The team scored just eight points in the first quarter but stormed back in the second to notch 27 and take control of the game.

The win was an affirmation for the Vineyarders. In their opening game against Sandwich the team fell 76-57. In that game Senior Deshawn James scored 28 points, but the strong offensive showing could not overcome the 31 turnovers the team allowed.

The boys host Sandwich in a rematch on Monday, Dec. 23. Game time is at 1:30 p.m.

The varsity boys’ hockey team rallied in the final period to defeat Lowell Catholic 3-2, scoring two goals in the final two minutes of the game.

Senior captain Brian Fraser scored all three goals for the team, earning a shower of hats from the large home crowd.

Lowell Catholic jumped on the board in the first period and outshot the Vineyard by three goals, but Fraser evened the game less than a minute into the second period on assists from the Araujo brothers: senior co-captain Tyson and freshman Tristan, making his varsity debut. Lowell Catholic took advantage of a power play to pull ahead before the period ended.

“The first period we chalked up to nerves, the second to a little less nerves,” said assistant coach Max Sherman. “The third period they just played like we knew they could play.”

The Crusaders managed just three shots to the Vineyard’s 14 in the third period as the team settled into its game. With 2:07 left in the game, Fraser scored his second goal on a setup from Tyson Araujo and senior Sam Burke, flipping the puck neatly into the left corner of the net. Eighteen seconds later, Araujo and Fraser connected again, with junior defender Alex Vukota earning an assist as well.

“It comes down to them executing,” Coach Sherman said, noting the senior leadership as well as the strong play of the freshmen newcomers.

Saturday’s game was preceded by a West Tisbury Police color guard ceremony. Joanne Cassidy performed the National Anthem.

The Vineyard swim team kicked off its season last Saturday at the annual Cape Cod Classic on Nantucket, which featured teams from the Bay Colony League. Head coach Jonathan Chatinover reported that several swimmers posted personal best times, including freshman Renee Goodale, who qualified for the state championship with her time in the 200 IM (2:23.42), and for the sectional meet with her time in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.88). Goodale placed 4th and 3rd, respectively, in the events.

Junior Derrick Devine earned a first place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24:87, and freshman Patrick Best took 3rd and 4th, respectively, in the 200 IM (2:20.86) and 100 breaststroke (1:15.88).

The Vineyard relay teams also had good showings, with the boys’ 200 medley (Devine, Best, Liam Cosgrove and Tucker Cosgrove) taking 3rd place and the girls’ 400 freestyle (Goodale, Mariah Campbell, Jessica Sonia and Galya Walt) taking 4th place.

The team hosted Bridgewater on Monday, and will take on league opponent Barnstable on Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. at the YMCA.