Boys Basketball
Mansfield, 71 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 33 – Final – Mansfield dished out 24 assists on 27 made field goals to lead the way offensively and forced 17 turnovers (including eight steals) and had five blocks on the defensive side, which ended in a dominating 71-33 win in the annual New Year’s Eve matchup with Bridgewater-Raynham. Senior Chris Hill had a team-high 20 points along with five assists, five rebounds, and three steals while junior Trevor Foley had a very efficient outing with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting, adding six rebounds and two blocks. Davon Sanders (four assists) and Eddie McCoy (five assists, five rebounds) each had eight points.
Boys Hockey
Mansfield @ Somerset Berkley, 4:00 (@ Driscoll Rink)
Oliver Ames @ Whitman-Hanson, 3:50 (@ Rockland Rink)
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Sandwich, 1 – Final (OT)
Wrestling
North Attleboro Quad, 10:00AM
Shawsheen Quad – Milford ended 2022 with a bang, picking up three impressive wins at the first annual New Year’s Eve Clash at Shawsheen. Milford knocked off Springfield Central (64-18) and out-of-state foe Coventry (39-30) as well as one of their best wins of the season, a 40-37 decision over host Shawsheen, who came in first of nearly 100 teams at the Lowell tournament earlier this week.
Norwood Tri-Meet – Sharon picked up two wins to close out the calendar year. The Eagles pinned down a win over Quincy/North Quincy (60-22) and earned a hard fought win over host Norwood (46-21).
Boys Basketball
Mansfield, 71 vs. Bedford, 44 – Final – JT Veiking sparked a big run to start the second quarter that allowed the Hornets to pull away from a convincing win over visiting Bedford. Veiking scored 13 of his career-high 20 points in the midst of 19-2 run from the Hornets to start the second half, turning a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter (20-13) into a large double digit advantage. Senior Chris Hill had another strong all-around performance for the Hornets with 16 points, six rebounds, five steals, and four assists while Eddie McCoy chipped in with 12 points.
Milford, 90 vs. Assabet Valley, 31 – Final – Milford had nine players score, four with 13 or more points, and rolled to a win over Assabet Valley in an opening round matchup of the 2nd Annual Scarlet Hawks Holiday Invitational. Sophomore Andrew Rivera scored 12 of his team-high 20 points in the first half while classmate Luca Testa accounted for three of Milford’s 11 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 17 points. Wyatt Zagami and Tyler Ballard (14 rebounds) each chipped in with 13 points.
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 59 vs. Hingham, 31 – Final – Foxboro picked up a big non-league win to continue its unbeaten start to the season. Sophomore Addie Ruter had another impressive game in the post for the Warriors, scoring a career-high 24 points to pick up the win. Camryn Collins added 18 points for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 37 vs. Carlsbad (Calif.), 46 – Final
Milford, 30 @ Westboro, 38 – Final – Milford led after the first quarter, but then was outscored 22-11 over the second and third quarters. Emily Croteau was the top scorer for the shorthanded Hawks with 12 points. She scored eight of the team’s 10 points in the first, as Milford took a 10-8 lead, and then added four in the fourth, as Milford outscored the Rangers 9-8 in an attempt to come from behind. Aliza Syed added seven for Milford, including five of the team’s six points in the third quarter.
North Attleboro, 32 vs. Bedford, 45 – Final – North’s scoring struggles continued in a rematch against Bedford. The Rocketeers scored only 11 points before the break, fell behind by double digits, and never recovered, despite playing tough defense all game long and rallying to cut the lead to 10 with a little more than a minute to play. Maryellen Charette led the Rocketeers with nine points and Sam Sweeney finished with eight.
Boys Hockey
Foxboro, 4 vs. Old Rochester, 6 – Final
Franklin, 7 @ Malden Catholic, 2 – Final – Franklin had six different players find the back of the net as the Panthers used an offensive explosion to take down Malden Catholic. Anthony Lampasona had a pair of goals while Carter Balducci, Dan Daley, Jack Wernig, Logan Marchand, and Ryan Sicchio each scored once in the win.
King Philip, 3 vs. Milton, 1 – Final
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Dartmouth, 2 – Final – Matt Lawson recorded a hat trick to lift Oliver Ames to a hard-fought win on the road over Dartmouth. Lawson lit the lamp in the opening period and then tacked on two more in the third, including the game-winner with a minute to go. Lawson’s third goal put OA up 3-1 before Dartmouth scored with 16 seconds left to make it a one-goal game. Brandon Burke had a strong game in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton/Brockton, 4 vs. Holliston, 2 – Final – Colby Strunk scored a pair of goals to lead Stoughton/Brockton to a win in the opening round of the Bellingham Holiday Tournament. Jake McSweeney netted his first career goal and Charlie Caputo also found the back of the net. Dmytro Yakovenko had a strong game in net to earn the win.
Girls Hockey
King Philip, 0 vs. Cape Cod, 2 – Final
Gymnastics
Taunton, 132.35 @ Franklin, 133.75 – Final – Franklin’s Emma Nelson took first both on the bars and on the beam on her way to taking first in the all-around, helping the Panthers pull off a close win over Taunton. Nelson took first on the bars with an 8.5 and on the beam with an 8.8, adding a second place score of 8.65 on the vault. Molly Chandler was Franklin’s top scorer on the vault (8.7) while Maia Keohane (8.8) was first on the floor.
Boys Basketball
Milford, 55 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final – Attleboro sank four of their nine threes in the fourth quarter to pull away from visiting Milford for their first win in their new gym. Jaiden Outland, who had a game-high 15 points, had one of those threes and scored seven points in the fourth while Hayden Crowley (nine points), Michael Beverly (14 points), and Neo Franco (10 points) also hit from downtown in the frame. Franco had a steal and a layup with just under two minutes to go to push Attleboro’s lead to 59-51 but a jumper from Andrew Rivera (at 1:26) and a layup from Luca Testa (with 45 seconds) brought the Hawks within four, at 59-55. Justin Hanrahan, Beverly, and Outland hit free throws down the stretch, and Spencer Sherck drew a charge to help the Bombardiers close out the win in the final minute. Attleboro head coach Mark Houle praised Sherck’s defensive effort against Milford, who were without two rotation players. Freshman CJ Farrell led Milford with 15 points, Ryan Franklin added 12 points, and Testa finished with 11 points.
Mansfield, 59 @ Foxboro, 50 – Final – Mansfield built a 12-point lead at halftime and opened the second half with a 12-0 run to surge past Foxboro in their first showdown as division rivals. After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended with a halfcourt buzzer beater from Trevor Foley (nine points, seven rebounds), Mansfield locked in defensively and limited the Warriors to just two field goals, outscoring the hosts 14-6 to build a 33-21 lead at halftime. Caden Colby (career-high 14 points) hit one of his four threes, Davon Sanders drove to the bucket for two, and Eddie McCoy (nine points) had back-to-back baskets, including a three, and Chris Hill (17 points, eight rebounds) finished a tough layup in transition as the Hornets pushed their lead to 45-21 with 4:30 to go in the third. Foxboro closed on a 13-0 run over the final three minutes to get to the final score. Alex Penders led Foxboro with 16 points while both Ryan Kelley and Sam Golub had eight points apiece.
