Some hadn’t played in years, since they had graduated from the regional high school. Others were still playing in college.

High school winter sports teams took a brief holiday break before resuming play in a flurry of action.

The New England Fishery Management Council delayed a decision yesterday on drastic cuts to the ailing groundfishery, amid impassioned testimony from fishermen who said the deep cuts would spell the end of their livelihood. “[The fishery] has been declared a disaster . . . this will make it a reality,” said Frank Mirarchi, a Scituate draggerman. “This means the boats will fail and the families will fail. This will be the end of an era.”

In what fisheries experts are calling an historic measure to curb overfishing, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted late last week to reduce the fishing of menhaden by 20 per cent in the coming year.

The 20 per cent reduction takes effect July 1, 2013.

The boys’ hockey team kicks off its season this Saturday with a 5 p.m. game against Lowell Catholic. The first 50 fans will receive a free T-shirt.

Boys’ basketball and girls’ hockey also play at home Saturday. Basketball tips off at 4:30 p.m. against Dennis-Yarmouth, while the girls take to the ice against Latin Academy at 1 p.m.

Michael Ferry of West Tisbury and Richard Carlson of Oak Bluffs took top honors at the Rod and Gun Club’s 2012 Black Powder Championship on Sunday, Dec. 9. Mr. Ferry captured the modern firearms title for the third consecutive year; Mr. Carlson was named the winner of the primitive firearms title. Mr. Ferry also came home with a win in the individual bulls-eye competition. Ladi Navratil picked up an individual award in the standing deer event. Dick Carlson won the two timed shot event.