ACTON, Mass. — Rick Kilpatrick knew his team struggled in the second half. He just didn’t realize what kind of drought his team actually went on.
Acton-Boxboro (16-1) didn’t record a field goal for 9:07 to begin the second half, but still hung on to defeat Westford Academy 59-53 last night at Regan Gymnasium in a battle of Dual County League large division heavyweights.
There was almost a look of disbelief, maybe a little shock, when Kilpatrick found out just how long his team went without a field goal.
“I did not realize that,” said Kilpatrick. “I’d say that we probably don’t win the game. You aren’t going to win many games like that. Obviously we were very fortunate. The thing that we talked about more than anything was our defense and making stops and not giving up second shots. … The fact that we went that long without a made basket means that defensively that’s what held us up.”
The Colonials got five free throws in the third quarter and held the Grey Ghosts to eight points in the period to take a 39-35 lead after three. Jake Pilecki finally broke the span with a lay-in with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter to push the Colonials lead to seven and that seemed to settle the rest of the team moving forward.
The hosts scored 11 of the next 16 points as Kevin LaFrancis got back to work on the inside to get to the hoop and get to the line.
“To be honest I didn’t know we had no field goals in the third,” said Pilecki, who finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists. “That’s a tough stat. We kind of got stagnant off the ball and weren’t moving like we were in the first half. We were taking quick shots, but we got better at the end, which is what counts.”
Seniors step up: There were two big buckets by LaFrancis (17 points, 15 rebounds) and A.J. Gotthelf that helped seal the victory for the Colonials, who can claim the DCL Large with a win over Lincoln-Sudbury.
The Colonials had a tough time establishing LaFrancis in the post during the entire third quarter, but after the drought ended they were able to get him back-to-back touches in his comfort zone.
Joey Flannery fed LaFrancis on the low left block, and the 6-foot-6-inch center moved in, took the contact and finished with the whistle blaring for a possible 3-point play. LaFrancis sank the freebie and gave the Colonials a 47-39 lead with 6:03 left in the game.
“That was big,” said Kilpatrick. “They were right on the verge and (LaFrancis) has done that for us all year. He makes the big baskets at the big times, and we wanted to get the ball inside to him and we did. It paid off there.”
Gotthelf is about a foot shorter that LaFrancis, but his bucket may have been the bigger, game-finisher with under two minutes to go. Gotthelf had an offensive rebound come right to him and he looked around for someone to feed the ball too. When he realized he was left all alone he fired up a 3-pointer and found nothing but net to help stop a 6-0 run by the Grey Ghosts.
“I was on the other side of the court and I saw the look in his eye and I was like ‘No, don’t shoot it,’” Pilecki said with a laugh. “I know coach might have yelled it too. When he pulled up I just rushed the rim in case there was a rebound, but went it went in the place just went crazy. It was so relieving.”
Slowing down Jann: The Colonials looked like they were running away with the game in the first quarter, but the sharpshooting of Ryan Jann slowly moved Westford Academy back into the game.
Jann hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points to lead all scorers in the first half. He did struggle with foul trouble in the second half, and when he was in the game, the Colonials held him to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the final 16 minutes.
“We just wanted to get out on him a little bit,” said Kilpatrick. “We didn’t get out above the 3-point line enough. He’s such a tall kid and you really have to get your hand up to contest his shots. I thought we did a better job of getting out and trying to contest.”
Acton-Boxboro (16-1) didn’t record a field goal for 9:07 to begin the second half, but still hung on to defeat Westford Academy 59-53 last night at Regan Gymnasium in a battle of Dual County League large division heavyweights.
There was almost a look of disbelief, maybe a little shock, when Kilpatrick found out just how long his team went without a field goal.
“I did not realize that,” said Kilpatrick. “I’d say that we probably don’t win the game. You aren’t going to win many games like that. Obviously we were very fortunate. The thing that we talked about more than anything was our defense and making stops and not giving up second shots. … The fact that we went that long without a made basket means that defensively that’s what held us up.”
The Colonials got five free throws in the third quarter and held the Grey Ghosts to eight points in the period to take a 39-35 lead after three. Jake Pilecki finally broke the span with a lay-in with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter to push the Colonials lead to seven and that seemed to settle the rest of the team moving forward.
The hosts scored 11 of the next 16 points as Kevin LaFrancis got back to work on the inside to get to the hoop and get to the line.
“To be honest I didn’t know we had no field goals in the third,” said Pilecki, who finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists. “That’s a tough stat. We kind of got stagnant off the ball and weren’t moving like we were in the first half. We were taking quick shots, but we got better at the end, which is what counts.”
Seniors step up: There were two big buckets by LaFrancis (17 points, 15 rebounds) and A.J. Gotthelf that helped seal the victory for the Colonials, who can claim the DCL Large with a win over Lincoln-Sudbury.
The Colonials had a tough time establishing LaFrancis in the post during the entire third quarter, but after the drought ended they were able to get him back-to-back touches in his comfort zone.
Joey Flannery fed LaFrancis on the low left block, and the 6-foot-6-inch center moved in, took the contact and finished with the whistle blaring for a possible 3-point play. LaFrancis sank the freebie and gave the Colonials a 47-39 lead with 6:03 left in the game.
“That was big,” said Kilpatrick. “They were right on the verge and (LaFrancis) has done that for us all year. He makes the big baskets at the big times, and we wanted to get the ball inside to him and we did. It paid off there.”
Gotthelf is about a foot shorter that LaFrancis, but his bucket may have been the bigger, game-finisher with under two minutes to go. Gotthelf had an offensive rebound come right to him and he looked around for someone to feed the ball too. When he realized he was left all alone he fired up a 3-pointer and found nothing but net to help stop a 6-0 run by the Grey Ghosts.
“I was on the other side of the court and I saw the look in his eye and I was like ‘No, don’t shoot it,’” Pilecki said with a laugh. “I know coach might have yelled it too. When he pulled up I just rushed the rim in case there was a rebound, but went it went in the place just went crazy. It was so relieving.”
Slowing down Jann: The Colonials looked like they were running away with the game in the first quarter, but the sharpshooting of Ryan Jann slowly moved Westford Academy back into the game.
Jann hit 4-of-6 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points to lead all scorers in the first half. He did struggle with foul trouble in the second half, and when he was in the game, the Colonials held him to three points on 1-of-7 shooting in the final 16 minutes.
“We just wanted to get out on him a little bit,” said Kilpatrick. “We didn’t get out above the 3-point line enough. He’s such a tall kid and you really have to get your hand up to contest his shots. I thought we did a better job of getting out and trying to contest.”
Fernandez's Gift for Go catalyzes No. 25 Wareham
February, 11, 2012
Feb 11
12:05
AM ET
WAREHAM, Mass. -- Kevin Brogioli recalls the day some 10 years ago when his wife came home one day from teaching first grade in Wareham, telling him about a student of hers doing high jumps on a field trip.
"She said, 'You're gonna notice this kid'," Brogioli recalled.
Fast forward to tonight, before a packed house and the host Wareham High Vikings staring down an 18-0 start against South Coast rival Bourne, and all eyes are noticing this fire hydrant of endless energy suffer through one of his worst halves of the season. Junior point guard Darien Fernandez is flying all over the court, but unable to channel that frenetic energy in the first 16 minutes, picking up his second foul six minutes into the contest and starting off a mere 1 for 7 from the field.
Wareham High principal Scott Palladino is standing under the baseline at the far end of the court, explaining what a mature student Fernandez is becoming, when it all erupts in the third quarter.
First, Fernandez spins through two defenders in the lane and flips the ball behind his head to forward Jeff Houde, who is promptly swatted on his layup attempt. Next trip down, Fernandez drives to his left and delivers a no-look pass across the paint for an easy basket.
Then there's this neat little finish: starting from the blocks at his own end, he pushes across halfcourt with long, gliding strides, then cuts diagonally across the paint from the right elbow and switches hands mid-air for a reverse layup through two more defenders.
"Like a man with boys out there, isn't he?" Palladino chuckles.
Such is the allure of watching a player like Fernandez. A waterbug of a lead guard, built low to the ground with a running back's frame and seemingly permanent bounce, the 5-foot-7 Onset resident's motor keeps the transition-happy Vikings in fifth gear for extended amounts of time.
When he's on, he can turn the game into a spectacle. Tuesday night's win over Old Rochester saw Fernandez come two steals from a quadruple-double (36 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, eight steals). A month and a half ago, Fernandez made SportsCenter with this ridiculous half-court shot in a win over Cardinal Spellman.
When he's off, he still makes things go on the defensive end with his on-ball defense. Often tonight, he picked up the ballhandler immediately with his hands raised, unafraid to invade his opponent's personal space, funneling him to either sideline. With his low center of gravity, he's able to be a nuisance all night -- as long as he doesn't hack away (Fernandez picked up four fouls, all reaching violations).
"He's a competitor," Brogioli said. "He's just got something burning inside of him. He hates to lose. When the games, get tight, he will take over. There's just something about him that's such an aggressiveness, that I've seen in very few athletes I've had."
Just like growing up.
"He was always off the wall," laughs Houde, who has known Fernandez since Kindergarten. "It was like he was always on a sugar rush. He was always crazy like that."
