Only one of two returning players from last year’s HockomockSports First Team, Sharon senior Matt Baur will be one of the best all-around players in the Hockomock League. Although he was the leading scorer for the team that won the Davenport division last year, his game goes well beyond scoring. That’s not to ignore his ability to drive through contact and finish at the rim, or step out and hit tough shots, but he really does it all for the Eagles. He’s a very unselfish player that is willing to make the extra pass and he doesn’t take any plays off. He’s had a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball as he’s able to guard just about every position and his willingness to dive on the floor or step in and take a charge has been contagious.
Canton surprised a lot of people with their success last season and a big reason for that was because they had a lot of first-year varsity players step up and perform at a high level. Most of them were seniors and are graduated now, but Matt Chafin is one of the few Bulldogs back after impressing last year. Chafin is committed to playing baseball at Brandies University but before hitting the diamond in the spring, he will be a key piece for second-year head coach Eric MacKinnon. He’s the top returning scorer after averaging 8.8 points per game last year; he scored in double figures in nine games last year, including a career-high 17 points against Southeastern. His ability to stretch the floor with his outside shooting will set the tone for the Bulldogs’ offense.
There was a lot of turnover for Oliver Ames this season, and the majority of its offensive production is no longer in the lineup. This biggest loss offensively was one of the league’s top scorers in Zach Tagliamonte, who averaged over 18 points per game. The Tigers also lost their next three top scorers and the lone player back from last year that averaged over 5 points per game is sophomore Cole Craffey. Named a captain as just a sophomore, Craffey will take on the responsibility as one of OA’s go-to guys on the offensive end of the floor. He showed off his range last year and has to be respected on the perimeter, but he also can put the ball on the floor and attack the rim with confidence.
Attleboro is another squad that saw the majority of its roster graduate this past spring. Longtime head coach Mark Houle will be relying on new faces to fill out this year’s rosters and he will also be leaning heavily on the few familiar faces he does have back. One of them is junior Neo Franco, who had a breakout season last year and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team. He did a little bit of everything, averaging 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 steals as a sophomore. That versatility will be key as the Bombardiers get their new names acclimated to the varsity level, which is something Franco had to do last year. He can score in a variety of ways too (almost 10 ppg in the final five games) but the intangibles really set him apart from the pack.
While a lot of the league is filling out its roster with new players, Mansfield boasts the most experienced player in the Hockomock League in senior Chris Hill. No one has played more minutes at the varsity level (now entering his fourth year on varsity) and no one has more career points (545) to start this season. He’s only one of two players with over 500 career points entering this year and the Hornets will lean heavily on his experience and guidance. He is a typical Mansfield player with the ability to stretch the floor with his shooting and can finish around the rim, coming off a season in which he averaged 12.3 points (40% three-point shooting), 6.6 rebounds, and 3.0 rebounds. He’s also an underrated defensive player (eight steals in one game last year) and his speed and size allow him to guard most positions.
Among returning players in the Hockomock League, there aren’t many that have scored as many points as King Philip senior Will Laplante. A 6-foot-1 guard, Laplante is fearless with the ball in his hands. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket but he really can fill it up from the perimeter. He’s someone that defenses have to put extra attention on and if they lose track of him, he will make them pay. He averaged 17.9 points per game last year to go along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.5 steals. It looks like he will have some more help around him this year so he won’t have to shoulder as much of the load offensively as he has had to in years past.
Franklin had a lot of new faces in their lineup and despite being a young team, had a lot of success. One of the big reasons for all of that success was the emergence of forward Sean O’Leary. A 6-foot-4 forward, O’Leary can do it all on the offensive end of the floor and enters the year as one of our preseason picks for Player of the Year. O’Leary kept improving each and every game last year, finishing with 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, and earned HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team honors. At his size, he’s a matchup problem in the post and is really crafty finishing around the rim, but he really separates himself with his ability to score from just about anywhere on the offensive end. Defensively, he’s very sound and his length makes it very difficult for opponents.
Over each of the past two seasons, Foxboro’s Alex Penders has shown a lot of improvement and is poised for a big senior season. A double-double contender every night, Penders is a modern-day big man that can dominate in the post but also step out and shoot from the perimeter. He is coming off a junior year in which he averaged 16.3 points (on 50.5% shooting), 11.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Maybe the most underrated part of his game is his unselfishness as he led the Warriors with a team-best 3.3 assists per game. He will certainly be a focal point of Foxboro’s offense this season but with a well-rounded group of players surrounding him and his willingness to share the ball bodes well for head coach Jon Gibbs and the way he likes to run his offense. Penders, who recently committed to play at Ithaca, is only one of two returning players who made the HockomockSports First Team last year, and just one of two players in the league with over 500 career points.
Not only did Milford have one of the youngest teams in the Hockomock League last season, but it was also one of the youngest squads the league has seen in a decade. They took their lumps during a 2-21 campaign but now almost all of those young players are back with plenty of experience under their belts for head coach Paul Seaver. One of the young players back in the fold this year is Andrew Rivera, who scored the most points for the Hawks last year as a freshman and averaged 7.8 points per game. Despite being just a sophomore, he’s confident with the ball and can score in a variety of ways. He can pull up from the perimeter but he can also attack the defense and get to the rim. Milford will look to take another step forward this year and having players with more experience like Rivera will be a big plus.
A common theme in the league this year is replacing the production of the senior class that graduated in the spring. The reigning Kelley-Rex division champions are right at the top of that list with Trent Santos, Faisal Mass, and Tristan Herry — a combined over 2,100 career points — no longer in the lineup. Junior Troy Santos is only returning from last year’s starting lineup and has the most varsity experience of anyone on the Tigers this season. We saw his ability to score in flashes last year and he will have a lot more opportunities this year with all of those points gone. He’s more than capable from the perimeter and if he can play with confidence, he can score at a high rate. This could be a breakout year for Santos.
Attleboro has consistently been in the hunt for the Kelley-Rex division in recent years, and if the Bombardiers are going to be there again this year, they will have to do so with a lot of new players to the varsity level.
Not only did the Bombardiers graduate a sizable senior class, but the majority of them were also key pieces in longtime head coach Mark Houle’s lineup and rotation. Add in the transfer of promising 6’5-forward Trevor White, and Attleboro has very few pieces left from last year. But that’s not to say Attleboro is without talent. Junior Neo Franco is coming off a very successful first year with the team, earning HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team honors. Jaiden Outland saw more and more minutes as the season went on and he showed what he’s capable of with a career-high 18 points in Attleboro’s win over Durfee in late February last year; he could be poised for a big year. Senior Michael Beverly is the third returner for the Bombardiers after picking up some minutes last year while newcomer senior Justin Hanrahan could be a key piece right away.
Another reason for optimism is that most of the new faces in the lineup this year played for the Bombardiers’ JV squad last season, which posted an impressive 19-2 record. Seniors Spencer Sherck, Zyeem Charles, Nathan Hodson, and Michael Alfonso will provide key leadership for Houle this year. Junior Max Crawford will join sophomores Dante Monestime, Hayden Crowley, and Brady Erwin as potential contributors for the Bombardiers.
“We need to continue our commitment to be a highly competitive defensive team, our communication, and understanding of defensive concepts is a priority and is a reason we were one of the top defensive teams in the league last year,” Houle said.
2021-2022 Record: 9-11 Coach: Eric MacKinnon
Canton surprised a lot of people on the outside of the program with a nine-win season that certainly was good enough for a playoff spot, but the Bulldogs have put that seeding drama in the rearview mirror and are now focused on surprising people again this year.
In order to do so, the Bulldogs will need new players to step up as second-year head coach Eric MacKinnon only has one returning starter from last year. Matt Chafin emerged as a top perimeter option, averaging 8.8 points per game last year (reaching double figures in just under half of the games). Although he isn’t returning from last year’s lineup, Julius Hicks provides a big boost for MacKinnon and Bulldogs, coming back after missing all of last season with an injury. Hicks would have certainly been in the rotation last year and will be a vital piece this year. Junior Zaza Francoeur is an athletic wing player that can impact the game on both ends of the floor for the Bulldogs.
Defense emerged as one of Canton’s strengths a season ago as the Bulldogs bought into MacKinnon’s game plan. Canton allowed the least amount of points against in the Davenport division at 50.6, and they will look to replicate that again this year.
“With our personnel and style of play we have the ability to score from the perimeter and play inside-out at times,” MacKinnon said. “Our length and athleticism should allow us to get out in transition.”
Foxboro is one of the few teams in the league that has more familiar faces returning than not, and after only missing out on the Davenport title by one game last year, the Warriors are aiming to compete with defending champs Sharon and division newcomer Mansfield for the top spot this season.
The Warriors boast one of the better senior classes, anchored by HockomockSports First Team selection Alex Penders. Penders, a 6-foot-5 forward who averaged 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game last year and recently committed to play at Ithaca next year, is joined by classmates Sam Golub, Ryan LeClair, and Andrew Finn. Golub and LeClair played a lot of minutes for head coach Jon Gibbs last season and both improved as the season went on. Having three experienced players will certainly give the Warriors an advantage, especially on the defensive side of the ball where Gibbs always has his teams prepared.
