Tag: Devin Foster

Canton’s Foster Has Earned His Stripes at Clemson

Devin Foster
Former Canton star Devin Foster has earned a spot on the Clemson men’s basketball roster for this upcoming season. (Ben Winterrowd/Clemson Athletics)

Josh PerryFollowJoshPerry


During his senior season, Devin Foster sat down with head coach Ryan Gordy to discuss his collegiate options. Canton’s all-time leading scorer (1,306 points), the 2019 Hockomock League MVP and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year, and the 2019 Red Auerbach Massachusetts “Mr. Basketball”, Foster had plenty of local options, but he wanted to play at the highest level.

“He said I think I can play at the highest level coach and I’m going to bet on myself and I’m going to go for it,” Gordy recalled. “You never want to hold a kid back from his dream.”

Rather than staying close to home, even if it meant passing up instant playing time or being the star of a team, Foster chose Clemson. He chose the ACC. After two years as a team manager, Foster’s bet on himself has paid off. Last month, he became an official member of the Tigers, wearing the orange No. 14.

“I was kind of hoping for it,” Foster said, “But, you know, coming out of high school, I was from a public school and I kind of wanted to stay home and play it safe [in high school], so I knew for college I wanted to do something a little different. I knew I was going to be willing to be around basketball in whatever capacity that was.”

He continued, “I’m more excited than anything. Last year was just a lot of hours behind the scenes, doing the little things, and now I get to be in the spotlight a little bit more. I’m just looking forward to it.”

When Clemson opens the season with an exhibition against Georgia Southwestern State on Nov. 1, it will be Foster’s first chance to run out in front of a packed crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum as a player.

“It will definitely be surreal,” Foster said with a chuckle. “I feel like I’ve got a long way up until that point, I mean we just started full practice. I know how long it’s going to take to get there, so I’m just taking it day-by-day at this point.”

Gordy used the same word to describe his former player on an ACC roster. “When you talk about ACC, it’s pretty surreal,” he said. “That’s as big as it gets.

“I think what I’m proud of is the path that he took to get there. When got there, he put the work in and did everything the right way and won over the coaching staff. To be awarded a spot on that roster is a testament to who he is, the sort of personality that he has, the hard work, and what a great representation for our community in Canton.”










Unlike former King Philip star Jake Layman, who went to Maryland and is now playing in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Foster wasn’t a national recruit with a high profile in the ACC. He came to Clemson knowing that he would have to walk-on or be a team manager to be part of the program.

Devin Foster

Although his first-semester schedule didn’t allow him to take part in the basketball program, when he returned in January for the second semester he was able to join as a manager. The pandemic made that a short experience, as the campus closed just two months later, but it was a taste of what Foster had missed without basketball in his life.

“I just missed basketball, missed being around the sport and obviously they have a great group of guys,” he said. “I was still working out on my own, maybe not basketball-wise but lifting, just trying to stay in shape, it was just what I was used to, I kind of didn’t know anything else. But once the opportunity opened up to be a part of the program, I kind of hopped right on it and ran with it.”

Last year, Foster was a full-time manager. He got to practice a little, running drills at first before moving up to the scout team, running the opponent’s sets. It started with defense, which allowed Foster to get his feet under him and acclimate himself to the coaches’ expectations.

“When I did get the chance to bring the ball up or give them a look on offense, it made it a little easier because I’d been on the court before,” Foster explained. “I felt like I’d shown them what I could do a little bit.”

Being a team manager isn’t a direct route to being a full member of the team. Foster said that wasn’t his goal when he signed on to help the program. He wanted the structure, the friendships that he developed with his new teammates, and gave him that niche that every new college student is looking for. His transition from manager to player will be helped by the relationships he has already built with his teammates.

“When I first joined, they were really welcoming,” he said. They’re a great group of guys. Now that I’m on the team, they’re really excited for me, just giving me support and encouragement. They embraced me for sure.”

