Erin Quaile (20) and Shannon Gray (10) were all smiles after beating Mansfield on the road to clinch at least a share of Franklin’s first league title since 2013. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. – The cliche is that defense wins championships and, if the cliche is true, then it is no wonder that Franklin had the chance to clinch a Kelley-Rex division title on Tuesday night. The Panthers came into the game against Mansfield in the Albertini Gym allowing a little more than 35 points per game, which was a league best.
With a potential title on the line against the three-time defending champions, the Panthers turned to their defense once again, and added some clutch shooting to go with it.
Franklin held Mansfield to just 14 points in the first half and took control with an 11-0 run just before the break and sealed the win with a 11-4 run down the stretch when the Hornets had gotten back within single digits. With the 47-32 victory, Franklin secured at least a share of its first league title since 2013.
“It’s really what we’ve been working towards all season,” said Franklin senior Bea Bondhus. “Yesterday, at the end of practice we sat in front of the banner in the gym and coach was like, ‘2013 was the last time we won it and you guys have the chance to win it this year.’ Before the game, we were really nervous but he made it clear that this was an opportunity and that we can beat this team.”
The game was a defensive struggle from the opening tip. It took nearly three minutes for either team to get on the scoreboard and the teams were tied at just 7-7 after one.
Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “They’re aggressive defensively, [Ali] Brigham’s back there if they do get beat off backdoors and off the dribble and it’s hard to make field goals against them and if you’re not getting to the free throw line good luck trying to beat them.”
Mady Bendanillo buried a three off an assist from her sister Kara to open the scoring, but Franklin was able to get the ball into the paint to star center Ali Brigham. The 6-foot-3 junior scored all seven of the Panthers’ points in the first and finished with a game-high 17, along with 10 rebounds and four blocks.
The Hornets continued to hang right with the league leaders late into the second quarter, thanks to its own defensive effort. Mansfield is allowing fewer than 40 points per game this season as well. Emily Vigeant (nine points) scored on a drive and then drilled a three to put the hosts up 14-13 with only a couple of minutes left until halftime.
“The tight start? Mike’s team plays great ‘D’. Bea was never open, Ali was hugged, and they just said beat us with someone else,” Franklin coach John Leighton explained.
Franklin took control in the span of about 90 seconds. Freshman Olivia Quinn scored on an offensive rebound to get the lead back. Shannon Gray knocked down a three to extend the lead to four and then Brigham stepped into a transition three. Gray capped the half with a corner three off a Brigham kick out to open up a 10-point lead.
“That’s exactly how I drew it up with my center hitting a pull-up three,” Leighton joked. “It was huge, especially Shannon hitting a couple because we’ve been working with her. In practice, she nails them but in games she’s the last kid to look for her shot and tonight, when it was there, she took them.”
Redding added, “It was a great defensive battle and then a one-point game became a 10-point game. We played them pretty even in the second half but that run really was the killer.”
Maggie Danehy (10 points and 13 rebounds) opened the second half with a jumper, but each time Mansfield got the lead back to single digits Franklin had a response. Megan O’Connell got a layup off one of Erin Quaile’s five assists and then Quaile drove to the rim for a basket.
Sydney Mulkern hit a three to cut the lead back down to nine points, but Brigham scored at the rim and Quaile hustled to snag an offensive rebound and fed Bondhus (eight points) for an easy finish. The Panthers led 36-23 after three quarters.
“A lot of people, when they talk about our team, they say that Ali carries us but it’s huge for everyone on this team to step up and make shots,” said Bondhus. “Megan, Erin, Shannon, everyone made shots.”
Neither offense clicked in the fourth but Mansfield was able to get as close as eight points (36-28) off a Mulkern drive. With Brigham in foul trouble, the Panthers were starting to rush against the Mansfield press and it looked like the Hornets might just have a chance to get back into the game.
“This is such a game of momentum,” said Leighton, who called a timeout in the fourth quarter to try and rally his team. “I’d love to tell you I drew something new up, but I just wanted to settle them down because they’re good enough. Once we settled, I think the guards handled the pressure better and we ran good offense.”
Following the timeout, the Panthers responded. Quaile scored, extending the lead to 11, and then Bondhus got free for the first time at the three-point lead to break the game open again. She buried a second three, the team’s sixth of the night, to put the game away.
“Bea stayed patient and stayed loose until the fourth quarter and those were some killer shots when we needed them,” said Leighton. He added, “Nothing changes after this. Win or loss, we still have to play the remaining games. Nothing is done.”
Franklin (15-1, 13-0) can clinch the outright title on Friday night when it hosts Taunton. Mansfield (11-4, 10-3) will try to keep up its push for a top-four seed in the Div. 1 South sectional when it travels to Oliver Ames.
Canton, 37 @ Milford, 50 – Final – Tied at 19 at halftime, Milford used a dominating second half to pull away from visiting Canton. The Hawks outscored the Bulldogs 18-7 in the third quarter to build a double-digit lead that it held on to for the win. Sophomore Jordan Darling and senior Danny Corsini each had a team-high 13 points for Milford while Brendon Sailer added 10 points. Devin Foster scored a game-high 15 points for Canton.
Foxboro, 53 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final – Holding a one-point lead after threw quarters of play, Foxboro limited North Attleboro to just seven points in the final quarter to pull away with the win. The Warriors led 36-35 heading into the fourth but used a 7-0 run to create some separation at the beginning of the final period. Junior Brandon Borde scored 20 points in his first game back from injury while sophomore Kevin Gallagher added 18 points for the Warriors, who hit nine three-pointers. Josh Montague had a team-high 13 points for North.
King Philip, 64 @ Oliver Ames, 69 – Final – Oliver Ames led 52-41 entering the final quarter and never surrendered the lead, hitting free throws down the stretch to clinch the win. OA senior Sean O’Brien scored 14 of his career-high 19 points in the second half senior Ethan Eckstrom added 15 points, and Harry DeChellis and Jay Spillane each chipped in with 11 points. King Philip’s Alex Fritz scored a career-high 21 points while Bruce Saintilus added 18 points.
Mansfield, 83 @ Taunton, 67 – Final – Mansfield junior Sam Stevens poured in a career-high 35 points to pace the Hornets to a win over visiting Taunton. Stevens connected on 13 field goals, including seven three-pointers, and hit both of his free throws to help the Hornets earn the win. Mansfield led by five at the end of the first (23-18) and then extended its advantage to 17 by the halftime break (44-27). Tommy Dooling and Matt Boen each added 13 points in the win. Taunton senior Mike Quinn scored a career-high 27 points while John Martins added 17 points for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 77 @ Sharon, 64 – Final – Stoughton scored 22 points in the third quarter to create a large enough cushion to secure a win on the road at Sharon. The Black Knights led 21-11 after one and took a 39-31 lead into the locker room. Stoughton junior Obinna Ugwuakazi led the Black Knights with 22 points and 13 rebounds while classmate Tahkwan Gates Brown also had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Kaplan scored a career-high 19 points to pace Sharon.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 28 @ Franklin, 58 – Final – Ali Brigham was the top scorer for the Panthers with 24 points and Bea Bondhus scored 12 to keep Franklin unbeaten in the league.
Milford, 22 @ Canton, 55 – Final
North Attleboro, 42 @ Foxboro, 57 – Final – Katelyn Mollica scored 14 points and Abby Hassman added 11 as the Warriors bounced back from their first loss of the season with a division win.
Oliver Ames, 66 @ King Philip, 54 – Final – Oliver Ames led by just two at halftime but opened its lead up with a strong second half. Freshman Caroline Peper had a team-high 16 points while senior Alex Sheldon added 14 points and sophomore Caroline Flynn finished with nine points. Shannon O’Connor scored 18 points to lead a KP team that was missing a couple of players due to illness, including leading scorer Faye Veilleux. Emma Glaser chipped in with 10 for the Warriors.
Taunton, 21 @ Mansfield, 49 – Final – The Hornets shut out Taunton in the first quarter and held the Tigers to just 10 points through three quarters to pull out the win. Emily Vigeant knocked down four threes and scored a game-high 14 points. Maggie Danehy added 11 points and 14 rebounds and Becca Hottleman had seven points, four assists, and three steals. Lily Patneaude had five points and Alexa White had four in the loss.
Boys Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
Attleboro, 37 vs. Mansfield, 63 – Final – After falling behind 33-30, Mansfield went 1-2 in shot put (Colbey Eason, Nico Holmes), took first and third in the high jump (Andrew Williams, Ethan Thevenot), and swept the 2 Mile (Mike Mullahy, Cullen Lancaster, Trevor Flint) to clinch the win before winning both relays. Mansfield’s 4×200 relay team of Aidan Sacco, Greg Waters, Joe Cappelletti, and Jack Rivard ran the top time in the Hock so far this season.
Franklin, 66 vs. Oliver Ames, 34 – Final
Canton, 35 vs. Stoughton, 65 – Final – Canton junior Christopher Rota took first in the 1 Mile (5:09.59) and freshman Kyle Downing was first in the 2 Mile (11:24.65) and second in the 1 Mile but the Bulldogs fell to Stoughton. Sophomore Cam Sanchez won the 55M dash while the 4×400 relay team of James Vo, Zach Goldstein, Mike Mazzola, and Deyontai Dennis clocked in at 3:48.39 to take first.
King Philip, 46 vs. Taunton, 54 – Final
Milford, 89 vs. Foxboro, 9 – Final
North Attleboro, 50 vs. Sharon, 50 – Final
Girls Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
Attleboro, 21 vs. Mansfield, 79 – Final – Mansfield improved to 5-0 in dual meets and claimed the Kelley-Rex division title with a win over Attleboro. The Hornets got strong performances from its seniors, including Amanda Mangano, who won three events. Senior Alexis Kiyanda won the 300, senior Bryn Anderson took first in the 100, and senior Zoe Plante won the 55M hurdles and took second in the 55M dash. Sophomore Tessa Lancaster ran a PR in the mile to take first and freshman Maria Sevastos earned first in the 600M.