Penders can score in a variety of ways and will be a matchup problem for most teams in the league. Golub is a proven shooter that can get hot at any time while LeClair is a pesky defender, and as seen by his performance on the road at Stoughton last year, is a capable scorer. Penders will certainly be the focus of the offense but he’s a very unselfish player and Foxboro should have a good balance in the scoring column. While the Warriors have a strong senior class, they’re still a relatively young team. With only two juniors, the rest of the roster is filled by six sophomores and two freshmen. Junior Ryan Cotter and sophomores Ryan Kelley and Nolan Gordon will be names to keep an eye on.
“This is a very hard-working and coachable group that is improving on a daily basis,” Gibbs said. “We have a very exciting blend of experienced veterans and newcomers who are hungry to contribute. If we can defend and rebound at a high level, the potential is there for a very successful season.”
2021-2022 Record: 21-4 Coach: CJ Neely
Entering the past two seasons, there was a lot of unknown for the Panthers after graduating a large senior class each year. It’s the opposite this year as Franklin graduated just three players and has the majority of last year’s squad that went 21-4 back in the fold.
After a third-place finish in the Kelley-Rex last season, Franklin could be the team to beat this go around. Junior Sean O’Leary highlights a talented and experienced group of long, athletic players. O’Leary, a 6-foot-4 forward that can score from anywhere on the court and was named to the HockomockSports All-Underclassmen Team last year, will be one of the top players in the league this year. Junior Andrew O’Neill (8.8 points per game) is another returner and head coach CJ Neely will lean on a small but talented senior class that features Ben Harvey (HockomockSports All-Defensive Team), Justin Allen, Geino Scaringello, and Hayden Morandi.
Juniors Hansy Jacques, Bradley Herndon, and Andrew Benoit were all on the team last year and could see increased minutes this season. There will be more opportunities on offense for players to step up with the graduation of Sean Vinson (12.8 ppg) and last year’s leading scorer and HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Henry Digirogio (16.1 ppg) has opted not to play this year. And promising sophomore Caden Sullivan, who likely would have been in the rotation, will miss significant time due to injury.
“The preseason has been very competitive at practice,” Neely said. “We have a great group of guys who really care for each other. While we do have a good amount of returning players, there is a lot of playing time up for grabs and it will be a daily challenge for guys to earn roles. I have been most impressed with how committed and focused the players have been each day on the court and in film sessions to always look for ways to improve as a group. It will be fun to watch them grow and compete all year.”
2021-2022 Record: 6-16 Head Coach: Dave DeStefano
King Philip brings back a good portion of its roster and is looking to book a spot in the tournament and contend for the Kelley-Rex division title.
The Warriors are one of the few teams in the league that brings back their leading scorer from a year ago in Will Laplante, a seasoned veteran that has averaged over 16 points per year in each of the last two seasons. Laplante is joined by senior Grant Kinney, who had some breakout games last year, and Tommy Martorano, who showed that at his best (a career-high 36 points) that he can score with the best players in the league. That trio is three of KP’s top five scorers from a year ago. Senior Colin Peck, a 6-foot-2 forward, will likely see an expanded role after playing some valuable minutes last year.
Juniors Tommy McLeish and Trevor Clyde, both 6-foot-3 forwards, have made a big jump from last year and will be key pieces for head coach Dave DeStefano this year. New additions Danny Silveria and Peter Cataldo, both juniors, look to factor in as key defensive pieces for the Warriors. Sophomore Tommy Kilroy didn’t see a ton of minutes early on last year but his role expanded as the season went on, scoring in double figures against Mansfield and in a win over Xaverian. Fellow sophomores Brandon Nicastro, Drew Laplante, and Jack Assini will all looking to contribute this season as well.
“The boys have really committed this offseason,” DeStefano said. “The limited practices so far have been really competitive. It’s no secret that our defense has to drastically improve to be competitive in the league. We want to make our opponents uncomfortable and focus on working together to get stops. On offense, we are looking to have a balanced attack and create great scoring opportunities as a team.”
2021-2022 Record: 21-5 Coach: Mike Vaughan
Mansfield had its incredible streak of nine straight Kelley-Rex division titles come to an end last season, and now the Hornets start a new chapter as they begin their first season in the Davenport. Expectations remain sky-high for the Hornets, who are an immediate favorite for the division crown.
The Hornets have two of their best scorers back from last year in senior Chris Hill (12.5 ppg) and junior Trevor Foley (8.2 ppg), but Mansfield did graduate its leading scorer in Matty Hyland and lost five of its top seven scorers. That means there’s a lot of opportunity for new faces to step up. Hill has probably played more varsity minutes than anyone else in the league and he can compete at a high-level night in and night out. Foley really emerged as a top player by the end of the season, averaging over 16 points per game in March.
Senior Caden Colby was part of the rotation last year and will see a bigger role this year while classmate JT Veiking is a 6-foot-5 forward that can score on the perimeter or down low. Senior Michael Creedon rounds out the senior class and can provide a spark with increased minutes this year. Junior Eddie McCoy is poised for a breakout year, an athletic wing player that can attack the rim and cause problems for opposing defenses. Juniors Brandon Jackman and Davon Sanders should see time in the Mansfield backcourt this year.
“This season will be our tallest team in my tenure, it will be fun to see what different things we can do on the defensive end,” Vaughan said. “Offensively we should have plenty of power to put points on the board but the big question mark will be how quickly we can find our max compete level.”
2021-2022 Record: 2-21 Coach: Paul Seaver
Milford had an entirely new team last season and was the youngest team in the league. With just four seniors gone from last year, the Hawks are still a young team but head coach Paul Seaver believes his group learned a lot last year and is trending in the right direction.
The Scarlet Hawks have three of the top four scorers from last season back in the fold, including junior Jake Soares (8.0 ppg), sophomore Andrew Rivera (7.8 ppg), and senior Wyatt Zagami (7.1 ppg). Zagami, who can really fill it up when he’s on a hot streak, is joined by classmates Guy Saintyl, Jacob Ligor, and Joe Buckley to round out a small senior class for the Hawks. Soares was probably Milford’s most consistent player for the first two months before an injury ended his season early, and Rivera showed some glimpses of high-level play throughout the year.
Having a year of experience will be key, especially as a lot of other Hock teams are featuring a lot of first-year varsity players. Sophomore Luca Testa is another young player that saw a lot of minutes for the Hawks last year and will be a key piece during this campaign. Sophomore Gus Coutinho is a dangerous shooter and freshman CJ Farrell could be an impact player right away as well.
“Last season we were very young and very inexperienced,” Seaver said. “We learned how to compete while playing a tough schedule. Now with double digits returnees, we not only aim to improve on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball – we aim to improve in all aspects. Our goals and expectations will be what we make them and what we do with the opportunities that are given to us. I have a great crop of kids who are committed, hard-working individuals who continue to climb the ladder and do things the right way.”
2021-2022 Record: 5-15 Coach: Sean Mulkerrins
North Attleboro battled through an up-and-down season last year that featured some impressive wins — like a double-digit victory over Foxboro and a sweep of Stoughton — as well as some tough losses, like to Foxboro in overtime and to rival Attleboro by just three points. The Rocketeers graduated their two leading scorers from a year ago but return the majority of a roster that was playing their first varsity minutes last year.
Besides its four seniors last year, the rest of the Rocketeers were brand new to the varsity level. That means this year’s group will feature a bit more experience, albeit North is still on the young side. Givany Carney is North’s most experienced player and will be one of the go-to options on the offensive end of the court. Carney is a crafty player that does well getting to the rim with a good combination of speed and size. Senior Jack Munley is a tone-setter and can change the momentum of a game with his effort while senior Derek Maceda showed glimpses last season as a potential go-to guy offensively, both on the perimeter and attacking the basket.
Sophomores Ryan Bannon and Chase Frisoli both played some valuable minutes as freshmen and should see increased roles this year. Bannon is a solid defender and can be a contributor on the offensive end while Frisoli is a high-IQ player with range. Junior Chris Hanewich is another player that head coach Sean Mulkerrins is relying on to contribute on both ends of the floor. With some good experience, North will be looking to establish itself as one of the hardest-working teams in the league, which starts on the defensive end.
“We have a roster of kids who are working hard to improve and learn our system,” Mulkerrins said. “Our practices have been very competitive. We are very focused on building and maintaining our team culture so we are prepared to compete against the talented basketball programs in the Hockomock League.”
2021-2022 Record: 10-12 Coach: Oliver Vil
Oliver Ames is going to have a new look this year under second-year head coach Oliver Vil. The Tigers lost the majority of the team that won a preliminary playoff game last season and missed out on the Davenport division title by just a game.
Not only will the lineup feature new faces, but it will also feature a lot of new faces as the Tigers have a deep group this year. Senior captains Chris Elias and Ari Spiliakos are two returners that will be leaders for the team both on and off the court. Senior Nick Asiaf is a capable ball handler and can attack the rim while seniors Nick Rhodes and Jaden Graham provide key depth. Sophomore Cole Craffey played some meaningful minutes a year ago and will be one of the Tigers’ go-to options offensively this year. He’s very confident with the ball and can score inside and out.
With seven of their top eight scorers from a season ago gone, there will be plenty of opportunity for new players to step up. Freshman Solen Lolonga was in the starting lineup for the Tigers’ season-opening win over Southeastern and had a strong showing with 19 points. Vil also has a deep junior class that features Jake Willard, Daniel Casey, Andrew Sullivan, and David Rodgers, who all played in the win.
“Our strength this season on offense will be our ability to move the ball and create shots for one another,” Vil said. “We will have the same defense approach as last season, forcing our opponents into taking difficult shots and limiting transition offensive baskets. We now have minimal room for careless mistakes to compete in an already difficult conference. I am extremely excited to battle a plethora of well-coached disinclined teams every night we step on the floor to play a game this season.”