There has also been plenty of support from his hometown. Former coaches, teachers, and staff have shared their excitement at the news on social media and it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I love the town of Canton,” Foster said. “They’ve always been in my corner supporting me. It’s humbling though because I know the amount of work I put into basketball, the time I’ve spent in the gym. I’m definitely honored and extremely grateful for all the support they’ve given me and the encouragement even when I was a manager.”




Gordy noted, “He embodied what Canton wants to be and he was sort of a poster child for everything that we believe in – having a high character, setting your standards high, overcoming adversity, and being a great teammate. He really is a champion of excellence but not just on the court but in the way that he carries himself.” Gordy also knew exactly when Clemson would be paying a visit to Conte Forum to face Boston College (Feb. 26) and said there should be a cheering section of Foster’s former coaches in attendance.

That game is still a long way away and Foster will have plenty of new experiences over the coming months. There will be running out in front of the home crowd as a player for the first time or the first road trip to experience warming up in front of rabid ACC crowds. Maybe there could even be his first appearance as a Tiger.

“I’m really excited for what’s coming in the next few months,” he said, although he wouldn’t be pulled into discussions of playing time. “I just kind of go out there and give the scholarship guys the best look I can. I realize it’s not about me, it’s about the other guys. I’m not really thinking of myself when I’m out there, I’m thinking about getting those guys better.”

Devin Foster

When he left Canton, Foster wanted the chance to prove himself at the top level. He is there now, although he admits it is hard to put it into perspective right now.

“I didn’t know if my career would continue but luckily I got an opportunity and I’m very grateful,” Foster said. “Right now, in the moment, I can’t see the bigger picture yet because I’m in it but it’s definitely surreal and it’s really exciting for me.”

2019 Hockomock League Boys Basketball All Stars

Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Boys Basketball All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

Devin Foster, Canton

Hockomock League All Stars

Bryant Ciccio, Attleboro
Qualeem Charles, Attleboro
Mason Houle, Attleboro
Devin Foster, Canton
Kevin Gallagher, Foxboro
Brandon Borde, Foxboro
Chris Edgehill, Franklin
Jalen Samuels, Franklin
Bruce Saintilus, King Philip
Thomas Dooling, Mansfield
Sam Stevens, Mansfield
Matt Boen, Mansfield
Brendan White, Milford
Ethan Eckstrom, Oliver Ames
Obinna Ugwuakazi, Stoughton
Dante Law, Taunton
John Martins, Taunton

Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Velazquez, Attleboro
Ryan Lentol, Canton
Anthony Mollica, Foxboro
Will Harvey, Franklin
Alex Fritz, King Philip
Damani Scott, Mansfield
Danny Corsini, Milford
Josh Montague, North Attleboro
Sean O’Brien, Oliver Ames
Aidan Kane, Sharon
Kevin Dixon, Stoughton
Michael Quinn, Taunton

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/25/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
D2 South
#16 Canton, 72 vs. #17 Somerset-Berkley, 56 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Canton got off to a slow start, falling behind early but finished the first quarter strong and never looked back. After starting 1-for-9 from the field over the first four minutes, Canton closed the opening frame with a 17-4 run to claim a 19-12 lead. Canton added 19 more points in the second to take a 38-27 advantage into halftime. The Bulldogs had their first quarter of the game in the third, outscoring the Raiders 21-9. Canton’s lead ballooned to 28 in the fourth quarter. “I think it was the classic state tournament nerves to start a game,” said Canton head coach Ryan Gordy. “We had a slow start but then we figured it out and cruised after that. Once you get over that first initial feeling of ‘it’s the state tournament’ you can move on and just play.” Devin Foster had a game-high 29 points, eight rebounds, and five assists while sophomore Matt Giglio added 12 points for the Bulldogs. Canton will play #1 Randolph on Wednesday at 6:30.

