Tag: Trevor White

Mansfield Kicks Offense Into Gear to Beat Attleboro

Mansfield boys basketball Trevor Foley
Mansfield sophomore Trevor Foley goes up for a layup in the third quarter against Attleboro. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 ATTLEBORO, Mass. — When the Mansfield boys basketball team is moving the ball around, constantly cutting, slashing to the basket, and knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a high clip, it’s like a work of art on the hardwood.

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

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

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

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

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

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

Attleboro Finally Shakes Sharon For Key Road Win

Attleboro boys basketball Trevor White
Attleboro junior Trevor White goes up for a shot over a pair of Sharon players in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 SHARON, Mass. — The Attleboro boys basketball team led from start to finish on the road at Sharon on Tuesday night, but it was far from a comfortable win.

The Bombardiers looked poised to pull away on a number of occasions throughout its 77-68 road win, but just when it appeared Attleboro had a comfortable cushion, the Eagles chipped away to make a game of it.

There was the 13-point lead in the first quarter that shrunk to six in just seconds. And then another double-digit advantage, up 33-22 with less than 90 seconds to go in the half that Sharon quickly cut in half to trail b just five at the halftime break.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The trend continued in the third, with Attleboro’s lead twice ballooning back up to 11, first on a bucket from senior Joe Francois-Annevil (seven points, six rebounds, four assists) on a nice drive to the rim, and then again on a two-handed slam from junior Trevor White to give Attleboro not only a 46-35 but the Bombardiers got the ball back after a block from Alvin Harrison (10 points) on the defensive end.

Instead, it was Sharon who responded with a 12-4 burst. A three-point play from senior Donyae Pierre preceded a triple from sophomore Jacob McLoughlin (10 points). After a couple of stops, Sam Cohen (eight points, five rebounds) sank a triple and a midrange jumper from Matt Baur (22 points, five rebounds, three assists) made it 50-47 with just under two minutes to go in the third.

Jake Struminski had back-to-back finishes in close and White (career-high 31 points, six rebounds) added another one of his two-handed slams to stem the tide with the Bombardiers ahead 56-49 going into the fourth.

Attleboro boys basketball

It was more of a back-and-forth fourth quarter with Harrison, Francois-Annevil, and White finding success attacking the basket for the Bombardiers. Meanwhile, Pierre, Baur, and a three-point play from Will Hippler kept the Eagles close, down 62-56 with five minutes to go.

“We were just inconsistent throughout that game,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “We were really good at times and then they were able to turn us over and they looked really good at times. To their credit, they’ve had a good year so far and played with a lot of confidence. Our lack of understanding time and score in certain situations kind of hurt us.

“We were prepared for their zone and I thought we looked good the last time a team threw that at us but we stopped getting paint touches and relied on the three-point shot. It can obviously help if you’re making them but when you’re not, you have to change your course of action.”

Attleboro tied its largest lead of the game after senior Evan Houle (17 points, seven assists) threaded the needle with a pass through Sharon’s zone to White down on the baseline for a dunk that established a 71-58 lead with three minutes to go.

But a steal and layup from McLoughlin was followed by an off-balance three-pointer from senior John Baez, and after another stop on defense, Baur found McLoughlin for a three, and just like that, it was 71-66 with two minutes to play.

Like it had throughout the game, Attleboro kept its lead. The Bombardiers never let it slip away and hit a couple of key free throws down the stretch to keep the Eagles at bay to secure a 77-68 win.

“It was just our effort, the guys were just grinding,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Ferguson. “We’ve been in a little bit of a slide but we’re just trying to work through our process. We think if we stick to our core values and we work through our process, the results will come. They dug in and they were grinding the entire second half to keep it close. There’s a tremendous amount of belief in this group and they really worked at it.”

Attleboro boys basketball

White proved to be too hard to stop for the Eagles, who were without sophomore big man Nate Katznelson for the season straight game. After not taking a shot in the first quarter and scoring seven points in the second, White sliced through the Sharon defense time and time again to net 13 points in the third quarter and 11 points in the fourth. He finished 11-for-14 from two-point range.

“He’s working hard in practice and I think we’re starting to get more comfortable playing together as a team,” Houle said. “And obviously he’s a big part of that. He’s very talented and has a lot of skillsets that make him a tough match-up for a lot of teams. When he’s running the court, and we can get our inside-out game going, it helps. He did a nice job running the floor and our guys did a nice job finding him there and finding him in the half court too.”

Evan Houle and sophomore Neo Franco (six points, nine assists, three steals) set the tone early for the visitors. Franco had a pair of three-pointers early and a pair of steals while Houle went 4-for-6 from the floor, also connecting on a pair of trifectas. Attleboro, however, only hit one more three the rest of the game, coming off the fingertips of White with 2:27 to go in the second quarter.

Like White, Baur didn’t score in the first quarter but he was Sharon’s leading scorer by halftime. He erupted for eight points in less than two minutes, converting a traditional three-point play, sinking two more free throws, and then drained a three after an offensive rebound from Pierre cut into Attleboro’s lead, 35-30, at halftime.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Sharon continuously cut double-digit deficits down to a two-possession game, getting as close as three near the end of the third and then within five with two minutes to go in the game, but the Eagles were never able to get over the hump and go ahead.