2021-2022 Record: 12-9 (Davenport division champions) Coach: Andrew Ferguson
Sharon won its first Davenport division title in eight seasons last year and with its top three scoring options back in the mix this year, the Eagles will be in contention to repeat that feat again this year.
Senior Matt Baur and juniors Jacob McLoughlin and Nate Katznelson give Sharon one of the top trios of players in the league. Baur, who earned HockomockSports First Team honors last year after averaging 15.1 points and 6 rebounds a game, is the heart and soul of the team. He leads by example both on and off the court and is the engine of the team. He doesn’t have to fill up the scoring column to have a big impact on the game. Both Katznelson and McLoughlin emerged as top players in their first season and will be vital pieces this year.
Senior captains Jack Bates and Tyler Goodman both came off the bench as key pieces for head coach Andrew Ferguson last year and will see increased responsibility this year. Bates is a pesky defender and a good floor general while Goodman can provide a spark with his shooting. Senior Dante James, an athletic wing player, comes over from Mansfield and should give the Eagles a big boost with their depth. Juniors Ryan Brown, Anthony Piron, and Cam Sherman provide backcourt depth while juniors Zach Wise, Jaden Segal, and sophomore Sam Letendre provide physicality to the Eagles’ frontcourt.
“With a small senior class, this team is blending experience with youth and has already begun to form a tight bond both on and off the court. Our practices have been super competitive and we look forward to competing against a very strong schedule.”
2021-2022 Record: 9-11 Coach: Evan Taylor
Last season, Stoughton entered the final stretch of league games right in the mix for the Davenport division title but ended up on the outside looking in finishing in a tie for fourth and just missing out on the postseason. With just a few returners back in the mix, the Knights will be looking for a new group of players to lead them into the tournament and contend for the division crown.
Stoughton has two major challenges to address this year, one on each side of the ball. The Black Knights lost their three top scorers from last year with Connor Andrews (19.9 ppg) and Cash Mathurin (5.9 ppg) graduating, and Rayan Sablon (18.3 ppg) transferring out. Head coach Evan Taylor will lean heavily on his four returning players to try and fill that void. Senior Jayden Costa Haywood played some meaningful minutes a season ago and has taken a big leap and the Knights will look for him to provide an offensive punch. Junior Liam Pearl (5.2 ppg) also worked his way into the rotation and made some key shots in clutch moments, including at Foxboro and at home against Canton. Sophomore Matthew Greenspoon (5.6 ppg) is the top scorer back from last year and will look to build on a strong debut season as a freshman.
The other challenge for Stoughton will be on the defensive end as the Knights look to make a drastic improvement after allowing over 60 points per game last year. On top of the returners, Taylor is looking for senior Tagh Swierzewski and junior Jarred Daughtry to make an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. Other newcomers include senior Obioma Dike, juniors Elijah Connor, and Nathan Figaro, sophomore Mykel Thomas, and freshmen Anthony Alessi and Aiden Rideout.
“Defense has been the main focus at the start of this season,” Taylor said. “Our goal is to be a top three defense in the league with a lot of great on-ball defenders and high IQ players on the
floor.”
2020-2021 Record: 19-3 (Kelley-Rex division champions) Coach: Charlie Dacey
This season will mark a new chapter in the storied history of Taunton basketball. After back-to-back Kelley-Rex championships, including the program’s first outright title a year ago, the Tigers will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this year.
The biggest challenge will be replacing the production from one of the best trios in the Hock in recent history in Player of the Year Trent Santos, Faisal Mass, and Tristan Herry, who combined for just under 75% of the team’s scoring last year. One of the familiar faces returning to the starting group is junior Troy Santos, who has the most career points of anyone on the roster. Santos showed some flashes last year but will have a lot more looks this year. Seniors Chris Volcy and Alvinsky Morisseau, and junior Tyson Carter are also returners from last year and figure to see increased minutes this season.
Senior Chris Perault could be the biggest addition for the Tigers, a player that can score both from the perimeter and attacking the basket. Santos will factor in as one of the top shooters both on the team and in the league while Volcy has really improved from last year and could be a top scoring option for the Tigers. Longtime head coach Charlie Dacey is looking for Dimari Brown and Travis Johnson to provide a spark on the low block, plus some more faces to step up off of the bench.
“This year’s Taunton team will be very different from last year. This edition will be faster without a singular scorer, points can come from a variety of styles,” Dacey said. “Speed and aggressive defense will be the key to Taunton’s success this year.”
Miguel Vasconcelos (7) scored the only goal of the game to lead Sharon to a win at North Attleboro in the D2 Round of 32. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – When Sharon scored in the regular season, the Eagles were unbeaten (6-0-4). So, when Miguel Vasconcelos found the back of the net midway through the first half of Saturday morning’s Div. 2 Round of 32 game at Beaupre Field, Sharon must have been thinking a Sweet Sixteen berth was in its grasp.
It wasn’t going to be easy to get over the line with the win. North Attleboro, which won the regular season meeting between the teams, tilted the field in the second half, keeping the pressure on Sharon’s back line and getting the ball into the box at every opportunity.
Led by center backs Rhys Davis and Tyler Goodman and goalie Matt Baur, the Eagles were able to withstand North’s push for an equalizer and hang on for the 1-0 victory.
“I think we work hard to be composed all 80 minutes,” Sharon coach Scott Nathan explained. “I tell them all the time, especially when we’re up a goal, you know what the other team is going to do. They’re going to put more pressure on you, so you have to match their intensity, you have to stay composed, you have to use your skills and I thought we did that really well in the second half.”
First-year North coach Mike Lacasse said, “I think it’s something we’ve been working on all season long, and gotten better at it, creating those opportunities, but I think Sharon played very well. Their back line was really solid. I’m proud of everybody, they fought to the last second.”
Sharon started the game on the front foot, led by central midfielder Adam Eastman and freshman Vlad Shkolnikov. Eastman’s run from deep led to the first good chance of the game, as he was able to bring down a looped pass by Cam Birnbaum over the defender and draw a foul on the edge of the box. The North wall did its job though, deflecting Eastman’s free kick a foot over the bar.
North’s best chances would come from set pieces. An in-swinging corner kick from Patrick Etienvre picked out defender Sam Bush at the back post. Bush rose highest and got good contact on the header but it was inches wide of the top corner. Just seconds later, North was behind.
Eastman played a ball down the left channel for Vasconcelos to run onto. The senior forward got a step on his marker but didn’t get great contact on his first effort, which was blocked by North keeper Owen Goeller. Vasconcelos stayed with the loose ball and calmly slotted it into the now empty net to put the Eagles in front. It is Sharon’s 18th goal in 19 games this season.
“It’s huge,” Nathan said about getting the opening goal. “We know each other really well. We knew that we could get on them first and early that it would really help our cause and give us energy and I’m really happy we could do that.”
Another Etienvre corner gave Givany Carney a chance, but he was only able to make partial contact under pressure from his defender and Baur easily grabbed the loose ball.
Sharon was continuing to create chances at the other end, looking for a second goal that would make things more comfortable. Rishi Shetty’s cross from the left wing found Shkolnikov at the back post but North defender Brody Carter was well-positioned to clear it off the line. Shkolnikov sent Shetty away down the left side late in the first half, but Goeller was able to get down and block the shot at the near post.
In the second half, North picked up the intensity, searching for the tying goal. Kaden Burns was a consistent outlet for the Rocketeers, making runs down the left wing. He crossed into the middle of the box, but Zach Smahi was only able to get a toe on it with Carney just behind him ready to pounce.
Etienvre curled in a long free kick that was flicked on by Smahi to Burns but his header went agonizingly wide of the post. Burns then provided a deep cross to Smahi at the back stick but his downward header was blocked. Eliude Alcenat tried to follow up, but Baur was able to cut out the low cross before it could reach Bryce Newth in the middle.
Sharon had very little going forward in the second half but was able to fashion one chance to put the game away. Freshman Diego Martinez played a ball into the middle to Birnbaum, who took a touch and played the ball into the path of James Jennings on the left. Jennings charged into the box and, from a tight angle, forced Goeller to touch it around the post.
It was a rare foray into the attacking half for the Eagles. North came right back down the other end. Carson Dameron made a nice run to the end line, nutmegged the first defender, and crossed into Newth only for Goodman to clear. The ball fell to Etienvre but his shot was over. A few minutes later, Quinn Conley made a run on the left and cut it back to Smahi on the edge of the box but his shot was right at Baur, who covered.
“It’s difficult to stay composed,” Lacasse said about trying to find a late equalizer. “You have to adjust but still play within your style of play and try to create those scoring opportunities. Second half we were trying to get deep in their zone and work it back to the top of the 18 instead of crosses in towards their goalie because he’s tall and athletic.”
Dameron would find Burns with a late corner, but again the downward header was easily caught by Baur off the bounce. It would be the last chance for the hosts, as the Eagles were able to celebrate the win that keeps their season alive.
Nathan added, “I think this year, all but two of our games were one-goal games, so I think we’re used to and prepared for tight games, which I think helps us and I thought the boys did really well collectively as a unit today to finish it off. I’m proud of them.”
Sharon (7-6-6) will face the winner of No. 2 Hopkinton and No. 34 Fitchburg on Wednesday. North Attleboro finishes with a record of 8-8-3.
