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Courtesy of Eric Rueb, here is the Rhode Island High School Football Media Poll for Week 3 of the RIIL season:

Rank | Team | Points | Previous Rank
1. Hendricken (10) 219 1
t-2. Portsmouth 202.5 3
t-2. Barrington (1) 202.5 4
4. Cranston East 186 2
5. La Salle 178 5
6. Woonsocket 153 6
7. Cumberland 136 10
8. South Kingstown 134 7
9. North Kingstown 130 11
10. Mount Pleasant 107 12
11. Cranston West 100 8
12. Shea 97 15
13. Moses Brown 71 17
14. Johnston 67 20
15. Rogers 61 13
16. East Greenwich 58 18
17. Coventry 47 19
18. Mount Hope 44 9
19. Tolman 33 16
20. St. Raphael 23 NR

Dropped from poll: West Warwick (14).
Also receiving votes: West Warwick 15, Westerly 14, Exeter-West Greenwich 12, Warwick Veterans 6, Middletown 4, North Providence 3, Burrillville 1, East Providence 1.

By no stretch of the imagination is Pilgrim High considered a contender for a Division II playoff berth. But after enduring a drought of near-epic proportions, the Patriots already have shown that they have improved over the teams the school fielded each of the past two seasons.

After all, when you’ve lost 15 consecutive games -- as the saying goes -- there’s no place to go but up.

Pilgrim took one step in that direction on Sept. 13, when it belted Smithfield, 36-6, in a non-league game.

Ironically, the Patriots’ last victory was over Smithfield – 26-12 on Oct. 28, 2011.

Granted, Pilgrim dropped its first Division II-B game, 28-0, to Shea on Sept. 20, but coach Tom O’Connor at least has something to build on and that “something” includes junior quarterback Rob Quaine.

As an inexperienced sophomore, Quaine was under center last season when Pilgrim went 0-12. But in that non-league victory over Smithfield, he completed 6 of 8 passes for 178 yards and scored a touchdown on a one-yard run.

The loss to Shea notwithstanding, Quaine has shown improvement in his passing which can be attributed to his play last summer in the Rhode Island High School Passing League.

For example:

* In nine passing league games, Quaine only threw one interception.

* In two passing league tournament games, Quaine had exactly zero turnovers (i.e. no fumbles or interceptions).

“At first, it was slow to catch my attention,” O’Connor said. “I failed to realize he wasn’t throwing the interceptions that he threw last season.

“I watched Rob and saw that he would eat the ball. After four seconds elapsed, he ate it rather than force a pass. That was a big issue when he was a sophomore. To me, it was a sign that he’s taken his maturity up a level which I was hoping for going into this season. Quite frankly, he did so earlier than I expected.”

O’Connor then gave an example of what he meant and it didn’t have anything to do with something his quarterback did on the field.

In a Rhode Island Injury Fund game (i.e. these games only consist of two quarters) against three-time Division I champion Hendricken (the Hawks prevailed, 28-8), Pilgrim fumbled away the opening kickoff.

Yet instead of stomping up and down the sidelines or yelling at the teammate who fumbled, Quaine was the first Patriot to offer encouragement to the kick return team when it came off the field.

Quaine also gave indications of what was to come against Smithfield.

On Pilgrim’s first possession, he guided a drive that stalled inside Hendricken’s 10-yard-line due in large part to a pair of long passes he completed.

Later in the game, Quaine audibled twice en route to a scoring drive and then threw a two-point conversion pass.

“I feel more confident this season because I trust all of my teammates,” Quaine said. “We came together as a family during double sessions.

“Obviously, when you play Hendricken, you can’t be intimidated. That being said, I didn’t feel we backed down from the beginning to the end.”

Yet Quaine was quick to admit that butterflies were churning in his stomach.

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” he said. “But it’s not a shock (being the starting quarterback) like it was last season.”

That was evident to O’Connor during Pilgrim’s victory over Smithfield.

“Rob did a lot of ‘hot reads’ on his own,” said the coach. “He threw the ball more than we wanted to throw it. But they blitzed a lot and he picked up the wide-open receiver.

“Despite the loss [to Shea], he’s progressed a lot from last season. Playing in the passing league and against Hendricken showed me he can lead our team. He’s a completely different young man – one who’s very confident and let’s things go that would bother him last year.”

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Courtesy of Eric Rueb, here is the Rhode Island High School Football Media Poll for Week 2:

Rank | Team | Points | Last Week’s Rank
1. Hendricken (8) 198 1
2. Cranston East (2) 191 2
3. Portsmouth 181 t-4
4. Barrington 170 t-4
5. La Salle 152 3
6. Woonsocket 130 8
7. South Kingstown 129 7
8. Cranston West 126 6
9. Mount Hope 113 9
10. Cumberland 107 12
11. North Kingstown 101 19
12. Mount Pleasant 92 15
13. Rogers 61 20
14. West Warwick 50 10
15. Shea 47 NR
16. Tolman 41 16
17. Moses Brown 35 NR
18. East Greenwich 31 18
19. Coventry 30 NR
20. Johnston 27 11

Dropped from poll: East Providence (13), Middletown (14), Central (17)

Also receiving votes: Warwick Veterans 26, East Providence 23, Burrillville 17, Middletown 9, Central 8, St. Raphael 3, Narragansett 2.

Invariably any pre-season football preview at least starts – but doesn’t necessarily end – with perennial Division I power Hendricken.

Coach Keith Croft’s Hawks are coming off their third consecutive Division I Super Bowl championship (and ninth in school history) but enter the 2013 season with a dearth of seniors.

Only 13 are listed on the roster which means Croft has his work cut out for him looking to replace First Team All-State selections like tight end/defensive lineman Mario McClain, two-way lineman Nick DeCiantis, linebacker Jarrid Witherspoon and linebacker Marco Delvecchio.

Fortunately, for the Hawks, they could be solid on offense since they feature easily one of the state’s top running backs in junior Remington Blue, plus junior quarterback Patrick Gill. Gill seemingly came out of nowhere last season to earn the No. 1 signal-caller position and in the end was a major factor in the Super Bowl as Hendricken upset heavily-favored La Salle.

The key for Gill will be to remain healthy since the only other experienced quarterback on the Hendricken roster, John Toppa, opted not to play football this season.

Without question La Salle coach Geoff Marcone faces a major challenge in his attempt to replace two of the most productive offensive players in school history – First Team All-State running back Josh Morris (the 2011 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year) and First Team All-State quarterback Anthony Francis (the 2012 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year).

Marcone does have 18 seniors on his roster and will choose his starting quarterback from a group that includes sophomores Jace Pena and John Farley.

Keon Wilson again will be the primary target for whoever lines up under center while the defense will be led by linebacker Brendan Lippe.

The two Cranston teams, Cranston East and Cranston West, also could figure in the playoff picture.

East returns First Team All-State running back/defensive back Marquem Monroe who last season scored a total of 14 touchdowns and also intercepted four passes.

First Team All-Stater Marven Beauvais complements Monroe on offense while Alex Corvese is an experienced quarterback.

Cranston West will be a force if the Falcons received production that’s expected from running back Isaiah Alvarez and linebacker Jack Hammond.

***

Division II invariably is the most wide-open division in the state – one reason being the format.

Eight teams are in II-A, eight in II-B and top four in each division qualify for the playoffs.

Cumberland qualified for the Super Bowl for the first time since 2005 and waxed Woonsocket, 49-0, for all the marbles led by a pair of graduated All-State picks – wide receive Mitch Baxter and tight end Trent Vasey.

But the Clippers still have talent, especially in the appropriately-named running back Joe Fine plus linebacker Chris Hayes who led Cumberland in tackles last season.

The Villa Novans, who’ve undergone a resurrection in recent years, will be out to avenge that lop-sided loss to Cumberland in the Super Bowl.