“Trevor White is probably the answer,” Ferguson said of being unable to take the lead. “We just didn’t have an answer for him, he played amazing. Donyae absolutely worked his butt off but when you’re giving up five to six inches to a player like that…Houle hit a couple of threes in the first half to get them going. They’re an unbelievably physical team. I thought our guys battled with them. I thought anytime we needed a stop or a rebound, they were just able to convert and hurt us.”

Attleboro boys basketball (7-2 Hockomock, 9-2 overall) carries a four-game win streak into its home contest with Mansfield on Friday. Sharon (5-4, 7-4) will look to snap its three-game skid when it hosts rival Stoughton on the same night,

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/21/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
King Philip, 41 @ Attleboro, 76 – Final – Attleboro got off to a blistering start with 27 points in the opening quarter, and kept its foot on the pedal with 20 more points in the second on its way to a big win over King Philip. Alvin Harrison scored all nine of his points in the opening quarter, one of six Bombarders to hit a shot from the field as the hosts established a 27-11 lead after just eight minutes. Junior Trevor White accounted for four of Attleboro’s nine made three-pointers, including three in the opening half that led to a 47-23 halftime lead. White finished with a game-high 20 points, Evan Houle added 13 points, including a trio of trifectas, and sophomore Neo Franco chipped in with nine points. Will Laplante led King Philip with 11 points.

Sharon, 51 @ Canton, 59 – Final – Canton exploded for 21 points in the third quarter to surge ahead of Sharon and held on to land an upset win over the visiting Eagles. Trailing 27-25 at halftime, five different Bulldogs hit field goals, including a pair of threes from Jacob Solomon, to help the hosts stake a 46-38 lead going into the fourth. Canton was held to just one field goal in the fourth but went 10-for-12 from the free throw line to stay ahead. Senior Lanse Dorcelus score a game-high 17 points, going 9-for-10 from the free throw line to lead the charge offensively while Solomon finished with nine points. Junior Jack Bates scored a team-high 11 points for the Eagles while classmate Matt Baur added 10 points.

Foxboro, 56 @ Oliver Ames, 65 – Final – Oliver Ames built a lead in the first quarter and added enough cushion in the second quarter to keep Foxboro at bay throughout the remainder of the game to get back into the win column, snapping a three-game skid. The Tigers got a balanced scoring attack with nine players registering points, and OA found success attacking the basket with 22 two-point field goals compared to just a pair of three-pointers. After just two points in the first half, junior Zach Tagliamonte got it going in the second to finish with a game-high 18 points. MJ Jean-Baptiste added 12 points and Drew Baxter had 10 for OA, which led 15-10 after one quarter, 30-18 at halftime, and 44-35 going into the final frame. Foxboro’s offense came alive in the second half, hitting on all eight of its three-pointers but couldn’t close the gap. Senior Dylan Gordon and juniors Sam Golub and Alex Penders all finished with 13 points apiece.

Milford, 34 @ Franklin, 77 – Final – Franklin poured in 21 points in the first quarter and never looked back in a big win over visiting Milford. Junior Justin Allen hit half of his four three-pointers in the first quarter, sophomore Henry Digiorgio hit had one of his game-high five three-pointers in the opening quarter, and senior Sean Vinson also hit from deep as the Panthers established a 21-9 lead after one, and pushed the lead to 40-17 at half after hitting five more threes in the second, including one from freshman Caden Sullivan. Digiorgio finished with a game-high 21 points, Allen had 16 points, Vinson finished at 10 points, and junior Geino Scaringello chipped in with 10 second half points.

Taunton, 59 @ Mansfield, 56 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

North Attleboro, 48 @ Stoughton, 46 – Final – Junior Jack Munley had a big block late and North Attleboro hit just enough free throws down the stretch to score an upset on the road at Stoughton. Stoughton led by one possession at halftime (23-20) and at the end of the third quarter (34-32) but the Rocketeers pulled even late and went ahead on free throws in the final minute. Freshman Ryan Bannon tied the game with a free throw before Stoughton went back ahead with one of their own. Senior Brody Rosenberg (game-high 16 points) went 2-for-2 at the line to put North ahead, 47-46, with 13 seconds to go and Munley came up with a big block on the other end to get the ball back. Junior Givany Carney (11 points) gave North a two-point lead with a free throw with five seconds to go, and Stoughton’s last-second three was off the mark. Senior Connor Andrews had a team-high 13 points while sophomore Liam Pearl added 11 points for the Black Knights.










Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 49 @ King Philip, 45 – Final – Meghan Gordon scored eight of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, as Attleboro rallied to pick up a road win and extend its streak to six straight victories. Attleboro led 28-18 at halftime, but the Warriors stormed out of the break, holding the Bombardiers to just four points in the third to take the lead. The visitors took the fourth quarter 17-11 to pull it out despite only making five field goals in the second half. Lindsey Perry added 11 points, including seven in the first, and Kayla Goldrick scored eight in the win. Emily Sawyer paced KP with 16 points, scoring six in each of the second and third quarters. Julia Marsden scored 10 and Liv Lafond finished with seven for the Warriors.

Canton, 66 @ Sharon, 33 – Final – Kiara Cerruti and Sydney Gallery each scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs to a sixth straight win. Cerruti added five rebounds and two assists and Gallery had six boards. Fay Gallery scored nine points and had five steals, while Emily McCabe chipped in with nine rebounds, five assists, and five steals and Marissa Staffiere had four assists. Samya DaSilva had four points and five rebounds and also played lockdown defense on Sharon star sophomore Jasmine Davis, holding her to four points and without a made basket.

