Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 68 @ Bishop Feehan, 67 – Final (2 OT) – Attleboro senior Jaiden Outland sank a pair of free throws with just two seconds left in the game to help the Bombardiers complete a comeback win over Bishop Feehan. The Bombardiers stormed back in the fourth quarter, erasing a 13-point deficit at the start of the period with 24 points that included four three-pointers, including one with 30 seconds left from Hayden Crowley (career-high 19 points) to tie the game at 55-55. Crowley and Spencer Sherck hit back-to-back threes in the first overtime but the Shamrocks climbed back in it to force a second overtime. With Feehan leading by one, Attleboro got the ball to Outland (14 points), who faked a three to draw the defense, and then drew contact going up for a layup to get to the line. He sank both to give Attleboro the win. Junior Neo Franco added 18 points for the Bombardiers, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter and overtime periods.
Mansfield, 61 @ Natick, 52 – Final – Mansfield had a strong end to the third quarter and went on to dominate the fourth quarter to rally for a win over Natick. Davon Sanders hit a three just before the buzzer at the end of the third to get the Hornets within two, and Mansfield opened the fourth with a 7-0 run and held Natick scoreless for over four minutes to start the frame. With just two minutes to go, the Hornets turned a 47-45 deficit at the start of the fourth to a 58-50 lead. Junior Eddie MccCoy hit a trio of threes and poured in a career-high 23 points, adding seven rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals to lead the way for Mansfield. Trevor Foley added 12 points — all coming in the second half — as well as five boards, four assists, four steals, and a pair of blocks, and Sanders finished with 11 points and three steals.
Girls Basketball
Stoughton, 46 vs. Waltham, 37 – Final – Freshman Kirsten McKay and sophomore Leah McCarty combined for 29 points and Stoughton picked up its first win under head coach Eric Adams. McKay led the way with 15 points, while McCarty added 14 points and three rebounds. Raina Tat chipped in with eight points and pulled down six boards. Katrina Varnum continued to be strong in the paint, snatching 12 rebounds and blocking four shots in the win.
Boys Indoor Track
Sharon, 45 @ Oliver Ames, 55 – Final
Foxboro, 20 @ Mansfield, 76 – Final – Mansfield took first in all but one event, including relays, and had two of the top three in eight events to run away with a win over Foxboro. The Hornets got key points by finishing 1-2 in the 2 Mile (Sam Taylor, Kiernan Hoff), the 55M dash (Myles Brown, Sirius Li), the 1000M (Marco Geminiani, Sean Higgins), the 600M (Troy Penney, Kyle Dickinson), and the 600M (Grady Sullivan, Matt Breitenstein). Evan Rawlings added a win in the high jump (5-02.00) and the 55M hurdles (8.30), Evan Thevenot won the long jump (19-04.25), and Talon Johnson won the 1 Mile race in 4:49.98. Foxboro’s Joe Flanagan took first in the shot put with an impressive throw of 47-00.00, second best in the Hock on the night.
Stoughton, 79 @ Canton, 21 – Final
Attleboro, 58 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final
Milford, 21 @ Taunton, 79 – Final
Franklin, 54 @ King Philip, 46 – Final
Girls Indoor Track
Sharon, 32 @ Oliver Ames, 66 – Final – Oliver Ames earned nine points from each the shot put and the 1 Mile race by taking the top three spots in each event on its way to a win over Sharon. Katie Sobieraj (5:13.48) crossed first in the 1 Mile with a league-best time by over 20 seconds with Hailey Goldman (fifth best time in the league) and Madeline Stewart rounding out the sweep. Catie Wilson continued her success in the shot put, landing a toss of 26-11.75 with Bridget Hughes and Nicole Brooks taking second and third, respectively. Adama Lamin-Bangura (high jump, 4-02.00), Amelia Andre (long jump, 15-07.00 and 300M, 45.37), Iole Apostoli (2 Mile, 13:24.13), Taegen Hodges (1000M, 3:15.10), and Jenna Gilman (600M, 1:43.95) also won for OA. Sharon’s Maude Kilmer won the 55M hurdles in 9.06.
