04/05/202204/06/2022

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/05/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (5 Inn.) – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Alfred Mucciarone gave up one hit over four innings and Ethan Voellemicke struck out the side in the fifth, as Franklin shut out Attleboro for its second win in as many days. Chris Goode and Evan Raider each drove in a pair of runs for the Panthers. Attleboro’s best chance came in the first Nate George drew a leadoff walk and two batters later Danny Johnson hit a sinking liner to right, but Eisig Chin made a stellar diving catch. Franklin took control in the bottom half with four runs. Ryan Gerety led off with a single and Jack Marino was hit by a pitch. Attleboro failed to handle a pair of bunts and both runners came in to score. Chin drove in a run with a single and would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch. Franklin added three more in the second. One-out walks to Joe Tirrell and Gerety and an infield single for Marino loaded the bases. Goode plated one with a sac fly and Raider followed with a single to bring in two. In the third, Franklin took advantage of a couple errors to add three more runs. Ben Jarosz singled and would score on a wild pitch, Henry DiGiorgio reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an error, and Tirrell walked and came in to score on a sac fly from Goode. Hayden Hagerty broke up Mucciarone’s no-hitter to start the fourth but Franklin’s starter retired the next three hitters to strand the runner in scoring position.

Softball
Taunton, 4 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Canton, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Chloe Guerschuny drove in three runs, including the game-winner in the top of the seventh to help the Bulldogs complete a comeback win. OA scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, including an RBI single from Katie Melendy, and two more in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run from Katherine Farley and an RBI single from Caitlin Miller. Canton responded with three runs in the top of the fifth, including a two-run base hit from Guerschuny.

Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Franklin scored once in each of the first three innings and tacked on two key insurance runs in the top of the sixth to get the win on the road over Attleboro. Julia White had a one-out single in the top of the first and came around to score after a fielder’s choice and an error to put the Panthers ahead 1-0 but Attleboro answered with a run of its own to make it 1-1. Junior Hailey Fales had a one-out single in the top of the season, and courtesy runner Kelly Moussa scored after White grounded out to second with the bases loaded for a 2-1 lead. Georgia Harvey turned a leadoff single in the top of the third into a run to make it 3-1 before Attleboro made it a one-run game with sac fly in the bottom half. Reece Allen and Moussa came around to score in the top of the fifth for insurance. Aislinn Lavery got the win for Franklin, allowing two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and no walks. Lindsey Perry was strong in the circle for Attleboro in a complete game effort, with just earned runs allowed with two strikeouts and two walks.

Foxboro, 13 @ Stoughton, 14 – Final – A back-and-forth offensive slugfest ended with Stoughton jumping ahead in the bottom of the six and then getting a scoreless top of the seventh to get the win. Sydney Menz led the Black Knights’ offense with a pair of home runs, including a two-run bomb in the sixth that plated the tying and go-ahead runs for Stoughton, plus a triple and four RBI total. Melody Casna added a double and two RBI while Leila Alaoui and Camryn Whitman each had a pair of hits, and Kerry Driscoll and Kate Bulger each had an RBI double. Driscoll got the win in the circle while Casna, Menz, and Maddie Hinds all turned in solid defensive performances for the Black Knights.

Boys Lacrosse
King Philip, 7 vs. Walpole, 9 – Final
Mansfield, 2 @ Nauset, 16 – Final
Sharon, 6 @ Cardinal Spellman, 7 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
Mansfield, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 13 – Final
Canton @ Whitman-Hanson – Postponed to TBD.

Boys Tennis
Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second win in as many days, this time sweeping all five matches in straight sets to knock off Attleboro. Vayshnav Malhotra and Thomas Broyles both won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Tim O’Keefe and Ahan Shetty battled for a 7-5, 6-4 win at first doubles while Sameen Shaik and Jay Gorgas took a 6-0, 6-2 decision at second doubles.

Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – It was a clean sweep for Mansfield, taking all five matches in straight sets. Neema Khosravani, Kailash Elumelai, Iniyan Karruppusami were the Hornets’ three victorious singles players, freshman Josh Weiner and sophomore Jacob Weiner won at first doubles, and sophomores Sirius Li and Nikhil Nain won at second doubles.

Canton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Canton’s second doubles team of Kevin Moltenbrey and Max LaRose emerged victorious in a three-set thriller to clinch the win for the Bulldogs. Moltenbrey and LaRose split the first two sets before getting the win 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. The Bulldogs also got wins at first singles from Max Kupferman and at second singles from Suraj Ramanathan. OA senior Raphael Vache earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at third singles while the first doubles team of freshmen Alex Efremidas and Patrick Dolan grabbed a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip swept doubles action and got another pair of wins from singles play to defend home court against Taunton. The first doubles team of Diego Nieto and Noah Ihley rallied from a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 while the tandem of Leo Manning and Arjun Kollu secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles for KP. Jonathan Cohen added a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles and Jackson Hom didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 third singles victory. Taunton’s Michael Kimmer won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles.

Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – A singles sweep propelled Foxboro to a second straight win to open the season, this time on the road at Stoughton. Garrett Spillane battled to a 7-6, 6-0 win at first singles, Bo Canfield fought for a 7-5, 6-2 win at second singles and Raj Jetty had a strong showing in a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. Jake Berry and Joe Mark won 6-2, 7-6 at first doubles for the Black Knights while Stoughton’s second doubles team of Paul Medeiros and Aadil Khond grabbed a 6-3, 6-1 win.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – For the second straight match, Franklin swept both doubles matches and had a third win from third singles to get the win. Amulya Jayam and Shriya Rasish battled to a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win at first doubles, and Franklin’s second doubles team of Chloe Essam and Sydney Tolonen secured a 6-4, 6-1 win. Sarah Schiavo earned his second win of the season, taking a 6-4, 6-4 decision at third singles for the Panthers. Attleboro’s Ella Lynch-Bartek won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles while sophomore Maddie Fuscaldo prevailed with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles.

Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – The Hornets got a pair of wins in both singles and doubles action to record a win on the road over Milford. Kate Martin won her first singles match 6-1, 6-3 while Aadi Semeer earned a 7-5, 6-3 win at second singles. Mansfield’s first doubles team of Alexis Joyce and Clair Copp battled to a 6-3, 6-0 win while Jillian Hanley and Savannah Carey notched a 6-2, 6-2 second doubles win. Milford junior Serena Borges prevailed from third singles with a 6-0, 7-5 win.

King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Both doubles matches went to a third set before King Philip swept its way to a win over Taunton. The team of Lauren Casper and Resha Ajoy prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 at first doubles while Caroline Freese and Carly Burns rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win at second doubles for KP. Ahunna James and Shea Mellman each lost just one set in identical 6-0, 6-1 wins at first and second singles, respectively, and Sammie Taylor added a 7-5, 6-1 win at third singles for the Warriors.

Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro defended home court with a five match sweet of visiting Stoughton, taking all five in straight sets. Athena Li didn’t drop a set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Hailey Kornbluth secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles and Makayla Peck earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Abigail Costa and Juliana Preston lost just one set on their way to a 6-0, 6-1 first doubles win, and Foxboro’s second doubles team of Emily Stow and Sydney Lebow emerged with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

Boys Outdoor Track
Taunton @ Attleboro, 3:45

Stoughton, 97 @ Canton, 39 – Final – Kyle Downing won a pair of events and Canton won the 4×100 relay, but Stoughton secured the win on the road to open the season. Downing won both the 1 Mile (11:12.1) and the 2 Mile (5:13.1) for the Bulldogs, and the team of Youssef Kosta, Christian Hanlon, Andres Castro Alvarez, and Favor Ugah took first in the 4×100 in 48.5. Other winners for Canton were Sean Sullivan (discus) and Graham Stemm (javelin).

Oliver Ames @ Foxboro, 4:15

Franklin, 50 @ Mansfield, 77 – Final – Anchored by double-winners Dana Johnson, Dylan Buchanan, and Charles Newcomb, Mansfield opened the season with a win over Franklin. Johnson won both the long jump (19’7.5”) and the triple jump (41’3”), and added second place finish in the 110M hurdles (16.5). Buchanan won the 110M hurdles in 15.5 and won the javelin with a toss of 112’8, and Newcomb won both the shot put (40’6) and the discus (89’0). Other winners for Mansfield included Evan Rawlings (400M hurdles, 58.3), Myles Brown (100M, 11.4), Chris Leonard (1 Mile, 4:49.9), and Chamberlain Guthrie Jr. (200M, 24.4).

King Philip @ Milford, 3:45

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Girls Outdoor Track
Taunton, 50 @ Attleboro, 84 – Final – Attleboro swept four events on its way to a season-opening win over visiting Taunton. Rebecca Rainey and Jahela Douglas each won a pair of events, with Rainey taking first in the 400M hurdles (1:18.8) and the high jump (4-6), as well as a third place finish in the 200M (29.1). Douglas was the winner in the 100M (13.2) and the triple jump (31-5.5) and added a second place leap of 14-10 in the long jump. Other winners for Attleboro included Emilia Smith (1 Mile, 5:48.0), Elayna Marinelli (javelin, 98-1), Diana McArthur (discus, 72-2) and the 4×100 team of Jadyn Hoyt, Mabel Sandoval, Erimar Torres, and Kylee Browning.

Stoughton, 80 @ Canton, 56 – Final – Canton’s Kylie Hanlon added her name to the school record book but the Bulldogs fell at home to Stoughton. Hanlon tied the school record in the 100M, taking first in 12.4. Kiara Cerruti won the 1 Mile and was second in the 800M, and the team of Gabby Herivaux, Talya DeGraw, Katie Oliver, Syriah McCruse was first in the 4×100 in 52.3.

Oliver Ames @ Foxboro, 4:15

Franklin, 58 @ Mansfield, 78 – Final

King Philip @ Milford, 3:45

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

04/05/202204/07/2022

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Attleboro

2021 Record: 5-11
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Steve Dunlea
With a good mix of new faces and experienced veterans, Attleboro is aiming to be in the mix of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. For the Bombardiers, it will lean heavily on a deep pitching staff.

It starts with seniors Billy Saltmarsh, who is committed to UMass Dartmouth, and Cian Kelleher, who is committed to Stonehill. They’ll be joined in the rotation by junior lefty Danny Johnson while senior Jamie Bloch and junior Sean O’Hara lend strength to the relief corps. Sophomore Matt Harvie, sophomore Johnny Pagano, and freshman Tyler Dunlea will also be in the mix to see innings on the mound.

Senior captain Owen Taber (UMass Dartmouth) will be an anchor of the Bombardier defense at second base while juniors Peter DelPozzo and Cooper Johnson, along with Pagano, look to fill in at shortstop as senior captain Evan Houle works his way back from an injury from basketball season. Johnson, DelPozzo, and Dunlea are in the mix for the starting job at third while Bloch (committed to UMaine Farmington) and Christian Dame provide depth at first base.

In the outfield, senior Nate George will cover a lot of ground from his spot in centerfield, and the Bombardiers will rotate between Parket Sacket, Hayden Hagerty, Ben Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, Brody McKenna, and Harvie for the other two outfielder spots. Junior Aidan Hochwarter provides a steady presence both at the dish and behind the plate at catcher.

“The strength of this team is its chemistry,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have a great group of returning players who have really worked hard to build a team bond through the pandemic. I give a lot of credit to the captains from last year and this year. Despite the challenges they faced with COVID, they were able to rebuild the chemistry of the Attleboro baseball program that was lost when the 2020 season was canceled.”

Canton

2021 Record: 8-7
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton got off to a great start to the 2021 campaign, winning six of their first seven games but ended up with a first-round exit in the playoffs. With a strong core of returning players plus a couple of promising young players, the Bulldogs are aiming to get back to the postseason again this season.

