Foxboro junior Camryn Collins rises up for a first half jumper in the regular season finale against Oliver Ames. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – For the second time this season, Oliver Ames went into a game against Davenport division champion Foxboro without a pair of its usual starters. In the first meeting, three weeks ago, the Warriors cruised to a 40-point win. On Friday night, things went very differently.
Foxboro jumped out to a 13-point lead at halftime, but rather than let the game get away OA rallied to get as close as two points late in the fourth quarter. It was a rare test for the Warriors, who won 14 of their first 17 games by at least 23 points, but they showed resolve to make enough plays down the stretch and pull out the 58-52 victory.
With the win, Foxboro completed a perfect 16-0 Hockomock League campaign. It was the first time in her 12 years as coach that Lisa Downs had a team run the table in league play.
“I knew we had a lot of potential, but I honestly wasn’t thinking undefeated Hockomock season because each team gets better every time they step on the court and by the time you face a team the second time around, they’re going to have improved,” Downs said. “This group of girls that I have this season, their team chemistry is ridiculously good. They all just want each other to do well.”
OA dropped back to .500 on the season with two games to go, but it was a sign of the progress that a young roster was making under first-year coach Brittany Engle.
“I think it just shows a lot of growth that they were committed to executing the game plan,” Engle explained. “I thought the girls were committed to just playing loose, playing as a team, playing hard, and just everybody being aggressive. I think it was a good team effort.”
Sarah Hilliard was out injured and Kaydance Derba wasn’t able to start for the Tigers, so OA leaned on its bench at the start of the game and they provided a spark of energy that got the visitors off to an 11-4 start.
Annie Reilly and Kamryn Derba both drilled threes and Avery Gamble got out on the break to score two of her five first-quarter points. OA couldn’t have asked for a better start, but the league champs stormed right back.
Foxboro went on an 11-0 run to close out the first and grab the lead. Camryn Collins (20 points and four steals) got the comeback started with a short fall-away jumper and Erin Foley knocked down a jumper after an Ava Hill steal and assist. Collins scored on the break, two of her nine points in the first, and Hill took a nice dish from Kailey Sullivan (14 points) for a layup.
“It’s nice to be able to rely on that,” Downs said about Collins’ production, “and she’s just so athletic that defensively I can put her on whoever got hot that night. She’s just Miss Reliable.”
Momentum carried over to the second, as Foxboro would score 22 points and open up a double-digit advantage. Six Warriors scored in the quarter to help push the lead.
Kamryn Derba (18 points and six rebounds) hit a deep three and Reilly (14 points and six rebounds) drove to the basket to cut the Foxboro lead to 26-22, but the Warriors would go on an 11-2 run to close the half. Collins got that run started with a straightaway three. Addie Ruter (eight points and six rebounds) got a pair of scores in the paint and Foley got a layup after a Collins steal.
Sullivan added a transition bucket to close out the half for Foxboro. Derba would make a late free throw to cut the lead to 13 at halftime, but it looked like the Warriors were on the brink of putting the game away, Instead, OA came storming back in the third.
“We talked about mental toughness,” Engle said. “Especially with a young team, a couple mistakes in a row or a couple calls that don’t go your way and that starts getting in their heads and momentum swings. We’re always talking about next play, next play, next play and chipping away. I thought that was their best job at bouncing back.”
The Tigers put together a 16-6 run. Maddie Homer (seven points) drained a corner three that got the visiting bench going and Reilly continued to make plays on both ends of the floor. She scored on a put-back and took a nice pass from Katherine Farley for a layup in traffic. Homer hit another jumper and Derba knocked down a deep three and it was suddenly 43-40.
“Annie Reilly was huge tonight,” Engle said. “She really looked to attack. She always does the little things. She has great instincts, she hustles, and she makes all those right plays, but she doesn’t usually look for her offense. I’m so proud of Annie, she was huge tonight.”
As they had all night, the Warriors closed the quarter well. Hill continued to make big plays, as she sliced through the lane to finish, plus the foul, to stem the OA tide. She finished with seven points, five rebounds, and three steals off the Foxboro bench. Isabelle Chamberlin chipped in on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds, as the Warriors got big contributions from role players.
OA trailed 48-40 going into the fourth and once again, the Tigers rallied. Derba hit a short, pull-up jumper in transition then Homer made a baseline drive and nice dish to Maeve Horsman, who was cutting down the lane. After another Derba pull-up on the break, OA cut the lead to just two.
Engle said of Derba, “She’s just such a competitor that at the end of the day she wants to win. We need to find the best shot and if it’s a rhythm three then it’s a three or if she can beat her player off the dribble and take the floater then that’s the best shot. Her shot selection is getting better and she’s being aggressive and that makes our team better.”
Sullivan was able to get loose for a layup, but then Homer slipped behind the Foxboro press to answer right back for two. After Sullivan hit a pair at the line with 4:06 to go, Chamberlin banked in a rare jumper to push the lead back to six. OA kept battling and Kaydance Derba hit two-of-three at the line to make it 56-52.
The Tigers got a big stop at the other end, but Sullivan, who had a rough shooting night, read the outlet pass, picking it off and then making the tough finish over Derba at the basket to effectively seal the victory.
“That was huge,” Downs said. “I always have to remind myself that she’s a sophomore. I always picture her as a senior because I feel like I’ve had her forever. She wants the ball in the end-of-game situation like that. It’s pretty rare for a sophomore to have ice in her veins like that.”
She added, “Our defensive rotation wasn’t working well and we made some adjustments and they did what they needed to do. We did enough to get by and beat a team that gave us a much harder game than the first time around.”
Foxboro (17-1) will close out the regular season with the Warriors Classic, starting with Tewksbury on Monday. On Saturday, Oliver Ames (9-9) heads to St. Mary’s (Lynn) to face Dartmouth in the opener of that end-of-season tournament.
Stoughton, 60 @ Franklin, 71 – Final – Franklin set the tone early with a suffocating defensive effort and junior Andrew Benoit gave the Panthers an early boost in a win over visiting Stoughton. Benoit scored five of his career-high 13 points in the opening quarter, Ben Harvey added seven of his 11 points in the frame, and Geino Scaringello (12 points) hit a pair of triples as Franklin established an early lead (20-3) after a quarter. Justin Allen scored all of his team-high 14 points in the second half while Sean O’Leary scored all 13 of his points in the second and third quarters. Elijah Connor led the Black Knights with 14 points while Obi Dike chipped in with 12 points.
Mansfield, 69 @ King Philip, 53 – Final – Mansfield had all of the answers in a win on the road at King Philip, building a lead early and withstanding a handful of rally bids from the Warriors. The Hornets connected on five three-pointers in the opening quarter, three from Eddie McCoy (20 points) and one each from Caden Colby (11 points) and JT Veiking (15 points, 5 rebounds) to race out to a 20-12 lead after a quarter. KP made runs throughout the game to get back into it but the Hornets had an answer each time, including late in the third when the hosts got within five only for the visitors to answer with a quick 6-0 burst to push the lead back to double digits. Junior Trevor Foley added 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists for Mansfield while Chris Hill had 9 points and 11 boards. Will Laplante paced KP with a team-high 20 points while Grant Kinney and Tommy McLeish each added eight points.
Oliver Ames, 37 @ Milford, 60 – Final – Milford used a huge second half to turn a six-point halftime lead into a runaway win over a shorthanded Oliver Ames squad. The Hawks led by just one (11-10) after a quarter and by six (23-17) at the halftime break. Sophomore Andrew Rivera (five rebounds) sparked the big second half on the offensive end, scoring 11 of his team-high 19 points in the third while Luca Testa, Nick Araujo, and Tyler Ballard also contributed to the scoring as the Hawks’ advantage ballooned to 40-22 going into the fourth. Milford’s offense continued its second half success in the fourth, pouring in 20 points to run away with the win. Freshman CJ Farrell had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win over OA, who was without its two leading scorers in Cole Craffey and Soren Lolonga.
Sharon, 56 @ North Attleboro, 33 – Final – Junior Jacob McLoughlin scored eight of his team-high 14 points in the opening quarter as the Eagles set the tone on both ends of the court early, and never looked back in a win over the Rocketeers. Nate Katznelson scored in each quarter and finished with 11 points while both Matt Baur and Dante James chipped in nine points each for the Eagles, who held a 30-11 lead at halftime.
Girls Basketball
Taunton, 22 @ Foxboro, 79 – Final – Foxboro earned another big league win, staying unbeaten in Hock play this season and giving itself a chance to clinch the Davenport title when it squares off against Mansfield on Friday. Addie Ruter scored 20 points to lead the way for the Warriors. Kailey Sullivan had 19, Camryn Collins added 18 points, and Ava Hill chipped in with a dozen for Foxboro.
Franklin, 65 @ Stoughton, 35 – Final – Franklin scored 26 points in the opening quarter and never looked back, rolling to a big win that restored a one-game lead over Attleboro in the division standings and clinched a playoff berth. Chloe Fales scored all of her team-high 15 points in the first half, as Franklin opened up a 44-14 lead going into the locker room. Bridget Leo added six points in the first quarter, Katie Peterson scored seven of her 10 points before the break, and Lizzie Newman added six of her 11. Mallory Santos added six points for Franklin, all in the third quarter. Raina Tat was Stoughton’s top scorer with 15, including all nine of the Black Knights’ points in the third. Tat also had three steals on the night. Kirsten McKay had nine points, six of them in the fourth quarter, and Katrina Varnum pulled down nine rebounds.
Milford, 26 @ Oliver Ames, 66 – Final – OA scored 17 points in the second quarter to go ahead by 17 at halftime and the Tigers kept it rolling after the break, outscoring Milford 36-13 to earn the big win. The Tigers were strong defensively throughout, not allowing more than eight points in a quarter. Kaydance and Kamryn Derba combined to knock down seven three-pointers. Kaydance led OA with 13 points and Kamryn finished with 11, all in the second quarter. Sarah Hilliard added 12 points, 10 of them in the first half, and Maeve Horsman hit a pair of threes and scored eight points in the fourth. Maddie Homer scored six points for OA and also pulled down 10 rebounds from her guard position, including nine on the offensive end. Emily Croteau had eight for the Hawks, while Maeve Driscoll scored six on a pair of threes, and Katelyn Kearnan added five.