Foxboro, 28 @ Mansfield, 68 – Final – Mansfield picked up nine points from a sweep of the shot put and took first in eight other events to earn a win over rival Foxboro. Caitlin Garrahy took first in the shot put, landing a throw of 32-03.75 with Julianna Machado and Joselyn Saba taking second and third, respectively. Chloe Guthrie and Elyssa Buchanan were both double winners for the Hornets, with Guthrie taking first in both the long jump (16-07.00) and the 55m dash (7.52) while Buchanan won the high jump (4-06.00) and the 55M hurdles (9.60).
Stoughton, 60 @ Canton, 40 – Final – Stoughton’s Shayla Ford and Belleya Franck each won a pair of events to propel the Black Knights to a win over Canton. Ford crossed first in the 50M dash (7.62) as well as the 300M (42.06), and Franck earned first in the 55M hurdles (9.89) and the high jump (4-06.00). Other winners for Stoughton include Sivannah Marcy (long jump, 14-08.50), Simarah McPherson (shot put, 29-06.50), Elaine McCarty (1000M, 3:34.07), and Julie Richardson (600M, 1:51.60). Canton’s Nora Giannacopoulos (1 Mile, 6:08.14) and Johanna Bouwmeester (2 Mile, 14:14.06) each came in first in their event.
Attleboro, 47 @ North Attleboro, 53 – Final
Milford, 43 @ Taunton, 57 – Final – Taunton swept the 1000M, took the top two spots in two more events, and swept the relays to secure a win over Milford. Braelyn Nichols took first in the 1000M (3:34.79) with Kiley Quinlan and Jakhi Nicholson rounding out the top three. Caelyn O’Leary won the 600M in 1:46.93 while Phylicia Dias took second, and in the 300M, Ava Uhl (46.00) and Emersyn DePonte went 1-2.
Oliver Ames is coming off a Div. 2 state title, but the Tigers will face a tough challenge to repeat as league champ this winter. Read our full team-by-team previews below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Brianna Bracken
Former Attleboro standout Bri Bracken took over the coaching duties late in the preseason a year ago, but she stepped right into her first varsity job and led the Bombardiers to a 16-win season and a return to the state tournament. The graduation of top scorer Meg Gordon will be tough to replace, but the Bombardiers have a versatile lineup and a focus on the defensive side of the ball that still makes them a tough challenge even for the top teams in the league.
Attleboro returns only two starters from last season. Junior Kayla Goldrick impressed in her first two years on varsity, playing on the wing or as the primary ball-handler. Her control on both sides of the ball will be critical this season. Senior Lily Routhier, who transferred from Wheelock last year, is a strong rebounder and can score in multiple ways around the paint. Sophomore Vanessa Ellis wasn’t a starter for most of last year, but she came through with some big games down the stretch, scoring in bunches around the rim and being a force on the glass.
An injury to junior Rylie Camacho will deprive the Bombardiers of one of their best perimeter shooters, but Bracken will be hoping that juniors Merry Bosh and Molly Moore and sophomore Avery James can step into bigger roles in the backcourt and add scoring punch. Senior Sarah Maher is going to have a bigger role on both ends this season, bringing the energy and intensity every game. This will be a different look from last year, as the Bombardiers will have different go-to players every night.
“We have a great mix of experience and youth,” Bracken said. “We are excited about what lies ahead. Practices have been intense and the girls have been working really hard.”
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Quarterfinal Coach: Jim Choquette
How do you move on from graduating not just one but three of the best players in program history? That will be the challenge for Canton coach Jim Choquette this season, as the Bulldogs are coming off a winter that included a rare home playoff game and a trip to the Div. 2 quarterfinals and return a group of players that have experience but will need to step into bigger roles this year.