Franklin, 66.5 vs. Oliver Ames, 33.5 – Final
Canton, 34.33 vs. Stoughton, 65.66 – Final – For Canton, Chloe Pennacchio was a double-winner, taking first in the 1 Mile (5:56.01) and the 1000M (3:30.68), Liz Bickett earned first in the high jump (4-06.00), and Bronwyn Mahoney finished with the top throw in the shot put (30′ 1.5″).
King Philip, 42 vs. Taunton, 58 – Final
Milford, 66 vs. Foxboro, 30 – Final
North Attleboro, 63 vs. Sharon, 37 – Final
Boys Swimming
Taunton @ Canton, 6:30
Franklin, 98 @ Foxboro, 54 – Final
Mansfield, 83 @ North Attleboro, 85 – Final
Sharon, 69 @ Oliver Ames, 93 – Final
Girls Swimming
Taunton @ Canton, 6:30
Franklin, 97 @ Foxboro, 68 – Final
Mansfield, 80 @ North Attleboro, 90 – Final
Sharon, 83 @ Oliver Ames, 95 – Final
Franklin junior center Ali Brigham put up monster numbers (27 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks) to end Foxboro’s 26-game unbeaten run and keep the Panthers unbeaten in league play this season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – Coming into Tuesday night’s showdown, Foxboro and Franklin were both unbeaten (8-0) in Hockomock play and were the league’s top two scoring teams, its top two defensive teams, its two division leaders, and boasted the league’s top two scorers.
It was clearly a battle of the top two teams in the Hock and it was a battle that was dominated by the Hock’s top scorer, Ali Brigham. The 6-foot-3 junior center scored 27 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and blocked six shots, controlling the paint on both ends of the court to help Franklin remain unbeaten with a 52-40 victory.
“She’s frustrated because she thought that she could’ve played better,” Franklin coach John Leighton joked when asked about Brigham’s performance night-in, night-out. “It’s great coaching a kid that wants to become better. She’s not complacent. She’s not close to the player that she wants to be, yet. She keeps expanding her game.”
Franklin’s win ended Foxboro’s 26-game win streak and 33-game league win streak.
While Brigham rightfully stole the headlines for her all-around game, Franklin also won because of its defensive performance on Foxboro sophomore Katelyn Mollica. The league’s second leading scorer was held to just nine points (four in the fourth quarter) thanks to the very close attention of sophomore Erin Quaile.
With Mollica contained, Foxboro was held more than 20 points below its season average.
“It gets tough for Mollica having all that pressure, especially when you have someone who can stick with you the way Quaile did tonight,” said Foxboro coach Lisa Downs. “She completely blocked her out and denied her the ball, but I don’t know if we have any answer for Ali Brigham but our goal was to keep her below her average and we didn’t do that.”
The Panthers jumped out to an early lead, as Brigham scored eight points in the first, matching Foxboro’s total in the quarter. She twice got baskets on offensive rebounds, drove to the basket and was set up by a Bea Bondhus drive. Bondhus (nine points) also scored twice herself and Megan O’Connell (10 points) added four points.
Chelsea Gibbons hit a three, Mollica hit a pull-up three and Lizzy Davis scored on a jumper, but that was all the Warriors could manage against Franklin’s pressure defense.
Leighton said, “Erin Quaile and Shannon Gray have been doing this all year. We unleash them on the other team’s best guards and they’re very good athletes and tough as nails but it helps having Ali behind them. They ran a lot of screens for Mollica tonight and I thought we hedged well; no one was alone on an island.”
That pattern held in the second, as the Warriors were held to eight points as a team again. A quick 6-0 run extended the Panthers’ advantage to 14 points, but Foxboro hung around thanks to four points from Yara Fawaz (team-high 12 points and six rebounds). But, whenever Foxboro seemed to be climbing back into the game, Franklin responded and Brigham scored off assists by Quaile and Elizabeth Wilson to push the lead back to 12 at halftime.
“Foxboro doesn’t win as many games in a row as they have without that,” said Leighton about Foxboro continually pushing back. “There is zero quit, but I thought we answered defensively every time they made a run. We got patient on offense, worked the ball around and instead of taking that first open look, work it around and either get an inside touch or kick it out to the open kid.”
The third quarter was back-and-forth. Brigham was again the focal point for the Panthers, who found different ways to get her the ball on the block and moved the ball well from side-to-side and kept the Foxboro defense moving. With Brigham and O’Connell (seven rebounds) controlling the glass, Franklin also prevented the Warriors from getting out in transition.
Fawaz scored four more points in the third, combining well with fellow forward Abby Hassman (five assists) to try and step away from the basket and, of course, Brigham. Davis also drilled a three and Anita Busznyak took a lead pass from Mollica for a rare basket on the break.
Despite Foxboro feeling like it was on the brink of a comeback, the Warriors fell a further point behind heading to the fourth quarter. Still, the hosts kept battling back, with six straight points to start the fourth cutting the lead to 43-36 after Mollica’s steal and layup.
O’Connell answered with a basket and then assisted on a Brigham basket. Fawaz got into the lane to score and make it a nine-point game again, but Bondhus came right back down and drilled a three from the left wing to push the lead into double digits and seal the win.
Brigham remarked, “I think we were just so focused and so ready to win that we just handled what we needed to do. If they went on a run, we came back with another one.”
Downs was philosophical about the end of the win streak. She said, “It’s one of those teams that’s going to help us for down the road to prepare for the postseason because they are so talented. We never really could get past that hump, but they didn’t stop fighting and I give them credit for that.”
Franklin (11-1, 9-0) will be back home on Friday night to host Attleboro, while Foxboro (10-1, 8-1) will host North Attleboro, which comes in with five wins in its last six games.
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 63 @ Taunton, 60 – Final – Tied at 53 apiece late in the game, Attleboro closed . the game with a 10-7 run to edge the Tigers. The Bombardiers jumped ahead 60-53 with a 7-0 run, bookended with free throws from Bryant Ciccio (18 points) along with a layup from Mason Houle. Taunton responded with a three from John Martins and a steal and layup from Mike Quinn (12 points) to get within two. With 10.8 seconds left, Taunton had the ball down 62-60 but Tim Callahan helped force a turnover, Ciccio hit one of two free throws and Qualeem Charles (21 points, 11 rebounds) grabbed the offensive board and Attleboro kept possession as time expired. Dante Law led Taunton with 20 points while Wesner Charles added 10 points.
Sharon, 49 @ Foxboro, 69 – Final – Foxboro built a nine-point advantage over three quarter and then turned it on during the fourth, pouring in 30 points in the final quarter to pull away from the visiting Eagles. The Warriors led by two (10-8) after one, and six (25-19) by halftime. Foxboro increased its lead to nine (39-30) entering the fourth. Junior Will Morrison scored 10 of his 12 points in the final quarter, one of four Warriors to score double-digits. Anthony Mollica had a team-high 17 points, sophomore Kevin Gallagher added 15 points and senior Ryan Hughes finished with 11 points, all in the first three quarters. Sharon’s Kiran Chandrasekaran led the Eagles with 10 points and Caleb Gayle added eight points and 10 rebounds.
Franklin, 61 @ Oliver Ames, 40 – Final – Franklin limited Oliver Ames to just 16 points in the second half, turning a six-point halftime advantage in a double-digit win. The Panthers led 16-12 after one and 30-24 at half but didn’t allow the Tigers to score double digits in either the third (14-9) or the fourth (17-7). Senior Jalen Samuels led the Panthers with 15 points, including eight in the fourth quarter while classmate Jake Macchi added a career-high 14 points (five in the fourth), connecting on four three pointers. Senior Ethan Eckstrom and sophomore Amari Brown each had eight points for the Tigers.
King Philip, 69 @ Mansfield, 65 – Final – King Philip hit five three-pointers and exploded for 28 points in the fourth quarter to earn a score a big come-from-behind upset on the road at Mansfield. It marks the Warriors’ first win against the Hornets since February 2012, snapping a 12-game skid. KP trailed by nine with just over five minutes to go before outscoring the Hornets 25-12 over that period. Junior Alex Fritz scored 10 of his career-high 20 points in the final quarter while Tim Nault poured in three triples in the final frame to finish with 17 points. Bruce Saintilus added 16 points and Sam Sesay added for KP. Mansfield senior Damani Scott had a team-high 15 points and sophomore TJ Guy added 13 points for the Hornets.
Milford, 74 @ Stoughton, 54 – Final – Milford senior Brendan White poured in a career-high 40 points and hauled in 18 rebounds to lead the Scarlet Hawks to a big win on the road. White scored 13 points in the opening quarter, helping the Hawks jump out ahead 18-9, and then added 10 in the second as Milford built a 37-21 lead by halftime. White had 15 made field goals, including three three-pointers, and connected on four free throws. Brendon Sailer added 11 points and Jordan Darling finished with 10 points for Milford. Sophomore Brett Pendenza had a team-high 10 points for the Black Knights.
Girls Basketball
Taunton, 46 @ Attleboro, 60 – Final – Attleboro used a balanced offensive attack to pull out the division win at home. Liv McCall paced the Bombardiers with 12, but she got a lot of help from Kenzie Roberts and Emma Reilly, who each scored 11. Ryan Johnson and Gabby Bosh also played well off the Attleboro bench, according to coach Marty Crowley. Sonya Fernandez led the Tigers with 14 and Tori DeRosa chipped in with 10.