Oliver Ames, 65 @ Foxboro, 30 – Final – Oliver Ames raced out to a 35-9 lead by halftime and controlled the game from start to finish to secure a key division win over Foxboro. “We played great defense, and controlled the glass at both ends and got great finishes…it was a total team effort,” said OA head coach Laney Holbrook. Senior Caroline Peper led the offense with 18 points while Hailey Bourne provided a big spark with a season-high 12 points. Sophomore Jasmyn Cooper added 12 points, 11 rebounds, and seven steals while classmate Kaydance Derba added nine points.

Franklin, 62 @ Milford, 19 – Final – Franklin held Milford to six or fewer points in each quarter to continue its win streak. The Panthers jumped out to a 23-4 lead after the first and then extended the lead to 41-9 by halftime. Katie Peterson and Olivia Quinn each scored 11 to lead the Panthers and Stefany Padula added 10, as a dozen Franklin players got on the board. Maeve Driscoll led Milford with six, all in the fourth quarter on a pair of threes. Maddalena Mannucci Pacini and Brooke Ferreira each scored four.

Mansfield, 72 @ Taunton, 62 – Final – Mansfield survived a Taunton fourth quarter comeback and won a shootout at the Raboiun Field House to make it three straight victories. Bridget Hanley led the way for the Hornets with a career-high 27 points, knocking down six of Mansfield’s 13 threes. Kameron St. Pierre was Taunton’s top scorer, finishing with a game-high 35 and making six threes of her own. The Hornets jumped out to a 42-128 lead by halftime and added three more to the lead after the third quarter, but Taunton responded with 25 points in the fourth to cut the lead back to 10. Abby Wager added 16 points for the Hornets, all but one coming in the first half, and Natalya Gill scored 11. Kara Santos chipped in with nine, including six in the fourth. Jillian Doherty scored eight and Abby Souza had seven in the loss.

Stoughton, 43 @ North Attleboro, 54 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 6 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final

Wrestling
Silver Lake Quad (Oliver Ames), 4:00

Swimming
Canton @ Sharon, 7:30 (@ North YMCA)
Stoughton @ Foxboro, 6:00
Taunton @ Milford, 4:00

Gymnastics
Franklin, 147.0 @ Attleboro, 140.6 – Final
Taunton @ Mansfield, 7:30

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/18/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Stoughton, 65 @ Attleboro, 88 – Final – Attleboro junior Trevor White scored 10 of his career-high 27 points in the opening quarter, helping the Bombardiers establish a double-digit lead it never relinquished against Stoughton. The Bombardiers scored over 20 points in three of the four quarters, racing out to a 24-9 lead after one period. Attleboro carried a 38-25 lead into the locker room at halftime, and then White added 10 more points in the third, hitting a total of four three-pointers. Evan Houle added a trio of three-pointers on his way to 19 points while sophomore Neo Franco had one three and finished with nine points. Joe Francois-Annevil hit four shots from the field and finished with 11 points for the hosts, who carried a 61-44 lead into the final frame. Stoughton senior Connor Andrews went 12-for-13 at the line and hit nine shots from the field for a career-high 31 points while junior Rayan Sablon added 13 points for the Black Knights, who were limited to just five three-pointers.

Canton, 68 @ King Philip, 56 – Final – Canton senior Lanse Dorcelus scored half of his career-high 30 points in the final frame as the Bulldogs pulled away from King Philip in the second half for a key crossover win. Dorcelus had a team-high 15 points going into the final frame, with his squad holding a 45-38 advantage. He hit a three early, added three field goals from two-point range, and then went 6-for-7 from the line to help secure the win. Nate Mei added four of his 10 points in the fourth while senior Dillon Nguyen scored all 11 of his point through the first three quarters. King Philip, who was tied with the visitors 26-26 at halftime, got a team-high 16 points from Braeden Sottile while classmate Danny Clancy added 14 points for the Warriors, who ended up with just five three-pointers and went just 5-for-12 from the free throw line.

Foxboro, 53 @ Franklin, 78 – Final – Franklin opened the game with a big run, established a double-digit advantage by halftime, and never looked back in a win over visiting Foxboro. A strong start led to a 19-point first quarter for the hosts with Will Tracey (eight points) and Andrew O’Neill (12 points) each connecting from deep, and sophomore Sean O’Leary accounting for six of his 10 points. Sophomore Henry Digiorgio (16 points) hit a trio of threes in the second as Franklin took a 35-23 lead into the locker room. Tracey and classmate Sean Vinson (14 points) added threes in the third and O’Neill had seven more points to keep the Panthers ahead, leading 59-38 going into the fourth. Foxboro senior Dylan Gordon had a team-high 12 points while Sam Golub added 10 points for the Warriors.