Franklin, 58 @ King Philip, 50 – Final – Franklin finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, shaking an upset-minded King Philip squad, to grab a 58-50 win on the road. The Panthers led by two at the end of the first quarter (13-11) and halftime (24-22), and carried a three-point lead into the fourth quarter (40-37). Justin Allen hit a pair of key three-pointers in the fourth, Hansy Jacques had six of his 10 points in the frame, and the Panthers got a bucket each from Bradley Herndon, Ben Harvey (13 points), and Sean O’Leary (14 points) to close out the win. After a quiet first half, King Philip senior Will Laplante scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half while Tommy Kilroy added a career-high 12 points.
North Attleboro, 51 @ Taunton, 69 – Final – Buoyed by a 20-point second quarter and a 26-point third quarter, Taunton ran away with a big win at home over visiting North Attleboro. Chris Volcy exploded in the second half, netting 18 of his career-high 20 points to help the Tigers pull away. Senior Chris Perault added a career-high 19 points, knocking down all three of Taunton’s three-pointers. The Rocketeers and Tigers were locked in at 11-11 after eight minutes but Taunton established a 31-20 lead by the break as Troy Santos scored seven of his 11 points in the second quarter. Jonnie Obuchowski and Derek Maceda each scored nine points for the Rocketeers.
Stoughton, 45 @ Oliver Ames, 50 – Final – A see-saw back and forth battle ended with Oliver Ames holding on for a 50-45 win over neighboring Stoughton. With under two minutes to play and locked in a one-possession game at 43-40, Oliver Ames got a pair of big baskets from a pair of underclassmen. Sophomore Cole Craffey drove to the basket for a layup and freshman Soren Lolonga drained a three just before the minute mark to push the Tigers’ lead to 48-40. Stoughton freshman Aiden Wideout answered with a bucket down low off a feed from Liam Pearl, but Craffey was able to work his way through the defense with 20 seconds left to make it 50-42. Matt Greenspoon knocked down a three with 5.7 seconds left to close the gap to 50-45 but OA held on for the win. Chris Elias scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second quarter while Lolonga had all 15 of his points in the second half. Stoughton’s Jayden Costa-Haywood finished with a team-high 19 points while Greenspoon added 16 points for the Black Knights, who led 19-18 at halftime.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 56 @ Milford, 35 – Final – Attleboro had three players score in double figures and jumped out to a 20-point lead by halftime to secure its second straight win. Kayla Goldrick and Lily Routhier led the Bombardiers with 13 points apiece. Goldrick helped the visitors get off to a good start with six in the first and Routhier helped build a 36-16 lead at the break with a pair of threes and nine points in the second. Vanessa Ellis scored nine of her 11 points to help break the game open early. Merry Bosh added seven in the win. Milford was led by Erin Michelson’s nine points, all coming in the second half. Aliza Syed scored eight and Olivia Baglione chipped in with six for the Hawks.
Foxboro, 67 @ Mansfield, 31 – Final – Foxboro made it two straight wins to start the season with a dominant road win over fellow division title contender Mansfield. Camryn Collins powered the Warriors on offense with 24 points. Addie Ruter had 13 to continue her strong start to the season with another double-digit scoring night. Erin Foley chipped in with 10.
King Philip, 43 @ Franklin, 54 – Final – Thanks to a strong first half, Franklin picked up a second straight home win to start the season and kept alive its league win streak to 44 games. The Panthers jumped out to a 19-6 lead after one quarter and extended it to 31-15 going into the locker room. Sophomore Chloe Fales (career-high 16 points) and Katie Peterson (14 points) combined for 15 in the opening half and Caelyn Leonard buried a pair of threes and scored all eight of her points in the first. KP picked up its offense in the second half, and cut the lead to as little as seven points, but Franklin held on to secure the victory. Emily Sawyer scored 16 points, including eight in the third. Jackie Bonner had 13 points and Maddie Paschke added 11 in the loss.
Taunton, 46 @ North Attleboro, 32 – Final – Taunton put in a strong defensive performance to make it two wins from two games under first-year coach Gretchen Rodrigues. The Tigers held North to just 10 points in the first half (building a 13-point lead at the break) and then just six in the third quarter to pull away. Jillian Doherty led the way with 14 for the Tigers, including eight of the team’s 12 points in the first. Cali Melo added nine points, while sophomore Chelsea Bousquet had eight and freshman Taryn Campbell added seven. On a tough shooting night as a team, North was led by Ava McKeon’s 15 points. She scored 12 of North’s 16 in the fourth as the hosts tried to mount a late comeback. Freshman Ella McLaughlin added eight points in the loss.
Oliver Ames, 79 @ Stoughton, 42 – Final – OA carried over momentum from the second half of its opener against Franklin and exploded for 79 points on Friday to even its record after two games. The Tigers jumped out to a 21-5 lead after one quarter, extended it to 45-17 at halftime, and added another 22 points in the third. Freshman Kamryn Derba knocked down five three-pointers and finished with a game- (and career-) high 20 points. Classmate Avery Gamble added 14 points (on 9-of-11 from the line) and the duo combined for 25 points before the break. Freshman Maeve Horsman had 12 points, Kaydance Derba scored 11, and Annie Reilly had nine for OA. Stoughton also got an impressive performance from a freshman, as Kirsten McKay scored eight of her career-high 15 points in the third. She added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Raina Tat chipped in with 10 points and Alyssa Edwards added eight. Katrina Varnum pulled down 14 rebounds for the Black Knights.
Wrestling
Silver Lake Quad (Franklin), 4:00
Boys Swimming
Foxboro, 40 @ Milford, 69 – Final
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield, 7:00
Stoughton, 58 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 85 – Final
Girls Swimming
Foxboro, 71 @ Milford, 87 – Final
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield, 7:00
Stoughton, 32 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 84 – Final
Mansfield junior Eddie McCoy goes up for a layup in the second half against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Buoyed by a dominant second half on both ends of the court, the Mansfield boys basketball team opened the new season in grand style.
Host Attleboro had a good first quarter and kept close with the Hornets for the first half but Mansfield was relentless for 32 minutes on the defensive end and used their athleticism and size to attack the basket, both in transition and in the half court, to pull away for a 62-33 win over the Bombardiers.
“I think in the first quarter both teams were amped up, and sometimes when you’re amped up in your own gym balls go in, and when you’re amped up on the road they don’t,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan, now in his 19th year at the helm. “I thought we did a really good job defensively. I think our length will bother people and I think it did tonight. Night number one, couldn’t be happier with the result and how the kids responded after their early punch and sticking with the game plan.”