Asked about his on-ball defense, Fernandez just shrugs -- "I don't know, guess it's just from trying to stay aggressive," he says.
Brogioli's father Jim -- he of over 400 wins, a state title in 1977, and for whom which this court is named after -- draws up a comparison to former Wareham great and current San Diego Charger Stephen Cooper, when asked about Fernandez. The two have obviously different body types, but both possess the same hell-bent approach to the game, though the elder Brogioli notes Fernandez is quicker.
Among point guards to come through Wareham, the elder Brogioli thinks Fernandez could be one of the best when all is said and done. He isn't afraid to compare him to Michael Dias, the point guard on that 1977 squad who went on to a quality career at C.W Post.
"Darien can do some of the things Michael did, as far as passing the ball off," he said.
The younger Brogioli agrees.
"Michael might have been more of a floor general in some ways," he said. "But Darien can do some things physically that Michael -- no offense, I played with him -- that he couldn't do."
Fernandez heats up in the second half, totaling 13 points on the night as the Vikings outscore the Canalmen 38-20 in the second half to win going away, 62-41. Not his best of nights, but still enough to draw prose from all over.
"Tough as nails," Bourne head coach Scott Ashworth said. "Shoots the ball well, can get the ball to the basket, he's tough to match up with -- zone, man, doesn't matter. He's got a bright future."
How bright? That has yet to be determined, but he's starting to garner some interest from low to mid-major Division 1 schools -- Bryant, Albany, Vermont, New Hampshire, Hofstra and Quinnipiac among the suitors that have reached out.
Last season, shooting was an issue with Fernandez, with a hot-cold streakiness and a herky-jerky motion about him. Now, he presents a more repeatable, textbook motion, with a quicker release, higher arc and more consistent ball rotation. Kevin Brogioli also noted a more dangerous pull-back jumper in his repertoire -- "I don't know how you can cover him in man-to-man when his pull-back is working for him," he said.
All of it makes the Vikings, clouded at the beginning of the season with some question marks about roster turnover, one of the Division 3 South district's toughest anticipated outs as the state tournament nears. Brogioli estimates about 75 percent of practices consist of transition and fast break drills, and it's evident on the court. From Houde to Tyler Gomes to Aaron Baptiste, the Vikings aren't the biggest team on the court, but could be one of the fastest.
And when Fernandez is dialed in?
"If he messes up or throws the ball away, I'd say eight times out of 10 he's going to come up with the steal within five seconds," Brogioli laughs. "He's just...something kicks into another gear when that happens."
Must be some fine sugar.
"She said, 'You're gonna notice this kid'," Brogioli recalled.
Fast forward to tonight, before a packed house and the host Wareham High Vikings staring down an 18-0 start against South Coast rival Bourne, and all eyes are noticing this fire hydrant of endless energy suffer through one of his worst halves of the season. Junior point guard Darien Fernandez is flying all over the court, but unable to channel that frenetic energy in the first 16 minutes, picking up his second foul six minutes into the contest and starting off a mere 1 for 7 from the field.
Wareham High principal Scott Palladino is standing under the baseline at the far end of the court, explaining what a mature student Fernandez is becoming, when it all erupts in the third quarter.
First, Fernandez spins through two defenders in the lane and flips the ball behind his head to forward Jeff Houde, who is promptly swatted on his layup attempt. Next trip down, Fernandez drives to his left and delivers a no-look pass across the paint for an easy basket.
Then there's this neat little finish: starting from the blocks at his own end, he pushes across halfcourt with long, gliding strides, then cuts diagonally across the paint from the right elbow and switches hands mid-air for a reverse layup through two more defenders.
"Like a man with boys out there, isn't he?" Palladino chuckles.
Such is the allure of watching a player like Fernandez. A waterbug of a lead guard, built low to the ground with a running back's frame and seemingly permanent bounce, the 5-foot-7 Onset resident's motor keeps the transition-happy Vikings in fifth gear for extended amounts of time.
When he's on, he can turn the game into a spectacle. Tuesday night's win over Old Rochester saw Fernandez come two steals from a quadruple-double (36 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, eight steals). A month and a half ago, Fernandez made SportsCenter with this ridiculous half-court shot in a win over Cardinal Spellman.
When he's off, he still makes things go on the defensive end with his on-ball defense. Often tonight, he picked up the ballhandler immediately with his hands raised, unafraid to invade his opponent's personal space, funneling him to either sideline. With his low center of gravity, he's able to be a nuisance all night -- as long as he doesn't hack away (Fernandez picked up four fouls, all reaching violations).
"He's a competitor," Brogioli said. "He's just got something burning inside of him. He hates to lose. When the games, get tight, he will take over. There's just something about him that's such an aggressiveness, that I've seen in very few athletes I've had."
Just like growing up.
"He was always off the wall," laughs Houde, who has known Fernandez since Kindergarten. "It was like he was always on a sugar rush. He was always crazy like that."
Asked about his on-ball defense, Fernandez just shrugs -- "I don't know, guess it's just from trying to stay aggressive," he says.
Brogioli's father Jim -- he of over 400 wins, a state title in 1977, and for whom which this court is named after -- draws up a comparison to former Wareham great and current San Diego Charger Stephen Cooper, when asked about Fernandez. The two have obviously different body types, but both possess the same hell-bent approach to the game, though the elder Brogioli notes Fernandez is quicker.
Among point guards to come through Wareham, the elder Brogioli thinks Fernandez could be one of the best when all is said and done. He isn't afraid to compare him to Michael Dias, the point guard on that 1977 squad who went on to a quality career at C.W Post.
"Darien can do some of the things Michael did, as far as passing the ball off," he said.
The younger Brogioli agrees.
"Michael might have been more of a floor general in some ways," he said. "But Darien can do some things physically that Michael -- no offense, I played with him -- that he couldn't do."
Fernandez heats up in the second half, totaling 13 points on the night as the Vikings outscore the Canalmen 38-20 in the second half to win going away, 62-41. Not his best of nights, but still enough to draw prose from all over.
"Tough as nails," Bourne head coach Scott Ashworth said. "Shoots the ball well, can get the ball to the basket, he's tough to match up with -- zone, man, doesn't matter. He's got a bright future."
How bright? That has yet to be determined, but he's starting to garner some interest from low to mid-major Division 1 schools -- Bryant, Albany, Vermont, New Hampshire, Hofstra and Quinnipiac among the suitors that have reached out.
Last season, shooting was an issue with Fernandez, with a hot-cold streakiness and a herky-jerky motion about him. Now, he presents a more repeatable, textbook motion, with a quicker release, higher arc and more consistent ball rotation. Kevin Brogioli also noted a more dangerous pull-back jumper in his repertoire -- "I don't know how you can cover him in man-to-man when his pull-back is working for him," he said.
All of it makes the Vikings, clouded at the beginning of the season with some question marks about roster turnover, one of the Division 3 South district's toughest anticipated outs as the state tournament nears. Brogioli estimates about 75 percent of practices consist of transition and fast break drills, and it's evident on the court. From Houde to Tyler Gomes to Aaron Baptiste, the Vikings aren't the biggest team on the court, but could be one of the fastest.
And when Fernandez is dialed in?
"If he messes up or throws the ball away, I'd say eight times out of 10 he's going to come up with the steal within five seconds," Brogioli laughs. "He's just...something kicks into another gear when that happens."
Must be some fine sugar.
That Travis and Karen Magnusson would become high school basketball coaches, given their backgrounds as point guards and students of the game, seemed inevitable. So does the success that the husband and wife coaches are having this season at their respective schools.
Travis, who coaches the Dirigo High School boys team, came within a whisker of a perfect season before falling to Spruce Mountain, 39-34 Wednesday night. Still, his Cougars finished the regular season at 17-1 and enter the upcoming Western Maine Class C tournament as the top seed. Karen, who coaches the Cony High School girls team, finished at 18-0 Thursday and her Rams will enter the Eastern Maine Class A tournament as the top-seeded team.
There wasn’t much talk between Karen and Travis about going unbeaten this season — both recognize winning a state title as a larger goal — but it’s still hard to avoid.
“Honestly we try not to do it,” Karen said. “But it’s something that comes up with other people.”
The couple rarely get to see one another’s teams play since they usually play on the same night. Fans at both schools, however, recognize what’s going on.
“It’s almost like we share our programs with each other,” Karen said. “His fans ask how I’m doing and my fans ask how Trav’s doing.”
The Magnussons are both basketball junkies, a passion that began long before they met at the University of Maine at Farmington a few years ago. Karen Sirois starred at Cony in Augusta while Travis played for Georges Valley in Thomaston. Both played point guard at UMF and each of them totaled over 1,000 points and 500 assists in their careers.
Farmington women’s coach Jamie Beaudoin and men’s coach Dick Meader saw coaches in the two long before their playing careers ended.
"I knew from the first moment I watched her play that she was going to be a coach," Beaudoin said. "She was able to see things on the floor that many times an experienced coach wouldn't pick up on. She's just a student of the game."
Meader echoed those thoughts about Travis, who served as a varsity assistant at UMF the year after he graduated. Travis was hired as boys coach at Livermore Falls a year before Karen go the job at Cony so she helped him out and gave him an unbiased look at the players and the team.
"There was nobody I listened to more, especially with my team that first year," Travis said.