Leading the way will be speedster Will Andino who can run and catch the ball plus junior lineman Shawn Ingram, a potential First Team All-State selection.

(Read full post)

The July live period has come to a close, as some of New England’s top AAU programs spent the majority of the month traveling all around the country to tournaments in Florida, Las Vegas, South Carolina, Springfield, Mass., Atlantic City, and Philadelphia.

With the AAU season over and the start of players’ high school seasons just a few months away, we break down New England’s top stories following the July live recruiting period:

Auger back in top shape: When Mike Auger trucked through an opposing player for a loose ball in one of Mass Rivals’ opening games at the Hoop Group Summer Jamfest, it was a side of his game that Rivals coach Vin Pastore hadn’t seen on a consistent basis in a couple of years. He was taken aback.

“Incidental contact,” Pastore laughed. “He just kept going. It was like a football play.”

Auger, a 6-foot-6 bruiser of a forward who will be a senior leader for New Hampton this season, has had a tough run the past couple years after suffering from multiple shoulder injuries. He tore his labrum at the beginning of his sophomore season at Hopkinton (N.H.) High, and aggravated the injury two years later after he had gone to New Hampton and reclassified.

After multiple shoulder surgeries, hundreds of hours in the weight room or at physical therapy, Auger finally looked to be completely recovered this summer as the Rivals’ most consistent offensive producer in the post.

“I don’t think he was in complete confidence before, especially with how hard he plays, how physical he was, he always played 100%...that’s his game,” Pastore said. “In the initial part of recovery he didn’t have the confidence to play the game the only way he knew how to.”

Auger is back, and college coaches have taken notice this summer. He now has scholarship offers from Fairfield, Vermont, New Hampshire, Holy Cross, Dartmouth, Binghamton, Quinnipiac, Loyola, and Stony Brook. In an age where most forwards would rather step out on the perimeter than do the “dirty work” inside, true post players come at a premium. Back to his old ways, college coaches are lining up for Auger’s services.

“Kids that are 6-6...Everybody wants to run to the three point line,” Pastore said. “What makes him so good is that he would start inside, then move out and make some threes. Nobody wants to start in and go out.”

"Every program needs a kid like Mike who rebounds, attacks, beats people up around the rim; he physically beats you up. And he likes doing that stuff. He’s a reckless abandon.”

St. Andrews’ Colson carries BABC offense: It wasn’t long ago that St. Andrew's (R.I.) senior Bonzie Colson, a 6-foot-4-1/2 forward with several scholarship offers from high-level programs, was a complete unknown on the national stage.

He certainly didn’t earn his now-nationally known name overnight. An undersized power forward who lacks the elite athleticism that most coaches at major conference schools look for, it took years of efficient production for Colson to prove himself.

“So many coaches go by the criteria and a certain size,” said BABC coach Leo Papile. “He doesn’t fit consensus with that. But, he’s shown to have repeated success statistically in terms of field goal percentage throughout a season.”

Colson led St. Andrew’s, the No. 8 seed of the NEPSAC AA tournament, to a surprise run all the way to the tournament finals last year, where they eventually lost a heartbreaker via a buzzer-beater by Cushing’s Jalen Adams. Colson built a niche for himself as a scorer over the course of the season, and as a result, his team was playing their best basketball in the playoffs.

On the AAU circuit this summer, he flourished for BABC playing on the Nike EYBL circuit, finishing in the top 15 in the league in scoring at just over 18 points per game.

“He’s always been really crafty, he has a lot of scoring value. It’s a unique skillset in terms of productivity in the amount of time he touches the ball. He’s one-dimensional in a good way, he’s very, very crafty,” Papile said.

He continued, "The past couple years he has done it on a national stage, and attracted attention from high major conference schools. He’s an undersized power forward by today’s standards, but he has an extraordinarily long standing reach.”

Papile said that from talking to Colson and his family, the St. Andrew’s star is learning towards taking official visits to Miami, Florida State, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh -- though those aren’t set in stone yet. He also has scholarship offers from Seton Hall, Iowa State, Rhode Island, and George Washington.

Expressions grooming young talent: Expressions Elite, after qualifying for the Nike Peach Jam earlier this month, continued their impressive summer with a championship at the Hoop Group Summer Jamfest, a loaded tournament that featured several of the nation’s best club teams.

Jared Terrell, Aaron Falzon, Cane Broome, and Abdul-Malik Abu all had a hand in carrying the team to the championship game, but Expressions coach Ty Boswell made quite a statement by starting freshmen Jermaine Samuels and Kimani Lawrence in the finals against Montreal-based Brookwood Bounce Elite.

The freshman duo, whom Boswell purposely put in a hotel room with senior leaders Terrell and Idris Taqqee, used the experience to gain knowledge from their superiors.

“Jared and Idris really took them under their wing; breaking down plays, making sure they understood getting good shots. [Samuels and Lawrence] asked them a million questions, and every single one got answered,” Boswell said.

Samuels, a fearless competitor, came into the game and immediately started attacking offensively. His mindset thoroughly impressed his coach.

“There was no fear that he didn’t belong,” Boswell said, “When I finally took him out, he had that look like ‘why am I coming out?’ He wanted to prove he belonged, and he showed that.”

Lawrence, a Providence native, made his presence felt right away with his great decision making and understanding of the team’s offensive game. He will enroll and join Taqqee at Cushing Academy -- the defending NEPSAC Class AA champs -- while Samuels will attend The Rivers School in Weston.

Rising sophomores Donovan Love, another Providence product who will attend New Hampton, and Ikenna Ndugba -- who is at Brooks School and attended the Nike Elite 100 earlier in the summer -- are two other young players who are a part of Expressions’ supremely talented young group.

Small-town star leads the Playaz: Tyler Lydon wasn’t quite sure what to expect leading up to Basketbull’s Hall of Fame National Invitational. Having switched AAU teams from Albany City Rocks to the New England Playaz, he had only met his new Playaz teammates once, at a practice the day before the tournament.

“I hadn’t met any of those kids. There was a lot of uncertainty, I had no idea how the guys played. I just figured I would go in there and wing it and hope for the best,” Lydon said.

Lydon and his teammates hoped for the best, and that’s exactly what they got—as he, alongside Jarred Reuter, Aaron Calixte, and Crew Ainge, lead the Playaz to the 17U championship in Springfield. In the set of showcase games on the opening night, the Playaz suffered a close loss to Hunting Park (Penn.), but recovered well following their initial loss.

“It was the intensity; we came out that game kind of slow. Going into the rest of the games, that was a reality check for us,” he said.

The rising junior forward comes to New England from Pine Plains, N.Y., a tiny town of 2500 people that rests about an hour north of Poughkeepsie. Last season he led Pine Falls to the New York Division 3 state championship game. This fall, he’ll go play for Pete Hutchins at New Hampton.

“My parents and I decided it was the best decision for me,” the 6-foot-8 point forward said. “I’ll be able to play against the great competition in the league…and the academics are great.”

He’ll be expected to step in and contribute right away for the Huskies, who will have a major hole to fill after graduating McDonald’s All-American Noah Vonleh. Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg, along with assistants from Providence, Virginia Tech, and others, all watched him in Springfield. Following his return from the Adidas Super 64, he has picked up offers from Florida, Clemson, and Virginia.

New Mission guard primed for big season: Going into July, Boston Warriors coach Cory McCarthy needed a point guard.

McCarthy, who is also the head coach at New Mission during the winter season, looked no further than Shaquan Murray, a skilled senior who plays for McCarthy at New Mission and has proven himself as one of the top scorers in the MIAA.

Murray, who at 6-foot has long arms and an arsenal of offensive moves, stepped in and became the floor leader for the Warriors.

Alongside Lawrence Academy’s Kyle Howes and Kimball Union guard Duby Maduegbunam, the Warriors made it all the way to the elite eight of the AAU Super Showcase Silver, where they eventually lost to city power BABC.