Sharon, 48 @ Mansfield, 69 – Final – Mansfield’s lead grew at the end of each quarter, culminating in a 23-point fourth quarter to secure a 69-48 win over Sharon, snapping the Eagles’ five-game win streak. Senior Andrew Slaney (11 points), senior Jack Lasbury-Casey (eight points), and junior Dante James (six points) each connected from three-point range to help the hosts build a 12-8 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The lead grew to 27-20 by halftime and then a 19-point third quarter, featuring buckets from Caden Colby, Trevor Foley, and Anthony Sachetti, helped the Hornets push the lead to 40-30 heading into the final frame. Senior Matt Hyland put the game away, scoring 11 of his game-high 25 points in the final frame to help Mansfield pull away. Sophomore Nate Katznelson had a team-high 14 points while junior Matt Baur added all 12 of his points in the second half for the Eagles, who ended up connecting on just one three-pointer coming in the third quarter.

North Attleboro, 53 @ Milford, 50 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Oliver Ames, 56 @ Taunton, 86 – Final – It was a game to remember for senior Trent Santos, leading Taunton to a big win at home over visiting Oliver Ames. Santos etched his name into the record books, connecting on 11 three-pointers on his way to a career-high 46 points. After just five points in the opening quarter, Trent took center stage. He hit five three-pointers in the second quarter alone, adding five free throws as well for 25 points in the first half, helping his Tigers to a 42-30 lead. The three-point barrage continued after halftime as Trent hit three more in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to get to 46 points. Taunton held an 18-10 lead after one quarter and a 60-43 edge after three quarters of action. Sophomore Troy Santos had a career-high 15 points while senior Faisal Mass added 11 points. Oliver Ames junior Zach Tagliamonte hit 11 shots from the field to finish with a team-high 25 points while senior Drew Baxter added 11 points.










Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 70 @ Stoughton, 27 – Final – Attleboro’s offense continues to fire on all cylinders, as the Bombardier scored 40 points in the first half to take a big lead that it wouldn’t relinquish. The Bombardiers jumped out to a 20-2 lead after the first quarter and then added another 20 in the second to go into the break up 40-15. Attleboro continued its strong defense in the second half, holding the Black Knights to just 12 points after the break. Meghan Gordon led all scorers with 14 and Lindsey Perry added 12. Kayla Goldrick scored eight, while Lilian Froio and Vanessa Ellis each had seven for Attleboro, which got points from each player on the roster. Vanessa Phelimond and Evie Lam each had five to lead Stoughton.

King Philip, 39 @ Canton, 56 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Franklin, 51 @ Foxboro, 47 – Final – Franklin’s unbeaten run nearly came to an end at Foxboro, but the Panthers rallied from three points down with two minutes to play to remain in first place in the Kelley-Rex. After Foxboro took a one-point lead after the first, Franklin scored 20 in the second to take a 29-24 lead into the locker room. The Warriors won the third to send the game into the final quarter tied. Camryn Collins had a career-high 21 points, including 10 in the third quarter, to lead all scorers. Erin Foley added 13 and knocked down four threes, while Hannah Blake scored all seven of her points in the fourth to help Foxboro take a late lead. Stefany Padula scored eight of her 12 points in the fourth, making 6-of-8 from the line, to help Franklin pull out the win. Katie Peterson and Olivia Quinn each scored 11 points in the win, with 19 of their combined 22 coming in the opening half.

Mansfield, 58 @ Sharon, 29 – Final – Mansfield clamped down defensively in the second half, limiting Sharon to just nine points and turning a close game into a big win. The Hornets led 28-20 heading into the locker room, but came out with a 19-4 third quarter to break the game wide open. Kara Santos scored eight of her 12 points in that third quarter run and Hallie Popat added four of her dozen points to lead Mansfield. Abby Wager chipped in with 10 points, eight in the first half, and Anna Darlington scored all eight of her points before halftime. Rachael Hager led the Eagles with 12 points, all coming on threes in the first half, as she scored 12 of Sharon’s 20 before the break. Jasmine Davis added eight points, scoring a basket in each quarter.

Milford, 41 @ North Attleboro, 30 – Final – Milford made its free throws down the stretch and limited North to just five points in the fourth quarter to pick up its first league win of the season. Jill Araujo and Maddalena Mannucci Pacini each scored 11 points to lead the Hawks. Summer Doherty scored a game-high 15 for the Rocketeers. Milford led 22-17 at halftime but North cut the lead to just two by holding the Hawks to three points in the third. The Hawks turned the tables in the fourth, outscoring the hosts 14-5 over the final eight minutes.

Taunton, 44 @ Oliver Ames, 86 – Final – Oliver Ames scored 53 points in the second half, turning a six-point game into a big win. Taunton made a game of it, keeping close with the hosts and trailed 33-27 at the break. OA got on track in the third and pulled away for the big win. OA senior Caroline Peper led all scorers with 22 points along with five assists while sophomores Kaydance Derba (19 points) and Jasmyn Cooper (13 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists) both had big games for the hosts. Kameron St. Pierre continued her strong season for the Tigers, scoring a team-high 17 points. Abby Souza added 14 points and Cali Melo scored nine in the loss.

Swimming
Franklin @ King Philip, 7:00

Gymnastics
Franklin, 144.2 @ Oliver Ames, 140.55 – Final – Franklin seniors Kate Rudolph and Emma White took the top two spots in the All Around category to help the Panthers land a win over Oliver Ames. Rudolph was first with a score of 37.4 and White was right behind at 36.4. Rudolph was first in the bars (8.85) and the beam (9.5) while taking second in the vault (9.6) and the floor (9.45). White was the winner for the vault (9.7) and the floor (9.7), taking second on the beam (9.0), and fourth on the bars at 8.0. Lizzie Brown added a third place finish on the vault (9.2), Elizabeth Schirduan was third on the bars (8.2) and the beam (9.0), Emma Nelson recorded a 9.0 on the vault and a 8.4. on the bars, and Caroline Woelfel scored key points in the vault (9.1), the beam (8.9), and the floor (8.85).