Canton, 59 @ North Attleboro, 69 – Final – North Attleboro continued its surge up the standings with a strong performance against Canton. Amanda Kaiser scored 22 points and Julia Feid added 19 for the Rocketeers, who scored a season-high 69 points as a team. Olivia Forbes added eight in the win. Sydney Gallery scored 15 points and her sister Fay added 14 for the Bulldogs. North has won five of its last six games, with the only loss being at Franklin.
Foxboro, 54 @ Sharon, 44 – Final – The defending Div. 2 state champs have booked a place in the state tournament with their 10th straight win to start the season, but it was not easy. Foxboro needed a 14-4 run in the final four-plus minutes to keep the win streak alive. Lizzy Davis was the top scorer for Foxboro with 16, while Katelyn Mollica added 15 and Chelsea Gibbons had 14 in the win. Telishya Herbert matched Davis, scoring 16 points to lead the Eagles. Emma Eberhardt had 11 points and Kaitlyn Wallace had eight to help Sharon put a scare into the Davenport leaders.
Oliver Ames, 36 @ Franklin, 62 – Final – OA led by three after one quarter, but Franklin rallied to grab the lead by halftime. In the third quarter, the Panthers broke the game wide open, going on a 24-6 run that put them in front for good. Megan O’Connell had a big game for the hosts, scoring 18 points, to help Franklin stay unbeaten in the league and remain two games ahead of Mansfield in the title race. Bea Bondhus had 15 points, on five three-pointers, and Ali Brigham had 13 in the win. Hailey Bourne was the top scorer for OA with nine points.
Stoughton, 67 @ Milford, 32 – Final – Hailey Egan helped Stoughton get back on track, scoring 13 points to lead the Black Knights. Lindsay McDonald had 11 points and eight rebounds, while Sydnee Hyacinthe had 10 points, four assists, and five steals.
Wrestling
Silver Lake Quad (Oliver Ames) – Oliver Ames went 3-0 on the day, picking up wins over South Shore Tech (62-12), Quincy (63-12), and host Silver Lake (57-12).
Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 6:30
Foxboro @ Sharon, 4:00
Franklin, 86 @ Westwood, 57 – Final
Mansfield, 46 @ Taunton, 45 – Final
Girls Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 6:30
Foxboro @ Sharon, 4:00
Franklin, 89.5 @ Westwood, 80.5 – Final
Mansfield, 44 @ Taunton, 60 – Final
Gymnastics
Attleboro @ King Philip, 8:00
Canton @ North Attleboro, 7:30
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 79 @ King Philip, 60 – Final – Attleboro outscored King Philip 29-10 in the second quarter to turn a deficit into the separation it needed for the rest of the way. The Warriors held a 20-18 advantage after one but Attleboro’s offense poured in 29 points in the second quarter to take a 47-30 lead into the break. Junior Bryant Ciccio scored 10 of his game-high 20 points in the second frame while senior Kevin Velazquez added seven of his career-high 19 points in the second. Attleboro junior Qualeem Charles shined with 16 points and 15 boards. King Philip’s Tim Nault, Bruce Saintilus, and Sam Sesay each scored 12 points.
Canton, 54 @ Sharon, 38 – Final – Canton turned it on the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points to pull away from a pesky Eagles team to earn the win. Canton led 18-13 at halftime, and took a six point advantage at 33-27 going into the final quarter. Devin Foster had five of his team-high 17 points in the final quarter and grabbed a total of 15 rebounds while sophomore Eric Mischler got going in the final frame with 10 of his 13 points coming in the fourth. Ryan Lentol added nine points and Kyle Fitzgerald scored all seven of his points in the second half. Sharon’s Ben Kaplan and Aidan each scored nine points for the Eagles.
Foxboro, 66 @ Stoughton, 77 – Final – Stoughton had its been offensive performance of the season, scoring a season-high 77 points on its way to a win over visiting Foxboro. Stoughton’s four point lead after one quarter (19-15) grew to nine by half as the Knights led 45-36 at the break. Foxboro cut the deficit to four by the end of the third, 60-56, but Stoughton outscored the Warriors 17-10 in the final quarter. Stoughton junior Obinna Ugqwuakazi connected on 13 field goals for a career-high 27 points and hauled in 18 rebounds to pace the Black Knights. Senior Kevin Dixon scored 16 of his career-high 18 points in the second half and five more Stoughton players scored five or more points. Foxboro junior Will Morrison hit six three-pointers for a career-high 18 points to pace the Warriors.
Oliver Ames, 44 @ Mansfield, 64 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Mansfield broke the game wide open in the second half, thanks to Tommy Dooling’s outside shooting. Dooling hit six of his seven three-pointers after halftime, including four in the third quarter alone, and finished with a game-high 21 points. T.J. Guy scored 11 points for the Hornets, including six in the fourth quarter, and Damani Scott added nine points. Amari Brown tried to keep things close with 10 points for the Tigers, including eight in the third quarter, Sean O’Brien scored nine points and Ethan Eckstrom added eight in the loss.
North Attleboro, 53 @ Milford, 52 – Final – North Attleboro senior Nate Goncalves (11 points) connected on a pair of free throws to put the Rocketeers up three and that ended up the difference as Big Red held on for a one-point road win at Milford. After Goncalves’ put North up 53-50, the Rocketeers got a stop but Milford senior Brendan White (10 points) converted an offensive rebound to make it a one-point game. North missed the front end of a one-and-one but Milford’s halfcourt shot at the buzzer was off the mark. The Rocketeers led 18-13 after one, and 27-24 at half but an 18-point third quarter from the Scarlet Hawks knotted things at 42-42 going into the final frame. Senior Josh Montague (10 points) had a big three in the fourth and senior Jake Petersen scored half of his eight points in the final quarter. Senior Matt Seavey added a career-high 12 points for North and junior Ethan Friberg finished with 11 points. Junior Colby Pires and sophomore Jordan Darling each added 10 points for Milford.
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 68 @ Attleboro, 54 – Final – KP had three players score in double figures to bounce back from the loss to Canton. Faye Veilleux continued her strong start to the season with a game-high 15 points, but she got plenty of help on Friday with Faith Roy scoring 13 and Julia Leroux scoring 10. Nyah Thomas hit double figures for the second straight game for Attleboro, with 14, and Dom Garnes scored 13 and pulled down 12 rebounds. Liv McCall added 10 for the Bombardiers.
Canton, 58 @ Sharon, 44 – Final – Canton caught fire from three-point range to win its fifth straight game. The Bulldogs knocked down eight threes as a team. Sydney Gallery was the top scorer for the Bulldogs with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Fay Gallery and Kiara Cerruti each scored 14 in the win, while Maggie Connolly scored six points, had seven rebounds and held Sharon’s top scorer Emma Eberhardt to two points in the second half. Eberhardt still managed 11 points for the Eagles, who had a lead after the first quarter. Evanjuline Elisma added seven points in the loss.
Stoughton, 29 @ Foxboro, 58 – Final – Foxboro stayed unbeaten heading into next week’s showdown with fellow division leader Franklin. Katelyn Mollica scored 23 points for the Warriors and Chelsea Gibbons added 14. Stoughton stayed with Foxboro for a half, down only 11 at the break, but the Warriors were able to build momentum and pull away. Aliyah Wright had a team-high 13 points for the Black Knights.
Franklin, 75 @ Taunton, 37 – Final – Ali Brigham was dominant again for the Panthers, scoring 26 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. Bea Bondhus added 12 points for Franklin, which had 11 different players get on the score sheet.
Milford, 39 @ North Attleboro, 59 – Final – North continued its winning run with a strong second half to pull away from the Hawks. Reigning HockomockSports.com Player of the Week Julia Feid was the game’s top scorer with 15 points and North also got 12 from Amanda Kaiser. Jillian Michelson scored a team-high 13 for Milford.
Boys Swimming
Canton, 99 @ Foxboro, 50 – Final – Foxboro’s Ben Dorman and Thomas Perry Jr. each had a win and the Warriors’ 400 relay team took first but Canton earned the win overall. Dorman won the 100 backstroke in 1:20 with Kris Andersen taking second. Perry Jr. took first in the 100 breaststroke with teammate Josh Sitte touching second. The team of Jared Roke, Anthony Amico, Jack Groves, and Joseph St. Pierre won the 400 relay in 5:17.
King Philip, 91 @ Oliver Ames, 77 – Final
Milford, 101 @ Sharon, 63 – Final
Stoughton, 35 @ North Attleboro, 90 – Final
Franklin, 56 @ Taunton, 37 – Final
Girls Swimming
Canton, 97 @ Foxboro, 71 – Final – Foxboro’s Pam Nelson had a pair of individual wins, Sarah Egan won once, and the Warriors swept the 400 relay but Canton recorded the win. Nelson won the 200IM (2:32) and the 500 free (6:03), Egan touched first in the 100 backstroke (1:14), and the team of Gina Oullette, Kendall Milender, Madison Feldman, and Shannon Egan won the 400 relay in 5:01.