The New Mission guard had a slew of 20-point games over the course of the Warriors’ run, taking advantage of the opportunity given to him by his coach.

“He’s learned how to score how to score in every possible way,” McCarthy said. “Runner, floater, threes off the catch and off the dribble. When guards attack the rim like that against that kind of competition…they’re going to attract attention.”

In leading the Warriors to an 11-4 record in the July live period, Murray has drawn serious attention from several Division 2 schools—including Post University and Bridgeport University, in addition to many different local Division 3 programs.

A good student who boasts a 3.3 GPA and wants to study engineering, Murray is still in the process of formulating college plans. In the winter, he’ll be the go-to scorer on a New Mission squad that will again be amongst the most talented in the state.

“He’s one of the best kids I’ve coached in terms of character,” McCarthy said. “He performed so well all summer against great competition. His confidence is at an all-time high.”

There’s no truth to the rumor that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League is going to stop holding the Division I State Baseball Tournament and automatically give the championship trophy to Hendricken.

In retrospect, that thought isn’t far-fetched considering the Hawks captured their 18th state championship in school history by sweeping North Kingstown by scores of 5-1 and 7-4 in their best-of-three final series.

The Hawks, whose only loss in 2013 came in the second game of their best-of-three semifinal series against Johnston, have won eight titles in the last 11 years – all under veteran coach Ed Holloway.

Hendricken put Game 2 away early by scoring two runs without a hit in the second and tacking on three more in the third. The key hits in that frame were RBI singles by Lou Umberto and John Toppa.

The Hawks then put the game out of reach when they built a 7-1 lead in the fifth when Tournament Most Valuable Player Ed Markowski belted a home run – his second in the Final Four series.

Sophomore Mike McCaffrey earned the victory by tossing six innings and allowing only two runs.

Mike King went the distance in Game 1, spacing out four hits and allowing only a third-inning run. During one stretch he retired 11 of 13 Skippers.

Hendricken scored all the runs King would need in the bottom of the first, on Toppa’s single and King’s sacrifice fly.

MARINERS END LONG DROUGHT
In the 38 years that Narragansett has been playing Interscholastic League baseball, the Mariners haven’t come within a long foul ball of annexing a state title.

That drought came to an end during this year’s Division II state tournament when they swept Westerly by scores of 9-0 and 7-2 in the teams’ best-of-three finals.

Game 1 was one of the more bizarre tournament games in Interscholastic League history.
Narragansett led 3-0 in the fifth with Zach McKanna working on a no-hitter when the game was suspended because of a torrential downpour.

When play resumed the next day, McKanna completed his “no-no” replete with only two walks and 106 pitches.

Ironically, McKanna also helped himself at the plate by smacking a bases-clearing double in the sixth that broke the game open.

Unlike in Game 1, Narragansett had to rally in Game 2 because Westerly grabbed a 2-0, first-inning lead. But when the Mariners rallied they exploded – scoring six runs in the sixth with McKanna singling home the first run.

Kullen McGill later added a two-run single while Nick Shone contributed an RBI single to the outburst.

Senior Ross Hodnett, who was clipped for those two runs in the first, blanked the Bulldogs on three hits over the last six innings.

BOLT SKATERS ICED
Those of a certain age remember when Cranston East was a state hockey power...when the Thunderbolt produced superb players like Brown University grad Curt Bennett (the first-round pick of the then-Atlanta Flames), his brother Harvey Bennett, Joe Cavanaugh (who starred at Harvard), Otto Tingley, Lloyd Sheehan and Doug Smith.

But those days became a distant memory. And now they’re extinct because the Cranston School Committee recently voted to drop boys’ hockey because of a lack of numbers.

After the 2012-13 season, only seven players were left on the roster.

The reasons were the decline in numbers are various in nature, ranging from the cost of playing youth hockey (which discouraged families from signing up youngsters) to an influx of Asian and Hispanic boys who’s interest in sports was more inclined to soccer.

As a result, the school that has seven state championship banners to its credit will send its remaining players to arch-rival Cranston West where, for at least one year, a co-op team will take to the ice.

Cranston East thus became the second public school to drop hockey during the past academic year.

Pawtucket’s Tolman High announced during the season that it also was dropping the sport, again for a lack of numbers.

HUSKIES DOUBLE FAULT
Cranston East isn’t the only school that’s dropping a sport for 2013-14.

Mount Hope is cutting strings to boys’ tennis and instead adding boys’ volleyball.

Again, a lack of interest was the primary reason for the Huskies stepping permanently off the court.

A FIRST FOR FOOTBALL
After getting throttled for too many years by the Connecticut All-Stars in an inter-state game, Rhode Island instituted its own All-Star Football Game.

The East All-Stars defeated the West, 21-14, with Route 95 serving as the dividing line.

Portsmouth’s Matt Greenman and Bobby Chavous were the stars for the East.

The West led 14-13 entering the third quarter when Chavous threw a 77-yard bomb to Greenman for what proved to be the winning score.

Greenman also returned a punt 70 yards for a score while Chavous connected with Cumberland’s Mitch Baxter for a 23-yard TD pass.

HIGHEST LACROSSE HONOR
Barrington’s Kelly Dolan and Maddie Soutier, Lincoln School’s Larson Bennett and Moses’ Brown’s Hannah Langmuir each have been named to the Rhode Island Chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American Team.

Dolan, who finished the season with 63 goals and 20 assists and who will be playing lacrosse next year at Dartmouth, also received the Jackie Pitts Award for “service to the sport of girls’ lacrosse.”

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

Gatorade announced its girls' track and field state Players of the Year today.

Here's a look at the winners across New England:

CONNECTICUT - Claire Howlett, Westhill
The 5-foot-7 junior won the 3200-meter run with a state-record time of 10:20.03 and the 1600-meter run in 4:53.97 at the State Open Championship this spring. At the Class LL divisional championships, Howlett broke the tape in the 3200-meter run in 10:20.03 and finished second in the 1600-meter run in 4:56.25. Her 3200- and 1600 meter run times at the state meet, respectively, ranked No. 12 and No. 65 among U.S. prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection.

Also a cross country standout, Howlett has maintained a 4.54 weighted GPA in the classroom. The Online Editor-In-Chief of her school’s student newspaper, she has also donated her time on behalf of Westhill’s buildOn club, serving the Darien Book Aid, St. Luke’s Lifeworks and the Bruce Museum. She has also completed a service-mission trip to the Republic of Malawi.

MAINE - Kate Hall, Lake Region
The 5-foot-9 sophomore won three individual championships at the Class B state meet this spring, leading the Lakers to second place as a team. This past winter’s Indoor Track Female Performer of the Year as named by the Portland Press Herald, Hall captured the long jump outdoors with a leap of 18 feet, 5.75 inches in addition to sweeping the 100-meter dash (with a time of 12.12 seconds) and the 200 (in 25.49). She also anchored the 4x100-meter relay quartet that broke the tape in 50.65. Her 100-meter dash time of 11.68 at the Western Maine Conference Championships, her 200-meter dash time of 24.89 and her long jump leap of 19-0.75 at the New England championships all set state records.

Also a soccer standout, Hall has maintained a 4.00 GPA in the classroom. In addition to donating her time as a youth track and piano instructor, she has volunteered locally on behalf of a foster care program and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk to Cure Diabetes.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Hannah Parker, Coe-Brown Nortwood Academy
The 5-foot-9 sophomore won two individual state championships this spring and led the Black Bears to the Division II state title as a team. Parker won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:14.73 and the 1600-meter run in 5:12.29. At the Meet of Champions, she won the 800 in 2:10.62 and ran the second leg on Coe-Brown’s winning 4x800-meter relay quartet. Parker also won the 800 at the New England Outdoor Championships in a meet-record time of 2:06.42, which ranked as the nation’s No. 3 performance among prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection.

Parker has maintained a B average in the classroom. A member of her school’s student council, she has volunteered locally at the Nottingham Recreation Center and as a mentor at an area school.