Not only was it Attleboro’s home opener for the season, but it was also their first home game in their brand new high school, which opened up this fall. The Bombardiers translated that energy into a strong opening quarter as Hayden Crowley and Nathan Hodson — both varsity newcomers — each hit a three and junior returner Neo Franco sank a pair of shots.
But even Attleboro’s strong start wasn’t enough for the lead after eight minutes as Mansfield senior Chris Hill, the most seasoned player in the Hock entering the season, helped the Hornets quell the early waves of momentum and hit a pair of threes of his own, the latter of the two giving Mansfield a 14-13 lead after a quarter.
Mansfield improved on both ends of the court in the second quarter, upping its scoring output while lowering Attleboro’s. That trend continued in the third and fourth quarters as well as the Hornets outscored the hosts 33-10 in the second half, pitching a shutout in the fourth quarter until 10 seconds to play.
“Their defensive intensity stayed pretty consistent throughout the entire game,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle, now in his 28th year leading the Bombardiers. “I think for us, the early energy was great both offensively and defensively, but I think they wore us down a bit on the defensive end. We weren’t making shots and their length hurt us inside. Having kids get experience today was important, especially against a really good, well-coached team. Matching them early was good but in order to compete at that level, you have to do it for 32 minutes.
“They went into a different gear in the second half and we weren’t ready for that.”
Hill had a terrific performance with 21 points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and four assists. He led the charge again in the second quarter with seven points, converting an early layup that canceled out a three from Crowley, and then finishing a putback plus the foul just a couple minutes later that evened out yet another triple from Crowley (nine points).
Juniors Trevor Foley (16 points, six rebounds), Brandon Jackman, and Eddie McCoy (six points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals) all scored to help Mansfield establish a 29-23 lead at the break.
Mansfield’s single-digit advantage didn’t last long in the third quarter. The Hornets got out on the break, after makes and misses, running up the court for quick, and at times, easy baskets. Foley, McCoy, and senior Caden Colby all scored early and Davon Sanders scored off an offensive rebound midway through the quarter.
A brief 6-2 burst — featuring a bucket and assist from JT Veiking (10 points, three rebounds), a dunk from Foley up the middle, and two more from Hill extended Mansfield’s lead to 45-31.
“We tried to do a little more in transition because we have guys like Eddie and Trevor who can get out in front,” Vaughan said. “And we had touches in the paint tonight for the first time in 16 years, so that was pretty good. If we can go inside out and move the ball, and be a little more consistent with the movement, we can be good but I was pretty happy with how we played.
“I thought our flow was good, our transition was good and our defense was great.”
Hill drained a three to start the fourth and Mansfield never looked back. Their swarming defense forced the Bombardiers into 13 turnovers and Mansfield recorded seven blocks as a team (five from Hill), taking advantage of their size.
“He played pretty consistent through four [quarters] and he has a calming way about him,” Vaughan said of Hill. “The difference between this year and previous years is now he’ll exert himself in an offensive possession or on defense too, he had some really impressive blocks. He has that ice in his veins, just does his job.”
For Attleboro, which had all but three of its players getting their first meaningful varsity minutes, the experience is invaluable
“It’s a lot about details…we need to sprint and get back on defense,” Houle said. “it was a layup drill for them in the second half. Even when we scored, we turn around, and two passes later they are getting a layup. It will be important when we watch the film and I think they’ll learn from this game and figure out what we can do better as a team.”
Mansfield boys basketball (1-0 Hockomock, 1-0 overall) is on the road again Friday, making a trip to Foxboro for a key Davenport division clash. Attleboro (0-1, 0-1) is home again when it hosts Milford.
Only one of two returning players from last year’s HockomockSports First Team, Sharon senior Matt Baur will be one of the best all-around players in the Hockomock League. Although he was the leading scorer for the team that won the Davenport division last year, his game goes well beyond scoring. That’s not to ignore his ability to drive through contact and finish at the rim, or step out and hit tough shots, but he really does it all for the Eagles. He’s a very unselfish player that is willing to make the extra pass and he doesn’t take any plays off. He’s had a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball as he’s able to guard just about every position and his willingness to dive on the floor or step in and take a charge has been contagious.
Canton surprised a lot of people with their success last season and a big reason for that was because they had a lot of first-year varsity players step up and perform at a high level. Most of them were seniors and are graduated now, but Matt Chafin is one of the few Bulldogs back after impressing last year. Chafin is committed to playing baseball at Brandies University but before hitting the diamond in the spring, he will be a key piece for second-year head coach Eric MacKinnon. He’s the top returning scorer after averaging 8.8 points per game last year; he scored in double figures in nine games last year, including a career-high 17 points against Southeastern. His ability to stretch the floor with his outside shooting will set the tone for the Bulldogs’ offense.
There was a lot of turnover for Oliver Ames this season, and the majority of its offensive production is no longer in the lineup. This biggest loss offensively was one of the league’s top scorers in Zach Tagliamonte, who averaged over 18 points per game. The Tigers also lost their next three top scorers and the lone player back from last year that averaged over 5 points per game is sophomore Cole Craffey. Named a captain as just a sophomore, Craffey will take on the responsibility as one of OA’s go-to guys on the offensive end of the floor. He showed off his range last year and has to be respected on the perimeter, but he also can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim with confidence.
Attleboro is another squad that saw the majority of its roster graduate this past spring. Longtime head coach Mark Houle will be relying on new faces to fill out this year’s rosters and he will also be leaning heavily on the few familiar faces he does have back. One of them is junior Neo Franco, who had a breakout season last year and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team. He did a little bit of everything, averaging 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 steals as a sophomore. That versatility will be key as the Bombardiers get their new names acclimated to the varsity level, which is something Franco had to do last year. He can score in a variety of ways too (almost 10 ppg in the final five games) but the intangibles really set him apart from the pack.
While a lot of the league is filling out its roster with new players, Mansfield boasts the most experienced player in the Hockomock League in senior Chris Hill. No one has played more minutes at the varsity level (now entering his fourth year on varsity) and no one has more career points (545) to start this season. He’s only one of two players with over 500 career points entering this year and the Hornets will lean heavily on his experience and guidance. He is a typical Mansfield player with the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and can finish around the rim, coming off a season in which he averaged 12.3 points (40% three-point shooting), 6.6 rebounds, and 3.0 rebounds. He’s also an underrated defensive player (eight steals in one game last year) and his speed and size allow him to guard most positions.
Among returning players in the Hockomock League, there aren’t many that have scored as many points as King Philip senior Will Laplante. A 6-foot-1 guard, Laplante is fearless with the ball in his hands. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket but he really can fill it up from the perimeter. He’s someone that defenses have to put extra attention on and if they lose track of him, he will make them pay. He averaged 17.9 points per game last year to go along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals. It looks like he will have some more help around him this year so he won’t have to shoulder as much of the load offensively as he has had to in years past.