King Philip, 81 @ Oliver Ames, 94 – Final
Milford, 83 @ Sharon, 86 – Final
Stoughton, 57 @ North Attleboro, 91 – Final
Franklin, 51 @ Taunton, 42 – Final
Boys Basketball
Oliver Ames, 64 @ Attleboro, 70 – Final – Oliver Ames’ cut Attleboro’s once 19-point lead down to five in the third quarter but the Bombardiers held on for the win. Attleboro took a 38-23 lead into the break but the Tigers clawed their way back into the game to get within five. But the Bombardiers finished the quarter strong and led 53-44 heading into the fourth. Junior Qualeem Charles tied a career-high 28 points while hauling in 11 rebounds. Junior Bryant Ciccio added 17 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. Tim Callahan chipped in with nine points. For Oliver Ames, senior Ethan Eckstrom had a career-high 20 points while senior Jake Erlich added a career-best 14 points for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 48 @ Canton, 58 – Final – Canton sophomores Eric Mischler and Matt Giglio combined for 10 three-pointers as the Bulldogs pulled away from the Black Knights in the fourth quarter. Mischler connected on six triples for a career-high 22 points while Giglio hit four threes for a career-high 12 points. Stoughton led by one (13-12) after one, the game was tied 25-25 at halftime, and Canton took a 37-36 lead into the final quarter. Both Mischler and Giglio hit a pair of three pointers in the fourth quarter to help Canton secure the win. Devin Foster added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win. For Stoughton, junior Obinna Ugwuakazi had a team-high 16 points and hauled in 16 rebounds.
Milford, 41 @ Foxboro, 49 – Final – Foxboro used a 19-point second quarter to build a double-digit advantage and used that cushion and strong defense to get a win over Milford. The Warriors had six players score in the second quarter, including three-pointers from Dylan Barreira and Kevin Gallagher. Junior Brandon Borde posted a team-high 15 points for the Warriors while Anthony Mollica added eight points. Milford sophomore Jordan Darling had a team-high 15 points while senior Brendon Sailer chipped in with 10 points.
Taunton, 63 @ King Philip, 44 – Final – Taunton limited King Philip to just one field goal in the opening quarter and built a 29-14 lead by half in a win on the road. Taunton sophomore Tyler Stewart scored six of his career-high 12 points in the opening frame while Naz Kenion scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the second half. Senior Mike Quinn added 13 points and junior Dante Law finished with nine points. Junior Alex Fritz had a team-high 13 points for the Warriors.
North Attleboro, 69 @ Sharon, 43 – Final – North Attleboro senior Josh Montague caught fire early, scoring 18 of his game-high 20 points in the opening quarter and the Rocketeers clamped down defensively to earn a division win. Montague’s hot start helped Big Red jump ahead 24-3 at the end of the first quarter. Big Red added 22 points in the second quarter and never looked back from its 46-14 advantage at half. Junior Ethan Friberg and sophomore George Ladd each had 10 points for North. Sharon’s Andrew Burton had a team-high eight points.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 39 @ Oliver Ames, 62 – Final – Oliver Ames had a well balanced attack, scoring 30 or more in each half, on its way to a double-digit win over visiting Attleboro. The Tigers took a 30-20 lead by halftime and never surrendered it in the second half. Junior Tate Hadges had a career-high 16 points and hauled in nine rebounds, senior Alex Sheldon added 11 points, and sophomore Caroline Flynn finished with 10 points for Oliver Ames.
Canton, 60 @ Stoughton, 56 – Final – Canton held on to beat Stoughton on the road to move back above .500 Sydney Gallery scored 17 points to lead the Bulldogs, including 7-of-9 from the line, and her sister Fay added 13 points on four made threes. Maggie Connolly added nine points in the win, including 5-for-5 from the free throw line down the stretch. Stoughton got 17 points from Sydnee Hyacinthe and 14 from Aliyah Wright in the loss.
Foxboro, 71 @ Milford, 19 – Final – The Warriors had 11 different players score, led by Katelyn Mollica with 25 points. Lizzy Davis and Anita Busznyak each scored nine in the win.
Mansfield, 47 @ Franklin, 60 – Final – Bea Bondhus scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Panthers in a crucial divisional matchup. Franklin also got 20 points off the bench to hold off the Hornets, who limited Ali Brigham’s scoring with a box-and-one defense. She finished with six points and 12 rebounds. Megan O’Connell stepped in to add seven points and four other players added six apiece for the Panthers.
King Philip, 58 @ Taunton, 49 – Final – After nearly two weeks off, KP started slow and trailed heading into the fourth but exploded for a 25-8 quarter to pull out the win. Faye Veilleux stepped up in the absence of KP’s leading scorer Shannon O’Connor and scored 18 points in the win. Faith Roy added 12 for the Warriors.
**Editor’s note: Due to the late start of the track meet, highlights won’t be posted on this scoreboard page until Saturday afternoon. Boys Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
Milford, 53.5 vs. Stoughton, 46.5 – Final – Milford won both relay events and swept the 1 Mile and 2 Mile races to earn a close win over the Black Knights. Maxwell Manor was first in the 1 Mile in 4:51.30 with Anthony DiStauro taking second and Aayush Patel crossing third for the Hawks. Miguel Torres won the 2 Mile (10:31.57) with DiStauro and Manor crossing less than 20 seconds later for second and third, respectively. Other winners for Milford included Hugo Lopes (300M, 37.49) and Joey Madden (1000M, 2:41.51). Stoughton’s David Peters was a double-winner, crossing first in the 55M hurdles (7.83) and winning the long jump (20-05.00).
Oliver Ames, 43 vs. Attleboro, 57 – Final – Attleboro swept the 55M dash and had two of the top three finishers in seven events to secure a win over Oliver Ames. Henry Boateng was first in the 55M dash, clocking in at 6.89 with Colin Levis taking second and Dante Williams coming in third. Levis was second the in 300M behind Humza Habib, and Attleboro’s Joey Soucy and Jayden Lockhart (600M) as well as Nathan Seybert and Liam Walker (1000M) took second and third, respectively, in their events to help the Bombardiers in the win. Other winners for Attleboro included Andrew Fasoldt (2 Mile, 10:36.57), David Cataloni (55M hurdles, 8.29), and Alex Paradise (high jump, 5-10.00). Oliver Ames’ Rory McLaughlin was a double-winner, taking first in both the 1000M (2:52.22) and the 1 Mile (4:44.81).
King Philip, 32.66 vs. Franklin, 67.33 Final – Franklin junior Tyler Brogan set a new school record in the 1000M and seniors Liam Pek and Andrew Faught each won a pair of events to pace the Panthers to a win. Brogan clocked in at a league-best 2:35.56 to set the new school mark. Pek won both the 55M dash (7.08) and the 300M (38.13) while Faught crossed first in the 55M hurdles (9.03) and won the long jump (19-04.50). King Philip picked up wins from Michael Griffin (2 Mile, 9:41.74) and Terrell Jacobs-Baston (shot put, 41-10.00).
Canton, 23 vs. Sharon, 73 – Final – Sharon senior Chris Gong won a pair of events and set a new school record as the Eagles pick up a win over Canton. Gong won the 55M dash (6.67) and then set a new school mark in the long jump with a leap of 21-07.00. The Eagles swept the 55M hurdles with Isaiah Stessman (8.32) coming in first and Patrick McManus and Marc Davanzo coming in second and third, respectively. Sharon also took the top three spots in the high jump with McManus winning at 5-06.00 and Stessman and Ruiheng Bai taking second and third. Canton won the 4×400 relay and senior Thomas Pulcini won the shot put with a throw of 35-11.50. Canton junior Junior Sainvil set a new school record in the long jump with a distance of 20.06-00.
North Attleboro, 75 vs. Foxboro, 25 – Final – North Attleboro won eight events on its way to a big win over Foxboro. North Attleboro senior Owen Nassaney was a double-winner, taking first in the high jump as well as the long jump. Other winners for North included Liam Conway (55M dash, 6.87), PJ Gilpatrick (300M, 38.14), Jackson Magas (600M, 1:38.35), Jack Clarke (1 Mile, 4:35.39), Nick Taylor (55M hurdles (9.06), and Emmett Ruote (shot put, 39-02.50). Foxboro picked up wins from Will Regan (1000M, 2:40.41) and Trey Lawson (2 Mile, 10:48.64).
Mansfield, 72 vs. Taunton, 28 – Final – Mansfield took first in 10 events and swept both the 55M dash and 300M to earn a victory over Taunton. Greg Waters (6.82), Aidan Sacco, and Joe Cappelletti were the top finishers in the 55M dash while Tyler King (38.28), Jack Rivard, and Dan Knight crossed in that order to take the top three spots in the 300M. Other winners for Mansfield included Mike Hargadon (600M, 1:27.28), Jason Windvogel (1000M, 2:41.35), Patrick Heavey (1 Mile, 4:44.11), Mike Mullahy (2 Mile, 10:27.66), Andrew Williams (high jump, 6-00.00) and Cappelletti (long jump, 18-04.00). Taunton’s Steven Westgate won the 55M hurdles in 9.02 and Mark Brown took first in the shot put with a toss of 45-00.00, a league-best throw.
Girls Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
Milford, 74 vs. Stoughton, 25 – Final – Milford took first place in 11 of the 12 events and grabbed second in five of those 11 wins on its way to a big win over Stoughton. Freshmen Sarah Flanagan and Sarah Brogioli, sophomore Kerry O’Connor, and junior Sara Comisky were double-winners for the Hawks, with Flanagan taking first in the 55M dash (7.58) as well as the 300M race (43.43) and Brogioli winning the 55M hurdles (9.61) and high jump (4-04.00). O’Connor won the 600M (1:44.73) as well as the long jump (16-03.25) and Comisky crossed first in the 1 Mile (6:01.54) and the 2 Mile (13:19.80). Stoughton senior Alexa Quinones took first in the shot put with a toss of 27-02.00.