Franklin Rides Second Half Surge Past Attleboro

Franklin boys basketball Sean Vinson
Franklin senior Sean Vinson goes up for a layup against Attleboro in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 FRANKLIN, Mass. – Franklin sophomore Sean O’Leary rallied the Panthers back into the game and senior Sean Vinson put on the finishing touch.

Franklin overcame a slow second quarter, surged past the Bombardiers in the third, and stayed ahead for good in the fourth for a 52-47 win over visiting Attleboro.

The Panthers went without points for the final seven minutes of the first half, seeing a seven-point lead turn into a nine-point deficit by halftime.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

O’Leary, who had a strong first quarter but was held scoreless in the second, exploded for 17 of his career-high 23 points in the second half. He scored 12 points in the third, helping the Panthers to a 14-point swing and a 38-33 lead going into the fourth.

Clinging to a two-point edge, 46-44, with just over two minutes remaining, Vinson hauled in an offensive rebound after a missed three. The ball kicked around until it found Justin Allen in the corner, who quickly made the extra pass to Vinson for a three-pointer that gave the Panthers a two-possession lead.

“We were discombobulated in that second quarter, guys were just chucking the ball everywhere and there was too much dribbling,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “I told them at halftime, we couldn’t have guys taking turns going one-on-one, we’re not about that. We move the ball, swing it around, get a reversal, get a paint touch…but we were just dribbling too much.

“But we moved it around much better in the second half. We started to cut better, we were standing around too much in the first. It’s one thing to keep space but you want to make sure you’re moving around to keep the defense active.”

The Panthers got back-to-back stops before Evan Houle (11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) sank a contested corner three with 22.8 seconds to go, making it 49-47.

Franklin boys basketball

Franklin sophomore Andrew O’Neill was fouled off the ensuing inbounds play and made both ends of his one-and-one situation. The Panthers forced a turnover on Attleboro’s next possession and Allen added a free throw in the final seconds to ice it.

The hosts built a 14-10 lead after a quarter that featured back-and-forth scoring from both sides. Will Tracey hit a free throw and then set up Allen on a drive to the basket within the first minute as the Panthers’ advantage grew to 17-10. But that was all the scoring for the rest of the half for Franklin.

Franklin boys basketball

Junior Trevor White (11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks) had five straight and a three from Houle put the visitors ahead. Alvin Harrison (four points, 10 rebounds, two steals), Colin Morais (14 points), White, and Houle each scored two to complete a 16-0 run that had the Bombardiers ahead 26-17 at the break.

A pair of free throws from Morais gave Attleboro its largest lead at 28-18 but O’Leary sparked the Panthers’ offense with a putback plus the foul. Ben Harvey found Henry Digiorgio (11 points, six rebounds) for a three after a turnover and then O’Leary drained a three of his own to make it a one-point game.

Morais kept the visitors ahead with a crafty finish but Harvey took a pass from John Brighamm for a corner three to tie it. Houle’s putback plus the foul put Attleboro back in front but O’Leary found Digiorgio for a triple that put Franklin in front for good at 35-33.

O’Leary ended the third quarter by coming up with an offensive rebound and finishing the putback through contact for a three-point play with 0.7 seconds to go, putting the Panthers up 38-33.

“O’Leary had a huge second half, he’s a really versatile guy too,” Neely said. “If you put someone smaller on him, he can play in the post and if you put a bigger guy on him, he can step out and hit the three. He’s the ultimate competitor, he had a big half.”

Franklin boys basketball

Franklin extended its lead when O’Leary went into the post and scored off a nice move but Attleboro sophomore Neo Franco answered with a three to keep the Bombardiers close.

O’Leary (11 rebounds) and Allen each hit a three in the next three possessions to extend the lead to 46-38 with four minutes to play. Morais hit a three then scored at the rim, and White had a free throw to make it 46-44, setting up Vinson’s big shot.

“He’s always competing,” Neely said of Vinson, the lone starting senior. “Sometimes things might not be going his way, or his shot might not be falling but he never stops competing on both ends of the floor. He wants it so bad for everyone. He’s a great leader for us in the locker room, says all the right things in the huddle. He just goes out there and battles, even if he’s having an off night. He took a lot of pride in guarding White, I thought he did a good job making it hard on him. And then obviously that shot was huge.”

Attleboro shot well in the fourth quarter (4-for-7) but had more turnovers (8) than field goal attempts. The Bombarders also shot under 30% from three-point range.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“Our biggest thing right now is we’re having a hard time shooting,” said Attleboro head coach Mark Houle. “Our offense isn’t where it needs to be. Defensively we’ve been decent, doing some good things on that end but we need to be able to score the ball. They did a good job defending but we did have some good looks we didn’t finish. They had the run to start the second half and we never really responded. That was a big turning point.

“We have confidence in our guys, I thought we had some good looks tonight but we’ll keep working at it. We’ve played in two away gyms, sometimes you get back to your gym and get a little confidence. Two tough games to start on the road so we’re getting battled-tested early.”