Football
Stoughton, 19 @ Attleboro, 42 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (S) Jared Daughtry 58-yard pass to Tagh Swierzewski, Tommy Silva XP good; (A) Matt Harvie 1-yard rush, Josue Salguero XP good.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (A) Isaiah Miranda punt block recovery, J. Salguero XP good; (A) Aiden Hochwarter 15-yard punt block return, J. Salguero XP good; (A) M. Harvie 26-yard pass to Aidan Pantages, J. Salguero XP good; (S) J. Daughtry 22-yard pass to Victor Belan, XP blocked; (A) M. Harvie 46-yard pass to Cole McKenna, J. Salguero XP good.
4th Quarter: (A) M. Harvie 18-yard pass to A. Pantages, J. Salguero XP good; (S) J. Daughtry 41-yard pass to Alex Huynh, Conversion failed.
North Attleboro, 19 @ Foxboro, 14 – Final 1Q: (F) Mike Marcucella 23-yard pass to Lincoln Moore, Sam Carpenter XP good.
2Q: (NA) Chase Frisoli 5-yard pass to Jack Munley, XP good; (NA) Greg Berthiaume 18-yard rush, XP blocked.
3Q: No scoring.
4Q: (NA) C. Frisoli 3-yard pass to G. Berthiaume, XP failed; (F) M. Marcucella 25-yard pass to Luis Sulham, S. Carpenter XP good.
King Philip, 19 @ Milford, 7 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (KP) Matthew Kelley 25-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (KP) M. Kelley 42-yard field goal; (M) Evan Cornelius 32-yard pass to Isaiah Pantalone, Nicholas Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (KP) Will Astorino 1-yard rush, Conversion failed; (KP) Tommy McLeish 13-yard pass to M. Kelley, M. Kelley XP good.
Mansfield, 20 @ Barnstable, 6 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (M) Connor Curtis 6-yard rush, Travis Hennessy XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) C. Curtis 2-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Tommy Smith 25-yard run, XP no good; (B) Targas 5-yard rush, XP no good.
Sharon, 29 vs. Fairhaven, 36 – Final 1Q: (F) Fairhaven 1-yard rush, XP good; (S) Liam Conway 34-yard pass to Jacob McLoughlin, Jace McCarron XP good.
2Q: (F) Fairhaven 21-yard rush, XP good; (S) L. Conway 9-yard pass to Jacob McLoughlin, J. McCarron XP good; (F) Fairhaven 13-yard rush, XP good.
3Q: (S) L. Conway 15-yard pass to Anthony Piron, J. McCarron XP good.
4Q: (F) Fairhaven 1-yard rush, XP good; (S) Gabe Korn 9-yard rush, G. Korn 2pt rush; (F) Fairhaven 4-yard rush, 2pt conversion.
Taunton @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Saturday, 10/15 at 3:00.
Oliver Ames, 8 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken recorded a hat trick less than 15 minutes into the game to lead the Tigers to a big win on the road. Milliken finished with five goals on the day and added one assist for OA, who staked a 4-0 lead at halftime. Mike MacAdam, Mike Morais, and Jake Williams each scored once in the win. Ryan Linhares notched two assists while Jason Zalis, Joey Carney, and Andrew Martins each had one assist.
Sharon, 2 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Sharon senior Adam Eastman scored a beautiful goal in the second half to give the Eagles a crucial two points on the road at Canton. Rishi Shetty opened the scoring for the visitors, finishing off a service from Miguel Vasconcelos for the lone tally of the first half. Canton senior Jake McCabe buried the equalizer early in the second half but Eastman’s free kick to the upper 90 proved to be the difference. Rhys Davis anchored an outstanding defensive effort by the Eagles and senior Matt Baur had a strong outing in net.
King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin turned it up a notch in the second half and exploded for four goals after the break to take a big win on the road and stay two points clear in the Kelley-Rex division title race. Sophomore Garrett Scagliarini recorded his first assists to junior Michael Fernandez-Martin for the only goal of the opening half. After the break, Trey Lovell scored a pair of goals — the first assists by Max Tobin and the second by Scagliarini, while Fernandez-Martin grabbed an assist to Wyatt Herndon. Noah Cain (from Josh Dunlop) capped the scoring for the hosts.
Girls Soccer
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 5 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Freshman Tatum O’Brien recorded four points to lead the Bombardiers to a big win that pulls them back to .500 on the season. O’Brien opened the scoring in the first half, cutting in from the right wing and firing a left-footed shot into the top corner. A few minutes later, O’Brien doubled the lead cutting in from the opposite win. Jamie Davies made it 3-0 for the hosts before the break, running in behind the Milford defense and poking the ball past the onrushing keeper. Milford kept pressing in the second half. Serena Borges hit the bar with a free kick and Dani Atherton’s run down the right and cross into the middle picked out Ava Baglione but the freshman’s shot slammed back off the bar. The Hawks got on the board and with the same combo, Atherton from the right finding Baglione who took a touch in the six, turned, and scored. Attleboro finished the game with a flurry. O’Brien played a ball into the middle for classmate Jordyn Riley and she clipped a first-time shot over the keeper with the outside of her foot. O’Brien wrapped up her hat trick with a left-footed shot that snuck into the bottom corner.
Mansfield, 1 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Meghan McCann scored the game’s only goal in the final three minutes of the first half and it was enough for the Hornets to split the season series with the Warriors. Alexandra Fernandes assisted on the goal. Olivia Salisbury came through with a save on a Foxboro breakaway late in the second half to preserve the win.
Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – KP had a strong first half but was unable to find a way through Franklin goalie Rachel Welch, who made a series of big saves. The Panthers were able to turn things around a little after the break and scored twice to split the season series and move three points clear of the Warriors in the division. Alli Powderly scored the opening goal for Franklin, finishing an assist from Selene Hammad. Anya Zub headed in a long free kick from Norah Anderson for what turned out to be the game-winner. KP pulled one back with five minutes to play. Mikayala Thompson scored off an assist from Rachel DeFlaminis.
North Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro scored less than a minute into the second half to double its lead and tacked on two more in the final half hour of play to get a win on the road. Emma Pratt cleaned up a rebound off of a shot from Caroline McKenna to give the visitors the advantage in the 7th minute, a lead the Rocketeers carried into halftime. In the opening minute of the second half, Clara Giuliano converted a cross from Grace Norack to make it 2-0. McKenna then set up Amelia Maier in the 50th minute, and Haley Sinacola capped the scoring by heading in a cross from Sophia Bostock in the 76th minute. Cali Melo, Ava Uhl, and Juliana Matos has strong performances for the Tigers. Goalie Hayleigh Porter made 10 saves in the loss.
Stoughton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – After the Tigers edged the first meeting by a goal, the two teams played out a scoreless draw in the game at Muscato Stadium. The draw ended OA’s 10-game win streak that went back to the season opener at Franklin. Jenna Nelson, Molly Capace, and Sophia Byron all had strong games for the Tigers.
Field Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Norwood, 0 – Final
North Attleboro, 3 @ Dartmouth, 1 – Final – North staked a one-goal advantage in the opening quarter then scored once in each the third and fourth quarters to earn a 3-1 win on the road over Dartmouth. Sophomore Madison Folan scored off of an assist from older sister Caroline Folan on a corner midway through the first quarter, and that was the only goal from either team in the first half. Caroline Folan set up both of North’s second half strikes, first linking up with Francesca Spencer at 4:35 of the third and then with Julia Puccio at 8:31 of the fourth to make it 3-0. North’s defensive diamond of Ella Luistro, Rory McGinley, Maddie Bailey, and Ava Mckeon kept the net safe and started the Rocketeers’ runs on offense while Ava Spencer, Emily Burnham, and Kelsey Thompson played well in the midfield.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 @ Braintree, 1 – Final
Stoughton, 2 @ East Bridgwater, 3 – Final
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton earned its second win in as many days, this time earning a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-18, 25-12) at home over visiting Taunton. Jess Wright had another strong outing with nine kills, 12 digs, and two aces, Kaitlin Bigham and Fatima Sidibay were strong at the net with a combined five blocks, and Zoe Scibelli ran the defense with 12 digs and three aces.
Sharon senior Cam Birnbaum passes the ball between a pair of Stoughton defenders in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
SHARON, Mass. – With the final stretch of the regular season just around the corner, both Sharon and Stoughton are looking to bolster their chances of making the postseason.
The latest power rankings released by the MIAA earlier this week saw the Eagles sitting at 24 while the Black Knights were just outside the playoff cutoff at 37.
After 80 minutes of hard-fought action on Thursday, each team took a point after a 1-1 draw.
Sharon took the lead just minutes into the second half but Stoughton responded with just under 10 minutes to go to pull level to secure a point on the road.
“We wanted to obviously win the game, especially with where we are at with our record and playoff rating so I’d say it was an okay tie,” said first-year Stoughton head coach Ruben Teixeira. “It’s not going to hurt us, but we wanted to get the ‘W’ to help us more. Now we turn the page to Franklin, a powerhouse, and hopefully, try and get some points there.”
The host Eagles had the edge in possession for most of the first half as the Knights mostly sat in their own defensive third without extending too much pressure. Teixeira shuffled his lineup and changed formations in the latter stages of the second half to get more of an attacking look and the Black Knights cashed in in the 70th minute.