#18 Stoughton, 46 @ #15 Silver Lake, 60 – Final – Stoughton trailed by just five (17-12) at the end of the first quarter, but the Lakers opened the second with a 9-0 run and the Black Knights were unable to orchestrate a comeback. Silver Lake led 28-18 at halftime and then extended that led to 45-28 going into the final quarter. Junior Myles Grigalunas-Powell tied a career-high, leading the Black Knights with 18 points.

Girls Basketball
D1 South
#9 Quincy, 52 @ #8 King Philip, 63 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

#10 Oliver Ames, 68 @ #7 Newton South, 48 – Final – Oliver Ames got off to a perfect start on the road in its tournament opener, outscoring the Lions 23-9 in the opening quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the game. OA took a 34-21 lead into halftime and never let Newton South get within single digits during the second half. The Tigers led 52-33 going into the final quarter. Freshman Caroline Peper scored a game-high 24 points, Sadie Homer had a strong game with 10 points, and Caroline Flynn and Meg Holleran each scored eight points apiece.

Boys Hockey
D3 South
#13 Foxboro, 5 vs. #20 Mashpee/Monomoy, 1 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Girls Hockey
Division 2
#12 Canton, 3 vs. #21 Norwood, 1 – Final – Lauren Fitzpatrick scored a pair of goals and assisted on Canton’s third to lift the Bulldogs to a first round win.

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/21/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Canton, 64 @ Pentucket, 77 – Final – Canton trailed by just five at halftime (31-26) but the shorthanded Bulldogs surrendered 24 points in the third quarter and couldn’t keep pace with Pentucket. Seniors Devin Foster and Ryan Lentol each scored 20 points for the Bulldogs.

Foxboro, 67 @ Walpole, 55 – Final – Foxboro shot 50% from three-point range, sinking nine triples and four Warriors reached double-figures in scoring to finish the season with a win over Walpole. Brandon Borde (eight rebounds) had a team-high 16 points, Anthony Mollica added 13 points, and Kevin Gallagher and Michael Devlin each finished with 10 points.

Franklin, 56 vs. Cambridge, 46 – Final – Franklin scored 20 points in the opening quarter and held Cambridge to just seven points in the third to pick up a win in its regular season finale. Juniors Chris Edgehill (18 points) and Jack Rudolph each scored five points in the first while seniors Jalen Samuels (16 points) added four points apiece as the Panthers led 20-12 after one. Franklin’s five-point advantage at half (31-26) ballooned to double-digits by the end of the third (46-33) and the Panthers never looked back.

Girls Basketball
North Attleboro, 59 vs. Weston, 28 – Final – Julia Feid closed out the season by setting a new career-high with 28 points to lead the Rocketeers to a season sweep of Weston.

Oliver Ames, 73 vs. Newton North, 61 – Final – Freshman Caroline Peper set a new career-high with 31 points (including a perfect 10-for-10 at the line), as OA pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn the win in the regular season finale. The game was tied at 51-51 heading to the fourth but OA outscored Newton North 22-10. Meg Holleran and Hailey Bourne each scored 10 points for the Tigers. OA was 27-of-35 from the line as a team.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 6 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 1 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Franklin, 0 vs. Barnstable, 1 – Final

Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 vs. Walpole, 2 – Final – Lauren Fitzpatrick scored for Canton in the third period to cut the Walpole lead in half, but the Bulldogs couldn’t find a second to tie it.

Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 1 vs. Westwood, 3 – Final – Emma Pereira scored the only goal for MOA, which stayed within one goal until the Wolverines scored an empty netter late in the third.

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/19/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Canton, 65 vs. Bishop Feehan, 59 – Final – Canton scored 20 points in each the second and third quarters, the latter helping the Bulldogs build a double-digit lead heading into the final quarter. Bishop Feehan made a late push but the Bulldogs were able to hold the lead they built. The Shamrocks led 16-13 after one but Canton led 34-30 at half, and 54-38 going into the fourth. Senior Devin Foster scored a game-high 27 points and junior Kyle Fitzgerald added 10 of his 17 points in the third quarter.