Travis turned the Livermore program around, reaching a tournament prelim game his first year in 2009 and the tournament itself the next two. He lost his job when Livermore and Jay high schools combined this year to form Spruce Mountain, but when the Dirigo job opened up he applied. The Cougars reached the state final last year and return many of those players.
The Magnussons talk basketball most of the time, often while breaking down film at home another or swapping drills.
"I get some of my plays and sets from him," Karen said. "I know his personnel, we definitely help each other out. Sometimes we sit up until 11:30 or 12 talking about it. We watch game film together. It's like having an assistant coach at home."
They also share a similar philosophy, borne from the way they played the game.
"We both like to run and gun, play pressure defense and give our players freedom to take shots." Travis said. "As I've gotten older I've realized the importance of quality shots."
The Magnussons are competitive by nature and haven’t played a serious game of 1 on since Travis came away with a bloody nose when the got together on the court in college.
"He's competitive and I'm competitive so we never really have the fun 1-on-1," Karen said.
Well, they did have a little fun on the court on the day they were married, playing a friendly game, she in her wedding dress and he in his tuxedo.
They’ll get a chance to watch the other’s team play in about 10 days when their teams will be favored to win regional championships at the Augusta Civic Center.
Travis, who coaches the Dirigo High School boys team, came within a whisker of a perfect season before falling to Spruce Mountain, 39-34 Wednesday night. Still, his Cougars finished the regular season at 17-1 and enter the upcoming Western Maine Class C tournament as the top seed. Karen, who coaches the Cony High School girls team, finished at 18-0 Thursday and her Rams will enter the Eastern Maine Class A tournament as the top-seeded team.
There wasn’t much talk between Karen and Travis about going unbeaten this season — both recognize winning a state title as a larger goal — but it’s still hard to avoid.
“Honestly we try not to do it,” Karen said. “But it’s something that comes up with other people.”
The couple rarely get to see one another’s teams play since they usually play on the same night. Fans at both schools, however, recognize what’s going on.
[+] Enlarge
Courtesy of Karen Magnusson Travis and Karen Magnusson are having success coaching high school hoops in Maine.
Courtesy of Karen Magnusson Travis and Karen Magnusson are having success coaching high school hoops in Maine.“It’s almost like we share our programs with each other,” Karen said. “His fans ask how I’m doing and my fans ask how Trav’s doing.”
The Magnussons are both basketball junkies, a passion that began long before they met at the University of Maine at Farmington a few years ago. Karen Sirois starred at Cony in Augusta while Travis played for Georges Valley in Thomaston. Both played point guard at UMF and each of them totaled over 1,000 points and 500 assists in their careers.
Farmington women’s coach Jamie Beaudoin and men’s coach Dick Meader saw coaches in the two long before their playing careers ended.
"I knew from the first moment I watched her play that she was going to be a coach," Beaudoin said. "She was able to see things on the floor that many times an experienced coach wouldn't pick up on. She's just a student of the game."
Meader echoed those thoughts about Travis, who served as a varsity assistant at UMF the year after he graduated. Travis was hired as boys coach at Livermore Falls a year before Karen go the job at Cony so she helped him out and gave him an unbiased look at the players and the team.
"There was nobody I listened to more, especially with my team that first year," Travis said.
Travis turned the Livermore program around, reaching a tournament prelim game his first year in 2009 and the tournament itself the next two. He lost his job when Livermore and Jay high schools combined this year to form Spruce Mountain, but when the Dirigo job opened up he applied. The Cougars reached the state final last year and return many of those players.
The Magnussons talk basketball most of the time, often while breaking down film at home another or swapping drills.
"I get some of my plays and sets from him," Karen said. "I know his personnel, we definitely help each other out. Sometimes we sit up until 11:30 or 12 talking about it. We watch game film together. It's like having an assistant coach at home."
They also share a similar philosophy, borne from the way they played the game.
"We both like to run and gun, play pressure defense and give our players freedom to take shots." Travis said. "As I've gotten older I've realized the importance of quality shots."
The Magnussons are competitive by nature and haven’t played a serious game of 1 on since Travis came away with a bloody nose when the got together on the court in college.
"He's competitive and I'm competitive so we never really have the fun 1-on-1," Karen said.
Well, they did have a little fun on the court on the day they were married, playing a friendly game, she in her wedding dress and he in his tuxedo.
They’ll get a chance to watch the other’s team play in about 10 days when their teams will be favored to win regional championships at the Augusta Civic Center.
Paula Hagopian's talent on the soccer field is so obvious she was named Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year even though her Kingswood Oxford team finished with a record below .500 last season.
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
Hagopian, a senior forward, collected 13 goals and 10 assists as a senior, when Kingswood Oxford went 5-7-2. She was also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches' Association Player of the Year, and has twice been selected as an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than makes up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship and completed her career with 56 goals and 35 assists. She will continue her soccer career at Yale next fall.
Past winners of the award include Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee).
Statewide football playoff system in the works?
February, 10, 2012
Feb 10
6:00
AM ET
Could the latest push for a state-wide football playoff system have legs to it?
Yesterday the MIAA Football Committee unanimously in favor of the latest proposal for a six-division, statewide state championship from the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association that looks appealing.
Playoffs would start in Week 8 under this latest proposal, with all six state championships being held at Gillette Stadium the week after Thanksgiving. All Thanksgiving Day rivalries would be kept intact, and a scheduling committee would fill out the remaining weeks for teams that do not qualify for playoffs.
Like the state tournament in many other spots, the state is split up into North, South, Central and West regions, with the former two competing in all six divisions while the latter two just four. Each region will have eight playoff spots, with the exception of the West region (which will have just four). Each league and school is left to determine its own schedule, with leagues containing more than five teams getting two automatic bids, and seeding being left up to power rankings.
One of the key detractors working against the last state championship proposal, in 2010, was that it did away with some traditional league and non-league rivalries. That, in turn, led to concerns about gate receipt. Keeping traditional league games and non-league rivalries intact could be a factor this time around. The committee will meet on March 12 to finalize their vote before taking it to the MIAA's Tournament Management Committee on May 12.
The entire 14-page proposal can be found here in its entirety, courtesy of Swampscott head coach Steve Dembowski. We've also posted the sample schedules for 12-team and 16-team divisions.
Yesterday the MIAA Football Committee unanimously in favor of the latest proposal for a six-division, statewide state championship from the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association that looks appealing.
Playoffs would start in Week 8 under this latest proposal, with all six state championships being held at Gillette Stadium the week after Thanksgiving. All Thanksgiving Day rivalries would be kept intact, and a scheduling committee would fill out the remaining weeks for teams that do not qualify for playoffs.
Like the state tournament in many other spots, the state is split up into North, South, Central and West regions, with the former two competing in all six divisions while the latter two just four. Each region will have eight playoff spots, with the exception of the West region (which will have just four). Each league and school is left to determine its own schedule, with leagues containing more than five teams getting two automatic bids, and seeding being left up to power rankings.
One of the key detractors working against the last state championship proposal, in 2010, was that it did away with some traditional league and non-league rivalries. That, in turn, led to concerns about gate receipt. Keeping traditional league games and non-league rivalries intact could be a factor this time around. The committee will meet on March 12 to finalize their vote before taking it to the MIAA's Tournament Management Committee on May 12.
The entire 14-page proposal can be found here in its entirety, courtesy of Swampscott head coach Steve Dembowski. We've also posted the sample schedules for 12-team and 16-team divisions.
Recap: No. 20 Eastie 58, St. John's Prep 52
February, 10, 2012
Feb 10
12:16
AM ET
DANVERS, Mass. -- If there's any doubt about East Boston head coach Malcolm Smith's ability to utilize his resources, let tonight's result against St. John's Prep stand as Exhibit A -- and close the case shut.
Dressing just nine players, and without starting forwards Kenny Ramos and Kwandell Bush due to a violation of team rules -- certainly not the first time he's disciplined a key player, nor the last -- the Jets turned in one of their most inspired defensive first halves of the regular season. They held the host Eagles to just 16 points in the first two quarters, then staved off a furious fourth-quarter rally to win, 58-52.
"With this team, it's a bunch of guys that, hey, they just want to do it," Smith said. "They want to do it for their hometown, they want to do it for where they come from. I told them going into tonight's game that, listen, we've got to play this like we're in Dorchester House in the preseason fall league.
"I said fellas, you know, we're undermanned and we've always had some adversity, whether it's dressing five there or seven there, so you've got to take that mentality there. And we always play hard, but you've got to bring it in here a little bit more structured and disciplined, and that's what they did."
The Jets (12-4) dominated the first half, forcing a slew of turnovers with dogged backcourt pressure and sideline traps to make up for their lack of scoring ability at the offensive end. They took a 24-16 lead into the break, and led as much as 41-24 with under three minutes to go in the third quarter before the Eagles (10-6) mounted an impressive rally.
Down 43-32 to start the final frame, Prep cut the lead to 47-45 when Mike Carbone came up with a strip steal at halfcourt and heaved a lob to Steve Haladyna (31 points, eight rebounds), picking up a foul in the process. He missed the free throw, but capped a perfect 5-for-5 start from the field for the quarter with the lay-in.