RHODE ISLAND - Maddy Berkson, Classical
The state’s returning Gatorade Track & Field Athlete of the Year, the 5-foot-4 junior won the 1500 meters at the state meet this spring and led the Purple to a state title. Berkson, hampered earlier this spring by a health issue, also ran the second leg for Classical’s winning 4x400-meter relay quartet and placed third in both the 800-meter run and the 3000-meter run. At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Berkson placed third in the 800 with a state-record time of 2:08.40, which ranked as the nation’s No. 12 performance among prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection. She holds five state records and her best times in the mile (5:02.01), 1500 (4:34.27) and 3000 (10:09.86) all rank in the top 100 nationally this spring.

Berkson has maintained an unweighted 4.07 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as a lab technician in her Advanced Placement Biology class and at youth track events.

VERMONT - Autumn Eastman, Champlain Valley Union
The 5-foot-3 junior won two individual state championships at the Division I state meet this spring and led the Redhawks to a second-place finish as a team. Eastman won the 800-meter run with a state-record time of 2:13.06 and the 1500-meter run in 4:40.72, which ranked as the nation’s No. 63 performance among prep competitors in 2013 at the time of her selection. Eastman ran the anchor leg for CVU’s 4x800-meter relay quartet that won with a state-record time of 9:29.75, and she ran the second leg for the 4x400-meter relay squad that finished third.

Eastman has maintained an A average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally with Champlain Valley Union’s Athletic Leadership Club to promote positive sportsmanship and was accepted into the MedQuest Health Careers Exploration Program at the University of Vermont this summer to explore her interests in science.

US Lacrosse unveiled its high school girls All-Americans and honorable mentions tonight. Here is the complete list of New England high schoolers who were named, by district:

FIRST TEAM

Connecticut
Amelia Dickson, Sr. M, Hotchkiss
Cassandra Ekstrom, Jr. D, Newtown
Kristy Gilbert, Sr. M, Darien
Taylor Hardison, Sr. A, Darien
Olivia Hompe, Sr. A, New Canaan
Liz O'Sullivan, Sr. G, New Canaan
Carolyn Paletta, Jr. M, Greenwich
Dillon Schoen, Jr. M, Darien
Emilia Tapsall, Sr. M, Greenwich Academy
Mary Taussig, Sr. M, Greenwich Academy
Caylee Waters, Sr. G, Darien

Eastern Massachusetts
Amy Arnold, Sr. A, Masconomet
Marina Burke, Sr. M, Westwood
Catherine Conley, Jr. M, Needham
Alex Dalton, Sr. M, Notre Dame (Hingham)
Jillian Doherty, Sr. M, Brooks
Hope D'Orsi, Jr. M, St. Mark's
Jeannie Dwinell, Sr. M, Middlesex
Maura Grady, Sr. G, Pingree
Shannon Fitzgerald, Jr. M, Newton North
Megan Hennessy, Sr. M, Winchester
Ela Hazar, Jr. M, Westwood
Mikaela Karlson, Jr. G, St. Mark's
Aileen Kelly, Jr. G, Framingham
Mackenzie Kent, Jr. M, Noble & Greenough
Clare Lyne, Sr. M, Middlesex
Nekele McCall, Jr. M, Philips Andover
Maeve McMahon, Sr. M, Groton
Hannah Murphy, Sr. M, Duxbury
Mary O'Connell, Sr. M, Norwell
Taylor O'Connell, Sr. D, Algonquin
Isabella O'Connor, Jr. A, Notre Dame (Hingham)
Kayla O'Connor, Sr. M, Governor's Academy
Abby Quirk, Sr. A, Lincoln-Sudbury
Alison Ryan, Jr. M, Norwood
Maddie Stenberg, Sr. A, Needham
Maddie Ward, Sr. M, Norwell

Maine
Sadie Cole, Sr. A, Waynflete
Molly Ryan, Sr. M, Falmouth
Lauren Steidl, Sr. M, Cape Elizabeth

New Hampshire
Madison Crutchfield, Jr. M, St. Paul's
Mickenzie Larivee, Jr. M, Souhegan
Sidney Swormstedt, Soph. M, New Hampton
Charlotte Ward, Sr. M, St. Paul's

Rhode Island
Kelly Dolan, Sr. A/M, Barrington
Madeline Soutter, Jr. A/M, Barrington
Hannah Langmuir, Jr. M, Moses Brown
Larson Bennett, Jr. M, Lincoln School

Vermont
Anne-Marie Farmer, Sr. M, South Burlington
Allie Flaherty, Sr. M, South Burlington

Western Massachusetts
Alexa Cambi, Jr. M, Longmeadow
Jillian Scyocurka, Jr. M, Longmeadow
Karly Simpson, Sr. M, Williston-Northampton
Brittney Brown, Sr. G, Berkshire

***

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Connecticut
Taylor Walker, Soph. M, Glastonbury
Kayla Deitz, Sr. M, Simsbury
Kiley Anderson, Jr. M, Haddam Killingworth
Cait Callahan, Jr. M, Hotchkiss
Madison Hooper, Jr. G, Hall
Kelly Armstrong, Jr. D, New Canaan
Kiki Ryan, Sr. A, East Lyme
Jena Fritts, Sr. A, Darien
Emily Stein, Sr. A, Darien
Wheately Raabe, Sr. D, New Canaan
Alannah Boyle, Jr. A, Hall

Eastern Massachusetts
Clare Russell, Jr. M, Milton Academy
Eliza Dorsey, Jr. M, Governor's Academy
Victoria Moore, Sr. M, BB&N
Caroline Hill, Sr. D, Beaver Country Day

Maine
Alexandra Logan, Jr. M, Cheverus
Alex Bernier, Sr. M, Falmouth
Martha Veroneau, Sr. M, Waynflete

New Hampshire
Elise Hennessey, Soph. G, Brewster Academy
Kimberly Arkell, Jr. M, Exeter
Sarah Bell, Sr. M, Holderness
Lindsey Reynolds, Soph. M, Bow

Vermont
Katy Ranaldo, Sr. M, Rice Memorial
Maddie Rollins, Sr. M, Brattleboro

What do the boys’ lacrosse teams from La Salle Academy, East Greenwich and Smithfield have in common?

Each team is undefeated and is in first place in its respective division and, not surprisingly, is the odds-on favorite to capture a state championship.

The Rams (10-0 in Division I and 12-0), who are coached by Colonel Steven McConnell, the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, boast an offense that’s off the charts.

Through matches of May 21, the Rams have out-scored their opponents by a margin of 202-65.

The story within the story is that La Salle attacks Brady O’Donnell and Joe Manown are the top two scorers in the state regardless of division.

O’Donnell, who’s a senior, has whipped home 56 goals and assisted on 33 while sophomore Manown has scored 49 goals and assisted on 38. What makes Manown’s proficiency all the more noteworthy is the fact he missed most of the 2012 season due to injury.

East Greenwich (13-0 in Division II and 13-2 overall), is riding the backs of 15 seniors who have played an integral role in the Avengers’ offense and defense.

Coach Brian Trapani’s team leads the division with 163 goals and has allowed a stingy total of 43.

Senior Colin Watikun and senior Colin Bernier lead the Avengers with 50 points apiece, Waitkun having scored 39 goals and assisted on 11 with Bernier having fired home 40 goals and assisted on 10.

Smithfield (12-0 in Division III and 12-2 overall) hasn’t lost a division game since the 2010 season.

Coach Joe Renzi’s Sentinels weren’t expected to be a contender since the team graduated 16 players from the 2012 squad. But attacks Brendan Benoit, Nick Gerlach and Matt Walker have led an offense that’s tied with Coventry in goals scored with 139.

MOUND KING
Team sport notwithstanding, the baseball program at Hendricken is heavily reliant on arguably the state’s best pitcher, senior Mike King who’s signed a letter of intent to play at Boston College.