The Bulldogs certainly have some holes to fill with the loss of a talented senior class and the departure of ace Andrew Middleton. Fourth-year head coach Ben Shuffain will lean on captains Andy Butler and Matt Chafin to lead the charge this season, along with three-year players Nico Bonanno, Matt Quan, and Zach Peters. Chafin was one of the best offensive players in the league last year, finishing second with a 0.442 average.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Shuffain has a lot of options for pitching, with at least a dozen choices to fill out the rotation and relief corps. Jay Kelleher, Hayden Rose, and Owen Lane will all be in the mix for innings on the mound. Matty Lesser, James Young, Jack Digirolomo, and freshman Kyle Redquest will work the infield while the catching duties will fall to Sean Sullivan and Matt Hart.

“We are a very experienced team with a lot of guys with a lot of innings pitched from last season and wins under their belt,” Shuffain said. “With a few of last year’s backups moving into starting roles and the addition of a few younger guys and the experienced upperclassmen this team should have a good season as they will continue to work hard on the field and in the weight room.”

Foxboro

2021 Record: 5-10
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro has some of the top returning talents in the league but will look for some of its younger players to provide the depth needed to compete for a division title this season.

Junior captain Sean O’Leary is one of the top arms in the league and has a lot of varsity experience under his belt already. He will be the ace of the staff that will also feature junior Mathieu Sullivan, who made his varsity debut last season, and freshman Nolan Gordon, who has impressed during the preseason. Pitching depth will come from seniors Andrew Peterson, Tom Marcucella, Liam Mulkern, and junior Alex Stern.

Senior captain Tom Marcucella is one of the most experienced players in the league and his versatility gives head coach Derek Suess a lot of options in the infield. Marcucella can play at any of the four infield spots but will spend the majority of his time at first base. Junior Ryan LeClair is back in the mix at shortstop after a breakout season a year ago, sophomore Tyler Prescott is back for his second year with the squad, and freshman Ryan O’Leary offers a solid bat and glove. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Josh Connolly provide solid depth in the infield.

Senior captain and three-sport star Jack Watts will patrol center field for the Warriors and will be flanked by juniors Kenny Mello and Louis Carangelo, all three looking to make an impact with their bats this season. When not pitching, Gordon will also be in the mix for some innings in the outfield and sophomore Shane Henri gives Suess another solid option. Mulkern is the starting catcher with freshmen Ben Angelini and Mike Marcucella in the mix as well.

“We have great leadership from our captains and upperclassmen which has set the tone for the rest of our guys,” Suess said. “The underclassmen have bought in and can contribute right away. We must embrace the daunting challenge of playing in the Hock, and compete with confidence to give ourselves the best chance to reach our goals.”

Franklin

2021 Record: 16-2
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final
Coach: Zach Brown
Franklin graduated some of the best players in the league after last season, but the Panthers still have a loaded lineup and a deep and talented pitching staff that could result in a very deep playoff run.

Not many teams could lose one of the best hitters in the league (Nate Cooke, 0.429) and one of the best catchers in the league (Jake Fitzgibbons, 0.353) and still boast one of the best lineups in the league but that’s how deep the Panthers are. Jack Marino, Ben Jarosz, and Chris Goode were all among the league leaders offensively a season ago, and Franklin also has sophomore Henry Digiorgio and junior Eisig Chin back after picking up a year of varsity experience. Junior Ryan Gerety, a Northeastern commit, is one of the best fielders in the region and is very dangerous at the plate.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

And after surrendering a league-low 40 runs last season, Franklin returns its entire rotation. Jacob Jette had a great junior season and will be one of the best pitchers in the Hock while junior Alfred Mucciarone will look to build upon a solid sophomore campaign. Relievers James Kuczmiec and Ethan Voellmicke dominated last season, coming in time after time and shutting opponents down.

King Philip

2021 Record: 8-8
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
It was a good start for head coach Jeff Plympton as the Warriors won eight games last season and went to the playoffs, bowing out to eventual state champions Xaverian.

King Philip has the majority of its lineup back and will be looking to make some noise in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division. After averaging almost five runs a game last year, the Warriors have some key bats back in the lineup this year. Senior Shawn Legere is a returning league all star that starts at shortstop and is coming off a season in which he hit 0.386 and scored a league-best 16 runs. Rudy Gately had a breakout sophomore season and will be a key bat in the lineup again this year.

Gately will also be a go-to option on the mound for Plympton after going 4-0 last season, striking out 33 in 34.1 innings of work with an impressive 1.03 ERA. Tommy Martorano also gained a lot of experience last year as a sophomore and will give the Warriors a solid 1-2 punch for its starting rotation.

“We have a lot of arms to roll out if we need them which is great,” Plympton said. “Shawn Legere provides great leadership to the team and demands hard work at practice and games. Our fielding should be strong this year but I’m looking forward to watching our offense. Last year we struggled at the plate but this year looks promising. Last season we notched our first playoff win in over a decade and we look to keep those strides moving forward this year.”

Mansfield

2021 Record: 8-8
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Chris Hall
With a talented and experienced pitching staff and a list of players eager to make a name for themselves at the dish, Mansfield enters the season with the goal of challenging for the Kelley-Rex division title.

The Hornets were young last spring, and a lot of players earned their first varsity starts on the mound and at-bats. Mansfield has the majority of its team back and will be looking to turn that valuable experience into a successful 2022 campaign. They certainly aren’t shying away from testing that talent with defending state champions Xaverian, Maryland powerhouse Archbishop Spalding, and other top teams on its schedule along with a loaded Hock schedule.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Seniors Anthony Sacchetti, Aaron Blinn, Jimmy Gilleran, and Colby Geddis highlight a deep and talented pitching staff for the Hornets. All of those arms got their feet wet during last year’s season and now give head coach Chris Hall a lot of flexibility with his rotation. There won’t be a drop off as the games go on with four solid options.

The big challenge for the Hornets a season ago was offense, scoring a division low 57 runs. With a strong offseason under their belts, there are a lot of names eager to step up and improve that number. Sacchetti, Gilleran, Geddis, and classmates Andrew Slaney and Jared Fraone will try to lead the way while juniors Conner Zukowski, Sam Martin, Caden Colby, Aidan Jones, and Rocco Scarpellini are all in the mix. Sophomores Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak both played varsity last year and could be impact players right away. Behind the dish, Aidan Jones and Wyatt Bolduc are battling for the starting spot at catcher after the Hornets lost senior Liam Anastasia to an injury.