There is a veteran core that the Bulldogs will be relying on. Senior forward Samya DaSilva can score in the paint and knock down shots from the perimeter, while classmate Erin Beatty has been a force on the boards and brings a lot of energy on both ends of the floor. Senior guards Emily McCabe, Marissa Staffiere, and Han Hong all can run the point and are strong defensive players who will be tasked with keeping the ball moving for Canton on offense to find the best shot.
In addition to those familiar faces, juniors Fatima Sidibay and Jess Wright will provide additional athleticism in the frontcourt. Junior Mercia Kolokithas can stretch defenses with her perimeter shooting and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth on the wing along with Ava McCoole. Deanna Kolokithas is another newcomer to watch this season, as she can give Canton a boost at point guard, allowing the veteran guards to move off the ball.
“Every season is different, even if you have similar players,” Choquette explained. “We have spoken about that this year and I’ve encouraged our team to write their own narrative, what they want, how they want to get it, and the sacrifices they’re willing to make to accomplish it. I’m so excited to see how we respond as coaches to help them and as players to achieve.”
2021-2022 Record: 14-8 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen Coach: Lisa Downs
While head coach Lisa Downs knew there would be some growing pains for a roster loaded with underclassmen, Foxboro was not only building for the future in 2021-22 but showing that it could already compete with the league’s top teams. This season, adding a year of experience to their talented core, the Warriors will be aiming to get back to the top of the Davenport division and make a run in the state tournament.
The backcourt was the key for Foxboro last winter. Sophomore Kailey Sullivan burst onto the scene and was the rare freshman that could lead a team in scoring and also look right at home running the point against the tough defenses in the Hock. Junior Camryn Collins finished just behind Sullivan in the scoring charts, but her handle, her athleticism, and her ability to read the game made her an impact player on both ends of the court. Add in junior Erin Foley’s tenacity on the defensive end and it is a backcourt that can cause any team problems from baseline to baseline.
Foxboro also got solid contributions in the front court from sophomore Ava Hill, who looked increasingly comfortable as the season wore on, and junior Isabelle Chamberlin. Sophomore Adie Ruter will be a new piece to the puzzle this season. The 6-foot-2 center gives a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense and her development in the off-season has her poised for a breakout year. Freshmen Kylie Sampson and Adrianna Porazzo continue the tradition of underclassmen jumping right onto varsity with an opportunity to contribute.
“I’m anxious to get started working with this team,” Downs said. “I really envision a pretty high ceiling once we get established. We will continue the Foxboro team culture of hard work on defense and team play on offense, so it will be pretty exciting to see what they are able to accomplish.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-2 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal Coach: John Leighton
Franklin has dominated the Kelley-Rex division for the past four years, which included a state title run as well, but with a lot of new faces jumping into the lineup this season, the league title race could be a lot closer this winter. The Panthers may not be able to overwhelm teams with size like they have in past few years, but an athletic core of players returns to play typically tough defense and get out and run on the break.
The focal point this season will be senior forward Katie Peterson. After a breakout junior year in which she led the team in scoring, the UMass girls lacrosse commit comes back as one of the top wings in the league. Her athleticism will be critical on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Bridget Leo is also back to run the offense and will be one of the team’s top perimeter defenders. Senior Lizzie Newman emerged last season as a solid rebounder and post defender and her outside shooting could be a major factor.
There are also several players who stepped in at times last year that will need to take on bigger roles for the Panthers this season. Junior Sasha Tracey gives Franklin good length on the wing and adds another athlete that can get out on the break and finish. Her improved outside shot will also help stretch defenses. Sophomore Chloe Fales is a newcomer to watch with her athleticism and ability to score at multiple levels.
“This team is working to find its identity and play unselfish basketball,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “I have been very impressed with the leadership of our seniors who have stepped up and provided mentorship to our younger players to speed their integration into the team.”