Franklin boys basketball (2-0 Hock, 2-0 overall) is home again on Monday, hosting Oliver Ames (1-1). Attleboro (1-1, 1-1) has its first home game of the season on the same night, entertaining rival North Attleboro (0-1).

Boys Basketball: Ten Players to Watch in 2021-2022

2021-2022 Boys Basketball Players to Watch
Foxboro’s Dylan Gordon is coming off a successful junior campaign and could be poised for another big year. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Player are listed alphabetically

Connor Andrews, Senior – Stoughton

There were a lot of new faces for Stoughton last season, both on and off the court, during head coach Evan Taylor’s first season at the helm. One player that really emerged as the season went on was guard Connor Andrews. He started the season off mostly as a weapon from the outside but as the year went on, he really progressed and became a more complete player. On top of his accurate shooting from outside, he can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim, and he isn’t afraid of contact. After scoring in single digits in the first seven games, he reached double figures in three of the final six games. What really stood out was his effort off the ball. He never was the tallest player on the floor but he was always hustling and fighting for rebounds, raising the intensity level on the court. Andrews had a big offseason and could be one of the most dangerous players on the offensive end of the court this year.

Matt Baur, Junior – Sharon

We saw glimpses of what Sharon junior Matt Baur was capable of in stretches last season, and now he’s poised for a breakout year with a full slate of games on tap. Baur was third in scoring overall with 8.8 points per game but had a stretch where he scored in double figures in four straight games, leading the Eagles in scoring in three of those games. Now with solid varsity experience under his belt, and a strong offseason that had a strong emphasis on basketball, Sharon is looking for Baur to lead the way on both ends of the court. He is a confident ball handler that doesn’t shy away from creating his own shot and does a nice job attacking the rim and finding ways to finish through contact. Sharon is looking to be a serious contender for the Davenport title this year and if they get there, Baur will be a big reason why.










2021-2022 Boys Basketball Players to Watch

Drew Baxter, Senior – Oliver Ames

It’s no secret who Oliver Ames’ first option on the offensive end of the floor last season. The team’s leading scorer, and co-Davenport division MVP, Amari Brown tormented a lot of opposing defenses throughout the season. But as the year went on, and defenses tried to force the Tigers into other options, Drew Baxter stepped up. Over the final five games of the season, Baxter averaged 11.2 points per game to help OA close out the Davenport division title. With Brown gone, and a lot of new faces in the mix for the Tigers, Baxter will be a reliable and consistent piece for Oliver Vil, who is in his first year at the helm of the program. Baxter is a tough matchup because of his ability to score in a variety of ways. He always seems to be involved on the defensive end, getting a lot of deflections and steals. And that translated to a lot of easy points for him and his teammates.

Henry Digiorgio, Sophomore – Franklin

Franklin will be in need of some new players to step on the offensive end after graduating its top three scorers from last year, all three averaging double figures. One player that is a potential candidate to take on an expanded role is sophomore Henry Digiorgio. Digiorgio made a splash on varsity last season as a freshman. The sample size at the varsity level is relatively small, but he showed what he’s capable of, scoring 15 points in the season opener a year ago. That trend continued this year as he dropped a career-high 27 points in a season-opening win over Canton. He’s certainly one to watch from beyond the three-point line but his game goes beyond just shooting. The challenge this year will be scoring at a consistent level throughout the season against some of the top defenses around.




Dylan Gordon, Senior – Foxboro

With an entirely new lineup last year, there were a lot of questions surrounding Foxboro. It didn’t take long for Dylan Gordon to step up and take on a big role on the offensive end of the court. In his first season playing at the varsity level, Gordon averaged 16 points per game, good for sixth overall in the Hockomock League. He’s also the second-highest scorer to return this year and the Warriors have high expectations after getting their feet wet during a difficult 2020-2021 season. Gordon is not shy with the ball in his hands and has a great combination of size and athleticism that makes him a difficult matchup, especially when he can get down hill and attack the basket. Gordon is coming off a superb season on the gridiron and will be looking to carry that success onto the hardwood.

2021-2022 Boys Basketball Players to Watch

Matt Hyland, Senior – Mansfield

Mansfield had one of the most well-rounded players on the roster last year in 1,000-point scorer, and anytime someone hits that milestone, you know they are getting a lot of looks offensively. With Boen and his league-leading 24.3 points per game gone, there will be a lot of shots up for grabs for the Hornets. One candidate to see a big increase is senior guard Matty Hyland, who really did a nice job running the show from the point guard position last year. He really started to get it going just as the season came to an end, averaging just under 15 points per game over the final three contests. It seemed like when the Hornets needed someone to make a big shot, he was there. It will be interesting to see how this season unfolds with more opportunities offensively.

2021-2022 Boys Basketball Players to Watch

Will Laplante, Junior – King Philip

There were a lot of questions surrounding who was going to step up in the absence of Alex Fritz, who led the Hock in scoring two seasons ago. In his first varsity game, Will Laplante answered those questions pretty quickly after dropping 18 points. He then finished the second with five straight games scoring over 20 points to finish the season at 16.4 points per game, good for fifth in the Hock. Laplante can light it up from downtown, even extending his range from a step or two from behind the line. The challenge this season will be finding ways to score with opposing defenses keying in a bit more after Laplante exploded onto the scene last year. Any time a team starts to gameplan for you, you know you’ve done something right.