North Attleboro, 50 @ Sharon, 56 – Final – Sharon turned the game around in the third quarter, outscoring North 18-4 to grab the lead. After a nearly even fourth quarter, the Eagles walked away with their second straight victory. Jasmine Davis led the Sharon comeback, scoring 18 of her game-high 30 points in the second half and making clutch free throws down the stretch. North took a 15-13 lead after one quarter and extended the lead to 34-27 at halftime. Sam Faria led the way for the Rocketeers, knocking down five threes and scoring 17 points (all in the first half). Katie Corsetti did her best fronting Davis to make her work for her points and Ava McKeon added 13 points for North. Bailey Garte helped out Sharon’s offense with eight points and Carmen Leonardi had a strong game defensively on the perimeter.
Boys Hockey
Franklin, 4 vs. Archbishop Williams, 3 – Final (OT) – Franklin sophomore Vinnie Pasquarosa celebrated his birthday in style, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to hand the Panthers a big non-league win over Archbishop Williams. Pasquarosa gained possession at the blue line, skated around a defenseman and deposited his shot into the back of the net with just over a minute to go in the extra period for the win. The Panthers took a 2-1 lead in the third when Ben Jarosz scored on the power play but the Bishops scored twice with under six minutes to go to jump in front. Jarosz fired a shot from the blue line with just seconds to go to tie the game. Dylan McEvoy also had a goal for Franklin while Colby Wagner made 27 saves in the win.
Swimming
Mansfield @ Seekonk, 3:45
Gymnastics
Canton @ Oliver Ames, 8:00 (@ Spectrum)
Foxboro sophomore Kailey Sullivan knocked down six threes and scored 25 points to lead the Warriors to a win over fellow division leader Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – It is no secret that Foxboro likes to press, likes to run, and likes to get its offense in transition. So, Attleboro came into Tuesday night’s showdown of league leaders determined to use its zone to force the Warriors to find ways to score in the half-court.
The plan was a solid one, with the one issue that the zone gave sophomore point guard Kailey Sullivan a little bit of space on the perimeter and a little space was all she needed to shoot Foxboro to the win.
Sullivan knocked down six three-pointers, including three in the third quarter, and scored a game-high 25 points, nearly matching the Bombardiers on her own. With Sullivan firing away from deep and the defense holding Attleboro to just 11 points in the first half, the Warriors pulled away for a 60-29 victory that maintains their unbeaten start to league play.
“With Kailey shooting the way that she shoots now, it’s hard for people to defend us in a zone,” Foxboro coach Lisa Downs explained. “So, we just had to find the open spots for her on the floor. I didn’t really think that we’d see a lot of man this season, but I think people are going to have to go to that at some point because we do have so many scorers.”
It didn’t take long for Sullivan to find the range. In a first quarter played at Attleboro’s preferred tempo, Sullivan buried a pair from beyond the arc to put the Warriors in front 8-2. While the Bombardiers were able to slow the game down like they wanted, it was still a struggle to break down the Foxboro defense.
Kayla Goldrick (11 points) and Avery James (six points) were able to hit threes to tie the game, but Ava Hill (five points) stepped back and drilled a corner three and Addie Ruter (10 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks) added a put-back to give Foxboro a 13-8 lead after one.
“We couldn’t get anything going,” admitted Attleboro coach Bri Bracken. “We were getting good shots, they just weren’t falling. I told them at the end of the game that I thought there was a cover on top of the rim because Vanessa’s almost and-one was in the hoop and bounced out.”
One of the reasons for Attleboro’s struggles offensively was the play of Camryn Collins. The junior guard was able to match-up one-on-one with sophomore forward Vanessa Ellis (six rebounds), using her strength and speed to keep one of Attleboro’s top scoring threats to four points and no made field goals.
“She can guard anyone,” Downs said of Collins. “The versatility that she has with the strength and the speed, her athleticism, is just so valuable. A lot of times I would’ve put my center on Ellis and she’s not your typical center and that would’ve been hard for us. Luckily, I have Cam who can match her athleticism and keep her in check.”
After ending the first on a 5-0 run, Foxboro’s pressure turned up a notch in the second. The Warriors went on a 14-0 run to start the quarter and outscored Attleboro 17-3 in the period. Collins (13 points, seven steals, and seven rebounds) and Sullivan would combine for all 17.
Collins got it started with a backdoor cut and layup off a feed from Erin Foley (four assists and seven rebounds) and then knocked down her only three of the night. After a pair of free throws for Sullivan. Collins would get back-to-back steals and turn each of them into layups. Another steal turned into an and-one for Sullivan, who also spotted up in the corner for a three off a nicely worked inbounds play.
Any thoughts of an Attleboro comeback in the second half quickly disappeared. A Sullivan steal led to a layup for Ruter and then Sullivan added a pair from the outside to make it 40-14 (Foley got the assist on both threes). Goldrick tried to keep Attleboro close with an offensive rebound and then a dish out to James for another three, but Sullivan answered right back with her third triple of the quarter and finally a steal and layup for good measure.
Downs praised how Foxboro maintained its defensive intensity in the second half. She said, “I think that’s the most we’ve worked for 32 minutes on defense. Some games we’ll have some dips and do some things good and then get lax a little bit. The work ethic was there for 32 minutes.”
The Bombardiers kept battling in the fourth, as Bracken urged her team to continue going to the basket. Goldrick scored twice, once on a drive to the rim and then on a step-back jumper. Merry Bosh banked in a jumper for her only points and freshman Tia Williamson was able to score on the block.
Collins added four more points in the fourth and Isabella Chamberlin (six rebounds) crashed the boards for a bucket, before dishing out a nice pass to Foley on the backdoor cut.
Bracken acknowledged that her team got frustrated at times as the offense struggled to find a rhythm and that the Bombardiers can learn how to step up to the challenge of playing teams of this caliber. She said, “You just have to play through it. Be tough, take the and-one, and go…It made us better and now we’re onto Franklin and hopefully we can learn from these mistakes and be better for them.”
Foxboro (8-1) will be back on its home court on Friday to take on division rival Canton. Attleboro (6-2), which is tied for first in the Kelley-Rex division despite the loss, has its first meeting with co-leader Franklin.
Boys Basketball
Canton, 33 vs. Randolph, 41 – Final – Canton made a run to start the fourth quarter but Randolph never surrendered the lead and held on to win the inaugural Derrick Snowden Memorial Holiday championship. The Blue Devils carried a 35-29 lead into the fourth quarter but buckets from Matt Chafin and Zaza Francoeur pulled the Bulldogs within two points. However, the offense went cold and Randolph added just enough insurance to get the win. Chafin finished with a team-high 10 points while Francoeur had eight points.
Milford, 71 vs. Uxbridge, 49 – Final – Milford scored 15 points or more in all four quarters, pulling away for good with a 21-point fourth quarter in the championship game of the Scarlet Hawk Holiday Invitational. Sophomore Andrew Rivera scored a season-high 22 points, hitting a trio of three-pointers, to pace the Milford offense. Luca Testa had his second straight big game offensively with 18 points and freshman CJ Farrell scored all 11 of his points in the first three quarters.
North Attleboro, 45 @ East Bridgewater, 48 – Final – North Attleboro rallied at the end of the third to build an eight-point lead but East Bridgewater closed out the final five minutes of the game with a 15-4 run to get the win. The Rocketeers trailed 26-22 in the third but rallied for a 13-1 run over the final 2:30 to flip a four point deficit to an eight-point lead. Chris Hanewich scored all nine of his points in the third, seven of which came in the run. His three started it and a layup at the buzzer ended it with Jonnie Obuchowski (12 points) adding four points and Ryan Bannon adding two more. Obuchowski and Chase Frisoli hit back-to-back threes early in the fourth to keep North ahead by eight but East Bridgewater chipped away and cashed in on a turnover with less than a minute to go for the winning three-pointer. Ayden Delaney scored a team-high 14 points for North
Taunton, 73 @ Durfee, 76 – Final – Taunton rallied multiple times throughout the game to get close to Durfee but the Tigers were never quite able to erase a first half 14-point deficit against the Hilltoppers. Durfee jumped out to a 19-9 after a quarter, led by as much as 14 points (23-9), and carried a 35-29 lead into halftime. Durfee exploded for 24 points in the third quarter and led 57-44 going into the fourth. Troy Santos scored 23 of his team-high 28 points in the second half, including five points in the final minute as the Tigers fought all the way back to get within one possession. With under a minute to go, Santos had a traditional three-point play, freshman Jakari Innoncent sank two free throws, Santos added two more free throws, and after a steal with 10 seconds left, Tyson Carter banked in a three to make it 76-73. Durfee inbounded the ball but with just 0.9 seconds left, the Tigers got the foul. Durfee missed both free throws but there wasn’t enough time to get a full court short off on the rebound. Innocent scored a career-high 16 points and senior Chris Perault added 15 points.
King Philip, 74 @ Framingham, 66 – Final – King Philip led by as much as 20 points in the second half and locked in defensively in the fourth when Framingham cut it to three, earning a win in the championship game of the Framingham Holiday Hoopla tournament. Senior Will Laplante had his second straight big game offensively, pouring in a team-high 26 points to earn tournament MVP honors. Laplante scored 11 points in the opening quarter to give KP the lead after one (18-16) while sophomore Tommy Kilroy sank half of his six three-pointers in the second quarter on his way to a career-high 21 points. Kilroy was named to the all-tournament team. Laplante added 10 more in the third, Kilroy tossed in another triple, and Tommy Martorano (15 points) had eight points in the third as KP’s lead ballooned to 20 points. The Flyers fought back to cut the deficit to three but KP forced eight fourth quarter turnovers to hold on.