2021-2022 Record: 11-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Jeff Miszkiewicz
Only the two division winners allowed fewer points per game than King Philip last season, as the Warriors focused on strong half court defense under first-year coach Jeff Miszkiewicz. Defense will remain key for KP this season, but there is also an effort to bring more balance to an offense that struggled to keep up with some of the top teams in the Hock. With a year of experience in the new system, the Warriors will be looking to provide a challenge to Franklin and Oliver Ames in the Kelley-Rex.
Senior center Emily Sawyer has developed into a force on both ends of the floor and her presence in the paint will be a major piece of KP’s play this year. An almost automatic double-double every night, Sawyer has improved her offense every year and remains an imposing shot blocker and disruptor on defense. Fellow senior Jackie Bonner will give KP much-needed balance on offense with her ability to shoot from distance and take defenders off the dribble. KP looked like a different team when she went down with an injury last season.
While Bonner and Sawyer get a lot of the attention, KP has solid depth in both the front and backcourt. Senior guard Leah Santoro gives the Warriors a tenacious perimeter defender and junior Jordan Bennett runs the offense well at the point and showed flashes of being a threat from three-point range. Junior forward Maddie Paschke provides energy, rebounding, and finishing in the paint, and classmate Kylie Watson continues to improve on shot-making both in the paint and from the outside.
Miszkiewicz is also counting on several new faces to add to his squad this season. “They all bring something different to the court and have a chance to really impact games this year,” he said. “We can score on all three levels consistently, so we look to attack any advantages that we can get. Last year, we prided ourselves on playing tough, gritty defense. We try to make every shot difficult and hold teams to one shot.”
2021-2022 Record: 12-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Heather McPherson
Mansfield will play in the Davenport division for the first time this winter and, with only three players graduating from last year’s playoff team and both of its leading scorers back, there are hopes that this could be a title-winning debut for the Hornets.
Senior Abby Wager is the team’s top scorer from a year ago and the athletic wing will be the focal point for most teams defensively this year. The Southern New Hampshire-commit causes problems on both ends of the floor with her length and speed and her addition of different facets to her offensive game. If teams want to extend out to the perimeter, Mansfield can also hurt them in the paint with junior forward Kara Santos, who emerged as a consistent scorer on the block.
Experience should be no problem for the Hornets, who have a host of players that gained valuable experience last season. In the backcourt, seniors Olivia Salisbury and Bridget Hanley can run the point and step up with big scoring nights when needed. Senior Natalya Gill was instant offense off the bench for the Hornets, while classmate Rose Maher can knock down big shots from the outside. Senior Brooke Butler gives the Hornets another strong rebounder and paint presence.
“Extremely excited for the season,” said McPherson. “The level of focus and pace that we have committed to this preseason makes me extremely excited for the season with these girls!”
2021-2022 Record: 5-14 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: TJ Dolliver
Milford brings back five seniors from last year’s team, including a pair of four-year varsity players at captain, which the Hawks hope can provide the leadership for a move up the Kelley-Rex standings. After winning five games a year ago, Milford continues to set its sights on getting back into the playoff picture.
Senior forward Emily Croteau is an all-energy player at forward and will be one of the players that Milford counts on at both ends of the floor. She crashes the boards, defends, and her hustle is infectious. Classmate Brooke Ferreira is more of a calming presence in the backcourt, getting the Hawks into their sets and knocking down shots on the perimeter. Fellow seniors Molly Hartman and Aliza Syed will add experience and strength in the paint.
Junior forward Khatrina Leger could be ready for a breakout year after impressing in flashes as a sophomore. Leger used her athleticism to keep possessions alive and was able to get creative with her finishing around the rim. Classmate Erin Michelson uses her length on the wing to cause problems on the defensive side and junior Maeve Driscoll can come into the game and make some big shots on the perimeter.
“We have a lot of versatile players with different skills so our offense and defense is going to rely on execution during the games,” said Milford coach TJ Dolliver. “I have a great group of girls who are ready to compete on a daily basis. We have a lot of room to grow and I am looking forward to seeing where it takes us.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Nikki Correia
North Attleboro incorporated plenty of youth into last year’s rotation and those young players will need to be ready from the start this winter because the Rocketeers are only returning four varsity players from 2021-22 and have as many underclassmen (four) as seniors on this year’s team. It is a guard-heavy rotation, which fits into head coach Nikki Correia’s preferred up-tempo style, but there will be a learning curve for a relatively inexperienced group.