“I thought we dominated the game so it’s a bad tie for us,” said Sharon head coach Scott Nathan. “We had one mental breakdown in our defensive third and it led to a soft goal. We kept talking about how a one-goal lead wasn’t good enough. We needed to continue the way we’ve been playing but be more aggressive and score more goals. I thought we tried but there were moments in that second half that [Stoughton] was being more aggressive and we were giving the ball away too easily instead of playing out of it.”
Sharon senior Brandon Mauricio registered the first scoring chance in the 14th minute, taking down a long ball from Adam Eastman, cutting to the middle of the field, and unleashing a shot from 25 yards out that was comfortably handled by Stoughton goalie Ben Shirey.
Ten minutes later, it was Eastman that uncorked a hard shot from distance but Shirey had a clear look at it the whole way and gobbled it up.
Stoughton’s first real chance came just before the half-hour mark as Kyle Grant’s free kick into the area was partially cleared but Sam Santos hustled to a loose ball and got off a shot, but it ended up high.
Eastman dished a service out wide to sophomore James Jenning, who was able to get a step into the area from the right sideline but good defense from Stoughton juniors Joe McSweeney and Evan Khang denied any scoring threat. On the counter, Matheus Groberio came racing up the field and tried to play a ball through but Sharon senior center back Tyler Goodman read it perfectly and held up, causing the Knights to be offside on the service.
After a strong shift in the first half, Eastman was rewarded for his hard work early in the second half. A clearance from the Stoughton defense was blocked and bounced back toward goal. Shirey came off the line but the ball took a funny bounce and Eastman was able to muscle his way to the ball and deposited it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute.
The Eagles had a couple of chances throughout the second half to double their lead, but couldn’t push one past Shirey.
In the 58th minute, a Rick Das service from the sideline was cleared away from Stoughton’s Alex Kozak but only as far as Sharon freshman Vlad Shkolnikov, who blasted a shot just over the bar from distance.
In the 65th minute, a nice give-and-go from Cam Birnbaum and Mauricio put the Eagles into the area but a last-ditch slide from Kozak broke it up and the Knights cleared. And just four minutes later, Birnbaum went in on goal but Shirey came flying out and got just enough of it. After it was knocked around in the area, a shot from Sharon was destined for the back of the night but Khang was positioned perfectly on the line and kept it out.
“The defense did a great job,” Teixeira said. “We watched film on Sharon of their game against Milford and took a lot of notes from that. This was a huge game for us, and it felt like the defense responded to it being a big game.”
Meanwhile, the Knights’ chances improved each time up the pitch. Groberio linked up with Kozak for a low shot that was handled by Sharon keeper Matt Baur. A dangerous attacking throw into the area was cleared away by Goodman minutes later, and then after some good work from Santos to find Groberio, a perfectly timed slide tackle from Sharon senior Rhys Davis thwarted the bid.
Stoughton finally chased in just moments after Khang’s goal line clearance denied Sharon a second goal. Joao Marotti helped transition the Knights from defense to offense and the ball ended up with Santos on the right side. A cross to the far post found Groberio open in the box, and he calmly took it down and blasted in from close range to make it 1-1.
“We changed the formation a little, moved some positions around to a more attacking style, we knew we needed goals and that gave us more of a threat, and it worked,” Teixeira said. “We just told the guys, going forward this is how it’s going to be. We have to be that aggressive from the first minute. We’ve shown that we can do it, now we just have to do it for 80 minutes.”
Sharon had a pair of chances in the final minutes at the game-winner, including Mauricio getting on the end of a cross from Rishi Shetty, but his header looped just inches over the crossbar.
“We created some decent chances but we just need to be more clinical in the final third,” Nathan said. “Right near the end, we had two solid chances, we had some good looks. We tend to get a bit amped up when we’re near goal because they want to score so badly. It’s getting them to figure out when to take the shot or to work with a teammate at that moment. The positive is that we’re creating a lot of good chances, we just need to be a bit more composed in the final third and put teams away.”
Sharon boys soccer
Sharon boys soccer (3-4-4) is off until Wednesday when they travel to play their final Kelley-Rex opponent of the season at North Attleboro. Stoughton boys soccer (3-6-2) is in the same situation as they travel to Franklin.
Boys Soccer
King Philip, 1 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Attleboro junior Alex Vecchioli converted a penalty kick in the second half to put the Bombardiers ahead and junior Tyler Rocchio saved a KP pen with 10 minutes to go to preserve the win for the hosts. King Philip took the lead in the first half as Matt Crago finished off a pass from Oliver Blackburn but Richard Ferreira set up Vecchioli for a goal right before half to make it 1-1. Vecchioli was fouled inside the area early in the second half and converted the pen himself to give the hosts their first lead of the game at 2-1. KP had a chance to pull level late in the game but Rocchio denied the shot from the spot. Attleboro’s Lucas Marques had a standout performance at defensive mid.
Canton, 2 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Canton freshman Vlad Francoeur scored his first two career goals to lead the Bulldogs to a rivalry win over neighboring Stoughton.
Sharon, 1 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Sharon found the winner just past the midway point of the second half to take two points home. In the 64th minute, freshman Diego Martinez played a ball behind the defense that senior Miguel Vasconcelos ran onto his and fired a cross into the area. The ball deflected off a Foxboro defender and down to sophomore James Jennings, who took a touch before turning and blasting a shot in at the near post for the winner. Matt Baur played well in net for his second shutout of the season. Foxboro’s best chance came in the final moments of the first half as a long throw from Pradyu Gubbala was bounced around in the area before sophomore Jackson Maling latched on but his bid hit off the inside of the post and bounced back to Baur for the save.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Milford, 1 – Final – North Attleboro scored twice in the final 15 minutes, including the game-winner with just under five minutes to play to stun the Scarlet Hawks at home. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute off a set piece as Arthur Tome touched a free kick from just outside the box in play and Nick Ribeiro smashed a shot off the far post upper 90 and in. Milford carried that lead until the 66th minute when North pulled level with a quick attack. Zach Smahi played Quinn Conley in behind the defense and he slide a low shot past the keeper that eluded the Hawks’ defense and was smashed home a step out by Kaden Burns to make it 1-1. In the 75th minute, a long throw from Jeremy Carter was flicked on by Bryce Newth and deflected off a Milford defender right to Carson Dameron, who calmly cut the ball onto his left foot and slide a shot to the far post for the winner.
Taunton, 2 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin twice took the lead but Taunton answered each time and the two squads split the points in a 2-2 draw. Franklin junior Bradley Herndon opened the scoring for the hosts off a feed from Matt Honekamp but Taunton came back with the equalizer by the midway point of the first half on a goal from Javonte Fernandes on an assist from Az-Anael St. Marc. The Panthers pulled ahead early in the second half as Will Kryzak set up sophomore Garrett Scagliarini for his first career goal. But once again, the visitors answered as Aidden Fitting hooked up with Ian Robicheau for the equalizer.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro @ King Philip – Postponed to a date and time TBD.
Stoughton, 1 @ Canton, 2 – Final
Foxboro, 1 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Sofia Goclowski had a goal and an assist to help the Eagles win their third straight game and move into second place alone in the Davenport division. Following a scoreless first half, Olivia Landstein finished off an assist from Goclowski to break the deadlock. Jessica Li latched onto Olivia Soby’s pass to double the lead. Erin Foley got Foxboro back into the game, but Sharon was able to seal the points with two minutes to play when Goclowski capitalized off an Olivia Soby corner.
Franklin, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Anya Zub’s brace helped Franklin bounce back from its first loss of the season with a convincing win at Taunton. Zub opened the scoring late in the first half and then the Panthers scored three times in just eight minutes of the second half to put the game away. Kelly O’Connor doubled the lead in the 58th minute. Six minutes later, Zub got her second to make it 3-0 and less than two minutes after that Hailey Baima found the back of the net off a Katie Ewald assist. Alli Powderly added an assist as well. Franklin had a sizable advantage in shots but Taunton keeper Hailey Porter had a big night, making 22 saves. Taunton coach Dan Borges also praised sophomore Ava Uhl and eighth grader Maddison Crowley for their defensive effort.
Mansfield, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Behind a goal in each half, Oliver Ames secured two key points at home against Davenport rival Mansfield. Jolie Diaz gave the Tigers the lead in the first half, heading in a cross from Emma Gavin. Midway through the second half, Lucinda Li Cotter finished off a pass from Rhiya Fisher to double the advantage. Janiya Matier had a strong game in net for OA, making some key saves in the second half to earn the shutout.
Milford, 3 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – In a back-and-forth battle, Milford prevailed with the win after a late winner from junior Erin Michelson. The Scarlet Hawks took the lead early in the first half on an unassisted strike from Dani Atherton only for North to equalize less than 10 minutes later as Jess Hennessey set up Emma Pratt in the 18th minute. The same happened again in the second half with the visitors going up 2-1 in the 50th minute when Atheron netted her second of the game but once again, North leveled the match in the 65th minute with Hennessey once again setting up Pratt. Atherton grabbed her third point of the game, this time assisting Michelson for the winner in the 78th minute.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 @ Walpole, 1 – Final – Foxboro found its way into the win column for the first time this season, taking down Walpole in a non-league clash, 3-1 (25-16, 25-19, 16-25, 25-18). Alyssa Cloherty set the offense in motion with 24 assists while adding seven digs, four aces, and three kills to lead the charge for the Warriors. Juliana Pettigrew added seven digs and six kills while Sami Sloan recorded eight kills and four aces in the win.
