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THE SUPER TEAM

Guard – Aaron Calixte, Jr., Stoughton
An exceptional athlete gifted with a tenacious motor, and one of the state's most dynamic scorers, the 5-foot-11 Calixte was the driving force behind the Black Knight's run to the Division 2 Eastern Mass. final, and asserted himself as the state's premier point guard. For his junior season, he averaged 19 points and six assists, and was named a Hockomock League All-Star. Calixte also stands out on the gridiron for the Black Knights' football squad.

Guard – Tyrese Hoxter, Jr., Charlestown
After playing in the shadows of former All-Stater Akosa Maduegbunam a year ago, the 6-foot-3 Hoxter thoroughly burst onto the scene and had a monster campaign for the Townies, leading them to the TD Garden floor for the first time since 2005 before bowing out to Brockton in the Division 1 Eastern Mass. Final. This season he averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Guard – Tyrell Springer, Sr., Springfield Central
After falling short of a state title two seasons ago with New Leadership, the 6-foot-2 Springer led Central to the DCU Center floor this season where the Golden Eagles captured their first Division 1 state title since 1991. The centerpiece of one of the state's most athletic lineups, Springer averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 7.3 steals. He is undecided on college plans.

Forward – Jake Layman, Sr., King Philip
The 6-foot-8 Layman was one of the most dominant players in Massachusetts this season, with the ability to score both inside and out, as the Warriors set a school single-season record for wins (18) before suffering a surprise upset in the Division 2 South quarterfinals. In 21 games, he averaged 26.5 points, 16 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, 3.2 assists and three steals. He closes his career with with 1,752 points, 1,098 rebounds and 391 blocks, giving him career averages of 20.6 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.6 blocks, 2.8 steals and 2.6 assists. This is his second appearance on the Super Team; he also captured the Hockomock League's MVP for the second straight season. Layman, who was named ESPN Boston's "Mr. Basketball" earlier this week, is ranked the nation's No. 62 overall senior by ESPN, and will continue his career next season at the University of Maryland.

Center – Sayvonn Houston, Sr., Brockton
A nightly double-double machine, Houston established himself as one of the state's most dominant true centers, making life difficult down low as the Boxers went 23-3 and made their first Division 1 state final appearance since 1985. He saved his biggest performances for the biggest stages, such as his 20-20 night in the Division 1 South semifinals, or his 22-point, 13-rebound effort in Brockton's overtime win over Charlestown in the Division 1 Eastern Mass. Final at TD Garden. Houston is undecided on college plans.

BEST OF THE REST

Jalen Adams, Soph. G, Melrose
Quickly rising as one of the Bay State's most complete scoring guards, the 6-foot-1 Adams took home Middlesex League MVP honors after averaging 21 points per game. He led the Red Raiders to an 18-2 regular season record, before they fell to state runner-up Brighton in the Division 2 North semifinals. Adams has already declared that he will be transferring to Wilbraham & Monson Academy next season, where he will reclassify to the Class of 2015.

Jaylen Blakely, Jr. G, Brockton
Like Houston, the 5-foot-11 Blakely saved some of his best performances for the crunch time in the playoffs, such as his eight-assist performance in the Boxers' win over Catholic Memorial. Blakely distributed evenly to Brockton's talented shooters and post players, as they went 23-3 and reached their first state final appearance since 1985.

Matt Droney, Sr. F, Catholic Memorial
A terrific shooter, the 6-foot-4 Droney was named the Catholic Conference's MVP after a season of averaging 20.7 points, six assists and five rebounds per game. He also became the eighth player in school history to surpass 1,000 points earlier this season. The Canton resident will be doing a post-graduate season next year at the Taft School in Connecticut.

Darien Fernandez, Jr. G, Wareham
The 5-foot-7 waterbug demonstrated a tenacious motor in leading the Vikings to their second Division 3 Eastern Mass. Final appearance in three seasons. Wareham was the state's last unbeaten before losing to state champion Danvers. For the season, Fernandez averaged 24 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals, and recorded three triple-doubles. He needs just 45 points next season to reach 1,000 for his career.

Rony Fernandez, Sr. G, Charlestown
Fernandez was one of the most outstanding point guards of the MIAA tournament, leading the Townies to a thrilling win over Lexington in the Division 1 North final before bowing out to state runner-up Brockton in the Eastern Mass. Finals. For the season he averaged 16 points and seven assists. He is undecided on college plans, but is currently fielding interest from Division 1 programs such as Maine, Northeastern and Hartford.

Joey Glynn, Sr. F, Cardinal Spellman
The 6-foot-5 Abington resident did it all this season for the Cardinals, averaging a double-double (18.5 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, 2.2 blocks) as they lost to Eastern Mass. runner-up Wareham in the Division 3 South semifinals. For his career, Glynn scored 1,425 points. He will continue his career next season at Bentley University.