Senior Ava McKeon will be the leader on the court for North this season. A four-year varsity player, McKeon gives the Rocketeers an edge with her tenacity, toughness, and athleticism. The rest of the team can feed off the energy that she provides on both ends of the court. Sophomore guards Sam Faria and Sam Sweeney both showed as rookies that they can knock down shots from the outside, but need to be more consistent to take the North offense to the next level. Classmate Maryellen Charette also impressed at times as a freshman and could be ready for a breakout year at forward. Confidence will be important for the younger players to meet the expectations that come from being regular starters.
North has added some new faces to the roster this year to contribute off the bench and give teams different looks. Senior guard Emma Hanwell and forwards Kylie James and Kayla Dominique, as well as junior forward Katie Corsetti will make the jump up from the JV team this season. Freshman guard Ella McLaughlin is another player with the potential to make instant contributions.
“I think our strengths on offense will be our quick guard play,” Correia said. “Our offense seems to be a little more organized and the guards are able to control the tempo. I am really looking forward to the season with this group of players. We are young and have so much potential to really surprise some opponents this year.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-3 (Davenport champions) 2021-2022 Finish: Won Div. 2 state title Coach: Brittany Engle
The defending Div. 2 state champions are going to have a very different look this season. Not only did Oliver Ames lose its top two scorers (Caroline Peper to graduation and Jasmyn Cooper to transfer) but also saw the retirement of legendary coach Laney Clement-Holbrook after more than four decades in charge. OA has turned to former assistant coach Brittany Engle, who is also a 1,000-point scorer and former state champ for the Tigers, who inherits a roster with only four returning players from last season.
Junior guard Kaydance Derba is the team’s top returning scorer and is one of the best long-range shooters in the league. Her length, her passing, and her ball-handling will all be critical for a team that is going to rely on a lot of relatively inexperienced players. Classmate Sarah Hilliard might be ready for a breakout season. The junior forward showed flashes of being a dominant post player last year, coming up with huge games on both ends of the floor during OA’s tournament run and her athleticism is a tough matchup for most teams.
A pair of seniors round out the returning players. Maddie Homer, who was voted volleyball MVP this fall, missed time last year due to injury but she came back to play a role in the state title game win against Norwood. She brings a lot of intensity on the defensive end and is another solid ball-handler that can get the Tigers into their sets. Classmate Grace Dupill will bring more athleticism to the forward position and leadership for a young squad that wants to challenge Franklin for the Kelley-Rex title.
“I’m excited for the season,” Engle said. “We’ve got a lot of good athletes who work hard, and are coachable and competitive. Coming off of a state title, expectations are high, but measured. This is a different team, but one with a lot of potential.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Matt DellaBarba
Coming off a four-win season, Sharon returns four starters and nine players from last year’s roster, intent on making a move up the standings in the Davenport division. There is a change on the sidelines, with former Plymouth South coach Matt DellaBarba taking over this season and he will be hoping to utilize the experience that the Eagles have to make a run at a potential playoff spot.
Most of the focus this winter will be on junior center Jasmine Davis. After a stellar first varsity season in which she introduced herself with a 30-point, 20-rebound debut against Milford, Davis was one of the most prolific post players in the league as a sophomore. Sharon can take advantage of the attention Davis will draw to create shooting space for classmate Rachael Hager, who can force defenses to stay home with her ability to knock down shots from distance. Senior Tess Letendre and junior Eva Poulton round out the returning starters and both are solid ball-handlers and defenders in the backcourt and give the Eagles balance on both ends of the floor.