Oliver Ames, 2 vs. Dartmouth, 3 – Final – In a great match, Oliver Ames came up just short against visiting Dartmouth, falling 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 15-13). Senior Maddie Homer continued to shine defensively for the Tigers with 41 digs, sophomore Clare Kavoulis notched 36 assists, and juniors Sarah Hilliard (21) and Claire O’Rourke (17) combined for 38 kills.
Taunton, 1 @ Durfee, 3 – Final – Taunton rallied to stay alive with a win in the third set, but Durfee closed it out with a competitive fourth set win, 3-1 (25-22, 25-17, 24-26, 25-23). Hayley Krockta had a strong performance for the Tigers with seven kills and four aces while Courtney Martin (four aces) played well in the back row.
Canton, 3 @ Notre Dame Academy, 2 – Final
Franklin, 0 @ Lincoln-Sudbury, 3 – Final
Golf
Stoughton @ Attleboro, 2:20 – Postponed to a date and time TBD.
Franklin, 155 @ Mansfield, 159 – Final – Franklin went on the road and secured a key non-league win at Norton Country Club, taking down former division rival Mansfield. Liam Lewandowski had a birdie on the second hole and finished with a medalist round of 37 to lead the way for the Panthers. Jack Hagerty and Jack Nelson each added a 39 in the win and CJ Steel finished with a 40 for Franklin. Mansfield’s Drew Urban was a co-medalist with a 37, Brendan Vokey chipped in with a 40, and both Cody Nieratko and Nate McClean finished at 41 for the day.
North Attleboro, 157 @ King Philip, 149 – Final – King Philip was on fire on Monday with six golfers shooting 40 or better in a key division win over North Attleboro. Evan Regan shot a team-low round of 36 to share medalist honors while North’s Tyson Laviano also came in with a 36 on the back nine at Wentworth Hills.
Taunton, 100 @ New Bedford, 42 – Final (Stableford) – Taunton’s Sean Murphy and Jesse Chaves each shot a 44 to earn 19 points apiece to help the Tigers earn a win over New Bedford (stableford rules). Logan Letourneau added a 45 for 18 points, Alex Dias added a 47 for 16 points, and Noah Faidell shot a 48 for 15 points.
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – For the second straight game, Attleboro exploded offensively in the second half to run away with a big win. Alex Vecchioli took down a deflection off a throw from Luke Hagopian and somehow kept possession between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot to the far post to give the Bombardiers a lead right before halftime. In the second half. Vecchioli grabbed his second of the game early in the second half, tracking down a pass from Lucas Marques before cutting it back onto his left for a shot from just outside the box that was tipped by the keeper and in. Late in the second half, Vecchioli linked up with Kyle Neuendorf, who played a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the defense that was smashed home by Billy Badger to make it 3-0. In the final minutes, senior Steve Etienne tracked down a long punt from keeper Tyler Rocchio and hit a low shot into the back of the net from inside the area.
Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin junior Hansy Jacques scored for the third straight game and the Panthers picked up two points in a 3-0 blanking of visiting Foxboro. Junior Michael Fernandez-Martin opened his varsity account, finishing off a pass from sophomore Matt Honekamp to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Jacques doubled the lead before halftime after an assist from Will Kryzak. In the second half, Trey Lovell buried a penalty kick to cap off the scoring for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Mansfield tallied twice inside a 15-minute span in the second half to pick up two key points on the road at North Attleboro. Aidan Lopes set up Tyler Znoj for a blast from 25 yards out to put the Hornets ahead, 1-0, in the 53rd minute. Mansfield doubled the lead in the 65th minute as Aiden Steele’s header off a corner from Dan Checkoway ended up at the feet of Sean Higgins, who dropped in a shot from just outside the box. Liam Doyle recorded his second straight shutout for Mansfield, making six saves. Derek McGrath anchored another strong Mansfield defensive effort with a great individual performance.
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Each team converted off a set piece in a 1-1 draw at Milford. Visiting Sharon took the lead in the 18th minute as Adam Eastman buried a free kick from 25 yards out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Milford pulled level in the 61st minute as Eduardo Santana buried a penalty kick, a call he earned himself, to bring the Scarlet Hawks level. Sharon goalie Matt Baur had a terrific performance in net.
Canton, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – A late goal from Canton helped the Bulldogs pull even and earn a point in a 2-2 draw on the road at Taunton. Carson Eagles scored a late goal to help the Bulldogs erase a one-goal deficit and pull level at 2-2. Jake McCabe scored Canton’s first goal while Taunton’s Javonte Fernandes (first half) and Devin Poe (second half) scored for the Tigers.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Morgan Cook’s goal just before halftime proved to be the winner, as Stoughton picked up its first victory of the season and its first under new coach Jon Grant. Shayla Ford opened the scoring in the third minute, running onto a Sabrina Rodrigues through ball behind the Attleboro defense. Jamie Davies leveled the match for the Bombardiers from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. Stoughton regained the lead in the 40th. Emma Byrne played a ball forward to Cook, who was able to get a telling touch on it and find the back of the net. Stoughton was able to limit Attleboro’s chances for a tying goal in the second half with a strong defensive effort. Katrina Varnum finished with 10 saves to help the Black Knights come out on top.
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton scored late in each half to earn its third win in as many games and move alone into first in the Davenport division. Emily McCabe scored both goals for the Bulldogs, her sixth and seventh of the season, the first assisted by Caira McKinney and the second by Gisella Berardi. While Canton held a sizable (17-4) edge in shots on goal and hit three posts, Taunton continued to fight and remained in the game until the final 90 seconds. Taunton coach Dan Borges praised the play of midfielders Juliana Matos and Emily Calderon for helping the Tigers compete to the end.
Franklin, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of second half goals to maintain its perfect start to the season and hand Foxboro its first loss. Olivia Costa opened the scoring off a Norah Anderson assist and Costa then provided the assist for Selene Hammad’s goal that wrapped up the points for the Panthers. Franklin keeper Rachel Welch finished with six saves, while Foxboro’s Allie Sougaris made nine stops.
King Philip, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Taylor deVos scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers to a win over visiting King Philip. deVos converted a free kick opportunity in the first half to give the Tigers the lead. King Philip’s goal was scored by Heidi Lawrence, finishing a Rihanna Mason corner five minutes into the second half to bring the game level. Shortly after that, deVos buried another shot, which proved to be the game-winner. Catie Wilson, Rhiya Fisher, and Lucinda Li Cotter all had strong games for OA. Janiya Matier made six saves in net for the Tigers.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield and North each scored in the opening 20 minutes of the game and split a point apiece. Meghan McCann scored her first varsity goal four minutes into the game, off an assist from freshman Alexandra Fernandes. Emma Pratt equalized for North 15 minutes later, finishing off a corner to make it 1-1.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sofia Goclowski and Autumn Simon each scored a brace to lift Sharon to its second win of the season, already matching its league win total from 2021. Taylor Standring and Jessica Li each recorded assists for the Eagles and Kate Goloboy earned the clean sheet in goal.
Golf
Milford, 151 @ Attleboro, 157 – Final – After back-to-back close losses, Milford got back into the win column with its second win over the Bombardiers this season. Junior Anthony LaPierre was the match medalist, firing a low-round of 35 at Stone-E-Lea. Nate Lawrence added a 36 and David Fleming came in with a 39 for the Scarlet Hawks. Carter Shelton paced the Bombardiers with a 38 while Leo Lombardo chipped in with a 39.
North Attleboro, 155 @ Stoughton, 190 – Final – Tyson Laviano and Dillon Harding shared medalist honors to pace North Attleboro to a win over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Laviano and Harding each fired a 38 in the win. Paul Medeiros had a team-low round of 45 for the Black Knights.
Foxboro, 172 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin junior CJ Steel fired a 35 to lead the Panthers to a win in their home opener at Franklin Country Club over visiting Foxboro. Steel, who had one birdie on the day, earned match medalist honors while Jack Hagerty added a 37, Tyler O’Brien shot a 38, and Brendan Collins finished with a 39. Mat Sullivan had a team-low round of 40 for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 162 @ Canton, 165 – Final – Mansfield had a trio of golfers all come in with a 40 to help the Hornets land a rare win for the visiting team at Blue Hill Country Club. Brendan Vokey, Jason Friedman, and Nate McClean each shot 40 in the win while Drew Urban chipped in with a 42. For Canton, Huck McCready earned match medalist honors after carding a 37 on the day. Brian Middleton added a 41, Brendan Tourgee chipped in with a 43, and both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman finished with a 44.
Taunton and Attleboro will be looking to challenge Milford atop the Kelley-Rex division. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-8-3 Coach: Peter Pereira
While last year’s record doesn’t jump off the page, it was a good season for the Bombardiers and a step in the right direction for the program.
There were a lot of varsity debuts a year ago, and a lot of new faces in the lineup for longtime head coach Peter Pereira. This year is the opposite as many of those players are back and looking to make a serious challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title. Highlighting a deep and talented group of returners is a trio of HockomockSports Second XI selections from a year ago: senior forward Esvin Morales, junior goalie Tyler Rocchio, and junior midfielder and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Alex Vecchioli.
That trio gives the Bombardiers a top player in most key spots on the pitch. Vecchioli will be flanked by some familiar faces as senior Lucas Marques, junior Billy Badger, and junior Luke Hagopian are all back in the mix after starting last season. Juniors Kyle Neuendorf and Richard Ferreira provide key depth off the bench for the midfield unit. Up front, senior Steve Etienne will complement Morales at striker with juniors Nick Ticas and Clay Tyler able to provide energy off the bench.