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 52 @ Wachusett, 61 – Final – Despite 17 points from Camryn Collins, Foxboro suffered its first defeat of the season against a Wachusett team that was in the Div. 1 Final Four last year. Ava Hill chipped in with a dozen points and Addie Ruter had eight points and 14 rebounds.
Mansfield, 58 vs. East Bridgewater, 24 – Final – Mansfield had 11 different scorers to win the consolation round of the Hearts for Hope Tournament. Abby Wager was the top scorer for the Hornets with 21 points and Kara Santos also hit double figures, with 12.
Oliver Ames, 39 vs. Bishop Fenwick, 49 – Final – Kaydance Derba scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds and freshman Kamryn Derba added nine points and six boards for the Tigers in the consolation round of the Sue Rivard Tournament. Sarah Hilliard chipped in with nine points and five rebounds, while guard Maddie Homer led the team with seven rebounds.
Taunton, 39 vs. Durfee, 49 – Final
Sharon, 40 @ Quincy, 67 – Final – Jasmine Davis scored 22 points, but the Eagles fell in the final of the Quincy Holiday Tournament.
Milford, 33 @ Hopkinton, 31 – Final – Milford held off a furious Hopkinton comeback in the closing quarter to secure its first win of the season. The Hawks held Hopkinton to only 16 points through the first 24 minutes but then the Hillers exploded for 15 in the final quarter. Aliza Syed scored a team-high 10 points for the Hawks, including five of their 10 points in the fourth to hold on for the win. Freshman Katelyn Kearnan had seven points and Brooke Ferreira scored six, as well as taking a critical charge late in the game.
North Attleboro, 35 vs. Holliston, 43 – Final – Even without senior Ava McKeon, North battled throughout and trailed by only four going into the fourth quarter, but the Rocketeers only scored five points in the final eight minutes and the Panthers pulled out the win. The game was tied 22-22 late in the opening half, but Holliston finished the half on a 7-0 run to take a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish. Katie Corsetti scored 10 points to pace North, while Sam Faria added nine.
King Philip, 50 vs. Shrewsbury, 35 – Final – After a tough loss last night, the Warriors bounced back with an impressive win on Thursday morning in the consolation game of the Holiday Hoopla Tournament. Maddie Paschke and Emily Sawyer each scored 14 points to help KP pick up the win. Shrewsbury held an 11-8 lead after one quarter, but KP clicked into gear in the second, outscoring the Colonials 16-6, to grab the lead. Paschke scored seven points in the second and Jackie Bonner added five. Jessi Persky, Jordan Bennett, and Bonner each knocked down threes to keep the lead at seven after three quarters. KP put the game away with a 15-7 fourth. Sawyer scored six points, Paschke got an and-one, and Kylie Watson and Kaelyn Clancy each hit from beyond the arc to seal the victory for the Warriors. KP made seven threes as a team.
Boys Hockey
Foxboro @ Dartmouth, 4:30 (@ Hetland Arena)
Oliver Ames, 5 vs. Old Rochester, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Jack Perron potted his second goal of the game with three minutes to go to break a 3-3 tie and Matt Lawson tacked on an empty net goal to give the Tigers a 5-3 win over Old Rochester in the Dartmouth Holiday Tournament championship. OA led 1-0 at the end of the first and the score stayed the game going into the third. Old Rochester battled back to tie it at 3-3 before Perron and Lawson ended it. Freshman Brendan Teehan scored his first career goal and Jack Corey also scored for OA.
King Philip, 8 vs. North Quincy, 1 – Final
Stoughton/Brockton, 7 vs. Tri-County, 2 – Final – Stoughton/Brockton exploded for seven goals to capture the Bellingham Christmas Tournament championship with a 7-2 win over Tri-County. Colby Strunk led the charge with a hat trick while Sean Farley lit the lamp twice in the win. Ryan Summers and Anthony DeSoura each added one goal while Sean McGowan had a solid performance in net for the Black Knights.
Girls Hockey
Franklin, 1 vs. Longmeadow, 4 – Final – Longmeadow added a late power play goal and an empty netter to pull away in the third period. Julia Flynn scored the lone goal for the Panthers with an end-to-end rush.
King Philip, 1 vs. Medway/Ashland, 2 – Final (OT) – Kelly Holmes scored the lone goal for KP and Mallory Johnston continued her strong play in net, making 36 saves. KP will face Natick tomorrow in the consolation round of the Medway New Year’s Classic.
Boys Basketball
Stoughton, 60 @ Attleboro, 69 – Final – Attleboro got off to a strong start with a 21-point first quarter, build a double-digit lead at halftime, took a 21-point lead into the final quarter, and then held on after a late surge from Stoughton to secure a 69-60 win. Junior Neo Franco poured in a career-high 29 points, hitting one of Attleboro’s four first quarter three-pointers. Franco had 15 points by halftime while Michael Beverly scored all of his career-high 19 points in the first three quarters. Jaiden Outland and Hayden Crowley also had first quarter threes for Attleboro, which led 38-24 at halftime and 55-34 after three quarters. The Bombardiers limited the visitors to just five points in the second and 10 in the third to grow their big lead. Jayden Costa-Haywood dropped a career-high 25 points for the Black Knights, hitting five three-pointers, and sophomore Matt Greenspoon drained four threes and finished with 16 points.
Canton, 47 @ Taunton, 59 – Final – Taunton took the lead in the second quarter and built on it with a big third, improving to 3-0 on the season with a win over visiting Canton. The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead (17-12) with a strong first but the Tigers clawed back and carried a 31-25 lead into halftime. Taunton carried that momentum into the second half, exploding for 21 points in the third quarter to push the lead to 52-37 going into the final eight minutes. Chris Perault scored six points in the second and added a three in the third, finishing with a game-high 19 points for Taunton. Tyson Carter added a three in both of the middle quarters, freshman Jakari Innocent scored 12 of his 14 points between the second and third, and Troy Santos had seven of his nine in the same stretch for the Tigers. Canton hit three threes in the opening quarter but only had two more the rest of the way. Jamaal McConnell led Canton with 13 points while Zaza Francoeur chipped in with 10 points.
Oliver Ames, 50 @ King Philip, 63 – Final – King Philip caught fire in the third quarter, sinking seven three-pointers inside eight minutes to pull away from Oliver Ames for a 63-50 win. The Warriors scored 10 points in the first and 13 in the second, but Oliver Ames held a two-point lead at 25-23 at the break, thanks in part to Nick Asiaf scoring all nine of his points in the second. In the third, senior Will Laplante hit four threes and had 13 of his team-high 21 points in the third. Tommy McLeish added a pair of triples and Tommy Kilroy hit another as the Warriors exploded for 31 points in the third, flipping a two-point halftime deficit to a 54-37 advantage going into the fourth. Kilroy added another three in the fourth and Tommy Martorano finished with 14 points for KP. OA sophomore Cole Craffey scored a career-high 24 points to pace the Tigers.
Mansfield, 50 @ North Attleboro, 33 – Final – Mansfield used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to build a double-digit lead and did enough to keep North Attleboro at arm’s length the rest of the way, grinding out a tough win. The Hornets’ defense limited the Rocketeers to single digits offensively in each of the first two quarters to stake a 27-13 lead by halftime. Caden Colby scored eight of his team-high 11 points in the second quarter, hitting a pair of threes to help the Hornets establish their lead. JT Veiking had eight of his 10 points and Eddie McCoy scored half of his 10 points in the second half to keep Mansfield ahead. Sophomore Chase Frisoli scored a team-high 11 points for the Rocketeers.
Sharon, 71 @ Milford, 54 – Final – Sharon set the tone defensively early and had a strong overall showing, taking home a 71-54 win from Milford. The Eagles limited the hosts to just one field goal in the first eight minutes and the offense fed off that energy as Ryan Brown (11 points), Jacob McLoughlin (21 points), and Nate Katznelson (20 points) combined to give the Eagles and 18-2 lead. Anthony Piron and Jaden Segal added buckets in the second as Sharon established a 39-17 lead at halftime. McLoughlin added eight more in the third and both Zach Wise and Dante James contributed baskets to help the Eagles stay in front. Luca Testa scored all of his team-high 11 points in the second half while Jack Buckley and CJ Farrell each chipped in with 10 points for Milford.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 59 @ Stoughton, 29 – Final – Attleboro locked in defensively, allowing Stoughton just 11 points in the opening half, and then pulled away with a dominant third quarter to earn its third straight win. The Bombardiers led 13-4 after one and 26-11 at the break, but scored 21 points in the third to break the game wide open. Vanessa Ellis continued her strong start to the season with a game-high 21, including eight in the third quarter alone. Lily Routhier added 16, half of those coming in the third. Attleboro also got eight points from Avery James and seven from Kayla Goldrick. Stoughton was led again by freshman Kirsten McKay, who finished with 12 points. She had eight of those in the second half. Katrina Varnum added four points and nine rebounds, while Caleigh Clark, Raina Tat, and Avery Hobbs each scored three points for the Black Knights.
Taunton, 56 @ Canton, 52 – Final – Taunton turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, holding Canton to just seven points over the final eight minutes, and rallied from seven points down to pick up its third win in a row to start the season. The game was tied at 24-24 at the break, but Canton stepped up on offense to win the third 21-14, led by Samya DaSilva with seven points and Erin Beatty with six. Taunton responded in the fourth, staying unbeaten under new coach Gretchen Rodrigues and in a first-place tie atop the Kelley-Rex. Aaliyah Yera scored six points in the fourth, while Cali Melo added four and Jillian Doherty added four free throws. Freshman Taryn Campbell led the way for the Tigers with 13 points, including eight of Taunton’s 14 in the third. Doherty and Melo each finished with 11 and Yera had nine, all of them from beyond the arc. DaSilva was Canton’s top scorer with 14, while Beatty chipped in with eight and Emily McCabe had seven for the Bulldogs, who knocked down nine threes as a team.