Foxboro, 50 vs. Boston Latin, 48 – Final – For the second straight game, Foxboro hit a buzzer-beating three to get a win. This time, it was senior Anthony Mollica (10 points) hitting a triple off a feed from Brandon Borde (eight points) to give the Warriors a win. Boston Latin led 42-39 heading into the fourth, and extended that lead to 46-39 with five minutes to go. Foxboro was able to hold Boston Latin to just six points in the final quarter, finishing the game with a 11-2 run. Sophomore Kevin Gallagher had a team-high 15 points while junior Ryan Hughes added 11 points.

King Philip, 79 @ Dartmouth, 59 – Final – King Philip scored 23 points in each the first and second quarters, building a 46-32 lead by halftime, and never looked back to grab the win. Senior Bruce Saintilus had a team-high 22 points, junior Alex Fritz netted 21 points, and senior Tyler Nault dropped a career-high 15 points for the Warriors.

Oliver Ames, 69 @ Walpole, 41 – Final – Oliver Ames outscored Walpole 22-8 in the second quarter to create a large lead at halftime that it never relinquished. The Tigers led 15-11 after eight minutes but then exploded for 22 points to go up 37-18 at the break. Eight different players scored in the second for OA, with Sean O’Brien, Owen Friel, and Michael Greene each connecting on a three. Ethan Eckstrom had a team-high 17 points for the Tigers, which had 13 players score. Ryan Burkett added eight points and Amari Brown finished with seven points.

Girls Basketball
Canton, 57 vs. Weymouth, 48 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Foxboro, 61 vs. Hoosac Valley, 48 – Final – Chelsea Gibbons scored a career-high 26 points to help Foxboro retain the title at the Warrior Classic and put the defending state champs in position to be the top seed in Div. 2 South again this season. Katelyn Mollica added 18 points for the Warriors and Lizzy Davis shut down Hoosac Valley’s top scorer, holding her to only five points.

Stoughton, 56 vs. Brockton, 49 – Final – Stoughton closed out its old gym with a non-league victory. Aliyah Wright scored 13 points and Sydnee Hyacinthe added 12 as the Black Knights ended the season on a high note. Lexi Baptista also chipped in with nine points off the bench.

Taunton, 65 @ Durfee, 51 – Final – Taunton trailed by 11 at half but exploded for 44 second half points to stun Durfee. The Hilltoppers led 33-21 after 16 minutes of play before the Tigers rallied to grab the win. Sonya Fernandez scored a team-high 18 points, Alexa White added 13 points, Jaelyn Fernandez had 12 points, Kyanna Barros chipped in with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Abby Souza scored nine for the Tigers.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 3 vs. Boston Latin, 2 – Final (OT) – Canton junior Johnny Hagan netted the tying goal and then scored the game-winner in overtime for the Bulldogs. Hagan scored with 1:16 left in the game to help the Bulldogs salvage a tie for MIAA purposes, staying unbeaten on season. For Joe Quinn Memorial Tournament purposes, the game went into 4-on-4 overtime and Hagan tipped in a shot from Jack Connolly to get the win and advance to the finals on Thursday at 7:30.

Stoughton, 1 vs. Nauset, 5 – Final – Stoughton goalie Thomas McCoy had an outstanding goal in net but the Black Knights lost to visiting Nauset. McCoy turned away 32 shots for Stoughton while Sean Doherty scored the goal on an assist from Luke Bainton.

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/15/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 36 @ Franklin, 57 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Milford, 46 @ Canton, 52 – Final – Canton senior Devin Foster poured in a game-high 28 points, including a three-pointer in the first quarter that made him the all-time leading scorer in Bulldog basketball history, passing Brian Pendergast (1,179 points in 2000). Foster (12 rebounds) scored 12 points in the opening quarter, and then 14 in the second half to help Canton turn a halftime deficit into a win. Milford led 23-20 at the break but the Bulldogs scored 18 points in the third to seize the lead (38-31) with both Ryan Lentol (10 points) and Robbie Gallery scoring five in the frame. Milford’s Brendan White scored 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half and Danny Corsini added 14 points for the Hawks.