At the other end, Eastie broke through some intense Prep backcourt pressure to convert some key field goal attempts down the stretch, none bigger than a dunk by Will March (16 points) with under a minute to go. With the Eagles gambling big time in moving their 2-3 zone high up in the halfcourt and converging on guard Pat Santos in the backcourt, he was able to get the ball over the top to a wide open March underneath and make it 57-49.
Freshman point guard Marcos Echevarria hit a three-pointer to close it to 57-52 with 31 seconds left, and fouled Santos to send him to the line and push the lead back out to six. But on the ensuing possession Freddy Shove missed a driving layup with 14 ticks to go, and three bodies converged on the loose board for a jump ball, and Eastie possession.
Helping out: The Jets were most impressive defensively in pressuring the backcourt, and providing help on the perimeter. Anybody who has watched Eastie over the years knows an aggressive press defense is its source of pride, and for the first 16 minutes an array of guards made life difficult for whoever took the ball in, harrassing them from the baseline to over halfcourt. From there, players like Zack Gattereau, Travon Moore, Ian Jones, Andre Senior and Kyle Fox were able to lend a hand.
In the halfcourt, the Prep is traditionally a tough out for its surgery running the motion offense -- a scheme that, by nature, is difficult to gameplan for. But whenever Connolly called for a pick-and-roll, an Eastie defender was usually in proper place on the help side to take a good angle and try to pick the ball off.
Those two areas led to a number of turnovers, both forced and unforced, including 11 total team steals.
"We worked on that yesterday," Smith said of the pick-and-roll defense. "And I don't really think it settled in. But you know, in the pre-game today, [I told them] 'Fellas listen, on their pick-and-rolls we've got to play it NBA-style'. They liked that, and I just thought it was phenomenal today.
"Ain't much I had to do with it, but we worked on it yesterday and it didn't really go that well. But today they communicated exceptionally well on it, they were able to hedge on everything else."
Dunn, Warren selected for McDonald's All-American
February, 9, 2012
Feb 9
5:45
PM ET
The 24-player roster for the boys' McDonald's All-American game were announced on Thursday, with two New Englanders in the mix.
Kris Dunn of New London (Conn.) and T.J. Warren of Brewster Academy were selected to the East Team rosters.
For the complete roster, click here.
With 21 of its 24 players in the top 30 of the ESPNU 100, this year's game is sure to be must-see TV when East and West clash on March 28 (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) at the United Center in Chicago.
Kris Dunn of New London (Conn.) and T.J. Warren of Brewster Academy were selected to the East Team rosters.
For the complete roster, click here.
With 21 of its 24 players in the top 30 of the ESPNU 100, this year's game is sure to be must-see TV when East and West clash on March 28 (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) at the United Center in Chicago.
At the risk of using a horse-racing metaphor, Cranston West High recorded a “daily double” when Words Unlimited announced its award winners for the 2011 calendar year.
Jeff Diehl, who starred in basketball and baseball, was voted the Schoolboy Athlete of the Year while Falcons baseball coach Rob Malo was voted the Schoolboy Sports Coach of the Year.
Diehl, a senior, led the Falcons to the first-ever Division I basketball championship in school history.
Then, in the spring, he hit .537 with six home runs and 27 RBI as the Falcons compiled a 13-5 regular-season record. His production was a major reason why Cranston West won the Division I state championship.
When June rolled around, Diehl was selected in the 23rd round by the New York Mets.
Malo replaced veteran and eminently successful coach Chuck Jones in 2007 – two years after the Falcons won their first Division I state baseball title since 1975.
The Falcons finished the 2011 season on top of the Division I pile as they spotted North Kingstown a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals and won the next two games to capture the state championship.
On the distaff side, La Salle’s twin sisters Madison and McKenzie Meehan were voted co-Schoolgirl Athletes of the Year while Barrington cross-country coach Annmarie Marino was named the Schoolgirl Sports Coach of the Year.
Last fall, Madison Meehan led the country in assists with 44 while McKenzie led the nation in scoring with 80 goals as the Rams won their fourth consecutive Division I state soccer championship.
Each Meehan also earned All-State honors the previous winter as the Rams annexed their fifth straight state indoor title.
Marino guided the Eagles to both the Class A and State championships. The state title was the first in school history since 1994.
Words Unlimited is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.
Jeff Diehl, who starred in basketball and baseball, was voted the Schoolboy Athlete of the Year while Falcons baseball coach Rob Malo was voted the Schoolboy Sports Coach of the Year.
Diehl, a senior, led the Falcons to the first-ever Division I basketball championship in school history.
Then, in the spring, he hit .537 with six home runs and 27 RBI as the Falcons compiled a 13-5 regular-season record. His production was a major reason why Cranston West won the Division I state championship.
When June rolled around, Diehl was selected in the 23rd round by the New York Mets.
Malo replaced veteran and eminently successful coach Chuck Jones in 2007 – two years after the Falcons won their first Division I state baseball title since 1975.
The Falcons finished the 2011 season on top of the Division I pile as they spotted North Kingstown a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals and won the next two games to capture the state championship.
On the distaff side, La Salle’s twin sisters Madison and McKenzie Meehan were voted co-Schoolgirl Athletes of the Year while Barrington cross-country coach Annmarie Marino was named the Schoolgirl Sports Coach of the Year.
Last fall, Madison Meehan led the country in assists with 44 while McKenzie led the nation in scoring with 80 goals as the Rams won their fourth consecutive Division I state soccer championship.
Each Meehan also earned All-State honors the previous winter as the Rams annexed their fifth straight state indoor title.
Marino guided the Eagles to both the Class A and State championships. The state title was the first in school history since 1994.
Words Unlimited is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.
In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Hayley Dowd of Peabody High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Dowd is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from Peabody High School.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Dowd as Massachusetts’s best high school girls soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Dowd joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, East Brunswick HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-5 junior forward led the Tanners to a 22-0-2 record and the Division 1 state championship this past season. Dowd scored 41 goals and passed for 19 assists, recording seven goals and three assists in six postseason matches. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Dowd is a two-time Northeastern Conference MVP. She has 121 goals and 43 assists through three varsity seasons.
Dowd has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of the Peabody High Captain’s Council, she has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach.
“Hayley Dowd can score working with her team, she can go 1-on-1 and if she is double-teamed she finds her teammates with passes for easy goals” said Fred Day, Salem High's head coach. “She never stops working off the ball. I would pay to watch her play.”
Dowd has verbally committed to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning in the fall of 2013.
Dowd joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Players of the Year Sam Mewis (2010–11, 2009-10, Whitman-Hanson), Danielle Dakin (2008–09, Minnechaug), Hayley Brock (2007-08, Acton-Boxborough), and Amy Caldwell (2006-07, Braintree) among the state’s list of former award winners.
Here are the winners from the other five New England states:
CONNECTICUT: PAULA HAGOPIAN, KINGSWOOD-OXFORD
The 5-foot-4 senior forward scored 13 goals and passed for 10 assists this past season, leading the Wyverns to a 5-7-2 record. Also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year and a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council Class B championship. She concluded her prep soccer career with 56 goals and 35 assists.
Hagopian has maintained a 3.73 GPA in the classroom. The first chair clarinet player in the Kingswood Oxford school band, she has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and at an area homeless shelter and food bank.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than make up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian will attend Yale University where she will play soccer beginning this fall.
Hagopian joins recent Gatorade Connecticut Girls Soccer Players of the Year Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee) among the state’s list of former award winners.
RHODE ISLAND: McKENZIE MEEHAN, LA SALLE
The 5-foot-5 senior forward led the Rams to a 20-0-2 record and the Division 1 state championship this past season. Meehan scored 80 goals and passed for 14 assists, including two goals and two assists in a 6-2 win over Smithfield High in the state final. The returning Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Meehan is a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She recorded 16 hat tricks in 22 games with six four-goal games, four five-goal games and three six-goal games, concluding her prep soccer career with 181 goals and 41 assists.
Meehan has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of La Salle’s Pegasus Gifted Student Program, she has volunteered locally as a peer Spanish tutor and a youth soccer coach.
“McKenzie Meehan should be on the national team,” said Keith Caldwell, Meehan’s coach with the Scorpions SC club team. “She’s the best goal-scorer I’ve ever seen. She is strong, athletic, tough and she holds the ball well. She’s not flashy. She just scores goals.”
Meehan has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning this fall.
Meehan joins recent Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Soccer Players of the Year Allison Kelley, (2009-10, 2008-09, La Salle), Katie Reilly (2007-08, St. Mary Academy-Bay View), and Erica Florenz (2006-2007, Scituate) among the state’s list of former award winners.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: MORGAN ANDREWS, MILFORD
The 5-foot-9 junior forward scored 31 goals and passed for six assists this past season, leading the Spartans (11-6-1) to the Division II state quarterfinals. The returning Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Andrews is captain of the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Women’s National Team and is a member of the Under-23 National Team. The 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Girls Youth Player of the Year for club play and a two-time NSCAA All-American selection, she has 83 goals and 35 assists in three varsity campaigns.
Andrews has maintained a 3.03 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach and mentor, and she founded a local “Kicks for Cans” charity program that involves coaches and players donating their time in exchange for canned goods that are brought to area food banks.