“The keys to success this season rely heavily on every player doing their job,” Hall said. “The Hornets bring a well-rounded roster to the table and expect to compete all season long. Pitching and defense continue to be a strength for the Hornets. Offensively, the Hornets look to use a variety of talent to score runs and win baseball games.”

Milford

2021 Record: 5-9
2021 Finish: Missed Postseason
Coach: Alex Dion
There were some growing pains for the Hawks a season ago with a young squad, but with just five players graduated from a year ago, the Hawks are hoping to be a contender in a deep Kelley-Rex division.

Head coach Alex Dion plans to get contributions from all four classes this season, starting with a strong group of seniors that cover the field. Tyler Lane and Grant Scudo will see time in the outfield, Justin Luchini mans first base, Alex McColl can play in a number of spots in the infield, Cole Forrest is a versatile weapon, and John Denegris is an option on the mound.

The rotation will be anchored by junior Evan Cornelius, junior Tyler Caldon, and sophomore Anthony LaPierre. Cornelius started every game for the Hawks last season and will play at first when he’s not on the mound. Caldon and LaPierre, both right-handed pitchers, are up from the JV squad and have impressed in the early going.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Offensively, sophomore Keith Lee picked up valuable experience after starting nine games as a freshman last season. He will start behind the dish and be one of the most important bats in the lineup. Sophomores Damien Carter and Sean McGee also started last season and will make up Milford’s middle infield.

“I am excited about the potential that this group has,” Dion said. “With strong senior leadership and varsity players in all four grades we have an opportunity to compete this year and for years to come. This is a great league and I have a lot of respect for the other teams in it. It starts on the mound and if we can get quality pitching out of the arms that we have here we have a chance to compete. We will have to win games in a variety of ways and I believe that we have the athletes to do that.”

North Attleboro

2021 Record: 12-5
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal
Coach: Mike Hart
After splitting the division title a season ago, the Rocketeers enter the 2022 campaign with a chance at winning back-to-back division titles for the first time in 30 years.

Replacing ace Dennis Colleran won’t be easy but North Attleboro has some solid arms on the mound including senior Danny Curran and senior David Floyd, who missed last season. Curran went 2-0 last year and struck out 22 in 23 innings of work with a 3.65 ERA. Head coach Mike Hart also has pitching options in senior Anthony Wescott, and juniors Jordan Paradis, Derek Maceda, and Ayden Delaney.

One of the big reasons the Rocketeers had such success last season was their offense, which scored a Davenport division 110 runs. Maceda was one of the best bats in the league and will patrol the outfield for the Big Red along with Curran, Paradis, and senior Christian Bates. In the infield, Floyd will be joined by classmates Brody Rosenberg, Gavin Wells, and Nik Kojoian, and senior Tyler Bannon will patrol shortstop. Junior Aidan Conrad had a breakout season starting behind the dish a year ago.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

“We’re going to look to put a lot of pressure on other teams offensively,” Hart said. “We have many capable pitchers who can provide quality innings. We feel our defense will limit mistakes and not give many runs away. If we want to have a successful season we will need contributions from everybody on the roster on a daily basis. We will rely on our senior leadership and experience to guide us through the season. We need guys to excel in their role and focus on the job at hand.”

Oliver Ames

2021 Record: 9-6
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Joe Abarr
After earning a share of the Davenport title last season, the Tigers have the pieces in place to make another run at the division crown this year.

A combination of veterans and new faces eager to make an impression gives head coach Joe Abarr a nice mix to work with. Offensively, the Tigers will look for their senior captains to lead the way. Jake Waxman will play first base and potentially some outfield and is one of the best bats in the Hockomock League while Joe Cicchetti could also see time at first as well as the outfield, and is a strong two-way player. Patrick Finnerty is back in the mix after a strong junior season.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

On the mound, OA has a pair of lefties at the top of the rotation. Nick Clark (3-0, 2.78, 32K) and Jack Richardson (2-2, 2.07, 21K) are both coming off great junior seasons and will give the Tigers a solid 1-2 punch on the mound this year. Richardson will also see time in the outfield and will be a key piece of the lineup offensively.

“We have a good mix of returners and young talented players looking for opportunities to help our team win,” Abarr said. “We are excited for a full ‘normal’ season back in the Hock.”

Sharon

2021 Record: 3-12
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Andrew Poliferno
Sharon enters the season with a roster eager to compete among the Hockomock League’s top teams, but the Eagles will have to do so all on the road this season. With the construction of the new high school currently underway where Sharon’s field was, it will be all road trips for the Eagles this season.

It will start with the 10 seniors on the team, including captains Dan Okstein and Dylan Labbe. Okstein is back after an injury limited his time a year ago and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. He will be the anchor of the outfield, playing mostly in left but could also see time in center. Labbe has a ton of varsity experience and will be the ace of the pitching staff this year. Also on the mound returns sophomore Luke Meixel, one of the league’s breakout players last year as a freshman. junior Alex Coughlin, Ryan Baker, Zach Loomis, Jack Broughton, and Okstein will also be in the mix for innings on the mound.

Offensively, Nate Yaffe is back after a great year at the dish a year ago and will take over at shortstop. Not only is Yaffe consistent with the bat, but he’s also very dangerous on the base paths. Another speedy option at the dish will be Palash Raina and the Eagles are hoping to get key contributions at the plate from Okstein and varsity newcomer Connor Blaney. Liam Conway takes over behind the dish and Will Hippler, Owen Kevorkian, Eli Greenfield, Josh Tolentino, and Jake Loomis are all in the mix for spots in the lineup as well.

2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

“As a second-year varsity coach, I couldn’t be prouder to see how ready our players are to play their 2022 season,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Poliferno. “It is evident our players worked hard during the off-season to prepare to compete in the Hockomock. Our players are gritty, determined, and not afraid to put in the hard work that it takes to improve. In addition to their drive to succeed, the team vibe is positive and players go out of their way to encourage one another. I believe we have the makings of a very talented and passionate group of players ready to make noise for their 2022 season.”