King is a major reason why the Hawks lead Division I-North with a 16-0 record since he’s recorded an 8-1 record replete with 46 strikeouts and a mere six walks in 33 innings.

A right-hander, King didn’t allow his first earned run of the season until May 18 when Hendricken beat La Salle, 4-1. King spaced out six hits while going the distance – again.

King also helps himself at the plate with a batting average that’s hovered around .500 all season.

In a recent 5-1victory over Cranston West, King’s RBI single helped key a five-run first inning.

Another Hawk who’s been wielding a potent bat is John Toppa, grandson of the late Rogers High football coaching legend of the same name.

In a 4-3 victory over St. Raphael, Toppa’s fourth-inning double drove home the game-winning run. And in a 6-1 win over Cumberland, Toppa contributed a single, triple and two RBI.

Elsewhere:

* Central Falls pulled off the upset of the season regardless of division when the Warriors won their first game of the season – 5-2 over Division II-North leader Tolman (12-2). Emmanuel Antigua smacked a two-run single during a four-run fourth inning while Brandon Canuto went the distance for the victory. The loss sliced Tolman’s lead over second-place Scituate (13-3) to one game.

* North Kingstown’s Billy Young improved his record to 4-0 by blanking Toll Gate, 7-0, in a Division II-South game. Young allowed only two hits and fanned 10.

* East Providence’s Colin Costa collected two doubles, a single and five RBI as the Townies (14-1) held onto first place in Division II-Central by beating Mount Pleasant, 9-4. Teammate Colin Grant struck out 17 Kilties en route to the complete-game victory.

CLOSE SHAVE
Never let it be said that East Providence softball coach Rob Traverse isn’t true to his word.

A year ago, the Townies won only three of their first 12 games. Traverse made a “bet” with his players that if they won at least seven games this season he’d shave his head. They did and he did.

East Providence currently is in fifth place in the Division I with a 10-5 record – the Townies’ most impressive victory being a 2-0 blanking of North Kingstown (i.e. it was the Skippers’ first loss).

In that win over the Skippers, EP broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning on Amy DeCastro’s single and Casey Traverse’s subsequent sacrifice fly.

In other games of note:

* Lincoln High to nobody’s surprise clinched the Division I title and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming state tournament by beating La Salle, 4-1. Lindsay Mayer allowed only one run on two hits for the 14-0 Lions.

* Division II-East leader Moses Brown (10-5) blanked Central, 6-0, in a crossover game as Emma Rantanen tossed a one-hitter – losing her bid for a no-hitter when Dianna Torres singled with two outs in the sixth.

ENTERING THE HALL
Even though Central Falls is the smallest city in the state, its high school has produced a host of outstanding athletes.

Nine will be inducted into the Central Falls Athletic Hall of Fame on October 11: former boys’ basketball coach Ed McVeigh plus athletes Albert Cardosa, Jeff Desautel, James Dougan, Brian Goodhart, Kevin Guindon, Carmen Pizarro, Russell Standring, Ken Vaudreuil and Kinga Dobrzychi-Zuromski.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

Different year. Same story.

Or to put it another way, Hendricken is giving every indication that it’s zeroing in on a state-record 18th Division I baseball championship.

Through games of May 7, the Hawks led Division I-North with an 11-0 record – one game ahead of arch-rival La Salle (10-1) whom Hendricken edged, 3-2, on April 17.

Going into the season, veteran coach Ed Holloway knew he would have his ace on the mound in the person of First Team All-State selection Mike King (who’s already signed a letter of intent to play for Boston College).

But the Hawks’ pitching staff has developed into something more than a one-trick pony.

Senior Dillon Manfredi and sophomore Mike McCaffrey have developed into reliable starting pitchers who’ve given Hendricken valuable depth.

Most importantly, the Hawks have shown an uncanny ability to win close games (games decided by one run).

Following is a list of Hendricken victories that underscore the above point:

* McCaffrey went the distance on a two-hitter as Hendricken edged Cranston East, 1-0. The game was tied 1-1 entering the last of the sixth when John Toppa singled with two outs to plate the go-ahead run.

* Manfredi tossed a complete-game four-hitter as Hendricken nipped Johnston, 2-1.

* King hurled a two-hit, 13-strikeout shutout as Hendricken blanked Woonsocket, 2-0. King also helped himself at the plate as he lofted a first-inning sacrifice fly and doubled home a fifth-inning run. King pulled off a major escape act in the top of the seventh when the Villa Novans loaded the bases with none out only to have the Hendricken ace fan three consecutive batters.

* Eddie Markowski’s single in the bottom of the ninth broke a 1-1 tie and gave Hendricken a 2-1 victory over Lincoln.

* King struck out nine and allowed only five hits as the Hawks clipped Cranston West, 2-1. Hendricken utilized the long ball to win this game when Nick Boland belted a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning.

TOWNIE TIME
While Hendricken long has been the dominant baseball team in the state, the same can’t be said of East Providence.

But this year may be different for a school that’s never won a state baseball title.

The Townies moved into sole possession of first place in Division II-Central with a 10-0 record thanks to 3-2, come-from-behind victory over second-place Central (8-2). Jerry Espinal and Keith Grant combined on a six-hitter as the Townies swept the season series from the Knights.

Prior to that game, the Townies outlasted Warwick Vets, 8-4, with Nick Karalekas collecting two hits, two RBI and four stolen bases.

Led by Karalekas plus Alex Hurley, Jasiah Hatch, Mike Allienello and Marc LaValley, the Townies have been pounding the opposition into submission.

Want proof? East Providence out-scored its first 10 opponents by a combined margin of 99-20.

AROUND THE DIAMOND
In two other games of note, North Kingstown beat South County rival South Kingstown, 3-1, and moved into a tie for first place in I-South with each team having a 9-2 record.

The Skippers’ Dom Grillo went the route on a two-hitter – allowing an RBI double in the first and not surrendering another hit until the sixth. In addition, he fanned eight Rebels.

Brian Cox accounted for North Kingstown’s runs, with an RBI single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth.

Exeter-West Greenwich (2-8), which has been struggling in Division II-South, rallied from a 6-1 deficit and upset West Warwick, 10-6.

The Scarlet Knights trailed 6-1 entering the fourth when Matt Grenier came on in relief. Grenier blanked the Wizards (4-5) on zero hits over the last 3 1/3 innings which enabled him to notch the victory.

DEFENSE MISSING
Defense was left on each team’s respective bus when the girls’ lacrosse teams from Moses Brown and East Greenwich met in a Division I crossover game.

The Quakers’ Meghan Buonanno scored eight goals and assisted on one while teammate Alexandra Pinsky recorded an unbelievable total of seven goals plus six assists during a 25-19 victory.

Ironically, the Avengers’ Marielle Kraft out-did Buonnano and Pinsky by scoring nine games.

Moses Brown improved to 7-1 in I-North.

AROUND THE RIM
Division I champion La Salle landed two players on the All-State Girls’ Basketball First Team – sophomore Davida Dale and senior Priscilla Dunphy.

Dale led the Rams in scoring with a 17.7 average and was voted MVP honors in the Division I Tournament.

Dunphy, who’ll play her college basketball at UMass-Lowell, averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and two assists for a La Salle team that finished 21-4 overall and won its third consecutive state title.

Rounding out the top five are Exeter-West Greenwich sophomore Taylor Buckley, the Gatorade Rhode Island Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year; Westerly senior Hannah Dobson who finished her career as the second-leading scorer in school history with 1,589 points; and Barrington senior Caitlyn Nolan who averaged 13.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

HEADING NORTH AND SOUTH
Elizabeth Scala, who played hockey at Bay View Academy before transferring to the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, has signed a letter of intent to play for Syracuse University.