“Morgan Andrews, the kid’s a phenom,” said Jason Dewhurst, the director of coaching for the Stars of Massachusetts club team. “She plays way above her years. She always shows up to play, whether it’s training or games, it doesn’t matter. She’s a fierce competitor and wants to win. She deserves all the accolades she gets.”
Andrews has verbally committed to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning in the fall of 2013.
Andrews joins recent Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Players of the Year Kailey Blain (2009-10, 2008-09, Merrimack), Kristy Zurmuhlen (2007-08, Fall Mountain Regional, and Lindsey Miller (2006-07, Bishop Guertin) among the state’s list of former award winners.
MAINE: CAITLIN BUCKSBAUM, FALMOUTH
The 5-foot-5 junior midfielder led the Yachtsmen to a 13-4-1 record and the Class B state championship this past season. Bucksbaum scored 10 goals and passed for 11 assists. In her first year at Falmouth High, Bucksbaum was a Maine Sunday Telegram First Team All-State selection and earned First Team All-Western Maine Conference recognition. As a sophomore in 2010, she started for Ardrey Kell High in Charlotte, N.C., which reached the Class 4A state final.
Bucksbaum has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of Falmouth High’s Environmental Action Committee, she has volunteered locally as a peer math tutor, a youth soccer coach and with the Ronald McDonald House.
“Caitlin Bucksbaum is a good player. Her appetite to get better is amazing,” said Jason Dewhurst, the director of coaching for the Stars of Massachusetts club team. “She’s quick, athletic, has good feet and can strike a ball from distance.”
Bucksbaum joins recent Gatorade Maine Girls Soccer Players of the Year Allison Walton (2010–11, 2009-10, Brunswick, Elise Amioka (2008–09, Marshwood), Rachele Burns (2007-08, Gorham), and Kelsey Wilson (2006-07, Gorham) among the state’s list of former award winners.
VERMONT: LAUREN BERNARD, COLCHESTER
The 5-foot-3 senior forward/midfielder scored 24 goals and passed for five assists this past season, leading the Lakers (7-6-2) to the Div. I state quarterfinals. The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Bernard is a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was chosen as Burlington Free Press Player of the Year. She is a former member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-15 Women’s National Team, and a current member of the Under-18 National Team player pool.
Bernard has maintained a 3.93 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally with youth soccer programs and camps.
“She’s very strong technically and her left foot is deadly,” said Dwight Irish, head coach of rival Vergennes High. “If she has a little bit of room and she’s anywhere near the goal, she’s going to change the game.”
Bernard has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Boston College this fall.
Bernard joins recent Gatorade Vermont Girls Soccer Players of the Year Brittany Pfaff, (2009-10, Rice Memorial), Natalie LeClair (2008–09, 2007-08, Essex), and Emily Milbank (2006-07, Champlain Valley Union) among the state’s list of former award winners.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Dowd as Massachusetts’s best high school girls soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Dowd joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Abby Wambach (1997-98, Our Lady of Mercy, N.Y.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Heather O’Reilly (2001-02, East Brunswick HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 5-foot-5 junior forward led the Tanners to a 22-0-2 record and the Division 1 state championship this past season. Dowd scored 41 goals and passed for 19 assists, recording seven goals and three assists in six postseason matches. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Dowd is a two-time Northeastern Conference MVP. She has 121 goals and 43 assists through three varsity seasons.
Dowd has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of the Peabody High Captain’s Council, she has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach.
“Hayley Dowd can score working with her team, she can go 1-on-1 and if she is double-teamed she finds her teammates with passes for easy goals” said Fred Day, Salem High's head coach. “She never stops working off the ball. I would pay to watch her play.”
Dowd has verbally committed to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning in the fall of 2013.
Dowd joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Girls Soccer Players of the Year Sam Mewis (2010–11, 2009-10, Whitman-Hanson), Danielle Dakin (2008–09, Minnechaug), Hayley Brock (2007-08, Acton-Boxborough), and Amy Caldwell (2006-07, Braintree) among the state’s list of former award winners.
Here are the winners from the other five New England states:
CONNECTICUT: PAULA HAGOPIAN, KINGSWOOD-OXFORD
The 5-foot-4 senior forward scored 13 goals and passed for 10 assists this past season, leading the Wyverns to a 5-7-2 record. Also the 2011 Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association Player of the Year and a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Hagopian led Kingswood Oxford to the 2010 New England Prep School Athletic Council Class B championship. She concluded her prep soccer career with 56 goals and 35 assists.
Hagopian has maintained a 3.73 GPA in the classroom. The first chair clarinet player in the Kingswood Oxford school band, she has volunteered locally as a peer tutor and at an area homeless shelter and food bank.
“Paula is so strong that defenders bounce off her,” said Matt Micros, a club coach with Connecticut FC. “She can hold the ball up well and also spin defenders with ease. What she lacks in technique she more than make up for with power and pace.”
Hagopian will attend Yale University where she will play soccer beginning this fall.
Hagopian joins recent Gatorade Connecticut Girls Soccer Players of the Year Riley Houle (2010–11, Windham), Kate McCarthy, (2009-10, Loomis Chaffee), Jessica Schloth (2008–09, St. Joseph), Alex Uscilla (2007-08, St. Joseph), and Bianca D’Agostino (2006-07, Loomis Chaffee) among the state’s list of former award winners.
RHODE ISLAND: McKENZIE MEEHAN, LA SALLE
The 5-foot-5 senior forward led the Rams to a 20-0-2 record and the Division 1 state championship this past season. Meehan scored 80 goals and passed for 14 assists, including two goals and two assists in a 6-2 win over Smithfield High in the state final. The returning Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Meehan is a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She recorded 16 hat tricks in 22 games with six four-goal games, four five-goal games and three six-goal games, concluding her prep soccer career with 181 goals and 41 assists.
Meehan has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of La Salle’s Pegasus Gifted Student Program, she has volunteered locally as a peer Spanish tutor and a youth soccer coach.
“McKenzie Meehan should be on the national team,” said Keith Caldwell, Meehan’s coach with the Scorpions SC club team. “She’s the best goal-scorer I’ve ever seen. She is strong, athletic, tough and she holds the ball well. She’s not flashy. She just scores goals.”
Meehan has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning this fall.
Meehan joins recent Gatorade Rhode Island Girls Soccer Players of the Year Allison Kelley, (2009-10, 2008-09, La Salle), Katie Reilly (2007-08, St. Mary Academy-Bay View), and Erica Florenz (2006-2007, Scituate) among the state’s list of former award winners.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: MORGAN ANDREWS, MILFORD
The 5-foot-9 junior forward scored 31 goals and passed for six assists this past season, leading the Spartans (11-6-1) to the Division II state quarterfinals. The returning Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Andrews is captain of the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Women’s National Team and is a member of the Under-23 National Team. The 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Girls Youth Player of the Year for club play and a two-time NSCAA All-American selection, she has 83 goals and 35 assists in three varsity campaigns.
Andrews has maintained a 3.03 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as a youth soccer coach and mentor, and she founded a local “Kicks for Cans” charity program that involves coaches and players donating their time in exchange for canned goods that are brought to area food banks.
“Morgan Andrews, the kid’s a phenom,” said Jason Dewhurst, the director of coaching for the Stars of Massachusetts club team. “She plays way above her years. She always shows up to play, whether it’s training or games, it doesn’t matter. She’s a fierce competitor and wants to win. She deserves all the accolades she gets.”
Andrews has verbally committed to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Boston College beginning in the fall of 2013.
Andrews joins recent Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Players of the Year Kailey Blain (2009-10, 2008-09, Merrimack), Kristy Zurmuhlen (2007-08, Fall Mountain Regional, and Lindsey Miller (2006-07, Bishop Guertin) among the state’s list of former award winners.
MAINE: CAITLIN BUCKSBAUM, FALMOUTH
The 5-foot-5 junior midfielder led the Yachtsmen to a 13-4-1 record and the Class B state championship this past season. Bucksbaum scored 10 goals and passed for 11 assists. In her first year at Falmouth High, Bucksbaum was a Maine Sunday Telegram First Team All-State selection and earned First Team All-Western Maine Conference recognition. As a sophomore in 2010, she started for Ardrey Kell High in Charlotte, N.C., which reached the Class 4A state final.
Bucksbaum has maintained an A average in the classroom. A member of Falmouth High’s Environmental Action Committee, she has volunteered locally as a peer math tutor, a youth soccer coach and with the Ronald McDonald House.
“Caitlin Bucksbaum is a good player. Her appetite to get better is amazing,” said Jason Dewhurst, the director of coaching for the Stars of Massachusetts club team. “She’s quick, athletic, has good feet and can strike a ball from distance.”
Bucksbaum joins recent Gatorade Maine Girls Soccer Players of the Year Allison Walton (2010–11, 2009-10, Brunswick, Elise Amioka (2008–09, Marshwood), Rachele Burns (2007-08, Gorham), and Kelsey Wilson (2006-07, Gorham) among the state’s list of former award winners.
VERMONT: LAUREN BERNARD, COLCHESTER
The 5-foot-3 senior forward/midfielder scored 24 goals and passed for five assists this past season, leading the Lakers (7-6-2) to the Div. I state quarterfinals. The state’s returning Gatorade Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Bernard is a two-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and was chosen as Burlington Free Press Player of the Year. She is a former member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Under-15 Women’s National Team, and a current member of the Under-18 National Team player pool.