Stoughton

2021 Record: 4-10
2021 Finish: Missed Postseason
Coach: Kevin Carty
There will be a lot of new faces in the Stoughton lineup this season, and that goes for the dugout too as Kevin Carty takes over for Mike Armour, who was the longest-tenured coach in the Hockomock League.

Carty is going to lean heavily on his seniors, who make up over half of the Knights’ roster. There is a lot of versatility among the senior class as well with players like Joe McNulty and Jonah Ly, who could see time in the outfield, the infield, on the mound, and in McNulty’s case, even behind the dish. Brad Franey, Anthony Girolamo, Anthony Tilton, James Price, and Owen Wiesnberger are all seniors that are in the mix for infield spots.

Girolamo, Ly, and Price will be joined by sophomore Will Worsley, junior Jeriel Cuello, junior Sean Farley, junior Joe Rush, and sophomore Hunter Malkin as options on the mound for Carty.

“We have a deep group of seniors that will carry us this year,” Carty said. “These seniors are very athletic and can play anywhere on the field. They have the ability to be great leaders for the younger players. We will go as far as they carry us.”

Taunton

2021 Record: 13-5
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Blair Bourque
Replacing a league MVP is never an easy task as the Tigers have to do with Danny MacDougall, but Taunton has a lot of depth and a lot of new faces looking to make a name for themselves as they help Taunton challenge for the Kelley-Rex title.

The strength of the 2022 Tigers will be offense and defense. Taunton has already lost some pitchers to injury so it will be a group effort on the mound this season. Coming off a season in which they scored 119 runs (nearly 7 runs a game), the offense will once again be a key component. Dawson Bryce had a breakout year after hitting 0.341 and driving in 12 runs a season ago, and junior Ryan MacDougall is one of the best power hitters in the league.

Seniors Evan Cali, Colby DeCouta, Colin Botelho, and junior Braden Sullivan are all very experienced at the varsity level and head coach Blair Bourque will lean on their leadership this season.

“Unlike in years past, we don’t have any true pitchers; our pitching staff consists of position players who will need to step up and give us an opportunity to compete,” Bourque said.”Offensively, we’ll look to have productive at-bats, be patient, and take advantage of mistakes. We should have one of the more productive offenses Taunton has had in some time. Although we’ll continue to play fundamental baseball, we hope to be able to capitalize when opportunity presents itself.”

01/28/202201/28/2022

Mansfield Kicks Offense Into Gear to Beat Attleboro

Mansfield boys basketball Trevor Foley — Mansfield sophomore Trevor Foley goes up for a layup in the third quarter against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — When the Mansfield boys basketball team is moving the ball around, constantly cutting, slashing to the basket, and knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a high clip, it’s like a work of art on the hardwood.

Attleboro learned that first hand on Friday night as the Hornets played a nearly perfect third quarter, turning a two-possession game at halftime into a runaway 69-50 win over the Bombardiers.

Mansfield held a 36-30 lead coming out of the locker room for the second half, and then went on to miss just one shot on 10 attempts from the field over the next eight minutes. The result was a 13-4 burst over the first four minutes and a 22-9 quarter overall to pull ahead for good.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Of Mansfield’s nine makes in the third, four came from three-point territory. Jack Lasbury-Casey (12 points) hit half of his four three’s in the frame, Chris Hill (seven points, six rebounds) connected from deep on the first play of the period, and senior Andrew Slaney (career-high 17 points) had one of his team-high five trifectas.

A week after attempting a total of 10 threes in a loss to Taunton, Mansfield surpassed that number on makes against the Bombardiers, shooting 50% from beyond the arc with a season-high 11 three-pointers.

“I was really happy with how our offense flowed today, I thought it was back to before Christmas where it looked like we knew what we were doing on offense,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan. “We hit some timely shots and we got some key stops when we needed to get some separation. We needed a game like this where we shot the ball well because we really haven’t the last couple of weeks.

“We needed a run to get some separation. We needed to get some consistent stops and then we’d have to go down and have a couple good offensive possessions.”

Hill’s three got things started for the Hornets in the third and then Anthony Sachetti recorded one of his four assists to Lasbury-Casey for another triple. Sachetti then converted a steal into a layup, Hill scored off an inbounds set, and then sophomore Trevor Foley (10 points, six rebounds) found Slaney in the corner for a three and a 49-34 lead with 3:30 left in the quarter.

Not only was Mansfield finding success on the offensive end, the Hornets weren’t giving Attleboro any open looks on the defensive end. Hill had a block early, and the Hornets only let the Bombardiers get a single point out of offensive rebounds on back-to-back possessions. Attleboro ended up making just a pair of field goals in the frame despite four second-chance opportunities.

“It’s not anything we’re doing specifically but subconsciously, defense becomes easier when you’re playing well on offense,” Vaughan said of getting it done on both ends of the floor. “When you start scoring points and you start getting that separation, the lead going from six to eight to 10…it becomes easier to defend. Now you can take some chances, you can try some different things.”

Lasbury-Casey answered a putback from Attleboro sophomore Neo Franco (10 points) with another three and then after a block from Matt Hyland (14 points, seven rebounds, six assists), Foley attacked the rim for two more. Lasbury-Casey got a piece of another Attleboro shot and Hill had a steal near midcourt, resulting in another layup for Foley, who had six of his 10 points in the frame and Mansfield carried a 59-39 lead into the fourth.

Mansfield set the tone for its big shooting night in the opening quarter, hitting on six trifectas on nine attempts. Attleboro junior Trevor White, fresh off a 31-point performance on Tuesday, hit a midrange jumper for the first points of the game but exited shortly after with an injury and did not return.

Slaney hit from downtown on three straight possessions for the Hornets, the first and third off passes from Hyland, and the middle on a kick out from Sachetti. Lasbury-Casey and Attleboro senior Evan Houle (nine points) traded threes, and then Hill and Attleboro senior Alvin Harrison (team-high 12 points) did the same.

After another one from Lasbury-Casey, sophomore Eddie McCoy joined the three party with one of his own and then Foley cleaned up his own miss for a 22-15 lead after a quarter.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Attleboro held the Hornets without a three in the second quarter (0-for-4), and won the quarter, albeit by one point. Both teams made it to the bonus relatively quickly and ended up combining for 24 of the 25 free throws attempted in the first half. The Bombardiers got a boost from their bench as senior Colin Morais scored six of his 11 points in the frame and senior Hayden Hagerty hit four free throws to cut it to six, 36-30, by the break.