There is going to be plenty of experience coming off the bench for Sharon as well. In the backcourt, senior Clara Armon and juniors Carmen Leonardi and Natalie David will give the Eagles good energy and aggressiveness. Seniors Samantha Dunham and Emily Freeman add depth, rebounding, and solid defense in the front court. DellaBarba wants to make sure all of his players are threats to score on offense and communicate well in his team defense scheme.
“Being completely new to the Hockomock League I’m not entirely sure what to expect in my first season in the league,” DellaBarba said. “I know year in and year out the Hockomock League is one of the most competitive leagues in the state, so our focus right now is making sure we’re approaching every practice and game with energy and giving maximum effort in every opportunity that we receive.”
2021-2022 Record: 1-19 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Eric Adams
Stoughton had its struggles in 2021-22, winning just one game, but the Black Knights are in the process of rebuilding through youth. With former assistant Eric Adams taking over for Charmaine Steele Jordan this winter, Stoughton will have continuity on the sidelines despite the coaching change and that should be a boost for a lineup that features only two seniors.
While young, Stoughton does have some varsity experience to call on. Senior guards Andrea Khouzami and Anna Hobbs will provide much-needed leadership in the backcourt. Junior Maiya Merritt is a quick guard who can get into the lane and sophomore Raina Tat showed that she has the ability to stretch defenses with her range, and the confidence to not pass up an open look.
In the front court, junior Alyssa Edwards is a three-sport athlete and she uses her strength and quickness to good effect on both ends of the court. Junior Katrina Varnum gives Stoughton a rim protector and a solid rebounder to protect the paint, while she also showed increasing confidence as a finisher around the rim. Sophomore Leah McCarty returns to give more depth on the block. Stoughton also has four freshmen on the roster, guards Kristen McKay, Molly Fox, Isabel Belmonte, and Cecelia Squires, who could be stepping in and getting minutes right away.
“This team is a young team; two seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen,” Adams explained. “This year is going to be a building year and we are eager to grow as a program.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Gretchen Rodrigues
The transfer of the league’s leading scorer from last year, Kameron St. Pierre, will be a big challenge for Taunton this season. Losing more than 20 points per game, nearly half of the team’s nightly output, will obviously require more than just one or two players to step up. First-year coach Gretchen Rodrigues is counting on her team’s athleticism and focusing on the defensive end of the floor first to get the Tigers out and running this season.
Junior point guard Cali Melo will be a key player for the Tigers in this system, not only setting the pace for the team but also providing the energy on the defensive side of the floor. Melo is a tenacious defender and rebounder and will be like a coach on the floor. Junior guard Lexi Haywood provides long-distance shooting for the Tigers and is one of the players that could benefit from a few more touches on the offensive end. Sophomore Jillian Doherty gives Taunton more speed and finishing on the break and senior McMina Clermont adds more vocal leadership, defense, and rebounding.
While a lot of the focus is on the outgoing players, Taunton also got a transfer in who could be a major factor in the paint this season. Sophomore Skylar McCrohan has come from Somerset Berkley and Rodrigues will be counting on her crashing the boards and getting buckets in the post. Freshman Taryn Campbell is a quick guard and solid shooter, who will come in and contribute right away.
“We are going to push the ball, play hard all the time, play unselfish, and be in great shape,” Rodrigues said. “My style is up and down, pressure a lot, and utilize all 94 feet.“
Rachael Hager throws up a half-court attempt against Stoughton in the season finale. Hager knocked down five threes and finished with 15 points. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
SHARON, Mass. – Sharon went into its final game of the season honoring the one senior on this year’s roster, Trinity Payne, but it was a trio of sophomores who made sure that the Eagles closed out the winter on a high note.
Jasmine Davis (23 points, 20 rebounds, and three blocks), Rachael Hager (15 points on five three-pointers and five assists), and Eva Poulton (nine points) combined for 47 points, lifting Sharon to a 53-44 victory over visiting Stoughton. The win split the season series with the Black Knights and showed the talent that Sharon will bring back next year.