Franklin, 50 @ Foxboro, 55 – Final – Camryn Collins scored 20 points for the second straight game and Foxboro rallied from 11 points down in the second half to end Franklin’s 44-game league win streak. The first quarter was tight, as both teams came out firing. Collins had 10 of Foxboro’s 16 and Katie Peterson had 11 of Franklin’s 15. The Panthers locked down in the second, holding Foxboro to just two points to go into the locker room leading 27-18. Foxboro rallied early in the third, cutting the lead to just two, but then Franklin put together a run to extend the lead out to as many as 11. Sasha Tracey knocked down a pair of threes for the Panthers and had all six of her points in the quarter. Down nine heading to the final eight minutes, the Warriors found another gear on both ends of the floor and pulled out a 25-11 fourth quarter to secure the victory. Kailey Sullivan caught fire and scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth, while Ava Hill added three of her seven and Collins scored seven points in the frame, including a clutch pull-up jumper to put Foxboro in front. Peterson would finish with 19 for the Panthers, 15 of them in the first half, and Lizzie Newman scored seven points.
King Philip, 52 @ Oliver Ames, 48 – Final – Emily Sawyer scored a career-high 28 points and the Warriors held on down the stretch to pick up an important, early-season road win. Sawyer was dominant in the first half, scoring six in the first quarter and 10 more in the second. Jackie Bonner added a pair of threes to help KP jump out to a 26-18 lead heading into the locker rooms. OA rallied in the second half, winning the third quarter 13-10 to cut the deficit to just five (36-31). The Tigers took the lead in the fourth, but KP was able to make the plays it needed down the stretch to secure the win. Jordan Bennett scored five of her seven points in the fourth and Sawyer added six more to help the Warriors hang on late. Sarah Hilliard made her season debut for OA and scored 11 and grabbed seven boards in the loss. Avery Gamble added nine points, including seven in the fourth, and Maddie Homer (12 rebounds, including nine offensive) and Kamryn Derba each chipped in with six.
North Attleboro, 41 @ Mansfield, 72 – Final – Mansfield tied a program record with 72 points, remarkably scoring 18 in each of the four quarters, and clamped down on defense in the second half to secure its first win of the season. Abby Wager tied a season-high with 22 points, including 16 in the first half, to lead the Hornets. Kara Santos scored 17, eight of them in third, and Olivia Salisbury scored seven. Mansfield led 36-24 at halftime, but the Hornets pulled away after the break, holding North to 17 points in the second half, and started to dominate on the glass. North was led by freshman Ella McLaughlin, who hit three from beyond the arc and finished with 12 points. Ava McKeon chipped in with nine and Sam Sweeney scored eight, including a pair from outside.
Milford, 45 @ Sharon, 48 – Final – Sharon rallied from eight points down in the fourth quarter and Olivia Landstein (five points and four steals) buried a late three to secure the Eagles their first victory under first-year coach Matt DellaBarba. Jasmine Davis continued to dominate in the paint, scoring a season-high 25 points and pulling down 19 rebounds. Rachael Hager had a solid all-around game for the Eagles with eight points, nine rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
Boys Indoor Track (@ the TRACK at New Balance)
Mansfield, 53 @ Oliver Ames, 46 – Final
Sharon @ Canton, 4:30 – Sharon picked up it first the league win of the season on Tuesday. For Canton, Josh Richards took first place in the shot put and Jimmy Podgurski came in third. Luke Darling won the 600 and Dan Kraslynkov took first place in the 300 with Christian Hanlon finishing third.
Foxboro @ Stoughton, 4:30
King Philip, 30 @ Attleboro, 70 – Final
Franklin @ Milford, 4:30
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 4:30
Girls Indoor Track (@ the TRACK at New Balance)
Mansfield @ Oliver Ames, 4:30
Sharon, 37 @ Canton, 63 – Final – Canton got three PRs and swept the shot put, as the Bulldogs pulled out a win against Sharon. Emma Massih took first with a new personal best of 30’75”, Jess Brathwaite took second with a PR of 25’7.5”, and Taylor Kernen also set a new personal mark with a throw of 23’3” to take third. Canton also won both the 4×200 (Diana Tambi, Katie Oliver, Jayda Proffit, and Syriah McCruse) and the 4×400 (Tahlia Weaver, Lexi Piazza, Lianna Camille, and Nora Giannacopolous) relays.
Oliver Ames is coming off a Div. 2 state title, but the Tigers will face a tough challenge to repeat as league champ this winter. Read our full team-by-team previews below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Brianna Bracken
Former Attleboro standout Bri Bracken took over the coaching duties late in the preseason a year ago, but she stepped right into her first varsity job and led the Bombardiers to a 16-win season and a return to the state tournament. The graduation of top scorer Meg Gordon will be tough to replace, but the Bombardiers have a versatile lineup and a focus on the defensive side of the ball that still makes them a tough challenge even for the top teams in the league.
Attleboro returns only two starters from last season. Junior Kayla Goldrick impressed in her first two years on varsity, playing on the wing or as the primary ball-handler. Her control on both sides of the ball will be critical this season. Senior Lily Routhier, who transferred from Wheelock last year, is a strong rebounder and can score in multiple ways around the paint. Sophomore Vanessa Ellis wasn’t a starter for most of last year, but she came through with some big games down the stretch, scoring in bunches around the rim and being a force on the glass.
An injury to junior Rylie Camacho will deprive the Bombardiers of one of their best perimeter shooters, but Bracken will be hoping that juniors Merry Bosh and Molly Moore and sophomore Avery James can step into bigger roles in the backcourt and add scoring punch. Senior Sarah Maher is going to have a bigger role on both ends this season, bringing the energy and intensity every game. This will be a different look from last year, as the Bombardiers will have different go-to players every night.
“We have a great mix of experience and youth,” Bracken said. “We are excited about what lies ahead. Practices have been intense and the girls have been working really hard.”
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Quarterfinal Coach: Jim Choquette
How do you move on from graduating not just one but three of the best players in program history? That will be the challenge for Canton coach Jim Choquette this season, as the Bulldogs are coming off a winter that included a rare home playoff game and a trip to the Div. 2 quarterfinals and return a group of players that have experience but will need to step into bigger roles this year.
There is a veteran core that the Bulldogs will be relying on. Senior forward Samya DaSilva can score in the paint and knock down shots from the perimeter, while classmate Erin Beatty has been a force on the boards and brings a lot of energy on both ends of the floor. Senior guards Emily McCabe, Marissa Staffiere, and Han Hong all can run the point and are strong defensive players who will be tasked with keeping the ball moving for Canton on offense to find the best shot.
In addition to those familiar faces, juniors Fatima Sidibay and Jess Wright will provide additional athleticism in the frontcourt. Junior Mercia Kolokithas can stretch defenses with her perimeter shooting and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth on the wing along with Ava McCoole. Deanna Kolokithas is another newcomer to watch this season, as she can give Canton a boost at point guard, allowing the veteran guards to move off the ball.
“Every season is different, even if you have similar players,” Choquette explained. “We have spoken about that this year and I’ve encouraged our team to write their own narrative, what they want, how they want to get it, and the sacrifices they’re willing to make to accomplish it. I’m so excited to see how we respond as coaches to help them and as players to achieve.”
2021-2022 Record: 14-8 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen Coach: Lisa Downs
While head coach Lisa Downs knew there would be some growing pains for a roster loaded with underclassmen, Foxboro was not only building for the future in 2021-22 but showing that it could already compete with the league’s top teams. This season, adding a year of experience to their talented core, the Warriors will be aiming to get back to the top of the Davenport division and make a run in the state tournament.
The backcourt was the key for Foxboro last winter. Sophomore Kailey Sullivan burst onto the scene and was the rare freshman that could lead a team in scoring and also look right at home running the point against the tough defenses in the Hock. Junior Camryn Collins finished just behind Sullivan in the scoring charts, but her handle, her athleticism, and her ability to read the game made her an impact player on both ends of the court. Add in junior Erin Foley’s tenacity on the defensive end and it is a backcourt that can cause any team problems from baseline to baseline.
Foxboro also got solid contributions in the front court from sophomore Ava Hill, who looked increasingly comfortable as the season wore on, and junior Isabelle Chamberlin. Sophomore Adie Ruter will be a new piece to the puzzle this season. The 6-foot-2 center gives a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense and her development in the off-season has her poised for a breakout year. Freshmen Kylie Sampson and Adrianna Porazzo continue the tradition of underclassmen jumping right onto varsity with an opportunity to contribute.
“I’m anxious to get started working with this team,” Downs said. “I really envision a pretty high ceiling once we get established. We will continue the Foxboro team culture of hard work on defense and team play on offense, so it will be pretty exciting to see what they are able to accomplish.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-2 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal Coach: John Leighton
Franklin has dominated the Kelley-Rex division for the past four years, which included a state title run as well, but with a lot of new faces jumping into the lineup this season, the league title race could be a lot closer this winter. The Panthers may not be able to overwhelm teams with size like they have in past few years, but an athletic core of players returns to play typically tough defense and get out and run on the break.
The focal point this season will be senior forward Katie Peterson. After a breakout junior year in which she led the team in scoring, the UMass girls lacrosse commit comes back as one of the top wings in the league. Her athleticism will be critical on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Bridget Leo is also back to run the offense and will be one of the team’s top perimeter defenders. Senior Lizzie Newman emerged last season as a solid rebounder and post defender and her outside shooting could be a major factor.
There are also several players who stepped in at times last year that will need to take on bigger roles for the Panthers this season. Junior Sasha Tracey gives Franklin good length on the wing and adds another athlete that can get out on the break and finish. Her improved outside shot will also help stretch defenses. Sophomore Chloe Fales is a newcomer to watch with her athleticism and ability to score at multiple levels.
“This team is working to find its identity and play unselfish basketball,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “I have been very impressed with the leadership of our seniors who have stepped up and provided mentorship to our younger players to speed their integration into the team.”