Central senior Carlos Mangum, who earned All-American and All-State honors in the weight throw, has accepted a full ride from the University of Miami. Most recently, Mangum was ranked fourth in the nation in the hammer throw with a heave of 212-feet, 9-inches.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Never underestimate the healing power of sports.

That was never more evident than on Saturday when Newtown (Conn.) High played Tolman (R.I.) High in a non-league baseball game at McCoy Stadium -- home of the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate .

“It can help get you back to doing some sort of routine … to doing something you love around people you really care about,” Newtown head coach Matt Memoli said after Tolman beat his Nighthawks, 5-3. “My wife and I moved there [in June, 2011]. I taught all of these kids because I teach in the middle school and I coach them now in high school.

“After everything that happened, I’ve always had a great sense of pride for the town. But it’s overwhelming the way people have responded. It does bring people together."

When Memoli mentioned “everything that happened” he was referring to the horrendous events of Dec. 14 and the tragic deaths that occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The idea to play Newtown was the idea of Tolman coach Theo Murray. But the purpose wasn’t just to play a baseball game. It also served as a fund raiser with all proceeds being donated to the Sandy Hook Workers Assistance Program which provides financial help for emergency responders, medical and mental health professionals and Sandy Hook Elementary School employees who suffered a mental or emotional impairment because of the crisis that occurred last December.

A crowd of nearly 1,000 viewed the game, which raised a grand total of $8,500. And that figure doesn’t include the $600 Murray raised from various sponsors plus the $500 donation by Tolman’s athletic department.

In addition, Dattco, the bus company utilized by the Pawtucket Red Sox, donated its services to transport the Nighthawks from Newtown to Pawtucket and back home.

On top of all this, the four umpires donated their time and the PawSox hosted a post-game barbeque for both teams.

“Dattco donated their services in honor of the Newtown kids,” PawSox President Mike Tamburro said. “[Tolman athletic director] John Scanlon and Theo called us late January and asked us if we would host this event. It took us about a second to say ‘Yes.’ It’s just made darn, good sense.

“If we could bring a smile to the face of that community in this small way, we thought the idea needed to be embraced. Watching those kids get off the bus and walk onto this field at 9:30 this morning, they were like walking on a cloud. It made it all worthwhile.”

Tolman (4-2) led 5-1 entering the top of the seventh when Newtown (3-4) rallied for two runs and eventually left the bases loaded when the final out was recorded.

The Nighthawks’ ability to rally, in the opinion of senior Mike Koch, reflected the strength of the community as well as that of the team.

“Going on strength of community, the way we came back in the last inning basically shows how our community is especially after what happened,” Koch said. “We all came back together. We all fought back and we’re trying to make the best of what we have.

“That’s the way it’s been in Newtown. We’re extremely close as friends. When we come back like that, with the reserves coming in and doing work like they did, it was a great job all around. And it’s the same in the community.”

Not your average ballpark: What wasn’t the same was playing in a venue like McCoy Stadium which has seen a myriad of players that went on to become All-Stars as well as Hall of Famers (i.e. Cal Ripken Jr., Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, etc.).

“It’s always a great experience to play on a field that doesn’t give you bad hops for once,” Koch said. “It’s also a great experience to play where David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have played … all those great players.

“It’s an honor to play here.”

The fact Newtown was invited to play the game took Memoli completely by surprise.

“When Coach Murray invited us to come here, I don’t know him from Adam,” Memoli said. “He e-mailed me after the events that occurred at Sandy Hook. I went to my athletic director and my players and the first thing everyone said was ‘Definitely.’

“It’s a huge testament to him, just being unselfish to invite our team when we don’t have any idea of who they are … to come out to a stadium like this. It says a lot about who [Murray] is and what that program is to allow us to enjoy that experience.”

It also was in stark contrast to what the players experienced on Dec. 14 at Sandy Hook.

“It was scary,” Memoli said. “For these kids, personally, it was extremely scary. Overall, it was just very sad for all of us. For these kids, I tell them sometimes I don’t like yelling at them because I care about them so much. It’s such a fun group to be around.

“Ever since December and the events that happened this week, to get out here for a little normalcy and just to play baseball on a field like these in a stadium like this, it really makes you thankful and grateful that you get a chance to do this. These kids are definitely grateful and thankful they got to come out here and have fun and play baseball.”

Play ball: As for the game, which essentially was secondary in nature, Newtown grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on Dean Demers’ sacrifice fly.

Tolman then hung four runs on the board in the last of the second, one on a wild pitch, another on a Steve Otis single and two on Jason Maynard’s double.

The Tigers tacked on an insurance run in the third when Carlos Canabria drew a leadoff walk and eventually came home when Nick Kempf was hit by a bases-loaded pitch.

Newtown’s seventh-inning rally was sparked by Pat Rowley’s double and Garrison Buzzanca’s single.

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League has held boys’ hockey state tournaments since 1933. From that year until the present, one school has dominated regardless of division alignments.

This season, the RIIL implemented a Super Four championship which involved the top four teams in the state based on a power-point system. New format or not, the final result was the same: Mount St. Charles emerged with its fifth state championship in the last six years; its 31st in the last 36 years; and its seemingly-incredible 43rd in RIIL history.

What made Mount’s conquest this season even more impressive was the fact that, in its best-of-three series with La Salle, the two games coach Bill Belisle’s team needed to annex another title weren’t even close.

Mount blew out the Rams, 7-0, in Game 1 and closed the deal with a 5-2 victory in Game 2.

The Mounties led 2-0 after one period in Game 1 only because of stellar goaltending by Tyler Walsh, who stopped 18 of 20 shots.

Walsh made 22 more saves in a scoreless second period. But in the third the Mount erupted for five goals – the first a power-play score by Dan Glod (his second of the game).

After that, it was all downhill for Mount as Brian Belisle (the coach’s grandson), scored to make it 4-0.

In the end, Mount outshot La Salle by a whopping 67-24 margin.

Mount only led 1-0 after the first period of Game 2 on a goal by Patrick Holmes. But Devin Votta’s second-period goal made it 2-0 and Glod scored twice in the third period which ended any suspense.

Glod, a senior forward, was voted the Super Four MVP after scoring three goals in two games.

EAGLES DEFY ODDS
Barrington finished a lackluster Division I regular-season record of 3-14-1.

But just like Superman stepping into a telephone booth and emerging as the antithesis to Clark Kent, the Eagles took flight and captured the Division I Tournament by beating Burrillville, two games to one, in the best-of-three series.

Truth be told, eight of Barrington’s regular-season losses were at the hands of the Super Four Tournament teams. But in tournament play, the Eagles were 4-1 and captured the school’s first boys’ hockey title in 18 years (Barrington won the Division II title in 1995).

Barrington set off a wild celebration after blanking the Broncos, 2-0 in Game 3, due in large part to tournament MVP Andrew Galbraith.

A senior goaltender, Galbraith stopped a hefty 52 shots after stopping 28 in a 1-0 victory in Game 1.

Barrington scored the only goal Galbraith would need barely four minutes into the first period on a shot by Brett Fay.

Mike Lombardi’s power-play goal early in the second period provided an insurance goal. Lombardi, a freshman, scored the only goal in Game 1 as the Eagles prevailed, 1-0. But the Broncos kicked up their heels in Game 12 and clipped the Eagles, 7-2, behind a hat trick by Chad Stone.

LIONS PERFECT
With the exception of a tie, Lincoln completed a spectacular 23-0-1 season by sweeping the best-of-three Division II championship series against Prout by scores of 3-2 in each game – the second in overtime.

The title was the first for the Lions since the 1984-85 season.

With Game 2 tied 2-2 in OT, Griffin Hevey’s shot from the blue line at 3:36 eluded Crusader goalie Austin Gemma. In Gemma’s defense, Lincoln caught Prout during a line change.

Previously, Hevey scored an overtime goal against East Greenwich which clinched the quarterfinal series.