Brody Rosenberg, Senior – North Attleboro

North Attleboro senior captain Brody Rosenberg enters the season as one of the most seasoned players in the Hockomock League, entering his third year starting for the Rocketeers. Rosenberg has developed a reputation for his defense and unselfish play, but he’s shown he can add a scoring punch when needed. That might be called upon more so this year as North looks to fill the scoring void left by its graduating seniors. He can get hot from downtown and when his shooting is on point, the rest of the Big Red offense seems to run a bit smoother. He’s tough to get by on the defensive end, his good footwork and positioning translating over from the pitch to the hardwood. Look for Rosenberg to be a big spark on both ends of the floor.

Trent Santos, Senior – Taunton

Taunton had three good choices for players to make this list with Trent Santos, Tristan Herry, and Faisal Mass — all starters from last year’s squad that won the Kelley-Rex division title for the first time ever. Santos was the leading score

2021-2022 Boys Basketball Players to Watch

Trevor White, Junior – Attleboro

Trevor White burst onto the landscape of the Hockomock League last year and will be one of the toughest matchups on both ends of the court this year. At 6’5, White isn’t just a player that lives in the post. He can step out and hit the three, and he’s a tough stop when he puts the ball on the floor and attacks the rim. He can obviously play inside and cause mismatch problems too. He really impressed with his athleticism on the defensive side of the floor, coming up with some big blocks throughout the year. White has had a big offseason and he will be one of the main pieces for Mark Houle as the Bombardiers graduated their leading scorer in Justin Daniels. White pairs with Evan Houle as a dangerous tandem on the offensive end of the court.

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Attleboro

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

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

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

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

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

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

Canton

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

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

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

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

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

Foxboro

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

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

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

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

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

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







2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Franklin

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

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

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

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

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

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

King Philip

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

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

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

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

“The boys have really committed this offseason,” said DeStefano, who is hoping a combination of athleticism and physicality lead to success this year. “The practices so far have been really competitive and physical. We know that everyone in this league can score the ball and if we want to be successful we are going to have to commit on the defensive end of the floor. We want to make our opponents uncomfortable and focus on working together to get stops. On offense, we are looking to have a balanced attack and create great scoring opportunities as a team.”

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Mansfield

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

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

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

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

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

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




Milford

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

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

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

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

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

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

North Attleboro

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oliver Ames

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

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

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

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

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

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




2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Sharon

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stoughton

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

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

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

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

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

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

taunton

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

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

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

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

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

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

2021-2022 Hockomock Boys Basketball Preview

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/10/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Oliver Ames, 43 @ North Attleboro, 48 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Foxboro, 58 @ Canton, 46 – Final – Foxboro opened the second half with an 8-0 run, doubling its lead in the process, and never looked back in a win on the road over Canton. Foxboro’s slim (13-10) lead after eight minutes grew to 25-17 by the halftime break, and its strong start to the third quarter pushed the advantage to 16 and the Warriors never surrendered their advantage, carrying a 42-26 lead into the fourth. Junior Dylan Gordon scored 15 of his 17 points in the middle quarters while sophomore Alex Penders recorded 13 of his 17 points in the second half. Sam Golub had a strong night from downtown, hitting four three-pointers for 12 points for the Warriors. Eric Mischler led Canton with 13 points while classmate Ryan Connerney added 12 points.

Milford, 32 @ Attleboro, 59 – Final – Attleboro’s defense limited the visiting Scarlet Hawks to single digits in the scoring column in each of the four quarters to earn a big win. The Bombardiers held a 10-7 lead after one quarter of action but had a successful second quarter on both ends of the court to seize a 28-16 halftime lead. Junior Evan Houle set a new career-high with 20 points, including 14 points in the first half. Houle added two more threes in the third as the Bombardiers saw their lead balloon to 41-23. Sophomore Trevor White added 12 points in the win.




Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 71 @ Taunton, 49 – Final – It was just a four-point game after one, but Attleboro used a 22-8 second quarter to break it open and pick up the road win. Meghan Gordon had a monster game for the Bombardiers with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Emma Reilly chipped in with 15 and freshman point guard Narissa Smith added seven points and eight assists. Sonya Fernandez had a big game for the Tigers, scoring 21 points in the loss. Kristy Gorman and Kyanna Barros both scored six points for Taunton.

North Attleboro, 37 @ Oliver Ames, 65 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. With the win, OA clinched at least a share of the Davenport division title. The Tigers can now win it outright with a victory in either of its final two games. Caroline Peper paced OA with 15 points and five steals and Kelsey Yelle added 10 points. The Tigers also got great performances from their trio of freshmen – Kaydance Derba (10 points and five rebounds), Sarah Hilliard (nine points and five rebounds), and Jasmyn Cooper (six points, eight rebounds, and five assists). OA used a 14-2 to grab a nine-point lead after one and then scored 20 in the second quarter to lead by 20 at halftime. North got no closer than 17 points in the second half. The Rocketeers were shorthanded with leading scorer Amanda Kaiser among the players out on Wednesday, but Ava McKeon picked up the scoring slack with a team-high 14, including seven in the first. Cailyn Maxcy added 10 points and Taylor McMath had six.