Oliver Ames, 52 vs. Attleboro, 48 – Final – Attleboro had the edge with individual wins but Oliver Ames had two of the top three spots in seven events to earn the close victory. Freshman Tatum Perry took third in the 55M dash and won the 300M race (47.14) while senior Brianna Gibson grabbed first in the 600M (1:51.86) and second in the 55M hurdles to pace the Tigers. Junior Madison Perry tied for first in the 55M dash, Zoe Chazan was second behind Tatum Perry in the 300M, sophomore Grace Simone (29-09.25) and senior Ericka Gaucher went 1-2 in the shot put, senior Gabrielle McLaughlin (5-00.00) and junior Therese Saade finished 1-2 in the high jump, and McLaughlin and Madison Perry took second and third, respectively, in the long jump. Attleboro’s Abisola Olaogun (55M dash, long jump) and Kelly Neuendorf (1 Mile, 2 Mile) were double-winners for the Bombardiers.
King Philip, 42 vs. Franklin, 58 – Final – Franklin won seven events and earned a sweep in the 600M to pick up a close win over ing Philip. Freshman Riley Fitzpatrick clocked in at 1:49.56 to win the 600M with sophomore Sydney Hawkins and senior Emma Clifford just seconds behind to sweep the top three spots. Freshman Jillian Fenerty was a double-winner, taking first in the 55M dash (7.81) and 300M (44.80). Other winners for Franklin included junior Samantha Powderly (1000M, 3:24.66), senior Julia Fenerty (1 Mile, 5:37.36), senior Daniella Pierre (55M hurdles, 9.08) and senior Rachel Anderson (shot put, 29-01.50). King Philip’s Ryenn Hart (2 Mile, 12:40.62), Paige Berdos (high jump, 5-00.00), and Abigail Dunne (long jump, 14-08.50) each had individual wins for the Warriors.
Canton, 23 vs. Sharon, 75 – Final – Sharon took first in 10 of the 12 events and earned sweeps in both the 55M hurdles and high jump to earn a victory over Canton. Jada Johnson won both the 55M hurdles (8.62) and high jump (5-02.00). Junior Elizabeth Lee and senior Maya Biran took second and third in the 55M hurdles while Jill Patel and Elizabeth Lee rounded out the top three in the high jump. Senior Veronica Wallace won two events, taking first in the 300M (44.45) and the long jump (14-09.00). Canton senior Chloe Pennacchio won the 1000M (3:33.20) and junior Bronwyn Mahoney won the shot put (30-05.00).
North Attleboro, 75 vs. Foxboro, 21 – Final – North Attleboro swept four events to earn a big victory over Foxboro. The Rocketeers took the top three spots in the 55M dash (Vanessa Ibrahim, Lily Wetherbee, Meagan Dowd), the 300M (Celina Ibrahim, Morgan Silver, Brayden Rice), the 55M hurdles (Ari Preacher, Sabrina Hauer, Cassidy Becker), and the long jump (C. Ibrahim, Samantha Hawkins, V. Ibrahim). Foxboro picked up wins from Olivia Simoneau (1000M, 3:44.53), Lexi Quinn (1 Mile, 5:26.28), and Jill Finn (2 Mile, 13:58.10).
Mansfield, 53 vs. Taunton, 47 – Final – Mansfield senior and Northeastern commit Amanda Mangano won three events and sophomore Tessa Lancaster picked up two wins to help the Hornets edge Taunton. Mangano won the 55M dash (7.65), the high jump (4-10.00), and the long jump (16-03.75) while Lancaster won both the 1 Mile (5:37.69) and the 2 Mile (league-best 12:18.04) with senior Maggie Riley coming in second in both races. Freshmen Maria Sevastos and Katherine Miller took second and third, respectively, in the 600M to earn valuable points for the Hornets. Winners for Taunton included Kerla Sylvestre (300M, 44.54), Olivia Dias (600M, 1:41.63), Victoria Gravel (55M hurdles, 8.98), and Sthanisha Moreau (shot put, 28-06.00).
Boys Swimming
Franklin, 107 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final – Franklin junior Pat Juszczyszyn, junior Connor Eck, and sophomore James Wu each had an individual win as the Panthers earned a division win in the pool.
Sharon, 73 @ Canton, 95 – Final
Foxboro, 60 @ North Attleboro, 81 – Final – Foxboro swept the 100 breaststroke but North Attleboro claimed the win on Friday. Thomas Perry Jr. (1:19), Kris Andersen, and Anthony Amico took the top three spots for the Warriors in the 100 breaststroke. Thomas VanDell (1:21) added a win in the 100 fly, and Dimitri Davis touched first (1:21) in the 100 backstroke. Foxboro’s 400 relay (Jared Roke, Andersen, Spencer SanBento, and Joseph St. Pierre) took first in 5:12.
Milford, 94 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 75 – Final
Girls Swimming
Franklin, 94 @ Attleboro, 76 – Final – The Panthers swept the 100 fly and the 500 free to pull away from the Bombardiers in the pool on Friday afternoon. Senior Katie Cashin was a double winner for Franklin while junior Katie McGuire had one individual win. For Attleboro, liz Saltz won both 50 and 100 free, qualifying for states in both races, Jackie Lynch-Bartek won both the 200 free and 100 breaststroke, qualifying for sectionals in the 200 free, Tiffany Chin qualified for sectionals with a win in the 100 backstroke, and Ella Lynch-Bartek placed second in both the 100 free and 100 backstroke, qualifying for sectionals in the 100 free.
Sharon, 83 @ Canton, 87 – Final
Foxboro, 93 @ North Attleboro, 77 – Final
Milford, 81 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 87 – Final
Gymnastics
Sharon @ Attleboro, 7:30
Franklin, 139.5 @ Norton, 124.1 – Final – Mia Lizotte took the all-around title with a score of 36.55 and Kate Rudolph took second with a score of 34.8 to help the Panthers earn the non-league win. Lizotte won all four events (9.3 on vault, 8.7 on bars, 9.45 on beam, and 9.1 on the floor), whole Rudolph finished third on the vault (8.9) and the bars (8.3) and second on the beam (9.0) and the floor (8.6). Emma Owens (9.05) finished second on the vault, scored 8.3 on the bars, and 8.5 on the floor. Sadie Rondeau was second on the bars with an 8.4, third on the beam with 8.65, and fourth on floor with an 8.35. Lexi Lupien scored 8.4 on the vault and 8.5 on the beam.
Franklin sophomore Erin Quaile (20) helped lock down the Holy Name guards to earn a non-league win against a potential playoff opponent. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – Defense has been the story for Franklin through the opening few games of the season with the Panthers holding its first three opponents to only 30 points per game. Much of the attention is on junior center Ali Brigham (two blocks) and her ability (at 6-foot-3) to dominate the paint, but on Monday night against Holy Name (Worcester) it was the perimeter players who stood out.
Using a combination of players, including sophomore Erin Quaile, senior Shannon Gray, and junior Breanna Atwood, Franklin held Holy Name’s standout guards Jaini Edmonds and Grace O’Gara to just 15 points combined and the Naps to just 13 points as a team in the opening half of a 56-36 victory.
“That’s been a real focus for us to become a better defensive team,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “Shooting comes and goes but defense translates every night. They brought a good challenge for us…both lefty guards, which makes it trickier too. We talked a lot about limiting their touches and really make them work for it. They didn’t get a lot of clean looks, which was our goal.”
Brigham was the star for the Panthers on offense, scoring a game-high 24 points, pulling down 15 rebounds, and dishing out four assists from the center of the press break and combining with junior Megan O’Connell (nine points) in the high post. She scored 17 of the team’s 26 points in the first half.
O’Gara scored her only basket of the night to tie the game at 5-5 in the first quarter but then Franklin rolled off eight of the next nine points to finish the quarter with a lead it would never relinquish. Bea Bondhus (eight points) knocked down three free throws to get the lead then Brigham knocked down a free throw line jumper and scored on a rebound.
The Naps scored to start the second but again Franklin put enough stops together to break the game open. O’Connell answered with a layup off a Brigham pass and, after four free throws, the duo switched roles for another easy basket. Brigham scored Franklin’s final nine points of the half, twice getting layups from offensive rebounds.
“She’s expanded her sphere of influence because in the middle of the press break we can use her and then on offense from the three-point line to the hoop and she does different things at different times in the games,” said Leighton about Brigham, who recently committed to George Washington.
In particular, Brigham’s success came from combining and switching positions with O’Connell from the free throw line to the post. Leighton said, “Megan has improved as much as anyone and using her with Ali in the post, you can’t double both of them and it’s really opened things up for her.”
Holy Name tried to put together a run in the third quarter with Edmonds finally getting a few shots to fall and Lilly Krysinski knocking down three jumpers to get the Naps as close as nine points (26-19). Quaile and Atwood knocked down back-to-back threes and then Brigham answered a Holy Name bucket by hitting the glass for a three-point play.
Leighton said, “We’ve been getting layups but we were able go further through the offense and get open looks and knocked down some threes.”
Franklin went into the fourth quarter leading by 11 and proceeded to bust the game wide open. Six different Panthers scored in the fourth, including four each for Brigham and O’Connell. Bondhus drilled a three followed by sophomore Elizabeth Wilson, who scored all five of her points in the fourth.
“I think our practices have really picked up,” Leighton said when asked about the team’s strength in depth. “They get after it and it’s made everyone better. Bre (Atwood) is a lockdown defender and she’s going against Bea in practice and that makes her better, Megan going against Ali, and I think it’s raised everybody’s games.”
It was a dominating performance from the Panthers (3-0), who will try to carry that over on Wednesday when they host Canton.