Bernard has maintained a 3.93 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally with youth soccer programs and camps.
“She’s very strong technically and her left foot is deadly,” said Dwight Irish, head coach of rival Vergennes High. “If she has a little bit of room and she’s anywhere near the goal, she’s going to change the game.”
Bernard has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on scholarship at Boston College this fall.
Bernard joins recent Gatorade Vermont Girls Soccer Players of the Year Brittany Pfaff, (2009-10, Rice Memorial), Natalie LeClair (2008–09, 2007-08, Essex), and Emily Milbank (2006-07, Champlain Valley Union) among the state’s list of former award winners.
MALDEN, Mass. -- For the second time in as many tries, No. 6 Catholic Memorial held a late third-period lead, only to settle for a tie.
Thomas Stanton provided the Knights with a 2-1 lead with less than three minutes remaining in Wednesday night’s Catholic Conference matchup with No. 1 Malden Catholic. And, while CM netminder Shane Starrett consistently stood on his head, stopping 41 Lancer shots, MC junior winger Mike Iovanna’s deflection of a point shot resulted in a 2-2 tie.
Remaining undefeated in Catholic Conference play at 6-0-2, MC wrapped up another regular season league title.
On the other hand, for CM (6-6-2, 2-3-2), it remains a struggle for points.
“I’ve said that in the last couple of weeks we’ve needed to steal a point here and there,” Knights head coach Bill Hanson said. “And we stole a point.”
The Knights now need six points in their final five games to qualify for the state tournament.
Aside from paring a point from the state’s top team, CM might have gained more in its play.
“Tonight definitely helps our confidence,” said Stanton, a senior assistant captain. “They’re a good team. We can play with them, we proved that. I think we just need to prove it to ourselves that we can play with teams like that.”
MC (11-1-3) was off to another quick start with Ryan Fitzgerald tapping in a one-timer off of Brendan Collier’s cross-ice feed at 2:57 of the first.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net until CM caught a dose of puck luck with senior captain Liam Coughlin banking in a puck off an MC defender’s skate with under nine minutes remaining in the third.
Stanton provided what look to be the game-winner before Iovanna got a piece of Brendan White’s shot from the point with 1:43 to play.
“[Starrett] made some good saves and it was tough to get it by him,” said Collier, the Lancers’ senior captain. “They hung around, and you can’t let good teams hang around. They’re scrapping for their lives right now.”
ADJUSTING ON THE FLY
CM was successful clogging up passing lanes and sagging down low, defensively, with a boatload of blocked shots to show for it. While Starrett saw plenty of rubber tossed his way, the Knights rolled with the Lancers’ punches and turned in perhaps their best defensive effort of the season outside of their early win over St. Sebastian’s.
“I thought we adjusted very well in the third period,” Hanson said. “We said, hey, we’ve got a chance to win a hockey game here. We backed off on the forecheck, we weren’t that aggressive. We locked on their wings, locked on them in the offensive zone and the defensive zone, hoping that we’d get a turnover.”
MOMENT FOR PAUSE
Emerging unscathed from Wednesday’s game, MC earned an undefeated conference record for the second time in as many years.
It was a feat that wasn’t lost on Collier.
“It’s a great league, it’s probably the best in high school hockey,” he said. “To be undefeated, it’s just an honor. It just shows how good of a squad we have and how hard we work. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night."
LYNN, Mass. -- As a member of the Austin Prep girls hockey team the past two years, Kaleigh Finigan had to sit back and watch as St. Mary's wrapped up Catholic Central League championships in part at the expense of her team.
This year, the junior transfer from Medford found out what it's like to be on winning side, as well as what it feels like to be a major factor behind the Spartans success.
Finigan scored twice and added an assist as the No. 4 Lady Spartans held off No. 6 Arlington Catholic for the second time in a week to take a 4-2 decision Wednesday night at Connery Rink.
"It's very different," said a smiling Finigan on winning the league title. "It's my first time getting it. It means a lot knowing that our team can win the league and keep going on with the wins. And we'll keep going hard. We just want to keep playing better and better every game. That's our goal."
Playing better and better every game is something Finigan and her linemates, Alison Butler and Brittani Lanzilli, have certainly done. Butler added a goal and two assists in last night's victory, while Lanzilli had a goal an assist. Their may be no hotter offensive trio in the state at this stage of the season.
"We decided to leave them together for the last month or so and they're really starting - not only in the offensive zone but even in the defensive zone - they're really starting to trust each other and learn from each other," St. Mary's coach Frank Pagliuca said. "I think Brittani and Kaleigh had a transition coming in here and Alison's done a great job settling them down. As you can see, they're starting to get it. They're not hesitating anymore. They're starting to play with speed and its making a huge difference for us."
Finigan scored twice in the first period as the Spartans (13-3-0, 6-0-0 CCL) jumped out to a quick lead. Her first tally exemplified the communication and trust factor that has evolved on that first line. With Butler working her way around the back of the Cougars (15-2-1, 4-2-0) net, Finigan screamed "Middle!" and Butler hit her right on the tape for an easy one-timer.
"We finally got used to each other and know where we are and communicating more," Butler said. "I just heard her. We've done it a couple of times now this year and I know where she is when I hear her."
Finigan added her second tally on the rebound of a Butler shot right before the end of the first, and Butler took one for herself on a nice backhander from the low slot to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead with 6:24 remaining in the second.
Arlington Catholic found a spark, and Allison Stone got the Cougars right back into the game by scoring just 44 seconds later. thins got a bit sloppy after that as the two teams traded five penalties back and forth, but AC got another goal as Duggan Delano hammered home a rebound of a shot by Adrieanna Rossini (two assists) to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:23 left in the frame.
Lanzilli quickly pulled the momentum back to the Spartans side early in the third when she floated around the back of the AC goal and flicked a backhander through while attempting to get off the ice for a line change.
Thanks to goalie Lauren Skinnion (23 saves) and strong defensive play from standout blue liner Rachel Donahoe, the Spartans were able to hold off the Cougars and wrap up another Catholic Central crown.
"It's a great accomplishment," Pagliuca said. "Although our league's not big, we have some tough teams. It's tough to play three league games right in a row and to play (AC) twice in a week is no easy feat. I'm very proud of my kids. They've battled hard all year and they keep getting better.
"That's the thing I'm noticing - every game they're getting better," he continued. "It's not pretty every game but you can see it. You can see them making better decisions overall and you can see us playing with more confidence. It's a wide open year this year and the hot team is going to be successful. We're just trying to play our best going into the tournament."
This year, the junior transfer from Medford found out what it's like to be on winning side, as well as what it feels like to be a major factor behind the Spartans success.
Finigan scored twice and added an assist as the No. 4 Lady Spartans held off No. 6 Arlington Catholic for the second time in a week to take a 4-2 decision Wednesday night at Connery Rink.
"It's very different," said a smiling Finigan on winning the league title. "It's my first time getting it. It means a lot knowing that our team can win the league and keep going on with the wins. And we'll keep going hard. We just want to keep playing better and better every game. That's our goal."
Playing better and better every game is something Finigan and her linemates, Alison Butler and Brittani Lanzilli, have certainly done. Butler added a goal and two assists in last night's victory, while Lanzilli had a goal an assist. Their may be no hotter offensive trio in the state at this stage of the season.
"We decided to leave them together for the last month or so and they're really starting - not only in the offensive zone but even in the defensive zone - they're really starting to trust each other and learn from each other," St. Mary's coach Frank Pagliuca said. "I think Brittani and Kaleigh had a transition coming in here and Alison's done a great job settling them down. As you can see, they're starting to get it. They're not hesitating anymore. They're starting to play with speed and its making a huge difference for us."
Finigan scored twice in the first period as the Spartans (13-3-0, 6-0-0 CCL) jumped out to a quick lead. Her first tally exemplified the communication and trust factor that has evolved on that first line. With Butler working her way around the back of the Cougars (15-2-1, 4-2-0) net, Finigan screamed "Middle!" and Butler hit her right on the tape for an easy one-timer.
"We finally got used to each other and know where we are and communicating more," Butler said. "I just heard her. We've done it a couple of times now this year and I know where she is when I hear her."
Finigan added her second tally on the rebound of a Butler shot right before the end of the first, and Butler took one for herself on a nice backhander from the low slot to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead with 6:24 remaining in the second.
Arlington Catholic found a spark, and Allison Stone got the Cougars right back into the game by scoring just 44 seconds later. thins got a bit sloppy after that as the two teams traded five penalties back and forth, but AC got another goal as Duggan Delano hammered home a rebound of a shot by Adrieanna Rossini (two assists) to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:23 left in the frame.
Lanzilli quickly pulled the momentum back to the Spartans side early in the third when she floated around the back of the AC goal and flicked a backhander through while attempting to get off the ice for a line change.
Thanks to goalie Lauren Skinnion (23 saves) and strong defensive play from standout blue liner Rachel Donahoe, the Spartans were able to hold off the Cougars and wrap up another Catholic Central crown.
"It's a great accomplishment," Pagliuca said. "Although our league's not big, we have some tough teams. It's tough to play three league games right in a row and to play (AC) twice in a week is no easy feat. I'm very proud of my kids. They've battled hard all year and they keep getting better.