Milford, 39 @ Sharon, 33 – Final

Boys Hockey
Attleboro @ Taunton, 6:00
Canton, 5 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final
Oliver Ames, 0 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final

Girls Hockey
King Philip, 4 @ Canton, 2 – Final – King Philip goalie Mallory Johnston made 24 saves as the Warriors snapped Canton’s 19-game unbeaten streak, dating back to January 2020. KP took a 1-0 lead in the first period and added two more in the second period to build a 3-1 lead. Avari Maxwell had two goals for KP while Kelly Holmes and Sydney O’Shea each had a goal and two assists in the win.

Swimming
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro

Gymnastics
King Philip @ Taunton, 8:30
Oliver Ames vs. Attleboro, 7:30 (Virtual)
Attleboro vs. Mansfield, 7:30 (Virtual)
Oliver Ames vs. Mansfield, 7:30 (Virtual)

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/30/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
King Philip, 56 @ Attleboro, 73 – Final – King Philip had a strong push in the second quarter to make it a five-point game at halftime but Attleboro never surrendered its lead and picked up a win over the visiting Warriors. Attleboro jumped out to a 25-12 lead after a quarter but KP responded with an 18-point second quarter to cut the deficit to 35-30 at halftime. Attleboro had another big offensive quarter with 23 points in the third to pull away for the win. Sophomore Trevor White had a team-high 18 points for the Bombardiers while Evan Houle added 13 points and Justin Daniels finished with 10 points. King Philip sophomore Will Laplante scored a game-high 21 points.

Girls Basketball
King Philip, 60 @ Attleboro, 78 – Final – After scoring 10 points in the first quarter, Attleboro exploded for 26 in the second, turning an eight-point deficit into an eight-point halftime lead. The Bombardiers didn’t slow down from there, scoring 42 points in the second half to run out to a big division win. Meghan Gordon led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but Attleboro had a balanced attack in the win. Ryan Johnson had 16 points and eight boards and freshman Narissa Smith had 16 points (14 in the second half) and 10 assists. Emma Reilly added eight points during the second quarter comeback. Caroline Aaron had 17 points and Elizabeth Molla added 11 for the Warriors. Attleboro coach Marty Crowley called it a “good win against a very good team – total team victory.”

Boys Hockey
Franklin, 6 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Franklin scored three unanswered goals in the second period to pull away from the Hornets for a season sweep. The Panthers built a 2-1 lead after a period, getting a pair of goals from Justin Magazu (with Dylan Marchand assisting on both). In the second, Conor O’Neill (from Sean Connelly and Declan Lovett) made it 3-1 and Ryan Sicchio scored back-to-back goals for a 5-1 edge. In the third, Lovett found the back of the net with O’Neill and Connelly earning assists. Gary Mandia made 15 saves in net for the win.

Stoughton, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Stoughton/Brockton skated to its first win of the season with a 4-1 decision over Taunton. Sophomore Charlie Caputo paced the Knights’ offense with a pair of goals while senior Kyle Cruickshank and freshman Colby Strunk each scored once. Sophomore Chris Andrade made 24 saves in net for Stoughton/Brockton to earn the win.

Gymnastics
Attleboro, 134.5 @ Franklin, 141.5 – Final – Franklin added another win to its total this season after the results were examined from their virtual meet against Attleboro. The Panthers competed last week while the Bombardiers were in action on Friday night. Emma White took first in three of four events (vault, bars, floor) while Kate Heun had the top score on the beam (8.95) for the Panthers.

North Attleboro @ Sharon, 6:00

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/27/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 52 @ Canton, 48 – Final – For the second time in three days, Attleboro and Canton went back-and-forth with not much separating the sides, and once again, the Bombardiers emerged with a close win. Attleboro held slim leads at the end of the first quarter (14-12) and the third quarter (36-35), the teams were tied at 24-24 at halftime. Junior Evan Houle sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to help secure the win while senior Justin Daniels scored five of his seven points in the fourth, including the Bombardiers’ first three since the first quarter. Sophomore Trevor White had a breakout game for the visitors, scoring a career-high 21 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Canton senior Ryan Connerney paced rhe Bulldogs with a career-best 18 points while Steven Burbank added nine points.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 7 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Attleboro, 5 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

North Attleboro, 5 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final

Girls Hockey
Stoughton @ Franklin – Postponed to TBD.

Boys Swimming
Taunton @ Milford, 3:30
Oliver Ames @ Canton, 3:30
Attleboro, 73 @ King Philip, 95 – Final – For Attleboro, Sydney Dorval was a double winner in individual races and was apart of the 200 free relay. Dorval took first in the 200 IM and 100 fly and was joined by Ella Lynch-Bartek (first in 100 free), Brenna O’Connell (first in 50 free) and Natalia Kotnisz to win the 200 free relay.

Girls Swimming
Taunton @ Milford, 3:30
Oliver Ames @ Canton, 3:30
Attleboro, 115 @ King Philip, 51 – Final – Attleboro’s Matt Marcil, Ryan Connors, and Ben Connors each won a pair of individual races and were apart of two relay wins to help the Bombardiers score a win over King Philip. Marcil won the 100 back and 100 free, Ryan Connors touched first in the butterfly and the 200 IM, and Ben Connors won the 50 free and the 100 breast. Those three swimmers were joined by Colton Mangion to win both the 200 free and 200 medley relays.

Gymnastics
Mansfield @ Sharon, 1:30