2021-2022 Record: 11-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Jeff Miszkiewicz
Only the two division winners allowed fewer points per game than King Philip last season, as the Warriors focused on strong half court defense under first-year coach Jeff Miszkiewicz. Defense will remain key for KP this season, but there is also an effort to bring more balance to an offense that struggled to keep up with some of the top teams in the Hock. With a year of experience in the new system, the Warriors will be looking to provide a challenge to Franklin and Oliver Ames in the Kelley-Rex.
Senior center Emily Sawyer has developed into a force on both ends of the floor and her presence in the paint will be a major piece of KP’s play this year. An almost automatic double-double every night, Sawyer has improved her offense every year and remains an imposing shot blocker and disruptor on defense. Fellow senior Jackie Bonner will give KP much-needed balance on offense with her ability to shoot from distance and take defenders off the dribble. KP looked like a different team when she went down with an injury last season.
While Bonner and Sawyer get a lot of the attention, KP has solid depth in both the front and backcourt. Senior guard Leah Santoro gives the Warriors a tenacious perimeter defender and junior Jordan Bennett runs the offense well at the point and showed flashes of being a threat from three-point range. Junior forward Maddie Paschke provides energy, rebounding, and finishing in the paint, and classmate Kylie Watson continues to improve on shot-making both in the paint and from the outside.
Miszkiewicz is also counting on several new faces to add to his squad this season. “They all bring something different to the court and have a chance to really impact games this year,” he said. “We can score on all three levels consistently, so we look to attack any advantages that we can get. Last year, we prided ourselves on playing tough, gritty defense. We try to make every shot difficult and hold teams to one shot.”
2021-2022 Record: 12-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Heather McPherson
Mansfield will play in the Davenport division for the first time this winter and, with only three players graduating from last year’s playoff team and both of its leading scorers back, there are hopes that this could be a title-winning debut for the Hornets.
Senior Abby Wager is the team’s top scorer from a year ago and the athletic wing will be the focal point for most teams defensively this year. The Southern New Hampshire-commit causes problems on both ends of the floor with her length and speed and her addition of different facets to her offensive game. If teams want to extend out to the perimeter, Mansfield can also hurt them in the paint with junior forward Kara Santos, who emerged as a consistent scorer on the block.
Experience should be no problem for the Hornets, who have a host of players that gained valuable experience last season. In the backcourt, seniors Olivia Salisbury and Bridget Hanley can run the point and step up with big scoring nights when needed. Senior Natalya Gill was instant offense off the bench for the Hornets, while classmate Rose Maher can knock down big shots from the outside. Senior Brooke Butler gives the Hornets another strong rebounder and paint presence.
“Extremely excited for the season,” said McPherson. “The level of focus and pace that we have committed to this preseason makes me extremely excited for the season with these girls!”
2021-2022 Record: 5-14 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: TJ Dolliver
Milford brings back five seniors from last year’s team, including a pair of four-year varsity players at captain, which the Hawks hope can provide the leadership for a move up the Kelley-Rex standings. After winning five games a year ago, Milford continues to set its sights on getting back into the playoff picture.
Senior forward Emily Croteau is an all-energy player at forward and will be one of the players that Milford counts on at both ends of the floor. She crashes the boards, defends, and her hustle is infectious. Classmate Brooke Ferreira is more of a calming presence in the backcourt, getting the Hawks into their sets and knocking down shots on the perimeter. Fellow seniors Molly Hartman and Aliza Syed will add experience and strength in the paint.
Junior forward Khatrina Leger could be ready for a breakout year after impressing in flashes as a sophomore. Leger used her athleticism to keep possessions alive and was able to get creative with her finishing around the rim. Classmate Erin Michelson uses her length on the wing to cause problems on the defensive side and junior Maeve Driscoll can come into the game and make some big shots on the perimeter.
“We have a lot of versatile players with different skills so our offense and defense is going to rely on execution during the games,” said Milford coach TJ Dolliver. “I have a great group of girls who are ready to compete on a daily basis. We have a lot of room to grow and I am looking forward to seeing where it takes us.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Nikki Correia
North Attleboro incorporated plenty of youth into last year’s rotation and those young players will need to be ready from the start this winter because the Rocketeers are only returning four varsity players from 2021-22 and have as many underclassmen (four) as seniors on this year’s team. It is a guard-heavy rotation, which fits into head coach Nikki Correia’s preferred up-tempo style, but there will be a learning curve for a relatively inexperienced group.
Senior Ava McKeon will be the leader on the court for North this season. A four-year varsity player, McKeon gives the Rocketeers an edge with her tenacity, toughness, and athleticism. The rest of the team can feed off the energy that she provides on both ends of the court. Sophomore guards Sam Faria and Sam Sweeney both showed as rookies that they can knock down shots from the outside, but need to be more consistent to take the North offense to the next level. Classmate Maryellen Charette also impressed at times as a freshman and could be ready for a breakout year at forward. Confidence will be important for the younger players to meet the expectations that come from being regular starters.
North has added some new faces to the roster this year to contribute off the bench and give teams different looks. Senior guard Emma Hanwell and forwards Kylie James and Kayla Dominique, as well as junior forward Katie Corsetti will make the jump up from the JV team this season. Freshman guard Ella McLaughlin is another player with the potential to make instant contributions.
“I think our strengths on offense will be our quick guard play,” Correia said. “Our offense seems to be a little more organized and the guards are able to control the tempo. I am really looking forward to the season with this group of players. We are young and have so much potential to really surprise some opponents this year.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-3 (Davenport champions) 2021-2022 Finish: Won Div. 2 state title Coach: Brittany Engle
The defending Div. 2 state champions are going to have a very different look this season. Not only did Oliver Ames lose its top two scorers (Caroline Peper to graduation and Jasmyn Cooper to transfer) but also saw the retirement of legendary coach Laney Clement-Holbrook after more than four decades in charge. OA has turned to former assistant coach Brittany Engle, who is also a 1,000-point scorer and former state champ for the Tigers, who inherits a roster with only four returning players from last season.
Junior guard Kaydance Derba is the team’s top returning scorer and is one of the best long-range shooters in the league. Her length, her passing, and her ball-handling will all be critical for a team that is going to rely on a lot of relatively inexperienced players. Classmate Sarah Hilliard might be ready for a breakout season. The junior forward showed flashes of being a dominant post player last year, coming up with huge games on both ends of the floor during OA’s tournament run and her athleticism is a tough matchup for most teams.
A pair of seniors round out the returning players. Maddie Homer, who was voted volleyball MVP this fall, missed time last year due to injury but she came back to play a role in the state title game win against Norwood. She brings a lot of intensity on the defensive end and is another solid ball-handler that can get the Tigers into their sets. Classmate Grace Dupill will bring more athleticism to the forward position and leadership for a young squad that wants to challenge Franklin for the Kelley-Rex title.
“I’m excited for the season,” Engle said. “We’ve got a lot of good athletes who work hard, and are coachable and competitive. Coming off of a state title, expectations are high, but measured. This is a different team, but one with a lot of potential.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Matt DellaBarba
Coming off a four-win season, Sharon returns four starters and nine players from last year’s roster, intent on making a move up the standings in the Davenport division. There is a change on the sidelines, with former Plymouth South coach Matt DellaBarba taking over this season and he will be hoping to utilize the experience that the Eagles have to make a run at a potential playoff spot.
Most of the focus this winter will be on junior center Jasmine Davis. After a stellar first varsity season in which she introduced herself with a 30-point, 20-rebound debut against Milford, Davis was one of the most prolific post players in the league as a sophomore. Sharon can take advantage of the attention Davis will draw to create shooting space for classmate Rachael Hager, who can force defenses to stay home with her ability to knock down shots from distance. Senior Tess Letendre and junior Eva Poulton round out the returning starters and both are solid ball-handlers and defenders in the backcourt and give the Eagles balance on both ends of the floor.
There is going to be plenty of experience coming off the bench for Sharon as well. In the backcourt, senior Clara Armon and juniors Carmen Leonardi and Natalie David will give the Eagles good energy and aggressiveness. Seniors Samantha Dunham and Emily Freeman add depth, rebounding, and solid defense in the front court. DellaBarba wants to make sure all of his players are threats to score on offense and communicate well in his team defense scheme.
“Being completely new to the Hockomock League I’m not entirely sure what to expect in my first season in the league,” DellaBarba said. “I know year in and year out the Hockomock League is one of the most competitive leagues in the state, so our focus right now is making sure we’re approaching every practice and game with energy and giving maximum effort in every opportunity that we receive.”
2021-2022 Record: 1-19 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Eric Adams
Stoughton had its struggles in 2021-22, winning just one game, but the Black Knights are in the process of rebuilding through youth. With former assistant Eric Adams taking over for Charmaine Steele Jordan this winter, Stoughton will have continuity on the sidelines despite the coaching change and that should be a boost for a lineup that features only two seniors.
While young, Stoughton does have some varsity experience to call on. Senior guards Andrea Khouzami and Anna Hobbs will provide much-needed leadership in the backcourt. Junior Maiya Merritt is a quick guard who can get into the lane and sophomore Raina Tat showed that she has the ability to stretch defenses with her range, and the confidence to not pass up an open look.
In the front court, junior Alyssa Edwards is a three-sport athlete and she uses her strength and quickness to good effect on both ends of the court. Junior Katrina Varnum gives Stoughton a rim protector and a solid rebounder to protect the paint, while she also showed increasing confidence as a finisher around the rim. Sophomore Leah McCarty returns to give more depth on the block. Stoughton also has four freshmen on the roster, guards Kristen McKay, Molly Fox, Isabel Belmonte, and Cecelia Squires, who could be stepping in and getting minutes right away.
“This team is a young team; two seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen,” Adams explained. “This year is going to be a building year and we are eager to grow as a program.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Gretchen Rodrigues
The transfer of the league’s leading scorer from last year, Kameron St. Pierre, will be a big challenge for Taunton this season. Losing more than 20 points per game, nearly half of the team’s nightly output, will obviously require more than just one or two players to step up. First-year coach Gretchen Rodrigues is counting on her team’s athleticism and focusing on the defensive end of the floor first to get the Tigers out and running this season.