"That's the thing I'm noticing - every game they're getting better," he continued. "It's not pretty every game but you can see it. You can see them making better decisions overall and you can see us playing with more confidence. It's a wide open year this year and the hot team is going to be successful. We're just trying to play our best going into the tournament."
February is that time of the season when you find out what teams are truly made out of. In Sunday’s matchup between Brockton and Newton North, both teams showed why they could each be dangerous teams when March comes around.
Brockton won the contest, 71-65, in overtime. After digesting the game, here are some observations about both of these teams, who will both likely enter the Division 1 South Sectional as favorites.
Brockton’s Defense
Defense is arguably Brockton’s best asset. Jahleel Moise’s jumping ability and Sayvonn Houston’s size make it nearly impossible for players to drive in the lane. This was especially true at the start of their game against Newton North. Brockton’s defense forced Newton North to be a jump shooting team and since the Tigers’ shots were not falling, they took an early lead.
Defense pushes teams far in the playoffs. However, basketball is played on two ends of the floor. While Brockton’s defense is superb, there offense leaves a lot to be desired.
Brockton’s Offense
After watching this clip, one would think there is nothing wrong with Brockton’s offense. It is not so much that they are a bad team offensively. Obviously, they were good offensively in this game because they won. It is more about how they are scoring.
They do a wonderful job of scoring in the paint, getting put backs, and burning defenders off of isolation plays. The only issue: that is the only way they score. There are never any plays run for a basket or jump shots made for that matter.
Newton North is not a big team or an athletic team, so Brockton can get away with this type of scoring. When they play a more athletic or bigger team, this type of offense simply will not work in March.
X-Factor: Jaylen Blakely
In March, it is critical to have players who can create off of the dribble. Jaylen Blakely is that type of player.
Blakely does a great job of getting looks for his big man and making big shots. That being said, Blakely’s biggest weakness is his decision making.
Blakely turns the ball over at a high rate and takes bad shots often. If he can focus on playing under control, he has the capability of pushing Brockton far in the playoffs.
Newton North Offense
Newton North always has talented go-to options, which is why they are always a dangerous team in March. They might not have the Anthony Gurley or Greg Kelley on their roster this year, but the duo of Mike Thorpe and Luke Westman are not too shabby. They are two players who compliment each other well and play smart all of the time.
The Tigers rely on those two to do most of their scoring along with many of their sweet shooting role players. When their shots were not falling, Newton North struggled. The key for them will be for role players to knock down open shots when they get them.
X-Factor: Tommy Mobley
In the third quarter, one role player did exactly what Newton North needs in order for their offense to be effective. Freshman Tommy Mobley knocked down three outside shots. This was the point in the game where Newton North came back and made it a close game.
Mobley has an unusual yet highly effective shot. He might only be a freshman, but he does a good job of moving without the ball and knocking down tough shots. This type of role player is key, especially when fighting while down.
The only issue is that he is a freshman and makes the mistakes that all freshmen make. To rely on a young player is always a risky proposition for teams looking to make a deep run in March.
Conclusion
Brockton and Newton North are dangerous teams for very different reasons. The Boxers do a great job of beating teams with their size and athleticism. They are great on defense and make teams have to play their tough brand of basketball. The key for them will to force teams to turnover the ball and score in transition.
As for Newton North, they don’t have the size or talent of past years but they have a team of players that play well together. In this game, they finally showed their main flaw: defense. They are not a bad defensive team, but when they play bigger or more athletic teams, they run into serious problems.
Neither team is perfect, but both have assets that can push them far in March.
Brockton won the contest, 71-65, in overtime. After digesting the game, here are some observations about both of these teams, who will both likely enter the Division 1 South Sectional as favorites.
Brockton’s Defense
Defense is arguably Brockton’s best asset. Jahleel Moise’s jumping ability and Sayvonn Houston’s size make it nearly impossible for players to drive in the lane. This was especially true at the start of their game against Newton North. Brockton’s defense forced Newton North to be a jump shooting team and since the Tigers’ shots were not falling, they took an early lead.
Defense pushes teams far in the playoffs. However, basketball is played on two ends of the floor. While Brockton’s defense is superb, there offense leaves a lot to be desired.
Brockton’s Offense
After watching this clip, one would think there is nothing wrong with Brockton’s offense. It is not so much that they are a bad team offensively. Obviously, they were good offensively in this game because they won. It is more about how they are scoring.
They do a wonderful job of scoring in the paint, getting put backs, and burning defenders off of isolation plays. The only issue: that is the only way they score. There are never any plays run for a basket or jump shots made for that matter.
Newton North is not a big team or an athletic team, so Brockton can get away with this type of scoring. When they play a more athletic or bigger team, this type of offense simply will not work in March.
X-Factor: Jaylen Blakely
In March, it is critical to have players who can create off of the dribble. Jaylen Blakely is that type of player.
Blakely does a great job of getting looks for his big man and making big shots. That being said, Blakely’s biggest weakness is his decision making.
Blakely turns the ball over at a high rate and takes bad shots often. If he can focus on playing under control, he has the capability of pushing Brockton far in the playoffs.
Newton North Offense
Newton North always has talented go-to options, which is why they are always a dangerous team in March. They might not have the Anthony Gurley or Greg Kelley on their roster this year, but the duo of Mike Thorpe and Luke Westman are not too shabby. They are two players who compliment each other well and play smart all of the time.
The Tigers rely on those two to do most of their scoring along with many of their sweet shooting role players. When their shots were not falling, Newton North struggled. The key for them will be for role players to knock down open shots when they get them.
X-Factor: Tommy Mobley
In the third quarter, one role player did exactly what Newton North needs in order for their offense to be effective. Freshman Tommy Mobley knocked down three outside shots. This was the point in the game where Newton North came back and made it a close game.
Mobley has an unusual yet highly effective shot. He might only be a freshman, but he does a good job of moving without the ball and knocking down tough shots. This type of role player is key, especially when fighting while down.
The only issue is that he is a freshman and makes the mistakes that all freshmen make. To rely on a young player is always a risky proposition for teams looking to make a deep run in March.
Conclusion
Brockton and Newton North are dangerous teams for very different reasons. The Boxers do a great job of beating teams with their size and athleticism. They are great on defense and make teams have to play their tough brand of basketball. The key for them will to force teams to turnover the ball and score in transition.
As for Newton North, they don’t have the size or talent of past years but they have a team of players that play well together. In this game, they finally showed their main flaw: defense. They are not a bad defensive team, but when they play bigger or more athletic teams, they run into serious problems.
Neither team is perfect, but both have assets that can push them far in March.
Recap: No. 6 Brighton 76, No. 9 New Mission 53
February, 8, 2012
Feb 8
11:47
PM ET
ROXBURY, Mass. -- Their energetic student section was dancing in the bleachers. Their promising young point guard was all smiles, ear to ear, with an extra bit of jump in his stride. And when the final buzzer rang, their spiritual head coach's voice had grown so hoarse he could barely speak.
The Brighton Bengals were in rare form tonight against their Boston South rivals New Mission, tonight in a home game at Latin Academy, so excuse all parties involved for expending -- or, in head coach Hugh Coleman's case, exhausting -- bountiful bursts of energy.
When these two teams met last month before a frenetic crowd at the Tobin Community Center, the Bengals snuck out of the building with a two-point comeback victory, and Coleman's first win over the Titans in his tenure at Brighton. But tonight, before another capacity crowd, the Bengals pulled off a rare sweep of a team that just plain doesn't get swept, delivering the Titans a 76-53 haymaker to take control of the South division and assure themselves a spot the Boston City League Championship tournament at the end of this month.
"They [Mission] were the standard in our league, of excellence, and the team to beat," said Coleman, growling and straining his hoarse voice to make out words. "We've been measuring ourselves against them, and for two years couldn't get over the top.
"We got close last year in the D2 North Final [a 55-53 loss], so this year it was important for us to get the first win. And I thought again, we came out and played well, and did some things to slow them down. So it means a lot, for now, but we're most likely going to see them again in the state tournament, or in the City's."
The Titans (11-4) took their only lead of the game right at the beginning, a Tayon Watson three-pointer from the wing giving them a 5-2 advantage. From then on, the Bengals (15-1) seized control forcefully, using an aggressive 1-2-1-1 press to force a slew of turnovers and close out the quarter on an 18-4 run. Daivon Edwards (17 points, five rebounds) hit two 3-pointers to spark the run.
More damage came in the second quarter, when sophomore point guard Malik James (20 points, 12 assists, five rebounds) pushed Brighton's advantage out to 34-16 with a momentum-swaying three-point play. James pulled up to the left elbow, crossed his man up to a loud chorus of approval from the crowd, and pulled back for a 15-foot fadeaway that drew a foul from his defender in the process.
"It was basically a four-low iso, and coach was telling us to keep going," James said. "So I hit him with a crossover and just pulled up."
The Bengals led 38-24 at the half, forcing 15 Mission turnovers over the first 16 minutes, and led 54-39 through three. Sophomore forward Nick Simpson added 16 points and eight rebounds in the win, while junior guard Theo Oribhabor added 15 points, five assists and five rebounds.
"[We were] real energized, practice was crazy yesterday," James said. "Real energetic, and then we just left everything out there. We went after everything."