Boys Basketball
Mansfield, 62 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final (OT) – Attleboro junior Bryant Ciccio (24 points) hit a couple of clutch free throws between the end of regulation and the overtime period to help the Bombardiers earn the win. Mansfield senior Tommy Dooling (16 points) converted a putback with eight seconds left to give the Hornets a 58-57 lead but Ciccio hit a free throw with 0.6 seconds left to send the game into overtime. The Hornets held a 62-59 lead with under a minute to go in the extra period but a steal and layup from Mason Houle (10 points) made it a one-point game with 32 seconds to play. After getting a stop, Ciccio hit two free throws to put Attleboro up 63-62. The Bombardiers forced a backcourt violation, got the clock down to 2.4 seconds, missed a pair of free throws but prevented Mansfield from getting a shot off at the final buzzer. “I’m proud of our effort, we stayed together and made big plays tonight in crucial situations on both ends of the court,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “We made it a priority to make the next play and didn’t panic.” Qualeem Charles added 15 points for Attleboro while Tim Callahan had 10 points. Damani Scott added 16 points and Matt Boen finished with 11 points for the Hornets.
Foxboro, 60 @ Canton, 65 – Final – Canton outscored Foxboro 43-31 between the two middle quarters, helping the Bulldogs turn an early deficit into a lead it never relinquished. Junior Kyle Fitzgerald scored 14 of his 16 points in those two periods while senior Devin Foster spread his 16 points out among all four corners. Ryan Lentol connected on four three-pointers for a career-high 14 points while Robbie Gallery added nine for Canton. Foxboro sophomore Kevin Gallagher scored a team-high 14 points, senior Anthony Mollica added 13 points, and junior Brandon Borde finished with 12 points.
King Philip, 39 @ Franklin, 62 – Final – After scoring 21 points in the first half, Franklin exploded for 21 points in the third quarter along to pull away from the Warriors. The Panthers led 21-13 at half but held a 42-29 advantage through three quarters. The Panthers added 20 more points in the final frame. Junior Chris Edgehill netted a team-high 16 points while Jack Rudolph added 14 points and Thomas Gasbarro finished with 13 points. Alex Fritz had a team-high 13 points for King Philip.
Sharon, 51 @ Milford, 66 – Final – Holding a three-point lead at halftime, up 28-25, Milford opened the second half with a 12-0 run and never looked back in a win over Sharon. Milford senior Brendan White poured in a career-high 29 points while hauling in 14 rebounds to pace the Scarlet Hawks. Brendon Sailer scored nine of his 13 points in the third quarter to help the Hawks create separation. Colby Pires and Jordan Darling pitched in with eight points apiece. Aidan Kane scored a team-high 12 points for Sharon with Ben Kaplan and Caleb Gayle each chipping in with eight points each.
Stoughton, 45 @ North Attleboro, 44 – Final – Stoughton junior Ajahn Rue hit the game-winning three pointer with 1.8 seconds left to lift the Black Knights to the win on the road. Stoughton led 42-41 late in the game before North Attleboro junior George Ladd drained a three to put the Rocketeers ahead 44-42. On the ensuing inbounds, Rue (12 points) brought the ball up and pulled up for the three to put the Black Knights back ahead. Stoughton junior Myles Grigalunas-Powell scored 13 of his game-high 17 points in the second half, helping the Black Knights rally from a 26-19 deficit at half. Evan Rosenberg led North Attleboro with 12 points and Nate Gonsalves chipped in with 10 points.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 51 @ Mansfield, 63 – Final – Maggie Danehy had a career-high 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Hornets, helping Mansfield earn its first league win of the season. The Hornets trailed after the first quarter but an 18-10 second pushed Mansfield ahead for good. Sophomore Ashley Santos also had a career-high with 11 points in the win and Becca Hottleman had eight points and four assists. Attleboro was led for the second game in a row by Mackenzie Roberts, who scored eight, while Jordyn Lako and Liv McCall each had seven points.
Franklin, 62 @ King Philip, 34 – Final – Ali Brigham continued her strong start to the season, scoring 28 points to lead the Panthers to a second straight win. Franklin jumped in front 46-14 after three quarters with Megan O’Connell adding 19 points and Bea Bondhus scoring six. KP was led by Faye Veilleux with 14 points.
Milford, 41 @ Sharon, 54 – Final – Telishya Herbert scored a game-high and career-high 30 points, sparking the Eagles to their first win of the season. Emma Eberhardt added eight points in the win. Emma Lawrence scored 22 of Milford’s 41 points in the loss, which was a career-high for her, and Katie Maietta had eight in the loss.
North Attleboro, 51 @ Stoughton, 62 – Final – Sophomore Sydnee Hyacinthe bounced back from a tough opener against OA with 19 points, seven assists, and four steals, while junior Aliyah Wright had 18 points and eight rebounds to get the Black Knights their first win of the season. Senior Lindsay McDonald double-digit rebounds for the second straight game, pulling down 18 boards in the win.
Oliver Ames, 63 @ Taunton, 51 – Final – OA pulled away late in a close game that featured a lot of runs from both sides and moved to 2-0 on the season. Senior All Scolnick paced OA with 22 points and classmate Sadie Homer ran the game at the point for the Tigers. Taunton was led by Jaelyn Fernandez with 17 points and Sonya Fernandez with 12.
Boys Swimming
Foxboro, 36 @ Taunton, 49 – Final – A sophomore, a freshman, and an eighth grader all won a pair of events to lead the Tigers to a win in their first meet of the season. Sophomore Garrett Rainey won both the 200 free and the 500 free, freshman Tim Luc won the 200 IM (2:20.92) and the 100 fly (59.12), and eighth grader Gerald Grealish touched first in the 100 free (59.21) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.13). Taunton’s 200 medley relay of Brady Callahan, Peter Ye, Tim Luc, and Martin Dafov and 400 free relay of Callahan, Grealish, Ye, and Luc both took first. The Warriors took first and second in the 200 relay with Ben Dorman, Thomas Perry, Dimitrios Davis, and Thomas VanDell taking first in 1:57 and the team of Jared Roke, Kris Andersen, Spencer SanBento, and Joseph St. Pierre coming in second. VanDell added a second place finish in the 50 free for Foxboro.
Franklin, 36 @ Stoughton, 7 – Final
Girls Swimming
Foxboro, 53 @ Taunton, 41 – Final – Foxboro took first place in six individual races and one relay race to earn a victory over Taunton. Pam Nelson and Lindsey Nelson earned a pair of wins, with Pam touching first in the 200 IM (2:31) and the 100 free (1:02) and Lindsey winning the 500 free (6:21) and 100 breaststroke (1:24), Sarah Egan won the 200 free (2:29) and Gina Ouellette earned first in the 100 fly (1:14). Foxboro’s 200 relay team of Nelson, Nelson, Ooullette and Egan earned first in 2:01. For Taunton, freshman Angelina Lynch won the 50 free (27.12) and eighth grader Tiffany Ye won the 100 backstroke (1:09.42). Taunton’s 200 medley relay of Jacalin Gallagher, Ye, Marisa Gay, and Lynch and the 400 free relay of Gallagher, Macey Jorge, Gay, and Ye both took first place.
Franklin, 73 @ Stoughton, 31 – Final – Franklin’s 200 free relay team of Heather McCarthy, Alyssa LaPuma, Katie Chew, and Katie Cashin qualified for sectionals with a time of 1:53.97.
Boys Basketball
Canton, 55 @ Attleboro, 59 – Final – Attleboro built a 12-point lead by halftime but Canton chipped away in the second half, making it a one-point game late in the fourth quarter. Bombardiers junior Bryant Cicco (17 points) answered with a layup with less than a minute to play to extend the lead to 58-55 and junior Qualeem Charles (13 points) hit a free throw in the final moments to ice the win for Attleboro. Mason Houle added 13 points and Tim Callahan chipped in with 11 points with three three-pointers for Attleboro. Canton senior Devin Foster scored a game-high 27 points, including 16 in the second half, to help the Bulldogs get back in the game. Robbie Gallery added 11 points for Canton.
Milford, 29 @ Franklin, 64 – Final – After a slow first quarter for both teams (8-4 Panthers), Franklin built a 25-12 lead at halftime and kept that lead the rest of the way in a win over Milford. Franklin junior Chris Edgehill scored 17 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to keep the Panthers ahead while Jalen Samuels chipped in with 12 points. Franklin had five players score in a 17-point second quarter that helped create the separation. Senior Brendan White led the Hawks with 15 points.
North Attleboro, 48 @ Taunton, 73 – Final – Taunton had a strong start to both the first and third quarters to earn a win over visiting North Attleboro. The Tigers put up 26 points in the opening quarter with six players scoring a field goal, and took a 43-29 lead at halftime. Taunton opened the second half with an 11-2 run and never looked back. Tigers junior Dante Law scored 11 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter to help Taunton pull away. Naz Kenion (12 points), Lou Vendrell (11 points), and John Martins (10 points) all scored in double-figures for Taunton. North Attleboro’s Josh Montague had a team-high 15 points, Nate Gonsalves added 13 points and sophomore George Ladd recorded 10 points in his varsity debut.
Stoughton, 39 @ Oliver Ames, 57 – Final – Holding a three-point lead at the break (25-22), Oliver Ames had a big third quarter to pull away from visiting Stoughton. The Tigers limited the Black Knights to just two points in the third quarter while scoring 15 points to take a 40-24 lead into the final quarter. Oliver Ames senior Ethan Eckstrom scored half of his career-high 16 points in the third quarter while Sean O’Brien and Jake Erlich each added 10 points in the win. Stoughton junior Myles Grigalunas-Powell scored a team-high 11 points for the Black Knights.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 39 @ Canton, 53 – Final – Freshman Kiara Cerruti scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and had five assists on her varsity debut and classmate Fay Gallery had 16 points on four three-pointers in her first varsity action to lead the Bulldogs to a season opening win.