North Attleboro, 47 @ Foxboro, 48 – Final – Foxboro senior Anthony Mollica sank both ends of a one-and-one situation from the foul line with 2.9 seconds to lift the Warriors to a win and a spot in the state tournament. The Rocketeers led by one after a 9-0 run and had the ball with 31 seconds left in the game, and 24 seconds left on the shot clock, but couldn’t extend the lead. Mollica drove to the basket as time ticked away and was able to draw a foul on the floor, with the Rocketeers in the bonus. North Attleboro led 26-20 at half and 36-33 going into the final quarter. An early run from the Warriors put the hosts ahead, leading 46-38. North responded with a 9-0 run, Josh Montague hitting back-to-back baskets to put the Rocketeers up 47-46. Foxboro junior Brandon Borde had a game-high 17 points while Mollica finished with 10, seven coming in the final quarter. Josh Porter, Ethan Friberg, and Jake Petersen each had eight points for North.

Oliver Ames, 66 @ King Philip, 71 – Final (OT) – King Philip overcame a 22-point second half deficit to force overtime and shock Oliver Ames. The Tigers jumped ahead 34-21 by halftime, and extended the lead to as much as 22 before taking a 55-37 lead into the final eight minutes. King Philip held OA to just three points in the final quarter, dropping 21 points of their own to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, with KP up by two, senior Bruce Saintilus (27 points) hauled in an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and sank two free throws of his own to extend the lead to four with 10 seconds left to secure the win. Saintilus scored nine points in the fourth quarter comeback and was 6-for-6 from the line in overtime. Juniors Alex Fritz and Andrew McKinney each added 15 points for KP, who scored 34 points over the final 12 minutes after netting just 36 over the course of the first three quarters. Sean O’Brien had a team-high 14 points, Owen Friel added 12 points and Jake Erlich finished with 11 points for OA.

Taunton, 56 @ Mansfield, 65 – Final – Mansfield pulled away late to secure the Kelley-Rex division title, a record seventh straight for the Hornets, surpassing Oliver Ames’ six straight from 1981-1986. Mansfield held a 16-13 lead after a quarter of play, and took a 30-27 advantage into halftime. Taunton continued to battle, taking a brief 41-40 lead late in the third and went into the fourth quarter tied 44-44. Mansfield made a 8-3 run over a three minute span in the fourth quarter to create enough separation for the win. Damani Scott had a team-high 15 points along with 11 rebounds, Sam Stevens added 13 points, and TJ Guy finished with 11 points. Taunton junior Dante Law had a team-high 21 points.

Sharon, 36 @ Stoughton, 80 – Final – Stoughton combined to score 45 points between the second and third periods, running away with a big win over Sharon to qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2012. The Black Knights connected on an impressive 31 two-point field goals, with 10 players getting on the scoresheet and six of them scoring nine points or more. Junior Obinna Ugwuakazi scored a team-high 13 points, sophomore Brett Pendenza added 11 points, senior Zak Paquette and junior Ahmad Jahed each scored 10 points, and senior Kevin Dixon and junior Myles Grigalunas-Powell each finished nine points. Aidan Kane had a team-high 12 points for Sharon.

Girls Basketball
Franklin 54 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final – Liv McCall and Mackenzie Roberts both scored career-highs and Attleboro head coach Marty Crowley called the game a “phenomenal effort” by the Bombardiers to hand the Panthers their first league loss of the season. McCall scored 18 points and Roberts added 17 to lead Attleboro to the upset. Bea Bondhus had 13 points and Megan O’Connell had 12 for the Panthers.

Canton, 58 @ Milford, 32 – Final – Canton matched its highest win total since 1995 with its 13th win of the season. Maggie Connolly led the way with 13 points, Sydney Gallery added 12 and Kiara Cerruti scored 11 for the Bulldogs.