Junior point guard Cali Melo will be a key player for the Tigers in this system, not only setting the pace for the team but also providing the energy on the defensive side of the floor. Melo is a tenacious defender and rebounder and will be like a coach on the floor. Junior guard Lexi Haywood provides long-distance shooting for the Tigers and is one of the players that could benefit from a few more touches on the offensive end. Sophomore Jillian Doherty gives Taunton more speed and finishing on the break and senior McMina Clermont adds more vocal leadership, defense, and rebounding.
While a lot of the focus is on the outgoing players, Taunton also got a transfer in who could be a major factor in the paint this season. Sophomore Skylar McCrohan has come from Somerset Berkley and Rodrigues will be counting on her crashing the boards and getting buckets in the post. Freshman Taryn Campbell is a quick guard and solid shooter, who will come in and contribute right away.
“We are going to push the ball, play hard all the time, play unselfish, and be in great shape,” Rodrigues said. “My style is up and down, pressure a lot, and utilize all 94 feet.“
Foxboro sophomore Ava Hill and senior Mallorie Meyer go up for a block in the second set against Greater Lowell Tech. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. — Rewind a month ago and the Foxboro volleyball team was sitting at 1-9; hosting a playoff game certainly seemed like a pipe dream.
Ten matches later, Foxboro was on the winning side six times and pushed the Davenport division champions Oliver Ames and perennial powerhouse Canton to five sets in defeat.
And now, the 14th-seeded Warriors walked off their home court with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-22, 25-17) over #19 Greater Lowell Tech.
“I think the turning point [of the season] was the first Oliver Ames game when we took them to five [sets] and I think the girls were shocked at their performance and really started to believe in themselves,” said Foxboro head coach Vicki Santana. “They started having fun with it and we carried that energy into the next games. That’s when we started winning, starting taking teams to five that we never had before. This was really exciting for us.”
Foxboro avenged losses to Mansfield, Sharon, and Stoughton in October. The Warriors also were undefeated against non-league opponents, picking up a pair of wins over Walpole and Braintree. On top of their five-set thriller at OA, the Warriors went on the road and pushed Canton to the brink as well.
“I think their confidence level, they believe they can do anything now,” Santana said. “They are having more fun, they are shaking things off. They have been willing to run some plays, if they make a mistake they are shaking it off easier than before, not getting down on each other or themselves. The whole morale of the team has been brought up.”
After earning a 2-0 lead in the match, Foxboro found itself in an early hole in the third set, falling behind 7-1. While this might have deterred the Warriors at the start of the season, they dug themselves out of the hole with a 9-2 burst.
Mallorie Meyer landed a kill and then Alyssa Cloherty (16 assists, seven digs) took over, finding a hole in the defense with a one-handed dump on the second ball, then finding Juliana Pettigrew for back-to-back kills — the former off a great pass from Shannon McElhiney, and then landed back-to-back aces to tie it at 9-9.
Foxboro fell behind 11-10 but didn’t make many mistakes down the stretch. Good defense put pressure on the visiting Gryphons and a handful of hitting errors plus a solid defensive play by Gianna Dunne gave Foxboro a 16-11 lead.
A nice top from Pettiegew and a good serve from Cloherty pushed Foxboro’s lead to 23-14. Meyer added consecutive kills, the latter from the back row, and a service error from the visitors clinched the win.
“They realized they need to play as hard as they can, it’s not a time to let up after taking the first two sets,” Santana said of digging out of the early deficit. “They fought back and kept that fight going until the end. The passing got better, the hits were stronger. [Greater Lowell Tech’s] competition level was up too, they started blocking us more in the middle and we had to adjust. We really started to have to look for the holes in their defense.”
It was a balanced attack for the hosts throughout the first two sets. Foxboro gained some separation early on in the opening set, a pair of aces from Sami Sloan (seven kills), a kill from Pettigrew, and blocks from Meyers and Ava Kirk presented the Warriors with a 15-7 lead. An ace and another Sloan kill pushed it to 17-9 and the Warriors didn’t look back.
Ava Hill had a strong swing from the right side and Dunne landed an ace to give Foxboro a 25-16 win for a 1-0 advantage.
Sloan carried the momentum into the second set with some early aces from Sydney Lebow and a kill from Sloan as Foxboro built a five-point lead, but Greater Lowell Tech continued to crawl back and tied it 10-10. An ace from Pettigrew kept Foxboro in front, and two great serves in a row from Cloherty gave the Warriors some breathing room. The Gryphons once again closed the gap to make it 20-20 but a big swing from Hill led to a block from Kirk, and Meyer added two aces to give Foxboro a 25-22 win and a 2-0 lead.
“They do a great job moving the ball around,” Santana said. “I’m lucky because I have one of the best setters in the Hock [Alyssa Cloherty], the ball comes out of her hands so perfectly. She has confidence in all of her hitters so she does move it around. And she runs different things with each of them, slides and quick sets to the middle, all of these different things they’ve gotten the confidence to do, they are really working together so well.”
Foxboro volleyball (8-13) awaits the winner of #3 Newburyport (17-3) and #30 Bishop Fenwick (8-13), who play on Friday evening.
Franklin will be looking for another league title this fall. Check out our team-by-team breakdown of the upcoming Hockomock League volleyball season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Mary Katherine Runey
For the first time in more than a decade, Attleboro got the taste of playoff volleyball and the Bombardiers have younger players stepping into leadership positions that will give them a solid foundation for another tournament run. There is excitement around the program and opening the new gym has added another layer to the fall.
One of the reasons for the energy in the team is sophomore outside hitter Julia Leonardo, who jumped in as a freshman and became one of the most dynamic hitters in the league. Junior setter Natalie Brojek has been an all-around standout for the past two seasons and makes the team click. Senior Tigin Bombardier will give Attleboro experience in the middle.
Those are the only three returning players from last year, but there are several new faces that could make an instant impact. Sophomores Addison and Ellie Shelton are new hitters that will give depth on the outside. Juniors Sadie Whitmarsh and Julia Mondello will provide defensive solidity to the back line.
“The level of success we achieved last season certainly changed the tone of our entire program, and I believe our future is bright,” said Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey. “As a young team, we have spent the past two weeks learning how to play together and in the next few weeks, we will need to learn how to win together. As we progress through the season, our goal is to minimize errors in order to efficiently run our offense and showcase the talent within our team.”
2021 Record: 15-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Pat Cawley
Canton has established itself as one of the perennial powers year in and year out, and one thing that comes with that territory is graduating a handful of talented seniors each year. Last year was no exception, but Hall of Fame coach Pat Cawley has shown time and time again she will have a competitive squad that’s much better by the end of the season than the start.
The Bulldogs graduated all but two starters, bringing back juniors Jess Wright at outside hitter and Fatima Sidibay at middle blocker. Cawley will be leaning heavily on them for their guidance of a young and inexperienced squad. Wright isn’t just one of the best outside hitters, she can play just about anywhere on the court and showed tremendous growth throughout last season. After showing off some great blocking skills last year, the Dogs will look for some more offensive production on swings from the middle from Sidibay. Senior captain Liana Lamparelli and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth offensively.
Defensively, Canton is looking at sophomore defensive specialist Zoe Scibelli, who saw meaningful minutes in the back row a year ago. Haley Duhaime, Liz Beale, Neveah Osborne, and Riley Costa round out the senior class and will contribute valuable minutes for Canton this year.
“We have many moving parts at this point but the young, inexperienced group is willing to work hard and anxious to learn,” Cawley said. “Three setters and several defensive players are vying for time on the court. The growth potential is exponential and it will be fun to watch the progression. The extremely competitive Hock will help accelerate the learning curve!”
2021 Record: 4-17 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 32 Coach: Vicki Santana
With 11 seniors returning to the roster this year, Foxboro is looking to have a bounce-back year and return to the state tournament with an improved rating in the MIAA’s statewide system.
The Warriors have key pieces back at all spots on the court and head coach Vicki Santana is optimistic about the season after a strong showing so far this preseason. Sami Sloan led the squad with 111 kills last season and is back as one of the outside hitters along with Juliana Pettigrew (88 kills) and Ava Hill. Foxboro also has both of its middles back with Mallorie Meyer, a Hock all star a year ago with 80 kills and 46 aces, and Ava Kirk both returning.
Defensively, the Warriors have their libero back in the lineup in senior Shannon McElhinney, who had 157 digs last year and was a Hock honorable mention selection.
“All of these players bring a love for the sport and determination to win,” Santana said. “We only graduated two seniors last year so we are hoping that with most of the team being returning varsity players we will have a very competitive season. So far the team has been playing great at our preseason scrimmages so hopefully, we carry that energy into our first game vs Milford!”
2021 Record: 18-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final Four Coach: Samantha Redmond
Although Franklin only graduated a small number of seniors from last year’s team that made the Division 1 state semifinals, the Panthers lost a lot of production.
Gone are Caitlyn Mackintosh, last year’s HockomockSports Player of the Year, Lindsey Tarantola, a league all star that led the league in blocks, and Brigid Earley, one of the top middles in the Hock. But this isn’t the first time the Panthers have lost a talented senior class, multiple all stars, or even an MVP – and they’ve always found a way to come back and compete as a top team in the league.
Three-year starter Taylor Lacerda returns to pace the offense, leading the Panthers in kills a year ago as a sophomore with 155. She’s the lone six rotation returner in the group so head coach Samantha Redmond – who picked up a boost on the bench with the addition of former head coach Kelsey Weymouth as an assistant – will be looking for new faces to step into key roles at the net.
There will be some changes along the backline as senior Meghan Linkkila will move from the libero position to take over as the setter, and classmate and fellow captain Georgia Harvey, who was a defensive specialist last year, will take on the libero role.
“Franklin volleyball is really excited to continue our hard work this year,” Redmond said. “We lost a strong four seniors last year but we are confident that this new class of players will bring a lot of diversity to our offense and defense. We look forward to proving ourselves in the Hockomock once again!”