“We’re just so young,” said Sharon coach Sandy Lombardi. “We’ve got the majority of the kids coming back, so that’s good for us.” She added, “Being senior night for Trinity tonight, I think we were extra motivated to win. I thought both teams played hard, both teams played aggressive, and both teams had runs.”
Stoughton jumped out to an early lead, as Kate Bulger (team-high 12 points) scored the first three points of the game. Tess Letendre (four points, six rebounds, and three assists) knocked down a jumper to get the Eagles going. Davis scored with a put-back and Hager answered a drive by Jess Maddalena (five steals and two blocks) with her first three of the night.
Freshman Leah McCarty got an offensive rebound and scored and Vanessa Phelimond (six points and 12 rebounds) had a quick move in the post to tie the game at 10-10. Payne, a Simmons University softball commit, closed out the first with a put-back for her only basket of the night to give Sharon a 12-10 lead after one.
Davis started to heat up in the second, scoring six points and showing off an array of moves in the post. Stoughton kept hanging around, as Evie Lam (six points) banked in a runner over Davis and Bulger got free for an open jumper off an inbounds play. Hager buried her second three of the night to extend the lead to 23-16 heading into the locker rooms.
Sharon’s inside-outside game took over in the third quarter and broke the game open. A nice entry pass from Payne got Davis an easy bucket and then she drove baseline and finished with the right hand. Lam grabbed an offensive rebound to get two back and Bulger hit another jumper, but the Black Knights had no answer for Davis, who had 10 points in the third.
Davis scored six straight, getting a bunny off a feed from Hager, grabbing an offensive rebound, and then hitting a leaner from the left block.
“Jasmine Davis was phenomenal,” said Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele Jordan. “Her touch around the basket is something different. I haven’t seen that in a post player in the Hock in a while.”
Four quick points, on a Bulger pull-up jumper and then a steal and layup from Lam, got Stoughton back within 11, but Hager got open for a three from the wing and then another from the corner, putting the hosts up 41-26 after three.
The lead continued to grow, as Davis got loose on the inside again. It was her third game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds this week. Poulton then swung the ball around to Hager for yet another three and the Eagles led by 20.
Lombardi explained, “[Rachael] gives us that lift and her threes, she’s moving farther and farther from the three-point line and she’s hitting them. She gives that outside presence and then we have Jasmine on the inside, so it balances out. I think the whole team played well for us but those two kids really stepped up offensively.”
Bulger matched that three on the other end but then Poulton started to get going on offense. She took a pass from Davis and drove to the rim for two and then Payne drew the defender and had a nice wrap around pass to give Poulton a layup. She scored five points in the fourth to give Sharon a little spark.
“She’s playing with more confidence,” Lombardi said of Poulton. “She’s getting to the basket a little more, getting to the foul line. That’s her game and she’s been doing really well with that the last couple of weeks.”
Stoughton never stopped attacking, even though time was running out and the deficit was 20. The Black Knights seemed to find an extra gear in a frantic final two minutes to rattle off 11 straight points. Raina Tat (eight points) came off the bench and scored seven points down the stretch. She had a nice drive to the basket, followed by one from Makaiyah Singleton Rivera, then Tat stepped into a three and turned a steal into a reverse layup.
“I just wish that the intensity of that eight minutes was our 32 minutes,” said Steele Jordan. “There have been a lot of games this year, we’ve been in it at half but the gas towards the end was short. This time, we had the gas towards the end but we’ve got to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We fight hard, we’re always going to fight until the final buzzer sounds.”
Sharon finished the season at 4-15. Stoughton (1-18) will close out its season on Tuesday afternoon with a rescheduled game at Waltham.
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 39 vs. Wachusett, 50 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. Foxboro got off to a strong start on Wednesday against unbeaten Wachusett, leading 11-8 after one, but struggled to maintain its offensive output and the experienced Mountaineers made the plays down the stretch to pick up the win. Camryn Collins was the top scorer for Foxboro with 14 points, scoring five each in the first and the third. Hannah Blake also had a big game for the Warriors with 13 pints and 14 rebounds. Erin Foley chipped in with seven points and Kailey Sullivan added five. The Warriors had the lead down to four in the fourth quarter (36-32) before Wachusett senior Charlotte Head took over. She scored nine of her game-high 19 in the fourth and Wachusett closed the game on a 14-7 run to win by double digits.