Mansfield, 50 @ Foxboro, 59 – Final – Katelyn Mollica led the way for the Warriors with 21 points, including four three-pointers and 9-of-10 shooting at the free throw line. Yara Fawaz and Abby Hassman each scored eight points and Chelsea Gibbons pulled down 12 rebounds in the win. Maggie Danehy scored 11 points and Mady Bendanillo had 10 for the Hornets in the loss.
Franklin, 61 @ Milford, 20 – Final – Franklin jumped out in front early, leading 41-12 at halftime, and never looked back in both teams’ season opener. Ali Brigham scored 29 for the Panthers, who also got 10 points from Bea Bondhus and eight points from freshman Olivia Quinn in her varsity debut. Jillian Michelson scored seven points and Emma Lawrence had six for the Hawks.
King Philip, 49 @ Sharon, 39 – Final – Shannon O’Connor scored 15 points for the Warriors in the season opener, despite sitting for a portion of the second half. Faith Roy added 13 points in the win and KP coach Amy Siggens praised Emma Glaser for her effort on the glass (nine rebounds) and on the defensive end.
North Attleboro, 41 @ Taunton, 44 – Final – Taunton got balanced scoring to earn the win in the leaguer opener for both teams. Lily Patneaude scored 13 points and grabbed six boards for the Tigers, while Kelsey White added 12 points and snatched eight steals. Sonya Fernandez had nine points and 10 boards, Jaelyn Fernandez had three points and 15 boards, and Alex White had seven points and five assists for Taunton. Julia Feid was the top scorer for the Rocketeers with 19 points.
Boys Swimming
Sharon, 58 @ Attleboro, 96 – Final – Attleboro’s Colton Parkinson qualified for states in both the 200 and 500 freestyle as the Bombardiers opened the season with a win. Attleboro’s 200 medley relay qualified for sectionals as well.
Foxboro, 69 @ Norton, 68 – Final –
Girls Swimming
Sharon, 80 @ Attleboro, 89 – Final – Attleboro’s Liz Salts qualified for states in a pair of events to help the Bombarders open the season with a victory. Salts qualified for states in both the 100 free and 200 free while Jackie Lynch-Bartek qualified for sectionals in the 100 breaststroke. The Bombardiers’ 200 free relay also qualified for states.
Foxboro sophomore Katelyn Mollica will try to keep the Warriors on top in the Davenport division, as the new Hockomock League girls basketball season gets underway. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2017-2018 Record: 9-13 2017-2018 Finish: Missed postseason. Coach: Martin Crowley
The Bombardiers were just two wins shy of a playoff spot last season under new head coach Marty Crowley and Attleboro brings back three starters and has added several new faces to the roster to try and make a postseason push this winter.
The graduation of leading scorer Sam Pierce (16 points per game) means that a number of players are going to need to step in and make up for production on offense and on the glass. Senior point guard Jordyn Lako will be back to run the Bombardiers offense and provide three-point shooting, while junior Nyah Thomas is a versatile weapon on the offensive side of the ball. Both are also aggressive defenders, who set the tone on that end of the floor. Senior forward Mackenzie Roberts can score in the post or from beyond the arc and junior Liv McCall is a dynamic guard who is capable of big scoring nights.
Defense has always been the focus of teams that Crowley coaches and the Bombardiers will be no different. To keep up that defensive intensity, the Bombardiers have added depth to the rotation. Seniors Abby Struminski and Dom Garnes (who was out last season with an injury) provide leadership, while sophomores Gabby Bosh and Sonny Stuger and freshmen Meghan Gordon and Lillian Froio are newcomers to keep an eye on.
“Hopefully we can generate scoring opportunities off our defense and use our athleticism to create baskets,” said Crowley. “We have a great mix of experience and youth. We are excited about what lies ahead. Practices have been spirited and the kids have been working hard.”
2017-2018 Record: 10-11 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South first round. Coach: Jim Choquette
Last winter, Canton got a taste of the postseason for the first time in seven seasons and now the program will try to build on that momentum while finding a way to replace the scoring and rebounding of Hannah Jerrier, who averaged a double-double for the Bulldogs last winter. An exciting crop of underclassmen has been added to the roster and now Canton will try to build experience with a schedule that puts them on the road for the majority of the first half of the year.
While Jerrier will obviously be missed, the Bulldogs bring back the other four starters and other players with plenty of experience to try and make it a much shorter wait to get back into the playoffs. Senior point guard Julia Hamilton is back to run the offense, senior Erin Devine gives Canton control on the glass and a rim protector on defense, senior Molly Ludwig gives balance to the offense, and senior Maggie Connolly is one of the league’s top defensive players on the perimeter. Senior Nicole Galvin will add depth to the backcourt.
Junior Lilah Milton came on strong at the tail of end of last season, including a huge game in the playoff-clinching win over Weymouth, and could take up some of Jerrier’s scoring from the power forward position. Sophomore Kayla Albert gained valuable experience last season as a freshman and current rookies Sydney and Fay Gallery, and Kiara Cerruti have the potential to step right into the rotation and contribute.
“Details are everything to us,” said Canton coach Jim Choquette. “If our group of young talent and veteran leadership/experience can continue to stay focused on the details during the good times and tough times of a season then we should continue to improve and have a very excited and successful season.”
2017-2018 Record: 26-2 2017-2018 Finish: Won Div. 2 state championship. Coach: Lisa Downs
Last season was one to remember for the Warriors, who rolled through the regular season in dominating fashion and lived up to the team’s immense potential by bringing home the Div. 2 state title. With the graduation of a very strong senior class, the expectations are much lower for the Warriors this season but there are several returning players and new faces that have Foxboro coach Lisa Downs confident that the program can continue its recent run of success in the Davenport division.
Losing players like Ashley Sampson, Lily Sykes, Grace Tamulionis, and Shannon Smally is a challenge for any team, but the Warriors will bring back a pair of starters from the playoff run in sophomore Katelyn Mollica and junior Abby Hassman. Mollica is the team’s top returning scorer and will be one of the top point guards in the Hock with her ability to shoot and score off the dribble. Hassman gives Foxboro a strong presence on the glass and showed increased confidence in her offensive game at the end of last season. Senior Chelsea Gibbons and junior Lizzy Davis should see increased minutes and bigger roles in the offense this year.
Juniors Shakirah Ketant and Yara Fawaz should give Foxboro more depth in the post and contribute on the glass and both saw limited minutes in the playoffs last winter. Sophomores Adrienne Dunn and Jordyn Collins will be newcomers to the backcourt and have impressed during the preseason, while junior forward Anita Busznyak is expected to see a lot more time this year and could be a player to watch.
Downs is hoping this year’s team will learn from the graduating class. She said, “The time they spent practicing with and playing against these girls has really paid off – they know what is expected of them on the court and what is required to be a winning team. We have established a winning culture at Foxboro and the players know that I expect nothing more than what they should expect from themselves.”
2017-2018 Record: 15-9 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Central first round. Coach: John Leighton
The Panthers bring back 10 players from last year’s roster, which reached the state tournament but lost in the opening round to Natick, and there are high expectations on Oak St. as the new season gets underway. Franklin enters the season as the favorite in the Kelley-Rex division and its balanced lineup has the potential to make a run in the state tournament as well.
Much of the enthusiasm for Franklin’s chances this winter come from 6-foot-3 center Ali Brigham. The junior recently committed to George Washington (where her father once played) and is the lone returning player from last season HockomockSports.com First Team. While she (deservedly) garners much of the attention, the Panthers have a number of other weapons to give the opposition headaches. Senior guard Bea Bondhus, who committed to Springfield College, is one of the top three-point shooters in the Hock and sophomore guard Elizabeth Wilson is back from an injury that cut short the promising start to her varsity career.
The Panthers will also bring back versatile junior forwards Megan O’Connell and Breanna Atwood, who add size in the paint but can also take defenders off the dribble or knock down outside shots. Seniors Hailey Sanders and Calen Frongillo add depth to the frontcourt, while senior Shannon Gray and juniors Kelsey MacCallum and Sydney Garilli are capable of stepping in at either guard position.
“It is our goal to compete each night and to improve from last year,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “With 10 returning players, we feel our experience will help us to better prepare for the season and compete against the best in our league.”
2017-2018 Record: 4-16 2017-2018 Finish: Missed postseason. Coach: Amy Siggens
King Philip had to battle injuries throughout head coach Amy Siggens’ first year in charge, including a late season injury to leading scorer Shannon O’Connor, but the Warriors are healthy coming into this season and with a year to get use to a new system, confidence is high that KP can make a push up the standings and fight for a postseason berth this winter.
O’Connor is the key piece returning for the Warriors. A four-year varsity player who has been recruited by Div. I college programs, O’Connor gives KP a consistent scorer and someone who will draw opposing defenses. Senior Julia Leroux will be back at the point and running the KP offense, while junior Faith Roy is the team’s best outside threat and has developed as a ball-handler who can score in a variety of ways. Sophomore Emma Glaser, who battled injuries throughout her freshman season, will add versatility to the lineup and can play multiple positions and her classmate Courtney Keswick is a newcomer to watch in the backcourt.
The Warriors will also have strength in the post with senior Catherine Cummings providing a solid presence on the glass and junior Faye Veilleux giving KP length and athleticism at the forward position. Newcomers like junior Taylor Butler and returning senior Kendall Mason will give added depth and strong play on the defensive end of the floor.
There is a lot of enthusiasm surrounding our team this year with our sights on continued growth and improvement upon our overall record from a year ago,” Siggens said. “Our practices have been very competitive and I’m encouraged by our team’s attitude and overall interest in getting better. I like this team a lot and I look forward to the challenge of helping each girl reach her maximum potential.”