2021 Record: 22-2 (Kelley-Rex co-champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Four Coach: Kristen Geuss
King Philip has shared the Kelley-Rex title for the past three seasons and with a senior-laden roster, the Warriors look ready to make a push for another division crown. After a run to the Div. 2 state semifinal. KP has the experience and the depth at the net to be a threat for another deep tournament run.
The Warriors will be strong up front. Senior middle Emily Sawyer made her varsity debut as a junior and immediately became one of the best hitters in the league. The Sacred Heart-commit is an impact player on both sides of the net. Senior Sami Shore gives KP the most dynamic middle pairing in the league and can dominate a match. If teams try to bottle up the middle of the net, then senior Ahunna James can take over on the outside, giving KP great attacking balance. Seniors Olivia O’Neil and Missy Canning add depth at hitter and senior setter Kiera Hagen will run the offense this year.
In addition to the seniors, KP can count on junior right-side Kate O’Neil and juniors Ryann O’Sullivan, Emily Zappala, and Fiona Bailey on the outside. On the back line, juniors Shea Mellman, Ava Kelley, and Meghan Sullivan provide strong defensive play. Sophomore setter Madison Asprelli is a newcomer who could step into a bigger role over the course of the season.
“We are working hard to build on our success from last year,” said KP coach Kristen Geuss. “We have good chemistry and the girls are looking forward to the season.”
2021 Record: 9-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
Making the switch to the Davenport division this season, Mansfield is looking to ride a mix of veterans and new players to some success on the court this year.
Second-year head coach Tara DeGirolamo is excited for the season to get underway as she tries to fit all the right pieces together for her squad. Junior Elyssa Buchanan burst onto the scene as an attacking option last year and will be one of the Hornets’ go-to hitters on the outside along with senior Ella Mahoney. In the middle, Lexie Scibilia will be looking to build on her big season last year (48 blocks) along with senior Lily Campbell.
There are a lot of options at setter with senior captain Isabella Flint (132 assists) back as one of the primary ball handlers with junior Kiera Fitzpatrick and freshman Tessa Blaqueir both in the mix as well. The setters will also have options on the right side with senior captain Lilly Verheggan and junior Anna Goulet taking swings from the opposite side, with senior Savannah Carey and juniors Sophia Capaolupo and Elena O’Keefe providing depth.
Defensively, DeGirolamo will lean on senior libero Jackie Zelic to anchor the defense along with junior defensive specialists Lauren Rubicine and Jocelyn Gibson.
“Our setters have great court awareness and mesh very well with our diverse group of hitters,” DeGirolamo said. “We’re excited for the season.”
2021 Record: 8-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tammy Webber
Between a handful of varsity returners and a group of eager new faces ready to make their mark, Milford is looking to challenge in the Kelley-Rex and book a spot in the state tournament.
The heart of the Hawks will be in the middle of the lineup with the team’s leader in kills from a year ago Aliza Syed back to anchor both the offense and the defense. She had a breakout season with 187 kills, 61 aces, and 34 blocks, which were all first on the team. She will be flanked by junior Maeve Driscoll on the outside, who jumps into the starting lineup this year and will play in the back row as well. Senior Molly Hartman provides depth at the outside hitter spot.
“[Aliza] will be counted on to carry us in those categories once again this season,” said Milford head coach Tammy Webber. “She is strong and athletic with a tough serve and can hit with power.”
Milford also returns its starting setter in senior captain Emily Croteau, who finished inside the top five in the league in assists last season. Having a year of experience under her belt, the Hawks will lean on her confidence and skill to spread the ball around and run the offense. Senior defensive specialist Carley Haley will anchor the backline.
2021 Record: 9-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Rachel Gould
After making a push for a playoff spot last season, North Attleboro will make a change on the sidelines as Rachel Gould takes over this fall. The Rocketeers will also be returning to the ultra-competitive Kelley-Rex division and with five varsity players back in the lineup North will be looking to fight for another tournament spot.
The senior class will need to provide leadership for the new faces in this year’s squad. Senior Avery Bitar will give the team a defensive solidity as the libero. Senior Grace Dirschel is the returning setter from last season and senior Sarah Kayata is another strong backline player that should help North keep points alive.
Up front, seniors Haley Carr and Mariah Barbosa are returning middle hitters that can step in and swing and also make an impact on the block. Freshman Lincoln Abramaitys will get the chance to shine right from the start as the team’s main outside hitter. Abramaitys is the only underclassman on the roster this year.
“I have a great group of hard-working talented athletes and I think we are going to have a competitive season this year,” Gould explained.
2021 Record: 16-5 (Davenport champion) 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16 Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Oliver Ames is ready to get on the court and defend its Davenport division title.
The Tigers know they’ll be challenged by perennial powerhouse Canton, division newcomer Mansfield, a veteran-filled Foxboro squad, and the rest of the division, and they’ll have to overcome the graduation of the versatile Hadley Rhodes, but OA has some top talent returning at almost every position.
Senior Maddie Homer is back for yet another season as the libero to anchor the back line. An All-State selection a year ago, Homer will be joined by junior Rachel Fleischman, another returner, in the back row to give the Tigers an experienced defensive duo.
Offensively, there will be more familiar faces taking swings at the net. Senior captain Courtney Raymond (56 kills, 18 blocks) is back in the middle as one of OA’s primary attackers and she’ll be complemented by a pair of terrific outside hitters in junior Sarah Hilliard (272 kills) and Claire O’Rourke (156 kills). Sophomore Addyson Smock bolsters the middle block while sophomore Clare Kavoulis and junior Paula Romero provide some depth.
“There is something special about this group,” said OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham. “The talent speaks for itself, they’re putting in the work, and they are eager to compete. These girls know everything is “earned not given” – which happens to be our program’s motto this season. With that, they know there’s a lot of work to do to make this the best season yet. If they commit to one another and the goals we set from the start, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll do just that.”
2021 Record: 6-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Andrea Lovett
It has been two straight impressive seasons for the Sharon volleyball program. Two years ago, during Fall II, the Eagles nearly won a league title and would’ve booked a playoff spot if a tournament was held. Last season, Sharon not only reached the state tournament but also won its first-round match against Revere. With a brand new gym and five seniors on the roster, Sharon will be hoping the momentum carries over to this fall.
Sharon will be counting on the development of its senior hitters. Amanda Brown will be the main target on the outside, while Olivia Nau has been impressive on the right side. The middle should be tough on both sides of the net with junior Jasmine Davis stepping up as both a blocker and hitter and senior Sam Dunham adding depth after her move up from the JV team. Junior Sonja Gray will be the main setter for the team again this season with help from classmate Masha Dolienkova.
The Eagles also have experience on the back line and players with athleticism to keep points alive. Senior Emily Coplan and junior Sophia Pandey will share the libero duties and sophomore Sasha Nierenberg and senior Evelina Kravets will support them as defensive specialists.
“Possibly the most important aspect of this team is their love of the game combined with a great work ethic and the tenacity to stay in the game regardless of the score,” said Sharon coach Andrea Lovett, who returns to the sidelines after being an assistant in 2021. “These kids simply love volleyball and it shows on the court.”
2021 Record: 1-15 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Felicia Baptista
Stoughton is coming off a difficult 2021 season. The Black Knights picked up just one win last fall, but they have several new faces that could step in and get the program heading back into tournament contention. It may be a smaller roster this season, but head coach Felicia Baptista believes the talent and attitude are right to get things kicked off.
Junior Maya Ashu will be one of the primary attacking threats for Stoughton this season. She will be a critical spot in the front row and has developed into a strong hitter. Junior hitter Annalia Eschleman is also back and will give Stoughton more athleticism. Senior Patrik Oliveira has been a standout on the back row and gives the Black Knights all-around play with his quickness and versatility.
Other players that could step into the starting lineup for Stoughton this season are sophomore Reagan Lewis and junior Alyssa Edwards. Both are strong athletes that will give the Black Knights more control of the middle of the net.
“This year our team is much smaller and much more prepared than in past seasons,” said Baptista. “They have been putting in lots of work this year and it shows right from day one.”
2021 Record: 8-14 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Toby Chaperon
Taunton boasts a strong group of seniors, and with the addition of some underclassmen and new additions to the program, the Tigers are looking for an improved campaign in 2022.
Senior middle Hayley Krockta will be a force at the net this season but can play at all spots on the court. She will be one of the best servers on the team and can step right in and pass like a defensive specialist. She’ll be swinging at sets off the fingertips of classmate Anna Abouzied, another returner for the Tigers. Abouzied is a terrific passer in the back row and will also run the offense as the setter.
“Hayley will be a force at the net this year,” said Taunton head coach Toby Chaperon. “And Anna can do it all too, she has the ability to hit and pass very well. We’re looking forward to having a good year.”
Senior Mia Fernandes will provide a boost of energy from the back row as the libero, flying all over the court to keep the play alive, and will be joined by classmate Megan Rose as a defensive specialist. Sayla DePina, another senior, will look to give Taunton some swings from the right side and set the block on opposing outside hitters. Rylie Roderick will add some depth at the net and at the service line for Taunton while head coach Toby Chaperon will look to incorporate transfers Morgan Fitzgerald (opposite/DS) and Julia Mitton (setter).
Juniors Jaden Sabina, Janelle Garcia, and Morgan Smith will all get some swings at the net while classmates Caroline Pietnik, Randi MacLeod, and Courtney Martin provide solid depth. Sophomore Adrianna Amaral has impressed early on this season and will get some swings at middle hitter while eighth grader Sadie Herry will be in the mix as a defensive specialist.