Franklin had a lot of new faces in their lineup and despite being a young team, had a lot of success. One of the big reasons for all of that success was the emergence of forward Sean O’Leary. A 6-foot-4 forward, O’Leary can do it all on the offensive end of the floor and enters the year as one of our preseason picks for Player of the Year. O’Leary kept improving each and every game last year, finishing with 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, and earned HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team honors. At his size, he’s a matchup problem in the post and is really crafty finishing around the rim, but he really separates himself with his ability to score from just about anywhere on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s very sound and his length makes it very difficult for opponents.
Over each of the past two seasons, Foxboro’s Alex Penders has shown a lot of improvement and is poised for a big senior season. A double-double contender every night, Penders is a modern-day big man that can dominate in the post but also step out and shoot from the perimeter. He is coming off a junior year in which he averaged 16.3 points (on 50.5% shooting), 11.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Maybe the most underrated part of his game is his unselfishness as he led the Warriors with a team-best 3.3 assists per game. He will certainly be a focal point of Foxboro’s offense this season but with a well-rounded group of players surrounding him and his willingness to share the ball bodes well for head coach Jon Gibbs and the way he likes to run his offense. Penders, who recently committed to play at Ithaca, is only one of two returning players who made the HockomockSports First Team last year, and just one of two players in the league with over 500 career points.
Not only did Milford have one of the youngest teams in the Hockomock League last season, but it was also one of the youngest squads the league has seen in a decade. They took their lumps during a 2-21 campaign but now almost all of those young players are back with plenty of experience under their belts for head coach Paul Seaver. One of the young players back in the fold this year is Andrew Rivera, who scored the most points for the Hawks last year as a freshman and averaged 7.8 points per game. Despite being just a sophomore, he’s confident with the ball and can score in a variety of ways. He can pull up from the perimeter but he can also attack the defense and get to the rim. Milford will look to take another step forward this year and having players with more experience like Rivera will be a big plus.
A common theme in the league this year is replacing the production of the senior class that graduated in the spring. The reigning Kelley-Rex division champions are right at the top of that list with Trent Santos, Faisal Mass, and Tristan Herry — a combined over 2,100 career points — no longer in the lineup. Junior Troy Santos is only returning from last year’s starting lineup and has the most varsity experience of anyone on the Tigers this season. We saw his ability to score in flashes last year and he will have a lot more opportunities this year with all of those points gone. He’s more than capable from the perimeter and if he can play with confidence, he can score at a high rate. This could be a breakout year for Santos.
Attleboro has consistently been in the hunt for the Kelley-Rex division in recent years, and if the Bombardiers are going to be there again this year, they will have to do so with a lot of new players to the varsity level.
Not only did the Bombardiers graduate a sizable senior class, but the majority of them were also key pieces in longtime head coach Mark Houle’s lineup and rotation. Add in the transfer of promising 6’5-forward Trevor White, and Attleboro has very few pieces left from last year. But that’s not to say Attleboro is without talent. Junior Neo Franco is coming off a very successful first year with the team, earning HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team honors. Jaiden Outland saw more and more minutes as the season went on and he showed what he’s capable of with a career-high 18 points in Attleboro’s win over Durfee in late February last year; he could be poised for a big year. Senior Michael Beverly is the third returner for the Bombardiers after picking up some minutes last year while newcomer senior Justin Hanrahan could be a key piece right away.
Another reason for optimism is that most of the new faces in the lineup this year played for the Bombardiers’ JV squad last season, which posted an impressive 19-2 record. Seniors Spencer Sherck, Zyeem Charles, Nathan Hodson, and Michael Alfonso will provide key leadership for Houle this year. Junior Max Crawford will join sophomores Dante Monestime, Hayden Crowley, and Brady Erwin as potential contributors for the Bombardiers.
“We need to continue our commitment to be a highly competitive defensive team, our communication, and understanding of defensive concepts is a priority and is a reason we were one of the top defensive teams in the league last year,” Houle said.
2021-2022 Record: 9-11 Coach: Eric MacKinnon
Canton surprised a lot of people on the outside of the program with a nine-win season that certainly was good enough for a playoff spot, but the Bulldogs have put that seeding drama in the rearview mirror and are now focused on surprising people again this year.
In order to do so, the Bulldogs will need new players to step up as second-year head coach Eric MacKinnon only has one returning starter from last year. Matt Chafin emerged as a top perimeter option, averaging 8.8 points per game last year (reaching double figures in just under half of the games). Although he isn’t returning from last year’s lineup, Julius Hicks provides a big boost for MacKinnon and Bulldogs, coming back after missing all of last season with an injury. Hicks would have certainly been in the rotation last year and will be a vital piece this year. Junior Zaza Francoeur is an athletic wing player that can impact the game on both ends of the floor for the Bulldogs.
Defense emerged as one of Canton’s strengths a season ago as the Bulldogs bought into MacKinnon’s game plan. Canton allowed the least amount of points against in the Davenport division at 50.6, and they will look to replicate that again this year.
“With our personnel and style of play we have the ability to score from the perimeter and play inside-out at times,” MacKinnon said. “Our length and athleticism should allow us to get out in transition.”
Foxboro is one of the few teams in the league that has more familiar faces returning than not, and after only missing out on the Davenport title by one game last year, the Warriors are aiming to compete with defending champs Sharon and division newcomer Mansfield for the top spot this season.
The Warriors boast one of the better senior classes, anchored by HockomockSports First Team selection Alex Penders. Penders, a 6-foot-5 forward who averaged 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game last year and recently committed to play at Ithaca next year, is joined by classmates Sam Golub, Ryan LeClair, and Andrew Finn. Golub and LeClair played a lot of minutes for head coach Jon Gibbs last season and both improved as the season went on. Having three experienced players will certainly give the Warriors an advantage, especially on the defensive side of the ball where Gibbs always has his teams prepared.
Penders can score in a variety of ways and will be a matchup problem for most teams in the league. Golub is a proven shooter that can get hot at any time while LeClair is a pesky defender, and as seen by his performance on the road at Stoughton last year, is a capable scorer. Penders will certainly be the focus of the offense but he’s a very unselfish player and Foxboro should have a good balance in the scoring column. While the Warriors have a strong senior class, they’re still a relatively young team. With only two juniors, the rest of the roster is filled by six sophomores and two freshmen. Junior Ryan Cotter and sophomores Ryan Kelley and Nolan Gordon will be names to keep an eye on.
“This is a very hard-working and coachable group that is improving on a daily basis,” Gibbs said. “We have a very exciting blend of experienced veterans and newcomers who are hungry to contribute. If we can defend and rebound at a high level, the potential is there for a very successful season.”