North Attleboro, 39 @ Franklin, 60 – Final – Franklin jumped out to a 35-16 lead by halftime and never looked back, picking up its fourth win in four days and clinching the outright Kelley-Rex title in the process. Stefany Padula led the way for the Panthers, burying four three-pointers and scoring a game-high 20 points, including eight points in the first as Franklin led 17-8. Padula added another seven points in the second, helping the Panthers score another 18 points in the quarter. Olivia Quinn hit a pair of threes and scored 12 points and Katie Peterson added 11. Brigid Earley and Julia White each scored six points in the win. North’s offense got going in the second half, as the Rocketeers scored 23 points (including a 13-6 fourth quarter), but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. Sam Faria was North’s top scorer with eight points, including a pair from downtown, while Abby Camelio added seven. Summer Doherty scored six and Ava McKeon scored five in the loss.
Stoughton, 24 @ Mansfield, 51 – Final – Mansfield used its defense to pull out a win on Tuesday and was dominant again on Wednesday for a third win in the last four days. After a 13-9 first quarter, the Hornets held Stoughton to just four points in the second, seven in the third, and four in the fourth. The Hornets are now just one win away from clinching a playoff berth. Abby Wager had a game-high 13 points for the Hornets, scoring all of her points in the second and third quarters. Bridget Hanley added six in the third, on a pair of threes, and had 11 for the game. Kara Santos added 10 points and Olivia Salisbury had seven for the Hornets. For Stoughton, senior forward Vanessa Phelimond grabbed 10 boards and had eight points, Kate Bulger scored six points, and freshman Leah McCarty chipped in with seven points and seven boards.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 9 – Final – Eight different Panthers found the back of the net as Franklin celebrated senior night with a win over visiting Attleboro. Dan Daley scored a pair of third period goals for the Panthers while Ryan Sicchio, Ben Jarosz, Aiden Linehan, Aiden Kuykendall, Ben Paterson, Tommy Balducci, and Domenic Lampasona each found the back of the net once. Nate Parker scored an unassisted second period goal for Attleboro while Nick Piazza turned away 45 shots in net.
Stoughton, 8 vs. Wareham, 0 – Final – Stoughton notched a key win in its push for a spot in the Division 3 State Tournament, knocking off visiting Wareham/Carver. Colby Strunk led the offense with four goals while Cooper Card, Josh Greenspoon and Steven Westerlund scored a goal each. Chris Andrade and Sean McGowan combined for the shutout for the Black Knights.
Girls Hockey
Stoughton/Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Mansfield/Oliver Ames exploded for six goals in the middle period in a win over visiting Stoughton/Sharon. Cataline Kipp scored a pair of goals for the Warriors while Kylie O’Keefe, Maeve Anastasia, Ava Adams, Erin DiCenzo, Madison Guilfoyle, and Samantha Ledin each lit the lamp once. Jess Widdop recorded the shutout in net for MOAF. Janelle Murphy played well in net for Stoughton/Sharon.
King Philip, 8 vs. Ursuline Academy, 0 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ Longmeadow, 4 – Final
Wrestling
Stoughton vs. Middleboro, 6:00
Taunton, 67 @ Bristol Plymouth, 6 – Final – Taunton knocked off city rival Bristol-Plymouth to claim the City of Taunton Championships and Christian Balmain became the program’s all-time wins record with his 114th career win. Balmain surpassed former team captain Keith Porazzo, who held the previous record at 113. Michael Leskoski, Ryan Jones, Brandon Mendes, Anthony Vieira, Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, John Mandeville, Elijah Prophete, Peter Ye, Logan Frank, and Robert Tran also won for the Tigers.