Steve Haladyna, Sr. G/F, St. John’s Prep
One of two repeat All-Staters, the 6-foot-3 Haladyna was unable to lead the Eagles deep in their Division 1 state title defense, but he still leaves the Danvers campus as one of its most decorated basketball stars. He averaged 22.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, both team highs, and for his career he finishes with 1,392 points -- second all-time on Prep's scoring list. The South Hamilton resident will continue his career next season at Tufts University.

Malik James, Soph. G, Brighton
The 6-foot-1 James elevated his game when the Bengals needed it most, as they made their first state final appearance in school history, falling to Mahar in the Division 2 title game. For the season, James averaged 18.1 points, 8.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds as the Bengals won their first-ever Eastern Mass. title.

Jameilen Jones, Jr. G, BC High
BC High's season came to an unexpected halt as the Eagles loss in the first round of the Division 1 South tournament, but the 6-foot-2 Jones has established himself as one of Eastern Mass.'s premier two-way players. For the season, he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as the Eagles went 15-6.

Zach Karalis, Sr. G, North Andover
The 6-foot-1 Karalis was one of the driving forces for the Scarlet Knights, who went 21-2 and reached the playoffs an unprecedented 47th straight time. For the season he averaged 15.9 points and shot 46 percent from the field, to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals. Karalis will continue his career next season at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Kevin LaFrancis, Sr. C, Acton-Boxborough
After a stellar season in leading the 21-2 Colonials to a Division 1 North semifinal appearance, the 6-foot-6 LaFrancis was named the Dual County League's MVP. He averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds this season, and finishes his career at A-B with 1,012 career points. He is undecided on college plans.

Alex Lopez, Sr. G, Springfield Commerce
The 5-foot-10 Lopez led the Valley League in scoring for the second straight season, averaging 22.3 points as the Red Raiders went to the Division 1 Western Mass. Finals and took state champion Springfield Central to the wire. He led Western Mass. in field goals made (185) and total points (512). Lopez is currently undecided on college plans.

Damian Lugay, Sr. G, Weymouth
The 6-foot-2 Lugay led the Wildcats to a second straight 17-win season, before they were bounced in the first round of the Division 1 South tournament. For the season he averaged 18.1 points and just under four assists, and leaves Weymouth as a two-time First Team All-Bay State Conference. Lugay is undecided on college plans.

George Merry, Sr. C, Danvers
At 6-foot-7, Merry was a force at both ends of the floor for the Falcons, known for his ability to redirect shots as much as his scoring touch. He averaged 16.1 points, eight rebounds and 6.6 blocks as Danvers captured its first Division 3 state championship in school history. Merry is currently undecided on college plans, but showing interest from several schools in Divisions 2 and 3.

Marcus Middleton, Jr. G, Stoughton
Tasked nightly with locking down the opposition's top scorer, Middleton established himself as one of the state's premier on-ball defenders. Middleton averaged 16 points per game for the Black Knights, who won the Division 2 South title before bowing out to state runner-up Brighton in the Eastern Mass. championship at TD Garden. Middleton also stars on Stoughton's football squad.

Matt Mobley, Sr. G/F, St. Peter-Marian
One of state's most pleasant late-blooming surprises, the 6-foot-3 Mobley was one of the leading scorers in Central Mass. as the Guardians made it all the way to the Division 1 Central Final. For the season, he averaged 23.2 points in leading SPM to its most successful season under head coach Marcus Watson. Mobley finished his career at SPM with 1,175 points, and will do a post-graduate season next year at Worcester Academy.

Tyler Nelson, Soph. G, Central Catholic
The 5-foot-11 Nelson established himself as one of the state's premier shooters, as the Raiders made it to the Division 1 North semifinals before bowing out to champion Charlestown. He averaged 15.5 points and four assists this season, shot 42 percent from three-point range, and 91 percent from the free throw line.

Colin Richey, Jr. G, Whitinsville Christian
After winning a Division 3 state title a year ago, the 6-foot Richey nearly led them back, as the Crusaders lost in the final seconds to state runner-up St. Joseph Central in the state semifinals. For the seaosn, Richey averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 assist and 6.3 rebounds for the Dual Valley League champions.

Kamari Robinson, Jr. F, Springfield Central
The 6-foot-5 Robinson was a rock underneath for the Golden Eagles, who captured their first Division 1 state title since 1991 and third overall. He was a nightly double-double threat this season, averaging 13 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and three assists, as Central went undefeated in Massachusetts.