Foxboro 60 @ North Attleboro, 29 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

King Philip, 60 @ Oliver Ames, 69 – Final – A pair of underclassman each scored over 20 points for the Tigers, helping Oliver Ames fend off visiting King Philip. Sophomore Caroline Flynn had a career-high 25 points and hauled in 11 rebounds while freshman Caroline Peper scored a career-high 26 points for OA. Shannon O’Connor led three Warriors in double digits with 23 points, but KP couldn’t find a way back after falling behind early, trailing 32-23 at half. Brianna James scored 13 points and Faye Veilleux added 11 for KP.

Mansfield, 47 @ Taunton, 36 – Final – Mansfield took control of the game in the third quarter, breaking open a 20-20 halftime tie by scoring 19 points in the third. Maggie Danehy scored 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds and Sydney Mulkern added nine for the Hornets. Sonya Fernandez was the top scorer for the Tigers with 15 points and Lily Patneaude added eight.

Stoughton, 46 @ Sharon, 55 – Final – Emma Eberhardt closed out the season with 15 points to help the Eagles sweep the season series with the Black Knights and finish with nine wins. Kaitlyn Wallace added 13 and Telishya Herbert had 10 in the win. Sophomore Sydnee Hyacinthe scored 18 points for Stoughton.

Foster Carries Canton Past North Attleboro

Canton boys basketball
Canton’s Paul Corcoran goes up for a layup against North Attleboro’s George Ladd in the first quarter. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Locked in a defensive battle, the North Attleboro and Canton boys basketball teams spent the majority of the fourth quarter in a one-possession game.

For the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter, only one minute of it was spent with Canton holding more than a one-possession lead. And for a three and a half minute stretch, neither side could make a move to either pull away or erase the deficit.

North Attleboro senior Josh Montague converted a tough layup to bring the Rocketeers within three at 41-38 with just over four minutes left in the game. Canton had plenty of chances to pull away, but the Rocketeers wouldn’t allow it.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Over the next three and a half minutes, Canton went 0-for-5 from the field, leaving the lead at just three points and the door open for the Rocketeers.

But while Canton’s offense sputtered, its defense continued to force the Rocketeers into tough shots. North Attleboro didn’t fare any better in the stretch, going 0-for-3 from the field, missed the front end of a one-and-one, and had three turnovers.

Despite the lack of success for North, it’s defense also kept them in the game, and the Rocketeers trailed by three the under a minute to go.

It wasn’t until Canton forced a turnover off an inbounds play and with just under 20 seconds to go in the game, the Bulldogs turned to the man who had carried them virtually the entire game: senior Devin Foster.

Foster made a cut through the lane and took a feed from Kyle Fitzgerald and laid it in for a five-point lead. And to seal the deal, Foster stepped in to take a charge on North’s next possession to get the ball back.

With the 43-38 victory, Canton clinches sole possession of the Davenport division title. It marks the second straight year the Bulldogs have won the division.

“It was a strange game because of the flow of it, or lack of flow to it,” said Canton head coach Ryan Gordy. “It was kind of a unique game. We had a really bad first quarter, giving up 18 points but then we held them to 20 points the rest of the way. And they are a good team, they have bigs, they have shooters. For us to be able to hold a good team like that through the final three quarters is big for us. It was a defensive battle, a classic Davenport division game.”

Foster’s last bucket was just the cherry on top of a terrific performance. The senior guard scored all of Canton’s eight points in the final quarter, and accounted for 19 of the team’s 22 points in the second half. Foster finished with 29 points and five rebounds.

“They were switching, and we knew that coming in, so we drew some plays up to try and get him some easier baskets and put him in different matchups that we felt we could take advantage of,” Gordy said. “So the gameplan kind of just went that way. And the other thing is our road woes. Over the last three years, we’re much better at home than on the road. Devin has been great both at home and on the road but we have to get everybody else playing like they do at home.”