“It’s just how the game flowed,” Vaughan said of his team’s shooting. “We’ve really been focusing on taking open shots in practice and making them. We shot the ball so poorly recently, and we haven’t even got the volume either. We’re usually taking 25 or so a game and we were shooting 13 or 11 or nine, and that’s not us. We have to open the floor for guys like Matty and Chris to get downhill. And on top of that, we have the right guys shooting them.”

Mansfield boys basketball (9-1 Hockomock, 11-2 overall) is scheduled to travel to Bridgewater-Raynham on Monday while Attleboro (7-3, 9-3) is scheduled to travel to Bishop Feehan on Sunday, weather permitting.

12/13/202112/13/2021

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Attleboro

2020-2021 Record: 10-6
Coach: Mark Houle

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

After trotting out an entirely new lineup during the shortened COVID season a year ago, Attleboro is looking to build upon the foundation it built and contend for a Kelley-Rex title in a very deep division.

Senior Evan Houle and junior Trevor White are the two returning starters from a year ago but the Bombardiers have a lot of players back that saw valuable minutes off the bench as well. Houle and White both averaged 10 points per game a year ago and will be two of the main options on the offensive end of the court. Alvin Harrison and Joe Francois both played solid minutes last year and give the Bombardiers some size in the paint. Jake Struminski, Christian Dame, and Michael Beverly all played throughout last season and should be in the mix again this year.

The Bombardiers are getting a big boost in the backcourt with the addition of senior Colin Morais, who transferred in after playing in Rhode Island last year. Morais can score in a variety of ways and can really catch fire from three-point range so he will be a welcome addition to the lineup. Sophomore Neo Franco could see an expanded role right away and help provide additional defensive intensity and some scoring punch. Seniors Hayden Hagerty, senior Nathan Hunter-Evans, and junior Jaiden Outland give the Bombardiers some quality depth on the roster.

“I have been very impressed with our work ethic and how our players have set high standards in practice every day,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “I credit our recent graduates for the past several years who set the high expectations for our teams to work hard, be good teammates, and earn our success in practice. We’re looking forward to the always challenging Hockomock League schedule. We must be prepared and be ready to compete at a high level every game.”

Canton

2020-2021 Record: 4-9
Coach: Eric MacKinnon

A new chapter begins for the Bulldogs with Eric MacKinnon taking over as head coach after Ryan Gordy stepped down to take an athletics administrative position with Canton. MacKinnon, a former Hockomock League All-Star for Oliver Ames, has experience coaching at both the high school and collegiate levels and will try to guide a relatively inexperienced group through a tough league schedule.

Canton graduated seven seniors from last year’s team that accounted for nearly 90% of the team’s points scored last year. But with that loss comes a lot of new opportunities for new players to fit into the lineup and rotation. Senior Lanse Dorcelus possesses the most experience of anyone on the roster after getting pulled up to varsity his freshmen year and seeing an expanded role in each of the past two seasons. He could be primed for a breakout year with his ability to attack the rim, and he can score in bunches when he gets going.

Dorcelus is joined by Dillon Nguyen, Conor Hunter, and Nate Mei as returners from last year. All three of those players know what it’s like to play at the varsity level in the Hockomock League so MacKinnon will be leaning on their experience as the Bulldogs try to navigate through a very challenging schedule. MacKinnon is hoping to have the Dogs playing with pace in the halfcourt and will be looking to have a balanced attack on offense with a presence in the post but also a roster that can hit from outside.

“We have a mix of guys who have had varsity experience along with some juniors who weren’t able to swing last year because of covid protocols,” MacKinnon said. “We know we’ll need to be efficient offensively and be sound on the other end to compete every night in this league. We’ve made progress in our early practices and I’ve been impressed by our senior leadership.”

Foxboro

2020-2021 Record: 2-9
Coach: Jon Gibbs

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

There were a lot of growing pains for the Warriors last season, resulting in a 2-9 record during the shortened COVID season. But with its entire starting lineup back plus some added depth, Foxboro could be looking at a worst-to-first type turnaround in 2022.

Senior Dylan Gordon, fresh off an incredible football season for the Warriors, had a breakout season a year ago and was one of the leading scorers in the Hock at 16 points per game. He’s joined by junior Alex Penders, who had some dominant moments at times last year in the paint and averaged 13.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, and juniors Ryan LeClair, Sam Golub (6.4 PPG), and Sean O’Leary. Juniors Andrew Finn and Cam Barreira both played solid minutes at points last year so the Warriors boast eight veteran players now, which is a vast difference from last year when everyone on the roster was making their varsity debut.

The Warriors will look to boast a balanced offensive attack and have the weapons to do so. Whether it’s Penders down low in the post, Gordon slashing to the basket, or Golub lighting it up from deep, Foxboro has options all over the court. Head coach Jon Gibbs is hoping the experience and chemistry the group gained last year will provide a strong foundation for this season. Defensively, the Warriors have some size and length that will allow them to protect the paint, contest shots, and rebound at a high level.

“We have a deep team this year,” Gibbs said. “Guys are pushing each other hard in practice every day as they work to carve out roles for themselves. If we can defend and rebound at a championship level, we have the potential for a very successful season.”

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Franklin

2020-2021 Record: 6-5
Coach: CJ Neely

Last season marked the second straight year that the Panthers graduated a large senior class and that means there are a lot of opportunities for new faces to step into the starting lineup and expanded roles this year around.

While the Panthers will have an entirely new starting lineup, Franklin will most certainly be right in the mix in a Kelley-Rex division that is jammed-pack with talent. Gone are leading scorer Declan Walmsley (17.5 points per game) along with the next two leading scorers on last year’s roster in Andrew Byfield (10.2) and Jake O’Brien (9.9). Key depth pieces like Zach Harvey (4.5) and Alex Newman (3.6) also graduated so head coach CJ Neely will be working with some new options this year.