Shaquan Murray led Mission with 11 points, while DaShawn Fennell added 10 points and junior forward Isshiah Coleman had 10 rebounds.
Packing the pressure: Coleman toiled under legendary head coach Jack O'Brien at Charlestown during their historic run of dominance at the start of the 21st Century, winning five Division 2 state titles in six seasons, and one of the staples of O'Brien's reign he has brought with him to Brighton is the method in which players attack in full-court pressure.
Emphasis on attack, by the way. The Bengals take proper spacing and attack at angles, which tonight led to an aggressive press -- especially with their diamond-and-one look, which placed four defenders in a diamond formation about the three-point arc, and left the big man 40 to 50 feet back as a safety valve.
In turn, Mission was forced into some poor decisions with the ball, getting trapped and turning the ball over around midcourt a number of times and yielding some open perimeter looks on the fast break. When they did get shots off, the Bengals controlled the glass, including a 23-12 advantange on the boards in the first half.
"It's a good question," Coleman said when asked how much he wanted to dictate tempo. "My coaches, after a couple fouls, want to pull the press off. But I feel when you sit back in a zone, you get lackadaisical. So I really wanted to push the tempo, dictate it, get us going up and down, because our guys are really good in the open court.
"I thought that if we could get them in a couple good trap situations, force them to speed it up a bit, that would help us out. And it worked."
James' confidence growing: As much as James excites fans at time with his ballhandling ability and end-to-end rushes, it's his confidence that Coleman says is his best quality at the moment.
"He's always been a special, talented kid," Coleman said. "He has skills. But when his confidence is going, that's everything. He can get people the ball, he can get to the lane, play good defense, and be a great leader. So when his confidence up, it helps our team overall. That's the energy level we want."
Pyrrhic victory? Emotions are running high in Brighton, off to the program's best start in years despite not having a home gym due to renovations, but the Bengals may soon have to deal with more adversity.
Coleman confirmed to ESPNBoston.com following the win that he expects to lose Simpson and junior point guard Nate Hogan either by the end of this week or next week due to academics. Simpson has been consistently one of the Bengals' best performers, if not their most versatile threat in the frontcourt, posting double-double figures nearly nightly.
Down the other end, Mission head coach Cory McCarthy confirmed to ESPNBoston.com that he has lost promising freshman point guard Greg Bridges, also due to academics. Bridges was averaging 20 points and eight rebounds in his first year with the Titans.
Cardinal Spellman forward Joey Glynn has verbally committed to Bentley University for the 2012-13 season, his coach with the Middlesex Magic AAU squad Mike Crotty Jr. confirmed today.
Glynn, a 6-foot-5 Abington resident, was also fielding interest from Navy, as well as Division 2 schools like Stonehill and St. Anselm. The Falcons had been on him last summer, Crotty said, but at the time had one scholarship to offer and were in need of a guard. A scholarship at Bentley opened up last Friday, and by Super Bowl Sunday Glynn was on the Waltham campus taking a visit.
The Middlesex Magic posted more about Glynn's commitment on the team's website today:
Glynn, a 6-foot-5 Abington resident, was also fielding interest from Navy, as well as Division 2 schools like Stonehill and St. Anselm. The Falcons had been on him last summer, Crotty said, but at the time had one scholarship to offer and were in need of a guard. A scholarship at Bentley opened up last Friday, and by Super Bowl Sunday Glynn was on the Waltham campus taking a visit.
The Middlesex Magic posted more about Glynn's commitment on the team's website today:
Glynn emerged onto the recruiting scene last spring and summer by leading the Magic’s 11th grade team in scoring and rebounding as they took a pair of spring titles and continued to play well deep into the month of July, scoring wins over the likes of Terry Porter Elite, Grassroots Canada, and Hoop Heaven Elite before heading to Orlando.
“Joey Glynn is as tough a competitor and as versatile an athlete as we have had in the Middlesex Magic program,” said Magic director Michael Crotty Jr. “He is a tremendous rebounder on both ends of the floor, and his athleticism allows him to be a lock down defender on forwards and guards. He can score the ball in a variety of different ways, and when he has an advantage situation he finishes powerfully high above the rim.”
Glynn has also distinguished himself on the high school circuit. Last year he averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading Cardinal Spellman to the Division III South sectional title and being selected to the Boston Herald All-Scholastic team in the process.
He becomes the third member of last summer’s Magic squad to commit to an NE-10 program, joining Connor Mahoney (Le Moyne) and Anthony Barry (Merrimack), and the 8th member to make his college commitment thus far, joining Kyle Reardon (Rochester), Cooper Ainge (BYU), Eric Olson (Northwestern/football), Jesse Pagliuca (Amherst), and Mike Thorpe (Emerson).
“I believe that his [Glynn’s] will to win, work ethic, and toughness will allow him to make an immediate and profound impact at Bentley,” Crotty Jr. said. “I have thought that Joey was a perfect fit for the NE-10 conference as a player, and more importantly, he has the opportunity to get a first class education at Bentley.”
Bailey-Smith on UMass: 'I made the right decision'
February, 8, 2012
Feb 8
1:58
PM ET
WEYMOUTH, Mass. -- We're nearly a week past the first day high school seniors are permitted to sign National Letters of Intent for football, but last night was the first chance we've had the opportunity to catch up with Weymouth wide receiver Khary Bailey-Smith since he signed with UMass exactly one week ago.
Bailey-Smith, a member of ESPN Boston's MIAA All-State Team last fall after catching 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. He spoke with us as he warmed up for the Wildcats' basketball contest with Newton North, an eventual 73-63 loss.
When he decided: "The night before [Jan. 31]. I was pretty sure a couple days earlier, but I was still going back and forth in my mind about whether I felt like it was the right school for me. But I made the right decision."
What made it the right decision: "The chance to play football at Division 1 [FBS] level. And also, the chance to jump with track, and it's not too far away from home."
His duties with the track and field program: "High jump. I'll probably just do spring, because of football."
Other schools he considered: "UConn and Pitt. They were partial scholarships for track."
What the coaching staff envisions his role being: "They said the best player gets to play. They have me coming in at safety, and that if they need help at wide receiver on offense and I show up at practice, do my stuff, I'm looking good at wide receiver, then maybe I'll get a shot. But, more defense, and it's up to me to show that I have what it takes to play on the field."
What he'll be working on between now and the day he reports to camp: "We haven't really talked about that much yet. I'm just trying to relax a little bit after that stressful period, but I'll get back in touch in not too long, and we'll talk about that more...I'm going to go train and do some conditioning, and I'm doing spring track so that should keep me in shape. I'll go out with Cam [quarterback Cam McLevedge], who's going to St. Anselm, and catch some passes, run routes, work on my coverage and technique."
On his official visit to UMass: "I took it the weekend before signing day. I liked it, it was fun there. Everyone got along really well, and the coaching staff sounded like they were into this. It sold me."
Did he go down to Gillette Stadium? "No, but I've been there a couple times, seen it. It's a very nice facility, and I can't wait to call it home."
Bailey-Smith, a member of ESPN Boston's MIAA All-State Team last fall after catching 936 yards and 13 touchdowns. He spoke with us as he warmed up for the Wildcats' basketball contest with Newton North, an eventual 73-63 loss.
When he decided: "The night before [Jan. 31]. I was pretty sure a couple days earlier, but I was still going back and forth in my mind about whether I felt like it was the right school for me. But I made the right decision."
What made it the right decision: "The chance to play football at Division 1 [FBS] level. And also, the chance to jump with track, and it's not too far away from home."
His duties with the track and field program: "High jump. I'll probably just do spring, because of football."
Other schools he considered: "UConn and Pitt. They were partial scholarships for track."
What the coaching staff envisions his role being: "They said the best player gets to play. They have me coming in at safety, and that if they need help at wide receiver on offense and I show up at practice, do my stuff, I'm looking good at wide receiver, then maybe I'll get a shot. But, more defense, and it's up to me to show that I have what it takes to play on the field."
What he'll be working on between now and the day he reports to camp: "We haven't really talked about that much yet. I'm just trying to relax a little bit after that stressful period, but I'll get back in touch in not too long, and we'll talk about that more...I'm going to go train and do some conditioning, and I'm doing spring track so that should keep me in shape. I'll go out with Cam [quarterback Cam McLevedge], who's going to St. Anselm, and catch some passes, run routes, work on my coverage and technique."
On his official visit to UMass: "I took it the weekend before signing day. I liked it, it was fun there. Everyone got along really well, and the coaching staff sounded like they were into this. It sold me."
Did he go down to Gillette Stadium? "No, but I've been there a couple times, seen it. It's a very nice facility, and I can't wait to call it home."
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Scott Barboza
Scott Barboza joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools editor/reporter in May 2010. He spent the previous three seasons working in the New England Patriots media relations department after a stint at the Taunton Daily Gazette, where he covered everything from Little League baseball to the Boston Red Sox. The Fall River native is a graduate of Emerson College. He can be reached at sbarboza@espnboston.com.
Brendan Hall
Brendan Hall joined ESPNBoston.com as a high schools reporter/editor in May 2010, after four years covering high schools for The Boston Globe. The Westminster, Mass. native also served on the Globe's Bruins beat last season. Hall is a graduate of UMass Amherst. He can be reached at bhall@espnboston.com.
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