North Attleboro’s offense came out strong, scoring 18 points in the opening quarter. But it fizzled from there as the Rocketeers managed just 20 points over the final three quarters, going just 2-for-18 from three point range for the game. The Rocketeers opened by hitting eight of their first 11 shots from the field but managed just six field goals on 31 attempts over the final 24 minutes.

“I’m proud of the effort, but, defensively obviously Foster is a handful,” said North Attleboro head coach Sean Mulkerrins. “We tried a couple of different things and he found ways to make plays and make shots. Ultimately we just didn’t down enough good looks, some great looks. I’m proud that we got those looks, we’ve knocked them down the last couple of games but tonight, for whatever reason, we just didn’t knock enough down shots. Holding them to 43 is good but scoring 38 isn’t enough.”

The teams combined for just 14 points in the second quarter. Sophomore George Ladd (10 points, nine rebounds) scored the first three points for the Rocketeers while Nate Gonsalves hit a pair of free throws. For Canton, Fitzgerald drained a three, Robbie Gallery added a free throw, and Foster scored four straight to get the Bulldogs within two, 23-21, at halftime.

The Bulldogs seemed to make a concerted effort to get Foster the ball in the third quarter, and the senior delivered. After Fitzgerald hit a three to open the frame for the Bulldogs, Foster scored the next 11 for Canton.

He followed Fitzgeralds three with a triple of his own and drove to the basket for two more for a 29-25 lead. Foster and North’s Jake Petersen traded two points apiece before Foster hit back-to-back shots for a 35-28 advantage, the largest lead of the night for Canton.

“They made some more significant changes defensively at halftime,” Mulkerrins said. “They defended our sets pretty well, they did a better job of closing down our driving lanes. In the third quarter, we didn’t get as many looks. In the second and fourth quarter, we got the looks but if you don’t capitalize on them you won’t win the game.”

Josh Porter and Montague connected on back-to-back chances to bring North Attleboro within three heading into the final quarter.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Nate Gonsalves got North within two early and a pair of free throws from Joe MiloshCanton boys basketball (9-6 Hockomock, 11-8 overall) concludes its league schedule when it hosts Milford on Friday night. North Attleboro (6-9, 8-9) hits the road to take on Foxboro on the same night.

Sunday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/10/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Canton, 51 @ Milton, 57 – Final – Canton got within one point early in the fourth quarter but couldn’t take the lead and suffered a road loss at Milton. Senior Ryan Lentol scored a team-high 18 points, including 13 in the second half, and senior Devin Foster added 16 points.

Mansfield, 47 @ Newton North, 70 – Final – Mansfield allowed 42 first half points and couldn’t recover, suffering a road loss to Newton North. The Hornets trailed 27-21 after the first quarter and only scored eight points in the second quarter, trailing 42-29 at halftime. Sophomore TJ Guy had a career-high 18 points while junior Sam Stevens added 17 points for the Hornets.

Sharon, 70 vs. Norwood, 66 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Girls Basketball
Canton, 48 @ Milton, 52 – Final

Boys Hockey
Foxboro, 4 @ Dedham, 4 – Final

Girls Hockey
King Philip, 1 @ Medfield/Norton, 3 – Final

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/08/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
King Philip, 54 @ Attleboro, 58 – Final – Attleboro senior Mason Houle hit a big three and junior Qualeem Charles sank two big free throws as the Bombardiers held off an upset bid from King Philip. Houle (15 points) took a feed from Kevin Velazquez (nine points) and drained a three to make it 56-48 with 1:20 to play. KP’s Bruce Saintilus (21 points) answered with a three of his own to make it 56-51. After a stop, Tim Nault sank a three for the Warriors to make it 56-54 with 39 seconds to play. Charles (13 points, eight rebounds) hit two free throws with 12.4 left to secure the win for Attleboro. Tim Callahan added 13 points for Attleboro while Alex Fritz finished with 13 points for the Warriors.

Sharon, 43 @ Canton, 69 – Final – Canton senior Devin Foster scored 31 points to lead the Bulldogs to a win. With the victory and other results from the Davenport division, the Bulldogs clinched at least a share of the division title.