2021-2022 Record: 21-4 Coach: CJ Neely
Entering the past two seasons, there was a lot of unknown for the Panthers after graduating a large senior class each year. It’s the opposite this year as Franklin graduated just three players and has the majority of last year’s squad that went 21-4 back in the fold.
After a third-place finish in the Kelley-Rex last season, Franklin could be the team to beat this go around. Junior Sean O’Leary highlights a talented and experienced group of long, athletic players. O’Leary, a 6-foot-4 forward that can score from anywhere on the court and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team last year, will be one of the top players in the league this year. Junior Andrew O’Neill (8.8 points per game) is another returner and head coach CJ Neely will lean on a small but talented senior class that features Ben Harvey (HockomockSports All-Defensive Team), Justin Allen, Geino Scaringello, and Hayden Morandi.
Juniors Hansy Jacques, Bradley Herndon, and Andrew Benoit were all on the team last year and could see increased minutes this season. There will be more opportunities on offense for players to step up with the graduation of Sean Vinson (12.8 ppg) and last year’s leading scorer and HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Henry Digirogio (16.1 ppg) has opted not to play this year. And promising sophomore Caden Sullivan, who likely would have been in the rotation, will miss significant time due to injury.
“The preseason has been very competitive at practice,” Neely said. “We have a great group of guys who really care for each other. While we do have a good amount of returning players, there is a lot of playing time up for grabs and it will be a daily challenge for guys to earn roles. I have been most impressed with how committed and focused the players have been each day on the court and in film sessions to always look for ways to improve as a group. It will be fun to watch them grow and compete all year.”
2021-2022 Record: 6-16 Head Coach: Dave DeStefano
King Philip brings back a good portion of its roster and is looking to book a spot in the tournament and contend for the Kelley-Rex division title.
The Warriors are one of the few teams in the league that brings back their leading scorer from a year ago in Will Laplante, a seasoned veteran that has averaged over 16 points per year in each of the last two seasons. Laplante is joined by senior Grant Kinney, who had some breakout games last year, and Tommy Martorano, who showed that at his best (a career-high 36 points) that he can score with the best players in the league. That trio is three of KP’s top five scorers from a year ago. Senior Colin Peck, a 6-foot-2 forward, will likely see an expanded role after playing some valuable minutes last year.
Juniors Tommy McLeish and Trevor Clyde, both 6-foot-3 forwards, have made a big jump from last year and will be key pieces for head coach Dave DeStefano this year. New additions Danny Silveria and Peter Cataldo, both juniors, look to factor in as key defensive pieces for the Warriors. Sophomore Tommy Kilroy didn’t see a ton of minutes early on last year but his role expanded as the season went on, scoring in double figures against Mansfield and in a win over Xaverian. Fellow sophomores Brandon Nicastro, Drew Laplante, and Jack Assini will all looking to contribute this season as well.
“The boys have really committed this offseason,” DeStefano said. “The limited practices so far have been really competitive. It’s no secret that our defense has to drastically improve to be competitive in the league. We want to make our opponents uncomfortable and focus on working together to get stops. On offense, we are looking to have a balanced attack and create great scoring opportunities as a team.”
2021-2022 Record: 21-5 Coach: Mike Vaughan
Mansfield had its incredible streak of nine straight Kelley-Rex division titles come to an end last season, and now the Hornets start a new chapter as they begin their first season in the Davenport. Expectations remain sky-high for the Hornets, who are an immediate favorite for the division crown.
The Hornets have two of their best scorers back from last year in senior Chris Hill (12.5 ppg) and junior Trevor Foley (8.2 ppg), but Mansfield did graduate its leading scorer in Matty Hyland and lost five of its top seven scorers. That means there’s a lot of opportunity for new faces to step up. Hill has probably played more varsity minutes than anyone else in the league and he can compete at a high-level night in and night out. Foley really emerged as a top player by the end of the season, averaging over 16 points per game in March.
Senior Caden Colby was part of the rotation last year and will see a bigger role this year while classmate JT Veiking is a 6-foot-5 forward that can score on the perimeter or down low. Senior Michael Creedon rounds out the senior class and can provide a spark with increased minutes this year. Junior Eddie McCoy is poised for a breakout year, an athletic wing player that can attack the rim and cause problems for opposing defenses. Juniors Brandon Jackman and Davon Sanders should see time in the Mansfield backcourt this year.
“This season will be our tallest team in my tenure, it will be fun to see what different things we can do on the defensive end,” Vaughan said. “Offensively we should have plenty of power to put points on the board but the big question mark will be how quickly we can find our max compete level.”
2021-2022 Record: 2-21 Coach: Paul Seaver
Milford had an entirely new team last season and was the youngest team in the league. With just four seniors gone from last year, the Hawks are still a young team but head coach Paul Seaver believes his group learned a lot last year and is trending in the right direction.
The Scarlet Hawks have three of the top four scorers from last season back in the fold, including junior Jake Soares (8.0 ppg), sophomore Andrew Rivera (7.8 ppg), and senior Wyatt Zagami (7.1 ppg). Zagami, who can really fill it up when he’s on a hot streak, is joined by classmates Guy Saintyl, Jacob Ligor, and Joe Buckley to round out a small senior class for the Hawks. Soares was probably Milford’s most consistent player for the first two months before an injury ended his season early, and Rivera showed some glimpses of high-level play throughout the year.
Having a year of experience will be key, especially as a lot of other Hock teams are featuring a lot of first-year varsity players. Sophomore Luca Testa is another young player that saw a lot of minutes for the Hawks last year and will be a key piece during this campaign. Sophomore Gus Coutinho is a dangerous shooter and freshman CJ Farrell could be an impact player right away as well.
“Last season we were very young and very inexperienced,” Seaver said. “We learned how to compete while playing a tough schedule. Now with double digits returnees, we not only aim to improve on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball – we aim to improve in all aspects. Our goals and expectations will be what we make them and what we do with the opportunities that are given to us. I have a great crop of kids who are committed, hard-working individuals who continue to climb the ladder and do things the right way.”
2021-2022 Record: 5-15 Coach: Sean Mulkerrins
North Attleboro battled through an up-and-down season last year that featured some impressive wins — like a double-digit victory over Foxboro and a sweep of Stoughton — as well as some tough losses, like to Foxboro in overtime and to rival Attleboro by just three points. The Rocketeers graduated their two leading scorers from a year ago but return the majority of a roster that was playing their first varsity minutes last year.
Besides its four seniors last year, the rest of the Rocketeers were brand new to the varsity level. That means this year’s group will feature a bit more experience, albeit North is still on the young side. Givany Carney is North’s most experienced player and will be one of the go-to options on the offensive end of the court. Carney is a crafty player that does well getting to the rim with a good combination of speed and size. Senior Jack Munley is a tone-setter and can change the momentum of a game with his effort while senior Derek Maceda showed glimpses last season as a potential go-to guy offensively, both on the perimeter and attacking the basket.