Attleboro did graduate one of the best center backs in the league in Cash Stuger so there will be a hole to fill there but Pereira has a solid trio of experienced seniors in Jake Stomfors, Toby Smith, and Ian Miller to rely on defensively. Juniors Zack Diffenderfer and Joshua Codella are also in the mix for minutes in the back four.
“It is a hard-working group and I believe we have the potential to win some big games,” Pereira said.
2021 Record: 14-5-4 (D2 State Finalist) Coach: Danny Erickson
The Canton boys soccer team made history last year with its run to the Division 2 state final and while it will be a big ask to replicate such a special run, the Bulldogs have plenty of key pieces to at least challenge for a division title and have a go at another big run.
Canton lost the majority of its lineup from a year ago after graduating seven of the 11, but with a large, talented senior class, Hall of Fame coach Danny Erickson always has his squads ready to compete. The biggest piece back to the puzzle is senior striker Jake McCabe, a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection that tied for the league-lead in goals during the regular season a year ago with 13 goals.
Having 13 seniors on the squad will give the Bulldogs a boost, including veteran players like Caden Mirliani, Ashton Cetoute, Carson Eagles, and Brian Shea. Junior Zaza Francoeur picked up some valuable minutes a year ago and will be a key piece in the attack this year.
“We will certainly need to reinvent how we play after losing so many weapons but we have a great group,” said Erickson. “Lots of guys competing hard for the opportunity to contribute. That should help us compete in the always-tough league.”
2021 Record: 9-9-1 Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro has a strong core of returners back from last year’s squad that qualified for the postseason and will be looking to incorporate some young players to challenge for the Davenport division crown.
The Warriors will need to get the new players up to speed quickly because the injury bug has already hit, taking seniors Jorge Sanchez-Garcia (All Hock honorable mention last year) and starting defender Ian Foley for the season. Head coach Dan Ambrosio will lean heavily on his senior captains, striker Alex Penders and defender Marco Pacini. Penders, a standout on the hardwood for Foxboro’s basketball team, isn’t your typical striker but standing at 6’5, he’s a nightmare for opposing defenders and a dream for teammates serving the ball into the area.
Pacini is a seasoned veteran as a four-year member of the varsity team and will be the anchor of the back line. Sophomore Ryan Cotter will take over in net behind Pacini and the back line. The strength of the squad could be in the middle with a trio of juniors: John Hollis, Ryan Flaherty, and Pradyu Gubbala. All three are returners from a year ago and will be key pieces in not only helping the back line but orchestrating and organizing the attack.
“The strength of the attack lies in the ability to counter quickly, while defensive organization is a strength when without the ball,” Ambrosio said.
2021 Record: 11-5-4 Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Franklin will be looking to replicate its success from last year after the Panthers came just three points shy of the division title and earned a win in the state tournament.
The Panthers didn’t graduate a huge senior class but they did lose some key pieces like HockomockSports Best XI selection Terry O’Neill in midfield and Second XI selection Aidan Griffith on defense. But there is plenty of talent back all over the pitch for the Franklin, who will certainly be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex crown this year. Franklin’s four captains are spread throughout the field with Best XI selection Rex Cinelli back at center back, Will Kryzak up front, Trey Lovell in the middle of the pitch, and Griffin Tolonen in net.
Cinelli is coming off a very strong sophomore campaign and will join forces with Will Klawson to anchor the back line, which has impressed so far this preseason. Lovell will partner with Noah Cain at center mid to help the Panthers transition from the back, and orchestrate the offense. Juniors Hansy Jacques and Andrew O’Neill will provide depth alongside Kryzak up front. Michael Fernandez Martin, Garrett Scagliarini, and Matt Honekamp are new names to keep an eye on.
“It’s still early but our athletes are working hard and I know that we are all excited for the upcoming season,” said Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis. “We are looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Hockomock League.”
2021 Record: 3-13-2 Coach: Mike O’Neill
After battling through an injury-plagued 2021 season, the King Philip boys soccer team is aiming to be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex division title this year.
The Warriors boast a strong group of seniors that will be the heart and soul of the squad but will be looking to integrate some young and new faces in order to challenge in a very talented Kelley-Rex division. After scoring just 20 goals last year, the Warriors are hoping offense will be a strength this year behind a deep mix of creative and quick wing players. Senior Matt Crago returns after a terrific junior season (four goals, two assists) and will be a go-to option in the midfield and out wide. He’ll be joined by junior wing Will Bowen and junior wing Dermott Amorim.
Up top, KP will look to junior Tommy Lomuscio to find the back of the net. As a sophomore, he scored five goals and had nine assists – factoring in on just under half of the Warriors’ offense production. Senior goalie Connor O’Reilly made some huge saves a year ago and is back in net this year. Senior Tom Meader will anchor the back line at center back while senior Oliver Blackburn and sophomore Sayan Panda will lend some help to the defense from the center mid spot.
“I think the Hock is wide open this year, which is just another way of saying that there is a tremendous amount of parity,” said KP head coach Mike O’Neill. “Any win is a good win in the Hockomock League. We have strengths in our captains and our senior leadership. In order to be really competitive, we will need our younger players to contribute right away.”
2021 Record: 8-5-4 Coach: Steve Sheridan
Mansfield is looking to make a big splash in its first season competing in the Davenport division and enter the season as an instant contender.
The Hornets join the Davenport in a challenging year with Oliver Ames looking to make it three straight Davenport titles (four overall), a Canton squad fresh off of a state finals appearance, a revitalized Stoughton squad, a very skillful Sharon team, and a competitive Foxboro group. Despite losing 14 seniors from last year’s squad that went 8-5-4, Mansfield has a solid core intact for a big year.
It starts with captains Aidan Steele, Grady Sullivan, and Dan Checkoway – all three are seasoned veterans and know what it takes to compete in the Hock. Steele plays up top as a target forward while Sullivan and Checkoway patrol the midfield, along with the talented Connor Palinski. Junior Lucas DeSousa and sophomore Tyler Znoj have impressed early on in the midfield while sophomore Cooper Austin is in the mix up front.
Head coach Steve Sheridan is turning to senior Liam Doyle, who missed all of last year with an injury, to take over in net. Senior Derek McGrath will anchor the back line in front of Doyle while sophomore Matthew Sullivan has had a strong camp in the back as well.
“We don’t have as much varsity experience as I’d like, but we have a good bunch of kids that hopefully click sooner rather than later,” Sheridan said.
2021 Record: 12-4-3 Coach: Antonio Pinto
The defending Kelley-Rex champions might have some inexperience and youth in some spots in the lineup, but the Scarlet Hawks return a strong core of players ready to defend their title.
Milford has won four straight division titles, two in the Davenport and now two straight in the Kelley-Rex, and will be looking to make it five straight with another banner this year. Returning HockomockSports Best XI selection Nick Ribero is such a steady presence in the midfield and does a great job spreading the ball and finding open teammates. He will have a lot of options with Arthur Tome (seven goals, nine assists), Eduardo Santana (nine goals, five assists), and John Borges (two goals, eight assists), all back this season.
After losing Best XI selection Chris Tocci (center back) and Kevin Gomes (goalie), the Hawks will have some inexperience in their own final third. The Scarlet Hawks will turn to junior Nate Dinis to anchor the back line after he played some key minutes a season ago.
“We have a very young squad going into the season, but a tight group of kids who are together 24/7, a very family-like team here at Milford this season,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “Offensively we will have to figure out ways to score goals. Defensively we are very young and inexperienced but have a tight group of kids that will help each other out.”
2021 Record: 8-8-2 Coach: Mike Lacasse
An untimely departure from the girls’ program at North forced a bit of a shakeup in the coaching ranks as Geoff Burgess moves over to the girls and Mike Lacasse, who has coached the JV team for a number of years, moves up to take over varsity.
Lacasse and the Rocketeers will look to make some noise in a very talented Kelley-Rex division, and look to get back to the state tournament. The strength of the squad will be in the midfield as the Big Red has some familiar faces back in key spots. Senior Carson Dameron is back for his third year as a starter and will be joined by classmates Zach Smahi and Griffin Rodden. Juniors Kaden Burns and Quinn Conley will patrol the flanks while sophomore Patrick Etienvre could be poised for a breakout campaign after some impressive minutes as a freshman.
Defensively, North Attleboro has the challenge of replacing one of the better keepers in the league in David Floyd as well as HockomockSports Second XI selection Brody Rosenberg at center back. Seniors Jack Regan (outside back) and Sam Bush will try to solidify the backline with junior Owen Goeller in position to start in net. Up front, the Rocketeers will turn to senior Givany Carney, a powerful striker, and junior Bryce Newth, to produce some goals.
“We have a good mix of young talent and experience in some key positions,” Lacasse said. “I am excited to see what this team can accomplish this season, as they look to continue the progress they had toward the end of last year.”
2021 Record: 13-4-2 Coach: John Barata
For most programs, losing the league MVP plus the league’s top goal scorer would be a massive hurdle to get over. But this isn’t something new for Oliver Ames, who has won three straight division titles and eight overall since the 2011 season. While graduation will certainly hurt, the returners and new arrivals have OA right back in the mix for another title.
Despite the loss of Mathias Taylor (MVP) and Clide Neau (tied for a league-high 13 goals), the Tigers have plenty to be excited about, starting with sophomore Casey Milliken, who finished atop the points leaderboard during the regular season a year ago and earned HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year honorable mention.
On top of that, Joey Carney is back in the mix in the midfield looking to capitalize on a solid sophomore campaign (four goals, two assists), and sophomore Andrew Martins will see an increased role after impressing as a freshman. And like always for OA, they will lean heavily on the captains: senior Hector Bucio, who had a breakout year with seven goals and three assists, and senior Jake Williams. Sophomores Luke Churchill has also impressed so far this preseason.
“OA is excited to compete in the Hockomock League,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We are working to get into the tournament this season. We want to grow as a team and have a lot of fun.”
2021 Record: 6-9-3 Coach: Scott Nathan
Sharon battled its way through injury after injury last season, showing glimpses at times (wins over league champs Milford and Oliver Ames, finishing on a four-game unbeaten streak) but missed out on a spot in the state tournament.
With a host of talent returning this year, the Eagles are serious contenders to challenge for the division title in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest years in the Davenport. The Eagles look to have a strong defensive group this year anchored by HockomockSports Second XI selection Rhys Davis at center back. He’ll be joined by seniors Tyler Goodman, Brandon Mauricio, and Tony Yang to not only give the Eagles a veteran backline but one with skill and pace. Senior Matt Baur is back with the program and returns to his starting spot in net.
The Eagles also have some key pieces back in the midfield and up front. Senior captain Adam Eastman will be looking to build on his nine-goal season from last year, which was tied for fifth most in the Hock. Seniors Rishi Shetty, Malachi Diaz, and Miguel Vasconcelos provide depth up front. Cam Birnbaum and Kevin Lu are also returning players from last year’s squad that could see valuable minutes.
“The Hock is among the strongest leagues in the state,” said head coach Scott Nathan. “We look forward to getting the chance to play against so many quality teams. The boys can’t wait to get started!”
2021 Record: 0-17-1 Coach: Ruben Teixeira
Stoughton struggled through a difficult schedule last season but there is a bit of a buzz about the Black Knights entering this season.
First year head coach Ruben Teixeira, who has coached both at the high school and collegiate level, had a great turnout for tryouts and the Black Knights will be looking to bounce out of the bottom of the standings and make a serious run at the Davenport division title.
Stoughton has a good amount of returning players from a year ago, including a lot of young players that were getting their first varsity experience. Teixeira will look to his seniors to guide the way, especially early on. Senior Joao Marotti sets the tone with his hard work and will be a factor both defensively and offensively for Stoughton. His versatility will provide Teixeira with some flexibility in the midfield. Another senior to keep an eye on is Matheus Groberio, a new addition to the program that has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He could be an instant impact player for Stoughton this season.
2021 Record: 5-10-3 Coach: Taylor Whitters
Taunton had an excellent start last year, winning four straight to open the season but the momentum came to a halt and the Tigers finished at 5-10-3 and on the outside looking in for the postseason.
With nearly its entire squad back in the mix this season, the Tigers will be looking to replicate that start and then carry it even further and challenge for the Kelley-Rex title. Taunton was young last season as the lineup featured mostly juniors and sophomores, but now the Tigers are one of the most experienced groups and will be looking to use their speed to challenge the rest of the Hock.
Riley Ribello was a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection on defense but he’s shown he can play at center mid or move up top and be a dangerous attack, and it’s likely that’s where we’ll see him this season. The Tigers also have Quincy Jones-Sylvia back at center back while Josh Letourneau, Ian Robicheau, and Jonathan Trinh all saw time at outside back and will provide key defensive depth this year.
Conal Scully proved to be a top attacking option last year with the ability to score from a variety of spots on the pitch. Aidden Fitting plays with a ton of pace on the outside and the Taunton midfield will get another speedy player in Javonte Fernandes, who is back on the field after playing goalie last season. Vinicius Lira Lima and Az-Anael St. Marc provide attack depth for the Tigers.
“We have a lot of individual talent, however, it is our unmatched team chemistry and synchronicity on the pitch that will undoubtedly make this our year in the Hock,” said Taunton head coach Taylor Whitters.
Boys Basketball Division 1
#28 Durfee, 39 @ #5 Franklin, 60 – Final – A 15-0 run to start the game and a dominant third quarter highlighted Franklin’s big win over visiting Durfee. Sophomore Henry DiGiorgio made a splash in his first game back after missing five games to finish the season, scoring seven of his 10 points in the first while senior Sean Vinson (14 points) hit a pair of first quarter threes to set the tone early. Justin Allen, Will Tracey, and Andrew O’Neill each hit a three in the second as Franklin established a 31-19 lead at halftime. In the third, the Panthers poured in 21 points while holding the Hilltoppers to just eight to extend the lead to 52-27. Sophomore Sean O’Leary scored half of his 12 points in the third while DiGiorgio added a three for Franklin, who will host #21 Catholic Memorial next week.
#21 Catholic Memorial, 66 @ #12 Attleboro, 62 – Final
Division 2
#31 Middleboro, 41 @ #2 Mansfield, 72 – Final – After a competitive first quarter, Mansfield held Middleboro to just four points in the second quarter and nine in the third while its offense didn’t skip a beat from start to finish. The Hornets held a slim 18-14 lead after a quarter but while Mansfield’s offense continued at that same pace in the second, Middleboro’s didn’t thanks to a strong defensive effort from the hosts. Sophomore Trevor Foley scored six points in each of the first three quarters and finished with a career-high 20 points. The Hornets had nine players get on the scoring sheet with senior Matt Hyland chipping in with 13 points and junior Chris Hill (a trio of trifectas) adding 11 points. Mansfield will host ##15 Shepherd Hill next week.
#17 Sharon, 66 @ #16 Agawam, 73 – Final – After falling behind early, Sharon rallied to erase most of the deficit but fell just short of the complete comeback. Agawam scored 23 points in the opening quarter with six players contributing to the early advantage. Sharon played the Brownies even in the second, trailing by seven (40-33) at the break. The Eagles, who were without second leading scorer Nate Katznelson, got within one possession (68-65) with just over a minute to go but Agawam closed the game out strong to get the win. Junior Matt Baur led the offense with 19 points while senior Will Hippler scored 15 of his career-high 17 points in the second half to help the Eagles make a game of it. Sophomore Jacob McLoughlin chipped in with 12 points for Sharon.
#24 Foxboro, 70 @ #9 Walpole, 73 – Final – In a rock fight between two evenly matched teams, Foxboro fell just short on the road at Walpole. A back-and-forth clash saw both teams make runs and take turns with the lead, but neither squad led by double digits throughout the game. The Timberwovles threatened to pull away a couple of times, including early in the fourth before Foxboro junior Alex Penders sank back-to-back three pointers to keep the Warriors in it. Junior Andrew Finn drilled a three with under 30 seconds to go to make it a two-point game. After Walpole hit one of two chances from the line, Foxboro’s heavily contested three point bid was to tie the game was off the mark. Senior Dylan Gordon had his way on the offensive end with a team-high 29 points while Penders finished with 26 points for the Warriors.
Girls Basketball Division 1
#27 Braintree, 43 @ #6 Franklin, 69 – Final – The Panthers scored the opening 11 points of the game and never let up, rolling to a big win in the first round. Franklin scored 22 points in the first and 20 int the second, building a 42-21 lead at halftime. The lead grew to 30 points after three. Katie Peterson was Franklin’s top scorer with 17 points, 15 of them coming in the first half. Stefany Padula scored nine (six in the first quarter) and Olivia Quinn and Brigid Earley each scored eight. Julia White chipped in with seven points off the bench for the Panthers. Hailey Sherrick was the game’s top scorer with 22 points for the Wamps, 15 in the second half. Franklin will host No. 11 seed Lincoln-Sudbury in the Sweet Sixteen at a date and time to be determined.
#31 King Philip, 36 @ #2 Wachusett, 54 – Final – KP hung tough with the undefeated Mountaineers through the first half, but the No. 2 seed took control of the game with a big third quarter. The Warriors trailed just 27-23 heading to the locker room, but Wachusett put together a 22-4 third to take control of the game. KP held Wachusett to only five points in the fourth, but was unable to make a serious dent in the deficit. Elizabeth Molla and Jackie Bonner combined for a trio of three-pointers and each scored 11 points to pace the Warriors, while Liv Lafond added eight. KP coach Jeff Miszkiewicz said, “I’m very proud of the way the team conducted themselves in a very tough road environment. They handled themselves with class and left everything they had on the court.”
#26 Mansfield, 37 @ #7 Woburn, 42 – Final – Kara Santos scored 18 points and Abby Wager had 14 but it wasn’t enough to help the Hornets overcome Woburn on the road in the Round of 32.
Division 2
#30 North Middlesex, 36 @ #3 Oliver Ames, 79 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Caroline Peper poured in 30 points, including the 1,000th of her career, to pace the Tigers to a big win over North Middlesex. OA’s offense was clicking early as the Tigers raced out to a 42-21 lead by halftime. Peper drilled a three-pointer on the first play of the fourth quarter to hit the milestone (see video below). Sophomores Jasmyn Cooper (19 points) and Sarah Hilliard (10 points) also played well in the win.
#19 Nashoba, 38 @ #14 Foxboro, 56 – Final – Freshman Kailey Sullivan scored 28 points in her playoff debut, leading the Warriors to first round win. Foxboro advances to the Round of 16 for a rematch with Oliver Ames.