Lincoln sophomore goalie, Chris Leclaire, stopped 34 shots to earn the victory while Lincoln’s other goals were scored by Ryan Krohto and Jerzy Polak – the latter during a power play.

Leclaire was solid in Game 1 as he turned aside 30 shots and kept Lincoln’s deficit at 1-0 until late in the second period when Krohto scored twice in a span of 3:20.

KNIGHTS SPEAR TIGERS
Three years ago, West Warwick was dropping hockey due to a lack of participation.

So, West Warwick and Exeter/West Greenwich formed a co-op team and in March it did something that was totally unimaginable: win a state title.

West Warwick/EWG swept Tolman by scores of 5-2 and 5-1 to annex the Division III title and erase the sting of a 5-11-0 record the team posted last season.

In addition, it enabled coach Pete Ethier’s team to finish with a 20-0-0 record.

The Wizards/Scarlet Knights scored a hefty 142 goals during 16 regular-season games. And it was more of the same against Tolman, which will be dropping hockey (does this sound familiar?) due to a lack of boys willing and able to play hockey.

Troy Sankey scored the Wizards/Scarlet Knights’ first two goals and Anthony Ventura buried a rebound early in the third period for what proved to be the game-winner.

The victors also boasted the tournament’s MVP in Antonio Rei, who scored the game’s final goal.

Sankey came up big in Game 1 when he scored a power-play goal in the first period to tie the score at 1-1. Ventrua followed suit, and after Tolman’s Chris Baldwin tied it, Rei scored the eventual game-winner at 7:47 of the third.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.

Rockland senior Tyler Gibson was named this year's Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Massachusetts. Here are the winners from the five other New England states:

RHODE ISLAND: BONZIE COLSON, ST. ANDREW'S
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound junior forward averaged 16.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.2 assists per game this past season, leading the Saints (24-9) to the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class AA tournament championship game. A First Team All-NEPSAC Class AA selection, Colson averaged 14.7 points and 15.0 rebounds per game in the NEPSAC Class AA tournament as the eighth-seeded Saints reached the final, where they lost to Cushing Academy by one point on a 40-foot buzzer-beater.

Colson has maintained a B average in the classroom. A member of the St. Andrew’s School chorus, he has volunteered locally as a youth basketball coach and referee.

“Selfless, efficient, composed, simple -— that describes Bonzie Colson,” said Jesse Bopp, head coach of Vermont Academy. “He is at the core of their success. He scores around the basket, rebounds, makes free throws and guards. He is as efficient of a player as we played against all year.”

Colson will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

CONNECTICUT: KURT STEIDL, RIDGEFIELD

The 6-foot-6, 185-pound senior shooting guard averaged 24.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, four assists, and four steals while shooting 82 percent from the free throw line this past season, leading the Tigers (18-6) to the Class LL quarterfinals. A 2013 Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-Star selection, Steidl scored 31 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in a 63-57 win over New Britain in the second round of the state tournament.

Steidl has maintained a 3.68 GPA in the classroom. A devoted parishioner in his church community, he has volunteered locally assisting the elderly and on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield.

“Kurt Steidl was absolutely one of the best kids we faced this year,” said Tom Hunt, head coach at Woodland Regional High. “He averaged a double-double per game while playing in a very tough conference. Every time I saw him, he was terrific.”

Steidl has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on an athletic scholarship at the University of Vermont this fall.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: ERIC GENDRON, MERRIMACK
The 6-foot-3, 170-pound junior guard averaged 19.7 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks this past season, leading the Tomahawks (13-6) to the Division I state tournament. New Hampshire’s Mr. Basketball in 2013, Gendron scored 14 points to help hand eventual Division I state champion Trinity High its only loss of the season in a 60-56 regular-season win.

Gendron has maintained a 3.86 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally on behalf of the Leo Club and as a basketball coach with the Merrimack Youth Association.

“Eric Gendron has been such a huge part of all the success we had this season,” said Merrimack High head coach Tim Goodridge. “He has become a true leader on and off the court and he also happens to be one of the nicest kids I have ever coached.”

Gendron will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

MAINE: GARET BEAL, JONESPORT-BEALS
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound senior wing averaged 33.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks per game this past season, leading the Royals (18-1) to a berth in the Class D state tournament. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Beal shot 60 percent from the field, 48 percent from 3-point range and 79 percent from the free throw line. Also awarded Mr. Basketball as named by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches, he carried Jonesport-Beals to the 2012 Class D state championship as a junior, averaging 22.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 steals, 3.6 assists and 1.6 blocks.

Beal has maintained an A-minus average in the classroom and serves as a member of his school’s student council. In addition to donating his time on behalf of the National Honor Society, he has volunteered as a positive mentor to elementary school students and as part of both community fundraisers and cleanup efforts.

“As an opposing coach, our game plan always focused on how to handle Garet before and after he received the ball,” said Glenn Billings, head coach of rival Deer Isle-Stonington High. “Garet has the ability to pull up and hit the open jumper if you play off him, drive by you if you play up tight and pass to a open player if you double him. He sees the floor and reads the defender as well as any one we have played against, and his willingness to use all of his teammates is what has made him so tough to defend. He is also an excellent defender, taking away the other team’s best offensive threat in many games. I believe he is one of the best high school basketball players we have seen in our state.”

Beal has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Maine this fall.

VERMONT: MATT ST. AMOUR, MISSIQUOI VALLEY UNION
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior guard averaged 30.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game this past season, leading the Thunderbirds (13-9) to the Division I quarterfinals. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, St. Amour was also named the Burlington Free Press and Vermont Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year as a junior. He finished his prep career with 2,064 points, third in state history.

St. Amour has maintained a 4.13 GPA in the classroom. Also a soccer standout, he has volunteered locally on behalf of youth sports programs, blood-donation drives and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

“St. Amour plays within himself and really understands the game,” said Peter Quinn, head coach at Vergennes High. “He’s a tremendous shooter who knows how to put the ball in the basket.”

St. Amour remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

Reading's Olivia Healy was named Gatorade Player of the Year in girls basketball this morning for Massachusetts. Here are the winners for the other five New England states:

CONNECTICUT: SARAH VEILLEUX, RHAM

The 6-foot junior guard led the Sachems to a 21-4 record and the Class L semifinals this past season. Veilleux averaged 28.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.9 steals and 3.5 assists per game. A three-time All-Conference selection, she was a Second Team New Haven Register All-State honoree as a sophomore.

Veilleux has maintained a 4.39 GPA in the classroom. Also a volleyball standout, she has served as a tutor in her school and has volunteered locally on behalf of youth sports programs.

“Veilleux is an outstanding player,” said Josh Dinerman, head coach at Rocky Hill High. “She’s a dominant scorer, but she also does all the little things which make her a complete player. She controls the game, offensively and defensively.”

RHODE ISLAND: TAYLOR BUCKLEY, EXETER-WEST GREENWICH

The 5-foot-11 junior center averaged 17.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game this past season, leading the Scarlet Knights (21-2) to the Division I state semifinals. Buckley was a Rhode Island Coaches Association First Team All-State selection and a First Team All-Division I honoree. She led all of Division I in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.

Buckley, who is home-schooled, has maintained a 3.83 GPA. A volunteer with the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department, she has also donated her time locally on behalf of the Providence Rescue Mission, as a nursery school volunteer and as part of a fundraising campaign to benefit third-world hunger awareness.

“Taylor Buckley is very strong and tough to defend,” said Gary Martinelli, head coach of Ponaganset High. “She can score out to 15 feet. She has great hands and is a tough defender down low. She’s the best low-post presence in the state.”

NEW HAMPSHIRE: JAMIE SHERBURNE, BISHOP GUERTIN

The 5-foot-7 junior point guard averaged 10.6 points, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game this past season, leading the Cardinals (23-3) to the Division I state championship game. A 2012 Nashua Telegraph First Team All-Star, Sherburne helped Bishop Guertin to its first basketball state title as a sophomore. She was named to the Nike 17U National Championship All-Tournament Team in the summer of 2012 as a member of the NH Rivals AAU team.