Sophomores Ryan Bannon and Chase Frisoli both played some valuable minutes as freshmen and should see increased roles this year. Bannon is a solid defender and can be a contributor on the offensive end while Frisoli is a high-IQ player with range. Junior Chris Hanewich is another player that head coach Sean Mulkerrins is relying on to contribute on both ends of the floor. With some good experience, North will be looking to establish itself as one of the hardest-working teams in the league, which starts on the defensive end.
“We have a roster of kids who are working hard to improve and learn our system,” Mulkerrins said. “Our practices have been very competitive. We are very focused on building and maintaining our team culture so we are prepared to compete against the talented basketball programs in the Hockomock League.”
2021-2022 Record: 10-12 Coach: Oliver Vil
Oliver Ames is going to have a new look this year under second-year head coach Oliver Vil. The Tigers lost the majority of the team that won a preliminary playoff game last season and missed out on the Davenport division title by just a game.
Not only will the lineup feature new faces, but it will also feature a lot of new faces as the Tigers have a deep group this year. Senior captains Chris Elias and Ari Spiliakos are two returners that will be leaders for the team both on and off the court. Senior Nick Asiaf is a capable ball handler and can attack the rim while seniors Nick Rhodes and Jaden Graham provide key depth. Sophomore Cole Craffey played some meaningful minutes a year ago and will be one of the Tigers’ go-to options offensively this year. He’s very confident with the ball and can score inside and out.
With seven of their top eight scorers from a season ago gone, there will be plenty of opportunity for new players to step up. Freshman Solen Lolonga was in the starting lineup for the Tigers’ season-opening win over Southeastern and had a strong showing with 19 points. Vil also has a deep junior class that features Jake Willard, Daniel Casey, Andrew Sullivan, and David Rodgers, who all played in the win.
“Our strength this season on offense will be our ability to move the ball and create shots for one another,” Vil said. “We will have the same defense approach as last season, forcing our opponents into taking difficult shots and limiting transition offensive baskets. We now have minimal room for careless mistakes to compete in an already difficult conference. I am extremely excited to battle a plethora of well-coached disinclined teams every night we step on the floor to play a game this season.”
2021-2022 Record: 12-9 (Davenport division champions) Coach: Andrew Ferguson
Sharon won its first Davenport division title in eight seasons last year and with its top three scoring options back in the mix this year, the Eagles will be in contention to repeat that feat again this year.
Senior Matt Baur and juniors Jacob McLoughlin and Nate Katznelson give Sharon one of the top trios of players in the league. Baur, who earned HockomockSports First Team honors last year after averaging 15.1 points and 6 rebounds a game, is the heart and soul of the team. He leads by example both on and off the court and is the engine of the team. He doesn’t have to fill up the scoring column to have a big impact on the game. Both Katznelson and McLoughlin emerged as top players in their first season and will be vital pieces this year.
Senior captains Jack Bates and Tyler Goodman both came off the bench as key pieces for head coach Andrew Ferguson last year and will see increased responsibility this year. Bates is a pesky defender and a good floor general while Goodman can provide a spark with his shooting. Senior Dante James, an athletic wing player, comes over from Mansfield and should give the Eagles a big boost with their depth. Juniors Ryan Brown, Anthony Piron, and Cam Sherman provide backcourt depth while juniors Zach Wise, Jaden Segal, and sophomore Sam Letendre provide physicality to the Eagles’ frontcourt.
“With a small senior class, this team is blending experience with youth and has already begun to form a tight bond both on and off the court. Our practices have been super competitive and we look forward to competing against a very strong schedule.”
2021-2022 Record: 9-11 Coach: Evan Taylor
Last season, Stoughton entered the final stretch of league games right in the mix for the Davenport division title but ended up on the outside looking in finishing in a tie for fourth and just missing out on the postseason. With just a few returners back in the mix, the Knights will be looking for a new group of players to lead them into the tournament and contend for the division crown.
Stoughton has two major challenges to address this year, one on each side of the ball. The Black Knights lost their three top scorers from last year with Connor Andrews (19.9 ppg) and Cash Mathurin (5.9 ppg) graduating, and Rayan Sablon (18.3 ppg) transferring out. Head coach Evan Taylor will lean heavily on his four returning players to try and fill that void. Senior Jayden Costa Haywood played some meaningful minutes a season ago and has taken a big leap and the Knights will look for him to provide an offensive punch. Junior Liam Pearl (5.2 ppg) also worked his way into the rotation and made some key shots in clutch moments, including at Foxboro and at home against Canton. Sophomore Matthew Greenspoon (5.6 ppg) is the top scorer back from last year and will look to build on a strong debut season as a freshman.
The other challenge for Stoughton will be on the defensive end as the Knights look to make a drastic improvement after allowing over 60 points per game last year. On top of the returners, Taylor is looking for senior Tagh Swierzewski and junior Jarred Daughtry to make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. Other newcomers include senior Obioma Dike, juniors Elijah Connor, and Nathan Figaro, sophomore Mykel Thomas, and freshmen Anthony Alessi and Aiden Rideout.
“Defense has been the main focus at the start of this season,” Taylor said. “Our goal is to be a top three defense in the league with a lot of great on-ball defenders and high IQ players on the
floor.”
2020-2021 Record: 19-3 (Kelley-Rex division champions) Coach: Charlie Dacey
This season will mark a new chapter in the storied history of Taunton basketball. After back-to-back Kelley-Rex championships, including the program’s first outright title a year ago, the Tigers will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this year.
The biggest challenge will be replacing the production from one of the best trios in the Hock in recent history in Player of the Year Trent Santos, Faisal Mass, and Tristan Herry, who combined for just under 75% of the team’s scoring last year. One of the familiar faces returning to the starting group is junior Troy Santos, who has the most career points of anyone on the roster. Santos showed some flashes last year but will have a lot more looks this year. Seniors Chris Volcy and Alvinsky Morisseau, and junior Tyson Carter are also returners from last year and figure to see increased minutes this season.
Senior Chris Perault could be the biggest addition for the Tigers, a player that can score both from the perimeter and attacking the basket. Santos will factor in as one of the top shooters both on the team and in the league while Volcy has really improved from last year and could be a top scoring option for the Tigers. Longtime head coach Charlie Dacey is looking for Dimari Brown and Travis Johnson to provide a spark on the low block, plus some more faces to step up off of the bench.
“This year’s Taunton team will be very different from last year. This edition will be faster without a singular scorer, points can come from a variety of styles,” Dacey said. “Speed and aggressive defense will be the key to Taunton’s success this year.”
Mansfield sophomore Trevor Foley chases down a loose ball after forcing a turnover in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. — Behind a spectacular defensive effort, the Mansfield boys basketball team battled back to get in position to take the game.