2017-2018 Record: 20-6 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South final. Coach: Mike Redding
After three straight league titles and four trips to the Div. 1 South semifinal in the past four seasons (including back-to-back finals), Mansfield has been one of the most consistent teams in the Hockomock League, but the Hornets enter this season trying to replace Meg Hill, who scored more than 1,000 points and pulled down more than 1,000 points in her stellar career. With 10 seniors and loads of athleticism, this might be a very different looking Mansfield attack, but one that has the potential to keep the Hornets right back on top in the Kelley-Rex division and capable of making another deep tournament run.
The Hornets have been known for slowing the ball down and running intricate sets, but this team is suited for getting up and down the court as quickly as possible, highlighted by senior guard Mady Bendanillo, one of the quickest players in the Hock. Senior forward Maggie Danehy has emerged as a strong interior scorer and someone who can control the glass, but she is also someone who can run like a guard and get out on the break for easy baskets. Seniors Sydney Mulkern and Erin Daniel add wing scoring and are both solid shooters who can spread the floor and open lanes to the basket.
Athletic senior forwards Emily Vigeant and Steph Kemp can outrun many of the guards in the league and senior point guard Kara Bendanillo is another speedster who can push the ball off makes or misses. Sophomore Ashley Santos saw time last year as a rookie and adds to the frontcourt depth and versatility, while junior Becca Hottleman will be back to give Mansfield another option at guard.
It is a different feel to the lineup but one that Mansfield coach Mike Redding feels can be effective. He said, “We need to rebound as a team and must change our style to up-tempo with defensive pressure/fast breaks and play to our strengths (athleticism and depth).”
2017-2018 Record: 13-9 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central quarterfinal. Coach: T.J. Dolliver
Milford coach T.J. Dolliver brings back six players from the team that not only reached the state tournament last season but also went on the road and beat Burncoat handily, the program’s first playoff win since 2001. The problem for the Hawks is that almost the entire rotation from last year’s team has graduated, including 1,000-point scorer Kate Irwin.
While this may be a rebuilding year for the Hawks, Dolliver sees it as an opportunity for players to step into new roles and establish themselves as starters and as regular contributors. The lone senior back from last year is forward Grace Risio, who Dolliver said made a difference when she was given the opportunity last year, and sophomore guard Jillian Michelson saw some time in the backcourt as a rookie.
The Hawks will have eight sophomores on the roster this season, so it is clear that Milford is going to try and build with youth, similar to several teams from last year. Among the players from last year’s roster, forwards Katie Maietta, guard Emma Lawrence, and forward Carly Ferreira all got time as freshmen and could see those minutes increase significantly this winter.
Dolliver said, “With our entire rotation graduating last year, there are a lot of opportunities waiting for everyone in the program. It will be exciting to watch who emerges within the group and elevates their game to compete at the varsity level.”
2017-2018 Record: 4-16 2017-2018 Finish: Missed postseason. Coach: Derek Herber
Last year was a tough transition season for the Rocketeers, as North Attleboro moved on from a number of players who were starters for several years and incorporated a number of new, young faces into the lineup. North had a better second half to the season and will try to build on that this winter with a more experienced group of players.
Senior Julia Feid is back on the wing and is North’s top returning scorer, coming off a season in which she averaged more than nine points per game. Fellow seniors Liz Smahi and Emma Noreck will add leadership in the backcourt and try to set the direction for the team this year. Junior point guard Olivia Forbes, who was on the HockomockSports.com All-Underclassman Team last season, will be back to get the offense going and provide strong defense on the perimeter. Junior Eliza Dion also returns to add rebounding and interior scoring for a team that can’t count on a lot of height in the paint.
The North offense improved over the course of last season with the addition of sophomore Amanda Kaiser (8.6 points per game) and junior Julia Kleczkowski (40 percent from three-point range), who can both fill it up from the outside and who are both willing to take any shot that presents itself. Several newcomers will fill out the roster with the potential of adding important minutes over the course of the season, including sophomore Lydia Santos and Siobhan Weir.
“We will rely on Julia Feid to be our first option on offense and the sooner we can develop a consistent second option will be a factor in the early part of the season,” said North Attleboro coach Derek Herber. “The inside scoring option will hopefully be Eliza Dion, while both Amanda Kaiser and Julia Kleczkowski showed an ability to stretch the defense with their outside shooting in limited time last year.”
2017-2018 Record: 16-6 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South quarterfinal. Coach: Laney Clement-Holbrook
Oliver Ames will be making a transition this year following the graduation of Kayla Raymond, who was a two-time HockomockSports.com First Team performer and last year’s league MVP (and is already a three-time Rookie of the Week at Stonehill College), but the Tigers have a number of returning players to try and make up for Raymond’s production on both ends of the floor and make another run at a league title.
Senior Alex Sheldon grew in confidence over the course of last season and became a double-double machine by the end of the year, dominating on the glass and improving her finishing around the rim. Junior Erin Holberg emerged last year as a strong scorer on the perimeter with her touch from the outside and ability to take defenders off the dribble. Junior Meg Holleran is in her third season on varsity and is a tough, physical defender who can knock down shots from the outside.
Sophomore Caroline Flynn had a strong freshman season, playing several positions (from point guard to small forward), crashing the boards, and showing off decent range. The return of senior Sadie Homer will add energy on both ends of the floor and give the Tigers another strong outside shooter to stretch the floor, while senior Ally Scolnick came off the bench last season to add another shooter to the OA offense.
OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook said of the experienced returning players, “They will lead the youngest team OA has put on the court in quite a long time. We are looking towards gaining valuable game experience and coming into to our own as the season progresses.”
2017-2018 Record: 2-18 2017-2018 Finish: Missed postseason. Coach: Sanda Lombardi
It was a tough winter for new Sharon coach Sandra Lombardi, as the Eagles struggled to a two-win season, but five of their losses were by 10 points or fewer and they return all but one player from last season’s team. With a year to get acclimated to Lombardi’s system, an experienced roster of returning players, and several newcomers, Sharon has its sights set on getting into the postseason for the first time since its run to the Div. 2 South final in 2013.
Sharon returns its leading scorer and playmaker in senior Emma Eberhardt, who was on the HockomockSports.com Third Team last season, and she will once again be the focal point of the offense, as well as one of the team’s leading defenders. Eberhardt’s versatility as a wing player should open things up for junior guards Kaitlyn Wallace and Ally Brown, who will both fill in as ball-handlers after the graduation of Miranda Cheung. Wallace will extend defenses with her shooting from the outside and Brown adds energy to the backcourt defense.
Senior guard Bridget McManus will add depth and junior forward Telishya Herbert provides a strong presence in the paint. Junior Olivia Langol-Leonard added frontcourt depth and was active on the glass in her time on the court, while senior forward Evanjuline Elisma can score in transition and adds another solid wing defender.
“We only lost one player due to graduation,” said Lombardi. “We have the entire team back and we added some height. I’m excited to see what the season brings. The girls are working hard and our goal is to qualify for the postseason.”
2017-2018 Record: 13-9 2017-2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South quarterfinal. Coach: Charmaine Steele Jordan
Stoughton started last season with five straight defeats and only one win in the opening eight games, but the Black Knights turned things around with a vengeance, winning 11 of its final 12 games of the regular season and winning its opening game of the state tournament. Stoughton’s only two losses in its final 14 games of the season were to state champion Foxboro. That is a lot of momentum for the Black Knights to carry into this year.
It may be a little different look for Stoughton this winter after the graduation of Val Whalen and Jordan Motley. Instead of being a team that dominates the paint, there will be a host of guards and wing players who can still battle on the glass, but will bring energy and tenacity on the perimeter on both ends of the court. Junior Aliyah Wright is back as the team’s point guard and her length makes her a factor guarding multiple positions. Senior Lindsay McDonald adds versatility as a combo guard and sophomore Sydnee Hyacinthe is a dynamic guard and stretches defenses with her ability to shoot from the outside.
While there are a lot of familiar faces returning for the Black Knights, there are several players who will have more responsibility this year and the potential to make big contributions. Junior Lexi Baptista defends well at the forward position and gives a different look on the post, while seniors Hailey Egan and Heather Maddalena will add extra toughness to the backcourt. Junior Shyanne Trinh is still battling an injury at the beginning of the season, but she will give Stoughton a big scoring boost when she returns.
“This season will be all about our effort, energy and enthusiasm on defense,” said Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele Jordan. “The Black Knights will be most successful when we put in work on the defensive end and finish each play with a Black Knights rebound.”
2017-2018 Record: 7-15 2017-2018 Finish: Missed postseason. Coach: Walter Harrigan
Taunton started last winter well and had the potential for making a return to the state tournament, but injuries slowed things down for the Tigers and they missed out on the postseason. While the year didn’t end the way they would have hoped, a number of younger players were given valuable varsity experience and there are a number of returning players ready to make an impact.
Senior Lily Patneaude will be the player to watch for the Tigers, as the team’s leading scorer from last year. After battling an injury down the stretch, her return gives Taunton a consistent primary offensive weapon and takes some of the scoring pressure off her teammates. Senior point guard Alexa White is also back to provide leadership, energy, and tenacity on the defensive end of the floor. Sophomore Kelsey White showed flashes as a rookie of being the secondary scorer that Taunton needs, with her ability to knock down shots from the outside and take defenders off the dribble.
Even with a year of experience, Taunton is still a relatively young team. Sophomores Jaelyn and Sonya Fernandez will provide athleticism from the forward positions and give Taunton effort in the paint, while sophomore Tori DaRose, and freshmen Abby Souza (who saw brief minutes as an eighth-grader last season) and Braeley MacDonald give the Tigers depth off the bench.
“We have great group of enthusiast student athletes consisting of senior leadership, youth, athleticism, and talent,” said Taunton coach Walter Harrigan. “This team is looking forward to a fun and exciting season.”