Baseball
King Philip, 1 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – In a playoff tuneup for two of the two rated teams in Division 2, North Attleboro emerged with its second win over King Philip this season. The Rocketeers scored twice in the third and once more in the sixth, and David Floyd had a strong showing on the mound in the win. Floyd allowed just one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts, allowing one unearned run in 6.2 innings of work. Tyler Bannon had a one-out single and Tyler DeMattio drew a two-out walk in the third, and both came home to score on a single to center from Danny Curran to give the hosts the lead. King Philip cut the deficit in half on an RBI ground out from Max Robison but North responded in the bottom half on a single to center from Floyd to score Jordan Paradis, who had a leadoff walk. Quin Gartska pitched well in the loss, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out three in 4.1 innings of work.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames built an early lead with a run in each of the first two innings, but Dighton-Rehoboth tied it with two runs in the fifth, and took the lead for the first time with two runs in the sixth. Jake Waxman went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI double for the Tigers. Nathan Carpentier also had an RBI for the Tigers.
Softball
King Philip, 8 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 5 – Final – King Philip’s offense erupted for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, erasing a four run deficit to claim a 8-5 win on the road at Bridgewater-Raynham, finishing the regular season 20-2. KP staked a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single from Charlotte Raymond but the Trojans plated three runs in the bottom half and two more in the third for a 5-1 lead. After Taylor Regan reached on an error to start the sixth, Raymond blasted a double to right to bring in a run, and then scored when Liv Petrillo reached on an error. After a single from Mia Bennett, Maddie Paschke drove in a run with a single to right. Sarah Cullen reached on a bunt single to load the bases before Ava Kelley tied the game with a single to right field, and an overthrow allowed courtesy runner Liv Ali to score for a 6-5 lead. Meg Sherwood (sac fly) and Regan (infield error) each brought in another run to make it 8-5. Emma Sheehan was terrific in relief for the Warriors, allowing just one hit and no walks, striking out two in five scoreless innings of relief for the win.
Taunton, 11 @ Newton North, 4 – Final – Locked in a one-run game through six innings, Taunton exploded for six runs in the top of the seventh to run away with its second win over Newton North this season. It was a back-and-forth battle between the two Tigers squads with Taunton claiming a 3-0 lead through 3.5 innings only for Newton North to erase that deficit with a three-run fourth inning. The visiting Tigers went back ahead with two runs in the top of the sixth (an RBI single from Liv Mendonca that brought a second run home on the throw) but the hosts responded with a run in the bottom half to make it a one-run game, 5-4, going into the final inning. Mia Fernandes had other plans as she launched a leadoff solo home run in the seventh, her second straight game with a homer. Angie Lynch and Kaysie DeMoura had back-to-back singles, and both scored on a double from Ava Venturelli. Hayley Krockta followed with a two-run double of her own, and Kylie Thorpe added a one-out RBI single to make it 11-4. Kyleah Plumb and Brooke Aldrich each added two hits and scored twice, and freshman Cate Larson went 2-for-2 with an RBI. Larson allowed three runs (all unearned) on two hits and three walks, striking out. three in 3.2 innings. Mendonca came on in relief, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, also striking out three in 3.1 innings.
Franklin, 9 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final (9 Inn.) – A back-and-forth seesaw battle between Franklin and Foxboro saw the visitors prevail with a tight 9-8 win in innings of action. Franklin took the first lead of the game with a run in the top of the first, Foxboro answered with two runs in the second, Franklin jumped back ahead with five runs in the third, but the Warriors responded with four runs in the fifth and another in the sixth for a 7-6 lead. The Panthers plated a pair in the top of the seventh to go up once again but Foxboro sent the game to extra innings with an RBI double with two outs. After a scoreless eighth, Franklin’s Carly Pellegri smacked a one-out double to bring Katy Liberman in for the winning run. The Warriors got a runner in scoring position with two outs but Kiera Kotwicki got her third strikeout to end it. Pellegri finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs with her two-run home run putting Franklin ahead 8-7 in the seventh. Reece Allen (RBI, run), Georgia Harvey (two runs), and Aislinn Lavery (two RBI, run) each added three hits for the Panthers. Freshman Ava Hill went 4-for-5, including an RBI double in the seventh that forced extra innings. Peyton Feldman added three hits, an RBI, and a run scored for the Warriors.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 8 vs. Medway, 4 – Final
Sharon, 22 vs. Cardinal Spellman, 7 – Final
Canton, 10 vs. Marshfield, 13 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 13 @ Quincy, 8 – Final – Canton closed the regular season with a 13-8 win on the road over Quincy, winning eight of its final nine games to finish the season at 14-3. Goalie Elyse Broderick had one of her best games of the season, turning away 12 shots to lead Emily McCabe led the charge offensively for the Bulldogs with four goals and three assists while Ella Yeaton added four goals and one helper.
Baseball
North Attleboro, 9 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Buoyed by a big start, North Attleboro went on the road and returned home from Fino Field with a 9-2 win over Milford. The Rocketeers scored three runs in each of the first two innings and then tacked on single runs in three straight innings to get the win. Tyler DeMattio brought in the first run in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly and Jordan Paradis drove in two runs with a single to center to an early 3-0 lead. The Big Red doubled the advantage in the top of the second right after David Floyd escaped a bases-loaded situation in the bottom half of the first. DeMattio drew a bases loaded walk to bring in a run and Danny Curran followed with a two-run double to right to make it 6-0. Gio Martello (sac fly), Floyd (bases loaded walk), and DeMattio (sac fly) each brought a run in over the next three innings for North. Grant Scudo had an RBI single and scored after Damien Carter reached on an error. Floyd got the win, tossing four shutout innings with five hits, three walks, and five strikeouts. Paradis pitched three innings in relief with two runs (both unearned) allowed on three hits and a walk, striking out three.
Taunton, 8 vs. New Bedford, 0 – Final
Franklin, 8 vs. Framingham, 6 – Final – Franklin rallied to erase an early deficit and went ahead with a big fifth inning, let the lead slip away, but rallied once again to secure a win over Framingham. The visiting Flyers struck for three runs in the second and once in the top of the fifth to claim a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth. Franklin’s offense came alive with five runs for a 6-4 lead but that quickly evaporated after Framingham tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth. But once again Franklin responded as Joe Tirrell delivered an RBI triple to score Ben Jarosz (triple) and Ryan Gerety followed with an RBI single to left to put Franklin ahead for good. Gerety had two hits while six other Panthers had one hit, including Evan Raider who had two RBI on the day. Raider, the Panthers’ fourth pitcher, earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk, striking out four in 2.2 innings of work. Austin Campbell tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief early in the game, allowing one hit and two walks with one strikeout.
Softball
Franklin, 3 vs. Abington, 9 – Final
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 17 – Final (5 inn.) – Mandi Hanewich had a big day at the plate and Zoey McDonough was dominant in the circle as the Rocketeers grabbed a big win over Sharon. Hanewich broke the game open in the second inning, blasting a three-run home run as one her four hits on the day. Ally Levine, Grace Simmons and Kelly Colleran had three hits apiece for the Rocketeers. McDonough tossed a no-hitter, retiring 15 of the 16 batters she faced with 10 strikeouts. Offensively, she helped her cause with a three-run home run while Emma Hanwell and Grace Barry each had a double, and Shaelyn Burns reached base three times.
Foxboro, 8 @ Uxbridge, 5 – Final – Foxboro went on the road and knocked off Uxbridge to make it four straight wins. Vittoria Cuscia tossed a complete game for the second straight game, striking out eight in the win. Offensively, she helped her cause with two hits while freshman Ava Hill drove in a pair of runs for the Warriors.
Boys Lacrosse
Milford, 5 @ North Attleboro, 16 – Final – North Attleboro took down visiting Milford and clinched the Davenport division title in the process. Connor Ruppert scored a pair of goals, including the 100th of his career, while Matt Antonetti added two goals and freshman Brady Backner scored three goals.
Mansfield, 4 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Conor Noone and Lincoln Moore each had five points as Foxboro doubled up on rival Mansfield. Noone had two goals along with three helpers while Moore scored a hat trick and added two assists in the win. Jack Avery and John Sacchetti each had a goal while Nate Urman made three saves in the fourth quarter for Foxboro.
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 11 @ North Attleboro, 10 – Final
Sharon, 7 @ Milford, 10 – Final – Milford erased an early deficit to tie the game by halftime, and then outscored the visiting Eagles to secure a win on senior night. Milford scored the first goal of the second half to make it 5-4 but two straight from Sharon put the visitors back in front with 12 minutes to go. Milford came right back with four straight goals to take the lead for good. Sharon cut the deficit down to two late but Emily Croteau put the game away with a late goal.
Boys Tennis
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed
Franklin, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Franklin beat both the rain and rival King Philip, taking a 5-0 sweep on the road to clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. The Panthers took all five matches in straight sets with Vayshanv Malhotra (6-1, 6-2), Sameen Shaik (6-1, 6-0), and Drew Mahoney (6-2, 6-1) taking care of business in singles action, and the teams of Thomas Broyles and Tyler Fitzpatrick (first doubles, 6-2, 6-3) and Jay Gorgas and Ahan Shetty (second doubles, 6-3, 7-5) sweeping doubles action.
Mansfield, 4 @ West Bridgewater, 1 – Final – Mansfield took both doubles matches and two more victories in singles action to sweep the season series against non-league foe West Bridgewater. Freshman Neema Khosravani earned a straight set win at second singles, dropping just two games on his way to a 6-1, 6-1 verdict while sophomore Iniyan Karruppusami prevailed from a hard-fought battle at third singles with a 7-5, 6-4 win. The team of Jonah Fine and Nikhil Nain earned a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles and Jacob Weiner and Josh Weiner rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Behind two wins from both singles and doubles action, Foxboro earned a division win over Canton at home. Athena Li rolled at first singles 6-0, 6-0 while Hailey Kornbluth added a 6-0, 6-0 win at second singles. The team of Abby Costa and Juliana Preston secured a 6-4, 6-2 win at first doubles for the Warriors and Emily Stow and Sydney Lebow added a 6-4, 6-2 win at second doubles. Canton’s Olivia Maloney emerged from a hard-fought, competitive match at third singles with a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 10-7 win.
King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/25
Milford @ Whitinsville Christian, 3:30
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ King Philip, 0 – Final
Milford, 3 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 0 – Final