But the signature run that the Hornets have used to put away teams time and time again just never came to close it out.
The Hornets dug themselves out of a 15-point second half hole, erased a seven-point deficit in the final 90 seconds of regulation but couldn’t quite put the finishing touches on the big comeback, falling 57-51 in double overtime to Norwood in the Division 2 Round of 8.
“I thought our defense was pretty spectacular,” said Mansfield coach Mike Vaughan, who saw his team force the Mustangs into 25 turnovers. “I thought we did an awesome job on [Noah Beaudet]. I thought we were able to minimize their other guys’ chances and really put ourselves in a position to come back. The problem was, for whatever reason, the second half of the year we’ve struggled scoring. In the first half…you only have 14 points, you can’t do that against a team at this level.
“We continued to stay true to ourselves defensively and started to make some plays, hit a couple of shots. I just can’t say enough about their effort and commitment to playing the right way and playing hard. You can’t get a better high school game out of this.”
Mansfield boys basketball
The Hornets were limited to 14 points total in the opening half, and a bucket just seconds into the start of the second put the Mustangs ahead 29-14. Mansfield refused to go quietly and outscored the visitors 14-4 the rest of the way in the quarter to get back into it.
After an early bucket, sophomore Trevor Foley (16 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, three steals) turned a steal into an emphatic one-handed slam to bring the hosts within a point, 33-32. Mansfield tied it on a free throw from junior Chris Hill (14 points, six rebounds), who tacked on a three a couple of possessions later to tie it 36-36.
Norwood star junior Noah Beaudet broke free for a rare open look and drained a triple and scored three from the foul line to bring the Mustangs back in front, 44-37, with 1:47 to go.
Senior Andrew Slaney connected on a corner three and the Hornets trapped immediately on the inbounds and forced a turnover, resulting in a quick layup from senior Matt Hyland (10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals).
Mansfield forced back-to-back turnovers but missed the front end of a one-and-one and had another chance blocked. With 26 seconds left, Hyland found Hill on a backdoor lob play and Mansfield tied it 44-44. The Hornets got another stop on defense with 10 seconds to go but a layup chance was off the mark for the hosts to send the game into overtime.
Points were at a premium in the four-minute overtime period. Hyland lost control in the paint but the ball fell right to Foley for a layup with 2:17 to go. Hill grabbed a steal but the Hornets missed on a chance to extend the lead. Hyland had a steal on the next possession but the Hornets turned it right back over and Norwood tied the game on a putback from Ziad Awde.
Both teams missed on a three in the final minute as the game went double overtime, tied 46-46.
Mansfield boys basketball
Mansfield sandwiched a pair of misses around a turnover, and Beaudet converted to put the visitors ahead. A free throw cut it to one but a tough jumper from Beaudet extended it back to three, 50-47. The Hornets couldn’t get anything to go on their next trip, and Norwood turned an offensive rebound into two points, 52-47 with 1:15 to go.
Foley scored to cut it to four but the Mustangs did enough at the line to keep the advantage the rest of the way.
“I think it just came down to us missing some bunnies, we had our opportunities. I thought in the first half we were forcing some action and then we got to a point we weren’t forcing it, but there were some opportunities when it looked like easy baskets that we just didn’t put in the hole. I’m not sure we shot great from the foul line either. Those two things…you can’t shoot yourself at this level. Defensively, we did it…we played great on defense and played as good as we could on defense.
“But offensively, I thought there were a lot of times we got exactly what we wanted but didn’t capitalize on it.”
Mansfield had an uncharacteristic day on the offensive end, shooting under 30% from the field overall and under 20% from three-point range.
Hill scored the opening basket of the game but it would end up as Mansfield’s lone lead of regulation. Hyland had the two other buckets but Norwood claimed a 14-6 lead after one.
An early three from Hill gave Mansfield a good start to the second quarter, and points from Foley and Anthony Sacchetti made it 14-13 before Mansfield’s offense went cold and the Mustangs closed the half on a 13-1 run.
Foley ignited the Hornet offense with back-to-back buckets in the third, Hyland and Caden Colby each had one from in close, and Slaney added a three. By the end of the third, Mansfield closed the gap to just five, 33-28.
“They are tremendous kids,” Vaughan said. “This was just a great group, starting with the seniors all the way through. Nice kids, came to work every day and never complained. I had no issues with this team all year long. They were great, it was a fun team to be around.”
Mansfield boys basketball finishes the season at 21-5.
Boys Basketball Division 1
#28 Durfee, 39 @ #5 Franklin, 60 – Final – A 15-0 run to start the game and a dominant third quarter highlighted Franklin’s big win over visiting Durfee. Sophomore Henry DiGiorgio made a splash in his first game back after missing five games to finish the season, scoring seven of his 10 points in the first while senior Sean Vinson (14 points) hit a pair of first quarter threes to set the tone early. Justin Allen, Will Tracey, and Andrew O’Neill each hit a three in the second as Franklin established a 31-19 lead at halftime. In the third, the Panthers poured in 21 points while holding the Hilltoppers to just eight to extend the lead to 52-27. Sophomore Sean O’Leary scored half of his 12 points in the third while DiGiorgio added a three for Franklin, who will host #21 Catholic Memorial next week.
#21 Catholic Memorial, 66 @ #12 Attleboro, 62 – Final
Division 2
#31 Middleboro, 41 @ #2 Mansfield, 72 – Final – After a competitive first quarter, Mansfield held Middleboro to just four points in the second quarter and nine in the third while its offense didn’t skip a beat from start to finish. The Hornets held a slim 18-14 lead after a quarter but while Mansfield’s offense continued at that same pace in the second, Middleboro’s didn’t thanks to a strong defensive effort from the hosts. Sophomore Trevor Foley scored six points in each of the first three quarters and finished with a career-high 20 points. The Hornets had nine players get on the scoring sheet with senior Matt Hyland chipping in with 13 points and junior Chris Hill (a trio of trifectas) adding 11 points. Mansfield will host ##15 Shepherd Hill next week.
#17 Sharon, 66 @ #16 Agawam, 73 – Final – After falling behind early, Sharon rallied to erase most of the deficit but fell just short of the complete comeback. Agawam scored 23 points in the opening quarter with six players contributing to the early advantage. Sharon played the Brownies even in the second, trailing by seven (40-33) at the break. The Eagles, who were without second leading scorer Nate Katznelson, got within one possession (68-65) with just over a minute to go but Agawam closed the game out strong to get the win. Junior Matt Baur led the offense with 19 points while senior Will Hippler scored 15 of his career-high 17 points in the second half to help the Eagles make a game of it. Sophomore Jacob McLoughlin chipped in with 12 points for Sharon.