Sophomore Henry Digiorgio burst onto the scene as a freshman a year ago and he’s the top returning scorer at 5.4 points per game, although he did reach double figures in the scoring column three times. Sean Vinson and Ben Harvey are the other two players back in the fold that saw some minutes a season ago. But something we’ve seen Franklin do year-in and year-out is reload so there will certainly be some new names to emerge over the next couple of weeks.

While the players change, the style of Franklin basketball has been consistent for years and defense remains to be the calling card under Neely. The Panthers are always a team that puts a lot of pressure, moves the ball around on the offensive end, and incorporates a lot of motion off the ball to keep opposing defenses on their heels.

“Guys have really showed up ready to compete for jobs,” Neely said. “Obviously with five graduating starters from last year’s team there are a lot of roles up for grabs and practices have been great. We have had a very competitive preseason and it has shown that we have a lot of depth and it will be an ongoing battle all year to earn your spot and maintain your spot throughout the year.”

King Philip

2020-2021 Record: 0-10
Head Coach: Dave DeStefano

With a strong mix of experienced players and new faces, King Philip is looking to make some noise in a very talented and deep Kelley-Rex division, one of the best divisions in the state.

Head coach Dave DeStefano is back after missing the COVID season due to the birth of his son and has seven seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen on the roster to work with this year. KP has a solid foundation with two returning starters back and both averaged double figures in the scoring column. Junior Will Laplante had a breakout year and will be someone every opposing defense will have to keep an eye on after averaging 16.4 points per game last year. And senior Danny Clancy is one of the hardest-working players and fights for a lot of rebounds on the offensive glass; he averaged 12.2 points per game last year.

Senior Charlie Grant, fresh off leading the King Philip football team to the state final at quarterback, is confident with the ball in his hands and will be like a quarterback for the offense by setting the tempo. Seniors Sean Sullivan and Braeden Sottile will be looking to build on their minutes from a season ago and could see expanded roles this go around. Seniors Will Martorano (6’5) and Drew Danson (6’3) should give the Warriors a big, physical presence in the paint. DeStefano is also expecting juniors Tommy Martorano, Grant Kinney, and Collin Peck to be in the mix after improving a lot over the offseason.

“The boys have really committed this offseason,” said DeStefano, who is hoping a combination of athleticism and physicality lead to success this year. “The practices so far have been really competitive and physical. We know that everyone in this league can score the ball and if we want to be successful we are going to have to commit on the defensive end of the floor. 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 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Mansfield

2020-2021 Record: 15-1 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: Mike Vaughan

Mansfield won another division title last season and expectations are sky high yet again this year, as the Hornets look to win their 10th straight Kelley-Rex division title and go on a deep tournament run.

While the Hornets reload every year, they have a pretty good head start this season already with senior Matt Hyland and junior Chris Hill back in the lineup. Both boast a lot of experience at the varsity level and are capable of being the best player on the court. Mansfield lost 1,000-point score Matt Boen (just the second player to reach that milestone under head coach Mike Vaughan despite all of the program’s success) to graduation so both Hyland and Hill will take on more responsibility on the offensive end of the floor.

Seniors Jack Lasbury-Casey, Andrew Slaney, and Anthony Sacchetti, along with sophomore Trevor Foley, all saw minutes during last year’s shortened COVID season and could be in line for expanded roles this year. Sacchetti has impressed in the preseason so far and the Hornets have played well with him on the floor, Foley (6’5) creates a lot of matchup problems with his size and athleticism, and both Lasbury-Casey and Slaney can give the offense a boost with their outside shooting.

Caden Colby, Dante James, and JT Veiking all are coming off very successful seasons of JV and the same goes for sophomore Eddie McCoy, who had a strong year on the freshmen squad. All four players are all in the mix for minutes and give the Hornets a very deep roster. The Hornets are looking to use their size and length to their advantage, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

“Overall the expectations are the same, we want to qualify for the tournament as quickly as possible by playing one game at a time, win the league title, and win multiple tournament games,” Vaughan said. “With the quality of the league and our tough non-league schedule, we have a challenge ahead of us but I think we have the pieces to be a very talented and quality basketball team on both ends of the floor.”

Milford

2020-2021 Record: 3-9
Coach: Paul Seaver

It’s not uncommon for a program to graduate its entire starting lineup, and it’s not even uncommon to see the majority of a roster turnover because of graduation. But Milford is in a unique situation in which it graduated its entire team. That’s right, Milford will boast a roster full of players without a minute of varsity experience.

Head coach Paul Seaver has four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen as the Hawks write a new ~~chapter~~ book in program history. Coaches in the Hockomock League will be checking in with their subvarsity coaches, and maybe even their metro coaches, to try and get an idea of what to expect from the Hawks this year.

While we’ll learn more about the Hawks as the season goes on, we do know one thing. Seaver will be leaning on the leadership of senior captains Nick Schuler and Paul Roberts. Both Schuler and Roberts have varsity experience in other sports so their leadership will be key for a program that will be experiencing this level for the first time.

“With a brand new crop of guys this season, we look to compete on both sides of the floor this year while working towards reestablishing the culture and environment of Milford basketball,” Seaver said.

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

North Attleboro

2020-2021 Record: 8-3
Coach: Sean Mulkerrins

The Rocketeers have a roster mixed with new faces and a handful of experienced players and are hoping that combination can lead to some success in a loaded Hockomock League.

After graduating just two seniors two years ago, North lost half of its roster from last year and all five were players that saw valuable minutes for head coach Sean Mukerrins. But on the plus side, the four players back all played a lot of minutes including starters and potential league all-stars Brody Rosenberg and Casey Poirier. Rosenberg was second on the team last year in scoring with 10.4 points per game last year and will need to take on more responsibility on the offensive end this year. Poirier is a capable guard that is confident with the ball in his hands and likes to spread the rock around.

Seniors Gavin Wells (6’3) and Nate Bennett (6’3) are the other two returners for the Big Red and both improved as the season went on last year. Wells emerged as a threat from the perimeter, dropping a season-high 13 points in a road win over Foxboro last season. Bennett can play in a variety of roles and he gives North some good size on the defensive end.