Sherburne has maintained a 3.13 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as a youth basketball and soccer coach.

“Jamie is a dynamic player who drives that team,” said Cassie Turcotte, head coach of Winnacunnet High. “She is also just as tough defensively as she is offensively. She bothers players and creates turnovers.”

Sherburne has made a verbal commitment to attend Niagara University on an athletic scholarship beginning in the fall of 2014.

MAINE: ALLIE CLEMENT, CATHERINE MCAULEY

The 5-foot-8 junior point guard led the Lions to a 23-0 record and their third straight Class A state title this past season. Clement averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.5 assists while shooting at 56 percent from inside the arc. The 2013 Edward “Red” McMann Award winner as the outstanding player of the state tournament, Clement scored 13 points in a 60-45 win over Bangor in the state final.

Clement has maintained a 94.7 average in the classroom. She has volunteered locally as an elementary school library assistant and on behalf of the Falmouth Food Pantry. She has also donated her time helping to collect sneakers for underprivileged children.

“Allie Clement has an extremely high basketball IQ and she always seems to make the right play,” said Laughn Berthiaume, head coach at Gorham High. “Whenever they needed a big basket, she was able to deliver. She is a high energy player who was always able to control the tempo of the game.”

VERMONT: EMILY KINNESTON, CHAMPLAIN VALLEY UNION

The 5-foot-8 junior guard has led the Redhawks to a 21-0 record and a berth in the Division 1 semifinals against Burlington, scheduled for March 14. Kinneston is averaging 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.5 assists per game entering the state’s final four. She is a First Team All-Metro selection and a member of the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association Dream Dozen.

Kinneston has maintained a 3.90 GPA in the classroom. She has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics, youth sports camps and a literacy-outreach program.

“She is the most complete player we have in the state,” said Glenn Johnson, head coach at Bellows Free Academy-St. Albans. “She plays the game the right way and she can take a game over on the defensive end and the offensive end.”

At the risk of using a culinary metaphor, the regular season comprised the appetizer for boys’ basketball.

The soup and salad comprised the division tournaments. And the entrée is what 16 teams have been anxiously waiting to devour.

After Hope, Cumberland and North Smithfield annexed the Division I, II and III tournament championships, respectively, they’ll join 13 other teams for the third year that the Interscholastic League has held a tournament to determine the overall state champion.

The 16 teams are placed in four regions and seeded according to the final Power Point standings for the first round which tipped off Wednesday night:

Region 1: No. 16 West Warwick (17-8) vs. No. 1 Classical (17-5); No. 9 North Providence (16-5) vs. No. 8 Westerly (17-5).

Region 2: No. 16 Hendricken (11-10) vs. No. 2 La Salle (16-6); No. 10 Coventry (13-10) vs. No. 7 Hope (14-12).

Region 3: No. 14 Cranston West (14-9) vs. No. 3 North Kingstown (20-3); No. 11 Barrington (17-7) vs. No. 6 Mount Pleasant (13-8).

Region 4: No. 13 Prout (15-8) vs. No. 4 Cumberland (22-3); No. 12 Shea (16-8) vs. No. 5 North Smithfield (24-0).

How the three division champions reached their destination is an interesting story in each case.

Hope, for example, only was seeded eighth in the Division I Tournament. Yet the blue Wave captured their first championship since 1994 by beating fifth-seeded Coventry, 65-62 in the semifinals and upsetting third-seeded Classical, 69-65, in the finals.

Manny Kargbo scored a game-high 32 points (including 16-of-18 free throws) in the win over the Oakers while Ben Vezele posted a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.

The Purple, who averaged 70 points per game during the regular season, connected on only 18.7 percent (3-for-16) of their 3-point shots against the Hawks and needed a free throw from Kealen Ives with eight seconds left in regulation to break a 44-44 tie and earn a 45-44 victory in the other semifinal.

Ives led Classical with 20 points.

Without question the parents of the Cumberland players weren’t even born the last time the Clippers won a state title – 1936 when the school annexed the former Class C crown.

Do the math and that championship ended a 77-year drought.

A late 16-4 run enabled Cumberland to build an 11-point lead over the Raiders and eased the pressure going down the stretch.

Dylan Boisclair led Cumberland with 22 points while Tom Lazarus chipped in with 21, including the last nine from the charity stripe.

All North Smithfield did en route to the D-III championship was post the best record (24-0) in school history.

The Northmen beat East Greenwich, 66-55, in the finals, which enabled them to become the first team since Classical in 2008 to go undefeated and win a division title.

North Smithfield’s Cody L’Heureux arguably played a game he’ll remember for the rest of his life.

Not only did he score a game-high 31 points, but he notched his 1,000th career point in the process on one of his five treys.

DOUBLE DRIBBLES

In other games of note prior to the division tournaments:

• Hope’s Kargbo scored his 1,000th career point during a 52-51 victory over Cranston East, which clinched a playoff berth. Kargbo finished with 14 points and an assist on Vezele’s game-winning basket.
• Vezele recorded a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds (to go with five blocked shots) as Hope beat East Providence, 66-51, in a Division I preliminary round game.
• L’Heureux delivered a premonition of things to come when he scored 27 points, including six treys, as North Smithfield whipped Davies, 79-53.

DOBSON IN ELITE COMPANY

Westerly’s Hannah Dobson moved into second place on the school’s all-time scoring list (boys and girls) as the Bulldogs belted Coyle-Cassidy, 48-31 in a non-league game.

Dobson now has 1,514 career points.

Scituate (14-2) clinched first place in Division II-North by beating Johnston, 52-40, with Sadie Ross contributing a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds).

HAWKS LEAD THE PACK

Hendricken (13-2-1) remained atop the standings in the Division I Cimini Division by beating Cranston West, 5-2.

Three was the magic number in that game because Matt Creamer recorded a hat trick while Ed Markowski was credited with three assists.

Mount St. Charles (13-3-0) remained right behind Hendricken thanks to a 5-1 win over Barrington. Brian Belisle played a superb game by scoring two goals and assisting on the other three.

HENDRICKEN WRESTLERS THE BEST

Maybe what Hendricken’s wrestling team did on Feb.14 should have been an indication of things to come.

Coach Kevin Hennessey’s team handed Cumberland its first dual-meet loss in five years by coasting to a 47-9 victory, improving the Hawks’ record to 15-0.

Then, in the state championships, Hendricken won its first title since 2004 even though it only had one boy win an individual crown – Jason Davol at 106 pounds.

Hendricken amassed 168 points while Exeter/West Greenwich and Johnston tied for second with 133.5 points each.

The key for Hendricken was its ability to score points in the “wrestle-backs.”

Nicholas Celico, Rob Lanni, Anthony DiMauro, Chris Barone and Dallas Sauer lost in the quarterfinals but maintained their composure and annexed victories that earned them third-place finishes.

In other matches of note:

• Warwick Vets’ John Alteri won his third state title by blanking Cumberland’s Cody Beaudette, 2-0, at 113 pounds.
• Alteri’s teammate, Nathaniel Colicci, defended his 126-pound state title by beating Moses Brown’s Andrew Howard. The bout was tied at 2-2 after three regulation periods and three overtime sessions. The tiebreaker was Colicci’s ability to hold Howard for 30 seconds.
• While the 126-pound bout was the longest of the day, the 138-pound final was the shortest since defending champion Christian LaBrie of Exeter/West Greenwich pinned Cumberland’s Jon Mancini in 24 seconds.

Mike Scandura has been covering high school sports, college basketball, football and hockey plus minor league baseball in Rhode Island since the early 1970s. A native of Oswego, N.Y, he’s a member of the Words Unlimited Hall of Fame, which is the statewide organization of sportswriters, sportscasters and sports publicists.