#24 Foxboro, 70 @ #9 Walpole, 73 – Final – In a rock fight between two evenly matched teams, Foxboro fell just short on the road at Walpole. A back-and-forth clash saw both teams make runs and take turns with the lead, but neither squad led by double digits throughout the game. The Timberwovles threatened to pull away a couple of times, including early in the fourth before Foxboro junior Alex Penders sank back-to-back three pointers to keep the Warriors in it. Junior Andrew Finn drilled a three with under 30 seconds to go to make it a two-point game. After Walpole hit one of two chances from the line, Foxboro’s heavily contested three point bid was to tie the game was off the mark. Senior Dylan Gordon had his way on the offensive end with a team-high 29 points while Penders finished with 26 points for the Warriors.
Girls Basketball Division 1
#27 Braintree, 43 @ #6 Franklin, 69 – Final – The Panthers scored the opening 11 points of the game and never let up, rolling to a big win in the first round. Franklin scored 22 points in the first and 20 int the second, building a 42-21 lead at halftime. The lead grew to 30 points after three. Katie Peterson was Franklin’s top scorer with 17 points, 15 of them coming in the first half. Stefany Padula scored nine (six in the first quarter) and Olivia Quinn and Brigid Earley each scored eight. Julia White chipped in with seven points off the bench for the Panthers. Hailey Sherrick was the game’s top scorer with 22 points for the Wamps, 15 in the second half. Franklin will host No. 11 seed Lincoln-Sudbury in the Sweet Sixteen at a date and time to be determined.
#31 King Philip, 36 @ #2 Wachusett, 54 – Final – KP hung tough with the undefeated Mountaineers through the first half, but the No. 2 seed took control of the game with a big third quarter. The Warriors trailed just 27-23 heading to the locker room, but Wachusett put together a 22-4 third to take control of the game. KP held Wachusett to only five points in the fourth, but was unable to make a serious dent in the deficit. Elizabeth Molla and Jackie Bonner combined for a trio of three-pointers and each scored 11 points to pace the Warriors, while Liv Lafond added eight. KP coach Jeff Miszkiewicz said, “I’m very proud of the way the team conducted themselves in a very tough road environment. They handled themselves with class and left everything they had on the court.”
#26 Mansfield, 37 @ #7 Woburn, 42 – Final – Kara Santos scored 18 points and Abby Wager had 14 but it wasn’t enough to help the Hornets overcome Woburn on the road in the Round of 32.
Division 2
#30 North Middlesex, 36 @ #3 Oliver Ames, 79 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Caroline Peper poured in 30 points, including the 1,000th of her career, to pace the Tigers to a big win over North Middlesex. OA’s offense was clicking early as the Tigers raced out to a 42-21 lead by halftime. Peper drilled a three-pointer on the first play of the fourth quarter to hit the milestone (see video below). Sophomores Jasmyn Cooper (19 points) and Sarah Hilliard (10 points) also played well in the win.
#19 Nashoba, 38 @ #14 Foxboro, 56 – Final – Freshman Kailey Sullivan scored 28 points in her playoff debut, leading the Warriors to first round win. Foxboro advances to the Round of 16 for a rematch with Oliver Ames.
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 43 @ North Attleboro, 40 – Final – In a rivalry game between the Blue Bombardiers and Red Rocketeers, it was the former that held on for a close win. Attleboro led by five at half, and by six going into the fourth, but had to hold on as North came up short on two game-tying three-point chances. Alvin Harrison helped Attleboro get off to a good start with six of his team-high 13 points in the opening quarter, helping the Bombardiers lead after eight minutes (11-10) and at halftime (21-16). North Attleboro’s Casey Poirier scored all of his 15 points in the second half and Brody Rosenberg had five of his nine in the fourth as North pulled within a possession. Colin Morais had a pair of key threes in the third for Attleboro.
Mansfield, 61 vs. Brockton, 51 – Final – Mansfield never trailed in its win over Brockton, building a double-digit halftime that it held on for the rest of the way. After outscoring the Boxers 20-12 in the first, the Hornets put up 16 points in the second to stage a 36-22 lead by halftime. After a back-and-forth third, Mansfield carried a 48-32 lead into the fourth and kept Brockton at arm’s length throughout the fourth. Matt Hyland led the Hornets with 26 points, nine assists, and a pair of steals while Chris Hill added 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
Milford, 59 vs. Dracut, 73 – Final
Girls Basketball
North Attleboro, 30 @ Attleboro, 45 – Final – The Bombardiers had a rough shooting night but managed to go on a run starting midway through the third quarter to pull out a win in the final regular season game at the Attleboro High gym. Meghan Gordon scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, helping Attleboro earn the season sweep of the Rocketeers. Attleboro led 11-4 after one, with Gordon and Kayla Goldrick each scoring four points, but North battled back in the second. Summer Doherty scored five in the second and Sam Sweeney hit a three as the Rocketeers cut the lead to just one heading to halftime. The visitors scored the first four points of the third quarter and Attleboro continued to struggle offensively. Midway through the third, after a timeout wakeup from head coach Bri Bracken, the Bombardiers turned things around, closing the quarter with 12 straight points and finishing the game with a 26-8 run. Gordon had eight in the third. Lindsey Perry added six points in the fourth and Goldrick added four more to help pull away. Gordon had 13 rebounds and four blocks to go with her 16 points. Perry finished with 12 points and Goldrick had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Vanessa Ellis added five points and nine boards. Doherty was North’s top scorer with 14 points and Sam Sweeney had five. Taylor McMath pulled down nine rebounds in the loss.
Mansfield, 45 vs. Natick, 39 – Final
Boys Hockey
Mansfield, 3 vs. Somerset-Berkley, 5 – Final
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Westwood, 6 – Final – Sophomores Andrew Livingstone and Jack Corey each had a goal and an assist but the Tigers fell in the regular season finale to Westwood. Corey set up Livingstone for his goal, and Livingstone returned the favor, along with an assist from Matt Lawson. Sophomore Nolan Gemetti had 22 saves in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 5 vs. Bellingham, 1 – Final – For the first time in 16 years, the Black Knights are headed to the postseason. Stoughton secured its spot in the playoffs with a 5-1 win over Bellingham, finishing the season at 10-10-2. Cooper Card, Ryan Summers, Joe McNulty, Sean Farley and Ben Shirey each scored once for Stoughton/Brockton.
Girls Hockey
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 vs. Whitman-Hanson, 3 – Final (OT) – MOA skated even with Whitman-Hanson for three periods but the Panthers prevailed with a goal in the overtime period. Cammy Shanteler (from Maeve Anastasia and Julia Muttart) and Mya Waryas (from Anastasia and Ava Adams) scored for the Warriors while Jess Widdop had a strong game between the pipes. Head coach Jamie Mullen highlighted the efforts of her penalty kill in Waryas, Anastasia, Shanteler, Muttart, Kylie O’Keefe, Madison Guilfoyle, Macy Quinn, and Madeline Martin.
Stoughton/Sharon, 0 @ Quincy/North Quincy, 7 – Final