North has developed a reputation for being disciplined and well-prepared on the defensive end of the court, and that will likely be the strength for the squad again this year. On the offensive end, the Rocketeers will follow the lead of Rosenberg and Poirier as an unselfish group that is always looking for the best shot.

“We are excited to get the season started and see where we stack up against the rest of the Hockomock League,” Mulkerrins said. “After graduating a tremendous 2021 class, this group is excited to step in and carve our roles that will help our team succeed.”

Oliver Ames

2020-2021 Record: 9-1 (Davenport division champions)
Coach: Oliver Vil

Oliver Ames had a terrific showing during the shortened COVID season, winning the Davenport division in its first season back after four years in the Kelley-Rex division.

Oliver Vil takes over as head coach of the program after the untimely passing of legendary and Hall of Fame coach Don Byron in June. Byron coached through his battle with cancer for the past couple of seasons, leading the Tigers to the Davenport crown with a 9-1 record last winter.

Vil and the Tigers will honor Byron this season when they play Abington; Byron coached the Green Wave to a sectional title in his final season there before coming to Oliver Ames. The Tigers will be raising funds for Coaches vs. Cancer when they host Abington on December 23rd.

Vil, who was an assistant under Byron before taking the head coaching job at Walpole, has two key pieces back from last year’s squad. Senior Drew Baxter is a crafty guard that can really get going on the offensive side of the ball and score in a variety of ways; he will spearhead the offense while Jake Grimaldi, a senior co-captain, gives the Tigers some size down low. After graduating nine seniors from last year’s roster, there are a lot of opportunities for new faces to take advantage of.

“I look forward to continuing the great tradition at OA,” Vil said. “There are big shoes to fill, but my mentor Don Byron has prepared me for this position. I’m excited for this opportunity and challenge.”

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Sharon

2020-2021 Record: 4-9
Coach: Andrew Ferguson

Sharon built a solid foundation during last year’s COVID-shortened season and now expectations are high as the Eagles look to build on it and compete for the Davenport division title.

The Eagles have a good chunk of the roster back from last year, all with an important year of experience now under the belt, and an impressive group of young players that are ready to make an immediate impact at the varsity level. Senior John Baez is in his fourth year with the varsity team and will be joined by senior Ryan Zunenshine in the backcourt to give the Eagles an experienced duo spearheading the offense.

The strong senior class also features Sam Cohen, Will Hippler, Donyae Pierre, Nate Yaffe, Ryan Baker, and Brent Cham. Cohen burst onto the scene at the end of his sophomore year and can light it up from three-point range while Hippler is a versatile player that gives the Eagles defensively flexibility. Junior Matt Baur is poised for a breakout season and might be the best player on the court on both sides of the court for the Eagles.

Sophomores Nate Katznelson and Jacob McLoughlin impressed in their first year playing high school ball last year and now will make the jump to the varsity level and could make an immediate impact. Juniors Jack Bates and Tyler Goodman give Sharon quality depth at the guard position. Sharon is hoping to get all five guys on the court involved on the offensive end of the court while a revamped defense could be the spark the Eagles need.

“We are thankful to be playing another season and thank the work of the athletic directors of the league to ensure a full season,” said head coach Andrew Ferguson. “We have been working extremely hard throughout the offseason and the early season to hit the ground running. We have a tight-knit team who have been growing together over the past few years and we can’t wait to get the season started.”

Stoughton

2020-2021 Record: 4-9
Coach: Evan Taylor

With just one starter back from last year, second-year head coach Evan Taylor is relying on a mix of new faces and some returners to make up the nucleus of this year’s squad.

Connor Andrews is the lone starter back for the Black Knights after averaging 8.5 points a year ago. But Stoughton also has a pair of juniors in Josh Rivera and Cashmere Mathurin, along with junior Rayan Sablon, that played meaningful minutes and are in line for expanded roles for the 2021-2022 season. Andrews can do it all on the offensive end and does a lot of the little things right. Not only can he light up the scoreboard with his outside shooting, but he also sets the tone with his hustle and rebounding.

Rivera is a capable ball-handler and likes to get his teammates involved; his energy will set the tone of the defensive end. Matherin’s size and athleticism will give a lot of teams trouble this year and Stoughton is looking for him to be one of the best rim protectors in the league. Sablon will play a variety of roles for the Knights, capable of playing as both the one and the two depending on the scenario. Freshman Matt Greenspoon is a player to watch as the season goes on.

Taylor is putting a big focus on the defensive end of the floor during the preseason. The Black Knights allowed the second-most points against in the Davenport division this year so a renewed focus on defense — with an emphasis on using their speed and athleticism to cause havoc — will be something to keep an eye on.

“We are very pleased with the energy and competition level at practice and we are expecting to be very competitive in the Davenport division this season,” Taylor said.

taunton

2020-2021 Record: 10-1 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: Charlie Dacey

Last season will always be “what if” for the Tigers, who won their first Hock title by sharing the Kelley-Rex division title with Mansfield. But the past is the past and Taunton is focused on the future, which could be another league title.

There will certainly be a bit of a new look for Taunton with the centerpiece of the offense from the past two seasons Tyler Stewart now causing problems for opponents in the Commonwealth Coast Conference as a member of the Wentworth men’s basketball team, and three-year starter Josh Lopes now suiting up for American International College.

But not all is lost as the Tigers have its three other starters from last year’s squad back in the mix and ready to challenge for another Kelley-Rex crown. Trent Santos is now a three-year starter and led the Tigers in scoring last year with 15.2 points per game and he will be one of the top players in the league again this year. Tristan Herry made a huge jump between his sophomore and junior year and is looking to continue that trend this year, the heart and soul of the defense. And Faisal Mass made a big splash last year and can hurt teams in a variety of ways.

The Tigers are getting a boost with the addition of Jordan Costa, who provides a big boost in the rebounding category and can cause some damage around the rim. He’ll be joined by junior Matt Small (6’4) to give the Tigers another option down low. Sophomores Troy Santos and Morrisette could be contributors to the lineup right away for Taunton.

“We’re looking to be aggressive defensively and dynamic offensively with varied skills being able to finish from different spots and different personnel,” said Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey.

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview