Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 43 @ North Attleboro, 40 – Final – In a rivalry game between the Blue Bombardiers and Red Rocketeers, it was the former that held on for a close win. Attleboro led by five at half, and by six going into the fourth, but had to hold on as North came up short on two game-tying three-point chances. Alvin Harrison helped Attleboro get off to a good start with six of his team-high 13 points in the opening quarter, helping the Bombardiers lead after eight minutes (11-10) and at halftime (21-16). North Attleboro’s Casey Poirier scored all of his 15 points in the second half and Brody Rosenberg had five of his nine in the fourth as North pulled within a possession. Colin Morais had a pair of key threes in the third for Attleboro.
Mansfield, 61 vs. Brockton, 51 – Final – Mansfield never trailed in its win over Brockton, building a double-digit halftime that it held on for the rest of the way. After outscoring the Boxers 20-12 in the first, the Hornets put up 16 points in the second to stage a 36-22 lead by halftime. After a back-and-forth third, Mansfield carried a 48-32 lead into the fourth and kept Brockton at arm’s length throughout the fourth. Matt Hyland led the Hornets with 26 points, nine assists, and a pair of steals while Chris Hill added 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
Milford, 59 vs. Dracut, 73 – Final
Girls Basketball
North Attleboro, 30 @ Attleboro, 45 – Final – The Bombardiers had a rough shooting night but managed to go on a run starting midway through the third quarter to pull out a win in the final regular season game at the Attleboro High gym. Meghan Gordon scored 10 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, helping Attleboro earn the season sweep of the Rocketeers. Attleboro led 11-4 after one, with Gordon and Kayla Goldrick each scoring four points, but North battled back in the second. Summer Doherty scored five in the second and Sam Sweeney hit a three as the Rocketeers cut the lead to just one heading to halftime. The visitors scored the first four points of the third quarter and Attleboro continued to struggle offensively. Midway through the third, after a timeout wakeup from head coach Bri Bracken, the Bombardiers turned things around, closing the quarter with 12 straight points and finishing the game with a 26-8 run. Gordon had eight in the third. Lindsey Perry added six points in the fourth and Goldrick added four more to help pull away. Gordon had 13 rebounds and four blocks to go with her 16 points. Perry finished with 12 points and Goldrick had 10 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Vanessa Ellis added five points and nine boards. Doherty was North’s top scorer with 14 points and Sam Sweeney had five. Taylor McMath pulled down nine rebounds in the loss.
Mansfield, 45 vs. Natick, 39 – Final
Boys Hockey
Mansfield, 3 vs. Somerset-Berkley, 5 – Final
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Westwood, 6 – Final – Sophomores Andrew Livingstone and Jack Corey each had a goal and an assist but the Tigers fell in the regular season finale to Westwood. Corey set up Livingstone for his goal, and Livingstone returned the favor, along with an assist from Matt Lawson. Sophomore Nolan Gemetti had 22 saves in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 5 vs. Bellingham, 1 – Final – For the first time in 16 years, the Black Knights are headed to the postseason. Stoughton secured its spot in the playoffs with a 5-1 win over Bellingham, finishing the season at 10-10-2. Cooper Card, Ryan Summers, Joe McNulty, Sean Farley and Ben Shirey each scored once for Stoughton/Brockton.
Girls Hockey
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 vs. Whitman-Hanson, 3 – Final (OT) – MOA skated even with Whitman-Hanson for three periods but the Panthers prevailed with a goal in the overtime period. Cammy Shanteler (from Maeve Anastasia and Julia Muttart) and Mya Waryas (from Anastasia and Ava Adams) scored for the Warriors while Jess Widdop had a strong game between the pipes. Head coach Jamie Mullen highlighted the efforts of her penalty kill in Waryas, Anastasia, Shanteler, Muttart, Kylie O’Keefe, Madison Guilfoyle, Macy Quinn, and Madeline Martin.
Stoughton/Sharon, 0 @ Quincy/North Quincy, 7 – Final
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 57 vs. Catholic Memorial, 52 – Final – Attleboro senior Alvin Harrison dropped a team-high 18 points and junior Jaiden Outland had some key plays in the final minutes to help Bombardiers secure a win over visiting Catholic Memorial. Senior Colin Morais converted a tough layup with 1:30 to go to put the Bombardiers ahead 52-49, but CM made it a two-point game with a free throw. The Knights had a chance to tie the game after an Attleboro turnover with just a minute to go both Outland raced back and combined with Harrison to steal the ball back. Outland sank a key free throw, and then leading by just one, he scored on a breakout with just under 20 seconds left to make it 55-52. Morais finished with 10 points while Outland had a career-high nine points for Attleboro, who overcame a 30-21 halftime deficit, starting with a 20-point third quarter in which seven players scored.
Milford, 78 vs. Ludlow, 21 – Final – Milford had 12 players get into the scoring column in a big win over Ludlow, its second win in a three-day span. Freshman Gustavo Coutinho hit three of the Hawks’ 11 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 18 points to lead the offense. Senior Justin Luchini scored all of his 13 points in the first three quarters while freshman Andrew Rivera had nine of his 11 points in by halftime.
Taunton, 67 vs. Durfee, 54 – Final – Taunton senior Trent Santos sank five three-pointers and finished with 12 makes from the field for a game-high 35 points as the Tigers avenged their loss to the Hilltoppers in December. Faisal Mass added 20 points and sophomore Troy Santos chilled in with eight points for Taunton, who had a 36-32 lead at halftime.
Girls Basketball
North Attleboro, 45 @ Sharon, 49 – Final – Tess Letendre led three Eagles in double digits to help them split the season series with the Rocketeers. Sharon led by two at halftime, but North came up with 17 points in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the fourth. Sharon held the visitors to just six points in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. The Eagles scored 15 in the final quarter, including 6-for-10 at the line. North was only 5-for-12 from the free throw line for the game. Jasmine Davis added 12 points and Rachael Hager scored 11. Summer Doherty was North’s top scorer with 14 and freshman Sam Faria added 10. Ava McKeon and Sam Sweeney each scored seven points in the loss.
Boys Hockey
Canton, 4 vs. Reading, 3 – Final (OT) – Eamon Kelly scored his second goal of the game to give Canton the overtime win and seal the Walter Brinn Division championship of the Ed Burns Coffee Pot Hockey Classic. Reading twice had the lead in the game but Kelly, who was named tournament MVP, tied it at 1-1 and Patrick Drury made it 2-2. AJ Thomas put the Bulldogs ahead for the first time late in the second period, but the Rockets were able to score with 27 seconds left in the third to force the extra period. It was Canton’s 15th straight win.
Franklin, 0 vs. Natick, 2 – Final
Girls Hockey
Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Maggie McCaffrey scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with three minutes left to play, to help the Panthers pick up the road win. Molly Hurley had the first goal for the Panthers while Lindsey Dennett, Shaw Downing, Samantha Wong, and Dana Stott each had an assist. Maeve Anastasia and Kylie O’Keefe each scored for MOAF, the latter tying the game at 2-2 with nine minutes to play. Cammy Shanteler, Cierra Doherty, and O’Keefe each had an assist for the Warriors.
Boys Basketball
Franklin, 53 vs. Worcester North, 42 – Final – Franklin held just a one-possession lead with just under five minutes to go in the game but limited Worcester North to just two points over the final 4:47, finishing the contest on a 10-2 run to get the win. The Panthers trailed after one (12-9) but took a one-point lead (20-19) into halftime, and a four-point lead (37-33) into the final quarter. Sophomore Henry Digiorgio scored six of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter and senior Sean Vinson added seven of his 12 points in the fourth. Franklin hit 12 three-pointers on the day, with Digiorgio sinking five, Vinson and Andrew O’Neill each with two, and Ben Harvey, Justin Allen, and Sean O’Leary all adding one.
Sharon, 65 vs. Waltham, 50 – Final – Sharon tightened it up defensively in the fourth and turned it on offensively in the same frame to pull away from Waltham to claim the Clocker Classic Championship. The Eagles were locked in a tight battle with Waltham, leading slightly after one (15-12) and three (40-38), and tied at halftime (25-25). Sophomore Nate Katznelson delivered a career-high 21 points, scoring 14 in the second half. Sophomore Jacob McLaughlin added a career-high 14 points, half coming in the third quarter, and senior Matt Baur finished strong with 11 of his 16 points coming in Sharon’s decisive 25-point fourth quarter.
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 51 vs. Chicopee, 57 – Final – KP fell behind by eight points after the first quarter and couldn’t catch Chicopee Comp to lose for the first time this season. The Warriors struggled to contain Chicopee’s top scorers Yamirelis Natos (19 points) and Nicole Rodriguez (game-high 20 points, including four threes). After Chicopee took the first 18-10, KP rallied to cut the lead in half by the break. In the third quarter, Chicopee extended the lead back to seven. The fourth quarter was a shootout, as KP scored 19 points in an attempt to come from behind, but Rodriguez scored nine of Chicopee’s 18 to hold off the Warriors. Emily Sawyer scored a team-high 17 points, including nine in the second quarter. Liv Lafond added 15, 12 of them coming in the second half, and Jackie Bonner scored 10, knocking down three from the outside. The trio combined for 17 of KP’s 19 points during the fourth quarter.
North Attleboro, 42 vs. Durfee, 44 – Final – Durfee grabbed an offensive rebound and scored as time expired to pull out the win in the final of Taunton’s holiday tournament. Even with leading scorer Summer Doherty limited with two early fouls, North went into halftime down just 22-20. The Rocketeers never trailed by more than five points after the break. Sam Sweeney knocked down a big three with 1:15 left to play that cut the Durfee lead down to two. After a big defensive stop, Katie Corsetti was fouled going to the basket and hit both free throws to tie the game. Ava McKeon and Taylor McMath both led the Rocketeers with eight points apiece, and McMath also added eight offensive rebounds. Sweeney and Doherty each finished with seven points and Doherty was named to the all-tournament team.
Taunton, 34 vs. Holliston, 37 – Final – After scoring only eight points in the opening half, Taunton rallied after halftime to close the gap and nearly pull off a come from behind win in the consolation round of its holiday tournament. Jillian Doherty scored four of Taunton’s eight points before the break. The Tigers then came out in the third quarter and scored 15 as a team, adding 11 more in the fourth. A day after scoring 28 against Durfee, Kameron St. Pierre took a little while to get going against the Panthers but exploded for 11 of her team-high 13 points in the second half to help with the comeback. Cali Melo added all nine of her points in the second half and Lexi Haywood knocked down a big three.
Foxboro, 10 @ Blue Hills, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Foxboro senior Jack Watts had a day to remember, scoring a hat trick and recorded six assists to pace the Warriors to a big win over Blue Hills. Freshman Brett Axon also scored three goals in the win.
King Philip, 4 vs. North Quincy, 0 – Final
Mansfield, 6 vs. Shrewsbury, 3 – Final
North Attleboro @ Moses Brown (R.I.), 2:00 (@ Levy Rink)
Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 @ Winchester, 5 – Final
Franklin, 2 @ Dedham, 1 – Final (OT) – Freshman Julia Flynn scored the game-winning goal in overtime to help the Panthers grab their third win of the season. Sophomore Lyndsey Dennett recorded the assist on the game-winner, setting up Flynn for her goal. Junior Dana Stott scored the other goal for Franklin while Izzy Brown had a strong game in net.
Boys Basketball
North Attleboro, 52 @ Attleboro, 64 – Final – Attleboro established an early lead and never let it slip away to knock off rival North Attleboro. Sophomore Neo Franco hit a pair of threes in the first and Evan Houle (17 points) added five to give the hosts a 17-12 lead. The lead grew from there with senior Colin Morais adding seven second quarter points to give the Bombardiers a 29-20 halftime edge. Attleboro, who was without junior forward Trevor White, had its best offensive quarter in the third, scoring 23 points with contributions from Joe Francois-Annevil (seven of his 11 points), Jake Struminski (six of his eight points), and Alvin Harrison (half of his eight points). Brody Rosenberg led the Rocketeers with 15 points while Givany Carney chipped in with 12 points.
Canton, 45 @ Milford, 30 – Final – Canton delivered first year coach Eric MacKinnon his first career win, limiting the Hawks to 12 points in the second half for the win. The Bulldogs built a six-point lead after a quarter and kept the Hawks at a distance the rest of the way. Conor Hunter hit a pair of threes in the second quarter as the visitors carried a 23-18 lead into halftime. Canton had its biggest offensive quarter of the game, nearly doubling their lead going into the final quarter (36-27). Hunter finished with 13 points while Matt Chafin added 12 points in the win.
Foxboro, 26 @ Mansfield, 66 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Mansfield built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a big win over visiting Foxboro. The Hornets were clicking on all cylinders on the offensive end, getting 11 players into the scoring column. Senior Matt Hyland scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed five rebounds while junior Chris had a strong showing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Mansfield helped force 18 turnovers from the Warriors, who couldn’t get it going on offensively. Mansfield led 34-11 at halftime.
Stoughton, 72 @ King Philip, 64 – Final (OT) – King Philip battled back throughout the game, forcing overtime but couldn’t keep pace with the visiting Black Knights in the extra period. Stoughton built a double-digit lead (22-12) after a quarter with six players factoring into the scoring. The Knights kept the lead all the way to the fourth, but King Philip cut into it each quarter. Stoughton took a 38-30 lead into halftime but was held to just six points in the third as KP surged back to make it a one-possession game (44-41). The teams battled back-and-forth in the final quarter before Stoughton’s last second shot was off the mark. In overtime, Connor Andrews (game-high 22 points), Jayden Costa Heyward (12 points), Liam Pearl (nine points) and Cashmere Mathurin (six points) all scored to help the Knights outscore the Warriors, 11-3. Freshman Matt Greenspoon added 10 points in the win. Danny Clancy led King Philip with 16 points while Braeden Sottile added 15 points.
Oliver Ames, 48 @ Franklin 64 – Final – Franklin saw its 22-point halftime lead shrink to single digits going into the fourth quarter, but the Panthers bounced back and closed out strong to get a win over visiting Oliver Ames. Franklin built a 37-15 lead by the break behind a balanced scoring attack and strong defense. Franklin hit half of its 12 three-pointers in the second quarter alone, two apiece from Geino Scaringello and Justin Allen (team-high 12 points) and one each from Andrew O’Neil and Hansy Jacques, to take a commanding lead. OA came roaring back in the third as Zach Tagliamonte scored 10 of his team-high 14 points in the third and Dan Reilly had nine of his 12 points to make it 46-37 going into the fourth. Ben Harvey had half of his eight points in the fourth, Henry Digiorgio scored five of his seven, and Allen added another three to pull away.
Sharon, 71 @ Taunton, 89 – Final – Taunton senior Trent Santos caught fire early and never cooled off, dropping a career-high 41 points to lead the Tigers to a win over visiting Sharon. Santos hit four threes on his way to 20 points in the first quarter as Taunton jumped out ahead 28-12 after a quarter. Faisal Mass (14 points) and Matt Small (nine points) scored six points and five points, respectively, in the second for a 46-25 advantage at the break. Santos picked it back up in the second with 14 points, keeping the hosts ahead throughout. Tyson Carter scored all eight of his points in the third and Troy Santos added all seven of his to give Taunton a 68-47 lead going into the fourth. Sharon junior Matt Baur scored a team-high 26 points, hitting on six three-pointers. Sam Cohen added four threes for 12 points as the Eagles finished with 15 three-pointers made.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 41 @ North Attleboro, 30 – Final – Attleboro knocked down its outside shots and played solid defense to pull out a first win for head coach Bri Bracken. The game was tied at 9-9 after one quarter but Attleboro was able to build a six-point lead by halftime and extended it to 11 in the second half. North continues to struggle at times to find consistency on offense, but got eight points from Ava McKeon, who was back after missing a game with injury, and seven points apiece from freshmen Sam Sweeney and Maryellen Charette.
Milford, 17 @ Canton, 71 – Final – Canton got off to a great start and broke the game away in the second quarter to earn its first win of the season. Kiara Cerruti scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the opening half, including 10 in the second quarter. Fay Gallery scored 17 points and added nine before halftime, as the Bulldogs ran out to a 36-9 lead. Sydney Gallery chipped in with 13 points and Han Hong added nine. Maddalena Mannucci Pacini scored four points for Milford, which also got three points apiece from Jess Douglas, Jill Araujo, and Khatrina Leger.
Mansfield, 43 @ Foxboro, 56 – Final – Foxboro got big nights from a pair of freshmen to earn its second straight win and hand Mansfield its first loss of the season. Kailey Sullivan set a new career-high with 16 points, 11 in the second half, and Ava Hill set a career mark with 14 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. The Warriors broke the game open in the second, extending a one-point lead out to a dozen by halftime. After Foxboro won the third quarter 14-11, Mansfield battled to win a fourth quarter shootout 19-17. Kara Santos was the top scorer for the Hornets with 13 and Abby Wager added 11 points, all in the second half and eight in the fourth quarter alone. Olivia Salisbury had five points, all in the final eight minutes. Foxboro was able to get clutch rebounding from Andrea Slattery and Lauren Miley down the stretch to keep a big lead. Camryn Collins scored nine points and Erin Foley scored eight points to go along with her aggressive defending.
King Philip, 65 @ Stoughton, 41 – Final – Stoughton kept it close in the first half behind a strong defensive effort but the visiting Warriors put together a big run in the third to turn a 6-point lead at half (30-24) into a double-digit advantage (47-30) going into the fourth. Seniors Makaiyah Singleton Rivera and Jess Maddalena combined for 16 points for the Black Knights.
Taunton @ Sharon – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Hockey
Franklin, 6 vs. St. John’s Shrewsbury, 3 – Final – Franklin saw its three-goal lead evaporate in a three-minute span in the second period but the Panthers bounced back with a big third period, scoring three more times to get the win over St. John’s Shrewsbury. Adam Quinn (from Ben Jarosz and Ben Paterson) and Ryan Sicchio (from Logan Marchand) scored for a 2-0 lead at the midway point of the first, and Paterson (from Dylan Marchand and Quinn) scored just over two minutes into the second to make it 3-0. SJS scored three times within the next four minutes to tie the contest 3-3 through two periods. In the third, Quinn got his second of the day (from Paterson and Sicchio) at the midway point of the third and Dom Lampasona (from Anthony Lampasona) added a key insurance goal less than a minute later. Anthony Lampasona tacked on a key empty net goal (margin of victory) in the final seconds on an assist from Christian Shabbick. Cole Porter made 31 saves in net for the Panthers.
King Philip, 1 vs. Medway, 4 – Final
Stoughton, 7 vs. Bellingham, 2 – Final – Stoughton broke into the win column in a big way, knocking off visiting Bellingham, 7-2. Charlie Caputo led the offense with three goals while Colin Alessi added a pair of goals. Brendan Twohig and Aidan Obrock scored a goal each while Anthony Hern recorded the win in net.
Girls Hockey
King Philip, 2 @ Wayland/Weston, 1 – Final (OT)
Freshman Sam Sweeney hit a pair of threes in the third quarter to spark a comeback win for North Attleboro against Sharon. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – It is amazing how much confidence comes from watching that first shot find the bottom of the net. Once one falls, the floodgates can open, the energy picks up on defense, and a game that was slowly slipping away can turn into a comfortable win.
After scoring 10 points through the opening 21 minutes of Friday night’s game at the Pickering Gym, North Attleboro scored 30 points in the final 11 minutes, went on a 25-2 run, and held Sharon to just two points in the third quarter to pull out a 40-29 victory.
“I told them, we have to keep shooting,” North coach Nikki Correia explained. “We have to get into a rhythm. I leaned on my freshmen, all three of them, and they answered big time. They missed a couple at the beginning, but they’re starting to get into the rhythm of the game, they’re starting to figure it out a little bit, we started moving the ball a little bit better, and we started believing in our offense.”
It was a contrast in styles, as North likes to get out and run whenever possible, while the Eagles want to use clock and keep things in the half-court. For the better part of the three quarters, the visitors won the tempo battle.
Summer Doherty (team-high 13 points) nailed a three for the first basket of the game, but North only scored two more points in the first quarter. Trinity Payne (12 rebounds) got a basket on an offensive rebound and then the Eagles started to get the ball into sophomore forward Jasmine Davis.
After a 32-point, 28-rebound performance in the opening game, Davis was the focal point of the North defense, but she scored twice in the post and had six in the first. Carmen Leonardi added a layup with a nice backdoor cut and an assist from Payne.
Things slowed down even more in the second quarter. After combining for 15 points in the first, both teams found a lid on the basket after the first break, and together managed only 10.
“They want to run and I told my kids, we don’t,” said Sharon coach Sandy Lombardi. “We want to play half-court and make them play defense against us in the half-court.”
Rachael Hager (six points) buried a three and Tess Letendre’s put-back had the Eagles up 15-5. North’s comeback started with a three by freshman Sam Faria off a pass from Mandi Hanewich. Doherty then knocked down a pull-up jumper in transition to cut the lead to five.
North had momentum at the start of the third quarter, although it didn’t really feel like it. It took 4-1/2 minutes for either team to score in the second half, and it was Davis (15 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks) scoring off a rebound to put Sharon up 17-10.
Thirty seconds later, the game flipped. After going five minutes of the third quarter without a point, North rattled off 13 points in the final 3:04 of the quarter.
Faria kicked a pass to classmate Maryellen Charette for a jumper. Then, Charette kicked out a pass to Doherty for her second three of the night. Sam Sweeney (seven points) took a kick-out pass from Taylor McMath (five points and 11 rebounds) for a corner three and North’s first lead at 18-17, then Doherty’s steal led to a Faria jumper. Sweeney hit again from downtown and suddenly North found itself up 23-17.
“Scouting reports said they want to dribble drive, so let’s see if they can hit the outside shot and they started hitting the outside shot,” Lombardi said.
Finding its scoring touch seemed to spark the effort on the defensive end as well. McMath and Charette were doing a solid job of surrounding Davis and denying the entry pass into the post. Doherty was popping up with big steals in the full-court press, and North started to play the game at the pace it prefers.
“That killed us,” Lombardi said of only scoring two points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. “They did a great job on Jasmine inside. She still had her fair share of rebounds but they did a good job of collapsing on her and we couldn’t hit an outside shot. That was the name of the game.”
Doherty (four assists and four steals) drove baseline and dropped a pass to the opposite block to McMath for a layup plus the foul. She then grabbed a steal in the backcourt and turned it into a wide open layup that made it 30-17.
With just two points in the second half, Sharon needed a spark and finally got the ball into Davis for an easy bucket and a nice finish in the lane. Faria (11 points and four assists) answered with a pair of jumpers before Hager drilled a three to give the Eagles hope at 35-29 but with time running out.
North, which was playing without junior Ava McKeon hit its free throws in the closing minute and walked away with the win.
“Once you start making some shots they get a little bouncy,” said Correia. “I have to remind them that shots aren’t always going to fall but they still need to have that bounce or that pep in their step. I definitely think it’s because the shots started falling and they started buying into it and it took off.”
North Attleboro (1-1) will host rival Attleboro on Monday night, while Sharon (1-1) will host Taunton.
Oliver Ames and North Attleboro will battle again this year in what should be another competitive Hockomock League season. Check out our team-by-team preview. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2020-2021 Record: 9-4 Coach: Brianna Bracken
Attleboro finished second in the Kelley-Rex division last year and, despite only returning one starter, have an experienced corps that will be looking to push the Bombardiers back to postseason contention this season. There was a big change a few weeks ago when Marty Crowley stepped down as coach (after taking the athletic director job at Cumberland High) and former player and freshman coach Brianna Bracken was promoted to take over.
The change in coach won’t change the emphasis on defense and trying to use the roster’s athleticism to get easy baskets in transition. Attleboro’s lone returning starter is senior forward Meghan Gordon, who has improved every season on varsity and averaged nearly 17 points per game last year. Gordon will get help from classmates Lindsey Perry and Lillian Froio, who have both improved offensively and will help the Bombardiers take some of the pressure off Gordon on that end of the floor.
Injuries and transfers will have an impact as well. Senior Hailey Perry suffered a knee injury that will keep her out and last year’s freshman point guard Narissa Smith transferred to Rivers. Junior Lily Routhier has transferred in this year from Wheeler School and will help out on the boards. Sophomores Kayla Goldrick and Rylie Camacho will add to the Attleboro attack after getting experience as freshmen and senior Avery Vieira and sophomore Sarah Maher will try to fill Perry’s role in the backcourt. Sophomore Merry Bosh and Molly Moore and freshman Vanessa Ellis have had impressive preseasons as well.
“We have a great mix of experience and youth,” said Bracken. “We are excited about what lies ahead. Practices have been intense and the kids have been working really hard.”
2020-2021 Record: 7-5 Coach: James Choquette
Canton could be poised for a big season with a mix of talented underclassmen and an experienced group of seniors who have played together on varsity for four years. The Bulldogs went 7-5 in the shortened 2020-21 season, but expectations are higher this winter, with hopes of challenging the top teams in the Davenport and putting together a playoff run.
Kiara Cerrutiis the team’s top returning scorer and the senior winger will be counted on to provide scoring punch with her mix of inside-outside skills. Fay Gallery is back to run the point for the Bulldogs, getting the team out in transition and finding ways to create good looks for teammates in the halfcourt. Sydney Gallery is also back to give Canton a strong post presence and scoring inside the arc. The three players combined to average 38 points per game last season and give the Bulldogs a strong foundation to build on and help spread the floor for a team that has the potential to be one of the top shooting teams in the league.
Marissa Staffiere and Carly Fitzgerald return to help run the point and give strong defensive effort in the backcourt and junior Samya DaSilva has stepped in to add another versatile weapon on the offensive end. If the Bulldogs can continue to improve defensively, they have the firepower to compete with anyone. Offensively, it will be about ball movement and making sure the ball doesn’t stick on the perimeter.
“Our program continues to grow and improve,” said Canton coach Jim Choquette. “With a strong senior class and a great group of underclassmen, we hope to improve each day we’re in the gym together and achieve the results we desire. Everyone knows how hard it is to win, but this group is willing to do whatever it takes and we’re so excited to see how this season unfolds.”
2020-2021 Record: 9-2 Coach: Lisa Downs
Foxboro had its four-year reign at the top of the Davenport division come to an end last season, as the Warriors came second to Oliver Ames. With a relatively young roster, Foxboro improved over the course of the shortened season and seemed to be peaking as it headed into what would have been the second half of a normal winter. The hope for this season is that those younger players will build on that experience to make another title challenge and playoff run.
With the graduation of the league’s leading scorer, Katelyn Mollica, the Warriors will have a lot of points to make up but have several players capable of taking on bigger roles this year. Senior forward Hannah Blake could help provide some of that scoring with her solid post-up game and mid-range jumper. Sophomore guards Erin Foley and Camryn Collins both had impressive rookie campaigns and showed versatile offensive games and both are aggressive and athletic defenders, who fit into Foxboro’s typical style.
Senior Andrea Slattery and junior Lauren Miley are under-sized forwards but both bring a lot of energy and aggression to the defensive end and hitting the glass. Freshmen Kaley Sullivan and Ava Hill will jump right into the varsity lineup this season and both could be ready to make instant impacts. Juniors Michelle Brandt and Maddie Maher and sophomore Isabelle Chamberlin will give the Warriors plenty of depth to call on this season, especially with their effort on the defensive end.
“Although we are young and have new faces, I am excited to see the potential and look forward to seeing the improvement every time they step onto the court,” said Foxboro coach Lisa Downs.
2020-2021 Record: 10-0 Coach: John Leighton
Franklin returns eight players, including six seniors, from last year’s team, which extended the Panthers’ win streak to 35 games and clinched a third straight Kelley-Rex division title. The Panthers will be leaning on that experience as they seek to continue their reign at the top of the league and defend the Div. 1 state title that they won in 2019-20.
Senior forward Olivia Quinn will be the focal point of the Franklin offense this year after leading the team in scoring last winter and emerging as one of the top players in the Hock over the past two years. The reigning Kelley-Rex MVP will have plenty of help, particularly in the paint. While Franklin doesn’t have someone with Ali Brigham’s size, the Panthers have seven players on their roster that are listed at 5-foot-9 or taller. Senior Brigid Earley was the team’s leading rebounder last year and junior Katie Peterson is an athletic forward with a versatile game. Senior Emma Sousa is another experienced forward that gives depth in the post.
On the perimeter, Franklin has graduated a lot of its ball-handlers and shooters but senior Stefany Padula, a Springfield College-commit, is back and will help stretch the floor. Junior Bridget Leo is coming off a strong soccer season and could step in at point guard along with seniors Julia White and Jessica Pingeton, who saw some time last year. Sophomore guard Sasha Tracey is the lone underclassman on the roster this season.
“I am very excited to get back on the court with this team,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “There is a lot of work ahead of us but there has also been many glimpses of what we could develop into. We have a very strong senior class who has set the bar high for the team. We hope to develop into a close-knit, supportive team that can win in different ways and also play defense that will limit our opponents’ options.”
2020-2021 Record: 5-6 Coach: Jeff Miszkiewicz
There is going to be a transition period for King Philip this season, as the Warriors will be moving from former head coach Dan Nagle’s unique, non-stop pressure, quick-shot system to a new system brought in by first-year coach Jeff Miszkiewicz (who comes from LaSalle Academy in Rhode Island). With seven returning players, including five seniors, the Warriors should have the experience to adjust to the new style and be in the mix in the Kelley-Rex division.
Junior Emily Sawyer will be a major weapon for the Warriors on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-3 center may be the biggest beneficiary of a change in system and is poised for a breakout year in the paint. Her classmate Jackie Bonner will move into a starting role this season, with her ability to create instant offense and be a pest on the defensive side of the game.
Seniors Liv Lafond, Julia Marsden, and Elizabeth Molla also project to be starters for the Warriors this season. All three are versatile wings that can space the floor and attack in transition. Lafond may be the best off-the-dribble player for KP this season and her ability to get into the paint and create will be key. Marsden is a smart player who always seems to be in the right spot and a solid scorer at the rim or out on the perimeter. Molla is a knockdown shooter from the outside and can punish teams that sink down into the paint to guard Sawyer or prevent driving lanes.
“The team plays really hard and is very coachable,” said Miszkiewicz. “I think that’s why we have seen so much improvement over the first week of practice. You’ll see us take full advantage of our athleticism on both offense and defense. We’re going to be a fun team to watch.”
2020-2021 Record: 9-4 Coach: Heather McPherson
Mansfield closed out the shortened 2020-21 season with five straight wins and will hope to keep that momentum rolling into this winter, although the Hornets will need a lot of players to step into bigger roles. Six seniors graduated from last year’s team, including the bulk of the team’s frontcourt and two of its three leading scorers. New players will need the early part of the season to adjust to the pace of the varsity level.
The Hornets will be hoping that junior guard Abby Wager’s growing offensive game will allow her to improve on the nine points per game she averaged as a sophomore. Senior Anna Darlington brings tenacity on defense and will make it tough for teams to get into their half court sets. Seniors Kayla Doherty and Sophia Allen will also need to add experience to a lineup that is growing into the season.
Junior guard Olivia Salisbury and sophomore forward Kara Santos are going to be stepping up from utility roles into core pieces of the Mansfield offense this season. Salisbury has good vision and can create chances for teammates, while Santos will be a threat in the paint, making up for some of the size that graduated from last year’s team.
“After a shortened season under my belt I feel confident in the adjustments that the girls have made into a slightly different system than previous years,” said second-year Mansfield coach Heather McPherson. “We are emphasizing good fundamental defense and hoping that we can use it to create transition offense.”
2020-2021 Record: 3-8 Coach: TJ Dolliver
Milford ended last season with three wins in its final five games, building a little momentum that the Hawks are going to hope can get them off to a good start this winter. There will be a lot of changes from last year’s squad, as Milford graduated seven players, including a few four-year members of the team, so there may be some growing pains as new faces adjust to a new level.
Four seniors return to add experience and leadership to this year’s team. Guards Jess Douglas, Olivia Morelli, and Aubrey Korpi, and forward Jill Araujo are all back and will give Milford a foundation to build around. With so many new faces in the team this year, head coach TJ Dolliver will be leaning on his upperclassmen to help the younger players adjust, as the coaches work through the best way to utilize everyone’s skills on the court.
Junior forward Emily Croteau and guard Brooke Ferreira will be key players as well. The team’s top two returning scorers, Croteau and Ferreira will have to take on bigger roles this year and may be asked to carry a lot of the scoring punch. A three-year starter at point guard, Ferreira is the team’s top ball-handler and will be expected to get the Hawks into their sets while also looking for her own shot. An undersized forward, Croteau gives the team energy and rebounding, keeping possessions alive and getting chances thanks to her work rate.
“We are making a lot of changes this season,” Dolliver said. “It will be very important how we approach practice in regards to how successful we are this season. We have a lot of potential and I am excited to see where it goes.”
2020-2021 Record: 4-9 Coach: Nikki Correia
North Attleboro had a tough finish to the 2020-21 season, losing five straight to close it out, but all five were against teams with winning records, including two against division champ Oliver Ames. With a full season ahead, North has two of its top scorers back and has added more size in the frontcourt to try and make a postseason push.
The two key returning players will be senior Summer Doherty and junior Ava McKeon. The two aggressive guards give North extra energy on both ends of the floor and push the Rocketeers into the transition game that head coach Nikki Correia prefers. Their defensive effort will be critical for North this season. Senior forward Taylor McMath has improved each year and adds scoring in the paint and is an aggressive rebounder on both ends.
Size hasn’t been a strength for North the past few seasons but freshman Maryellen Charette will be an important addition in the paint. Despite being just a rookie, Charette has shown good footwork with back to the basket and is a strong rebounder. Sam Sweeney is the other freshman on the roster, while North has seven seniors on the roster to provide necessary experience for the younger players.
“I am looking forward to this season with a full schedule and many returning players, so lots of familiarity with each other and playing more under control and trusting each other more,” said Correia. “They are already showing more confidence and being in the right spots, running the offense, and letting the game come to them instead of forcing it.”
2020-2021 Record: 10-0 Coach: Laney Clement-Holbrook
Oliver Ames finished unbeaten and won the Davenport division title last season, but the Tigers will be disappointed to have missed out on a potentially deep tournament run. Coming into this year, expectations remain high with a good mix of experienced players and youth that will be getting their first taste of a full Hockomock League campaign.
Senior guard Caroline Peper is a four-year starter for the Tigers and has always been one of the league’s top long-range shooters, but continues adding to her game and her scoring will be critical. Senior Hailey Bourne is another four-year regular and one of the top defensive players in the league, capable of guarding multiple positions. Their leadership will be a key to OA’s success this winter. Senior forward Anna Murphy has improved each year and has a solid all-around game, making an impact on both ends of the floor, and junior guard Maddie Homer is a quick, tenacious defender and her improved offensive game will be important.
In addition to the more experienced players, OA is excited about the potential of the trio of sophomores who made cameos last year. Forwards Jasmyn Cooper, Kaydance Derba, and Sarah Hilliard all had good rookie seasons that gave a taste of their capabilities. Cooper and Hilliard provide size and scoring in the paint and both are excellent rebounders. Derba also has good size to be a tough matchup on the defensive end and is a dangerous three-point shooter who can stretch the floor.
“The Hockomock League, as always brings its share of tough competition, which will help us better prepare for the new standards established for the power rankings needed for the state tournament,” said OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook. “The thing that I am most proud of is the fact that my players have worked tirelessly to improve themselves as players and we are ready to give it our best fight.”
2020-2021 Record: 1-10 Coach: Sandy Lombardi
It is hard to predict what type of season this will be for Sharon because the Eagles will be incorporating so many new faces and many of the players will be experiencing their first full season on varsity. After one win in 2020-21, the Eagles return only one senior on this year’s roster, so there is the potential to spring a few surprises on teams this season.
Trinity Payne is the lone senior for the Eagles. The four-year varsity player is a strong defensive presence and can control the glass, especially on the defensive end. Sharon coach Sandy Lombardi is looking for more offensive punch from Payne this season. Junior point guard Tess Lentendre returns after missing a few games last winter. A leader in the backcourt, Letendre is a three-year varsity player and will help control things on the offensive end.
The rest of the starting five for Sharon will be sophomores. Rachel Hager and Eva Poulton both saw time on varsity last season and play out on the wings. Jasmine Davis didn’t play last year but will start at center and should give Sharon extra size in the middle and should be a force on both ends of the court. Junior forward Emily Freeman is back from last year, but the rest of the Sharon roster are newcomers to the varsity team, although Lombardi is expecting good contributions from the bench.
“The girls have been working hard,” Lombardi said. “We are excited for the season and hopefully we can make some noise in the Hock this year.”
2020-2021 Record: 1-9 Coach: Charmaine Steele Jordan
Last year was a little bit of a transition season for Stoughton, as the Black Knights graduated a lot from a team that was a win away from tournament qualification. An inexperienced Stoughton roster had some growing pains in 2020-21, but with five seniors this year head coach Charmaine Steele Jordan is hoping that last year will set a foundation for this year’s team to build on.
Senior Jess Maddalena is an important returning player for Stoughton. After missing her junior season to an injury, Maddalena will give the Black Knights additional scoring and depth on the wing. Senior guard Kate Bulger will be back to run the offense and provide strong perimeter defense. Senior Vanessa Philemond adds athleticism, energy, and rebounding and her length can be a weapon on both ends of the floor.
In addition to their three captains, the Black Knights will also be hoping for big seasons and lots of leadership from senior guards Makaiyah Singleton Rivera and Evie Lam. Stoughton also has three sophomores, Katrina Varnum, Alyssa Edwards, and Maiya Merritt, and freshman Raina Tat, who will be handling their first full season of varsity basketball this season.
“It’s so good to be back on the hardwood to compete this season,” said Steele Jordan. “We will continue to play hard on both ends of the court this season. I am looking forward to the five seniors taking charge and setting the pace for us. We will play tough, be gritty, and battle until the final buzzer sounds each night in the Hock.”
2020-2021 Record: 0-10 Coach: Amy Siggens
Taunton coach Amy Siggens is in her third year in charge of the program (and second season on the sidelines after not coaching last winter) and she will have a very different looking roster to the one that she first inherited. The Tigers graduated six seniors from last year’s team and there will be a lot of untested players getting their first taste of varsity action this season.
There is excitement about the return of junior guard Kameron St. Pierre. After a breakout rookie season in which she averaged more than 14 points per game, St. Pierre sat out last winter and will be back to carry a heavy load for the Taunton offense. The lefty point guard will get the Tigers into their sets and her long-range shooting should open the floor for teammates.
In addition to St. Pierre, the Tigers will have a host of guards to rotate through. Seniors Braeley McDonald, Kyanna Barros, and Abby Souza will give the Tigers plenty of energy on both ends of the floor and could benefit from the attention paid to St. Pierre to get decent looks from the perimeter. Sophomores Cali Melo and Lexi Haywood also have experience at the varsity level. Inside, Taunton will have several new faces but senior forward Olivia Gannon and junior Sayla DePina bring some size in the paint.
“As we look toward the beginning of this basketball season, caution and patience are the words that ring true for us,” said Siggens. “Baptism under fire is an appropriate description for our girls this season but with enthusiasm, hard work, and a commitment to improving, we have a chance to be competitive in a typically demanding Hockomock League.”