Stoughton, 62 @ Foxboro, 53 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery from this game.

Franklin, 67 @ Taunton, 49 – Final – After an even first quarter, Franklin controlled the final three periods to secure a win on the road over Kelley-Rex rival Taunton. Tied at 12-12 through eight minutes, Franklin created a 30-23 lead heading into the halftime break. The Panthers then extended the lead to 49-33 after three and never looked back to get the win. Franklin junior Chris Edgehill scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, Jalen Samuels added 14 points, and both Jake Macchi and Will Harvey (all points in the first half) finished with 10 points apiece. Dante Law had a team-high 10 points for the Tigers.

Mansfield, 60 @ Oliver Ames, 51 – Final – Mansfield connected on nine three-pointers and found success at the free throw line to return home with a win over Oliver Ames. Sophomores TJ Guy and Matt Boen each had 16 points for the Hornets, who held a three point lead at halftime (29-26) and entering the final quarter (45-42). Sam Stevens scored five of his eight points in the final quarter for Mansfield.

Milford, 53 @ North Attleboro, 63 – Final – North Attleboro was perfect from the field in the fourth quarter, going 9-for-9, and poured in 31 points to complete a comeback win over visiting Milford. The Rocketeers were limited to 16 points in the first half but equaled that total in the third quarter. Trailing 41-32 after three, the Rocketeers opened the fourth with an 8-0 run to get back into the game. Junior Ethan Friberg (11 points) hit a pair of threes in the fourth, sophomore George Ladd added 10 points (all in the second half), and Nate Gonsalves scored all eight of his points in the final quarter. Senior Josh Montague scored a team-high 19 points while Josh Porter added nine points, including a big layup in the fourth quarter. Brendan White had a team-high 14 points and Brendon Sailer added 13 points for the Hawks.

Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 44 @ King Philip, 63 – Final – Faith Roy set a career-high with 22 points to lead the Warriors to a win that clinches a state tournament berth. Shannon O’Connor and Faye Veilleux chipped in with 12 points apiece for KP.

Sharon, 48 @ Canton, 65 – Final – Kiara Cerruti scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Bulldogs to their 11th win this season. Defensively, seniors Maggie Connolly and Julia Hamilton combined for 14 steals in the win. Emma Eberhardt scored 19 points in the loss and Telishya Herbert added 15 for the Eagles.

Foxboro, 79 @ Stoughton, 36 – Final – Katelyn Mollica had 25 points, including seven three-pointers, to lead the Warriors to a division win. Yara Fawaz had 16 points and Abby Hassman and Chelsea Gibbons each scored nine points in the win.

Taunton, 37 @ Franklin, 82 – Final – Franklin clinched the outright league title with the win. It’s the first title since 2013 for the Panthers. Eleven different players scored for the Panthers in the win led by Ali Brigham with 20 points. Bea Bondhus added 16 and Megan O’Connell had 13 in the win. Sonya Fernandez was Taunton’s top scorer with 12.

Mansfield, 45 @ Oliver Ames, 39 – Final – Maggie Danehy led the way for the Hornets with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Mady Bendanillo added 10 ppoints, four assists, and three steals in the win. OA closed the gap in the fourth quarter, cutting an 11-point lead to just six, thanks in part to freshman Caroline Peper, who scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in the fourth.

North Attleboro, 55 @ Milford, 19 – Final – Liz Smahi and Julia Kleczkowski each scored eight points for the Rocketeers.

Boys Hockey
Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Brendan Tully netted a hat trick and Kirk Leach scored twice as the Warriors skated to a win over Stoughton at Asiaf. Sean Doherty and Carter Gerome each scored for Stoughton.

Gymnastics
Mansfield @ Sharon, 7:30
Oliver Ames, 137.95 @ Mansfield, 147.05 – Final

Boys Gymnastics
Attleboro @ Newton North, 6:30