Michael Thorpe, Sr. G, Newton North
The Tigers went run-and-gun this season, and the 5-foot-11 Thorpe kept them thoroughly going. One year after reaching the Division 1 South finals, he nearly led them back, before losing to state runner-up Brockton in the semifinals. He was named the Bay State Conference's MVP, with averages of 15 points and four assists. Thorpe will continue his career next season at Emerson College.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MARCUS MIDDLETON, STOUGHTON
The kind of on-ball pressure Middleton provided nightly to some of the state's premier scorers can take its toll physically, but he was routinely up to the task. As teammate Aaron Calixte saw a barrage of double-teams and box-and-one's, Middleton did his part at the other end, hedging off screens and staying one one's hip, chasing them all over the floor. As much praise as Calixte will get in this unprecedented season for the Knights, an equal amount must be thrown Middleton's way.

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
G – Marcus Middleton, Jr., Stoughton
G – Anthony Hodges, Sr., Holy Name
G – Darien Fernandez, Jr., Wareham
F – Jake Layman, Sr., King Philip
C – George Merry, Sr., Danvers

COACH OF THE YEAR
HUGH COLEMAN, BRIGHTON
The Bengals lost their best player before the start of the tournament, and backpedaled into the playoffs with uninspiring losses to Acton-Boxborough and Madison Park. Yet in the end, they were one step away from the school's first-ever state title. Coleman is an unabashed disciple of the legendary Jack O'Brien, and staples of those historic Charlestown squads are sprinkled all over the program. Not only has Coleman done a remarkable job bringing the team to heights never before reached in his three seasons at the helm, but this is a program that will be dangerous for the next few years.

RUNNERS-UP:
Paul Connolly, Newton North
Dean O'Connor, Franklin

FINALISTS:
Kevin Brogioli, Wareham
John Gallivan, Stoughton
Reggie Hobbs, Lexington
Malcolm Smith, East Boston
Chad Softic, Mahar
John Walsh, Danvers
Dennis Wilson, Madison Park

BOSTON -- Winning is something Wareham has been familiar with this season. They have beaten opponents by an average margin of 18 points per game all season, and continued their undefeated season after a 70-65 win over Martha’s Vineyard today.

They were also used to having a team come back from their initial run in the first quarter, something they have faced lately. Wareham went on a 19-3 run in the first quarter, but Vineyard fought back all game long to make it a barn burner.

“It got close a few times. Cardinal Spellman did the same thing to us,” said Wareham head coach Kevin Brogioli. “We had a lead on them and they came back and we were able to answer their runs. I feel like we did the same thing to Vineyard.”

“They just came back, I wouldn’t say we lost our momentum though,” said Wareham star junior point guard Darien Fernandez, who finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and five steals. He was the one model of consistency throughout the game.

Vineyard (21-3) started off the second quarter with an 8-2 run, led by their center Charlie Everett. The senior came off the bench and scored 10 points in the second quarter off of drives from the elbow. With 2:08 remaining, he finished an emphatic and-one lay-up to make it a 12-point game.

In the third quarter, the Vineyarders continued to fight back. This time it was their junior guard Jack Roberts who caught fire scoring nine of his 14 total points from all over the floor. Vineyard pushed it to a four-point game at one point in the third but could not manage to get over the hump.

Wareham (24-0) and Vineyard traded baskets for the entire fourth quarter. At the 1:28 mark, Vineyard began fouling and could not finish in the clutch. Aaron Baptiste hit five free-throws in the last minute to seal the deal.

Battle of the Bigs: When asked about Everett’s 22 points and 12 rebound performance, Wareham’s Brogioli responded, “Is he a senior, I hope?”

The 6-5 center gave Wareham fits in the first half with his quickness and good finishing ability around the hoop.

“We knew him coming off of the bench would be tough for us,” said Brogioli. “We thought Houde could cover him in the first half and he didn’t but in the second half he did.”

“We did everything we could to stop him in the first half,” he added. “In the second half, we tried to bring a guard down to keep swiping at the ball. I think that helped a little bit.”

Wareham’s 6-foot-5 center Jeff Houde was equally impressive down the stretch. Houde played defense straight up, which altered many shots in the lane. He also nailed a critical turn around jump shot in the fourth quarter. Houde finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Fernandez Does It Again: Darien Fernandez managed to fill up the box score yet again. Fernandez hit numerous acrobatic lay-ups and shots, but Vineyard’s head coach Michael Joyce thought there was something else special about Fernandez’s performance

Said Joyce, “Fernandez kept taking it out of our guys’ hands. His points and offense is great but I think his steals and rebounding helped make the difference for them.”

At times throughout the game, Fernandez was taken out of his rhythm and had to make adjustments. He turned the ball over six times but eventually managed to hold on to it for the win.

“They played a triangle and two on us so it was kind of a different look. Coach [Brogioli] called a timeout, we broke it, and eventually they changed out of it.”

These kind of adjustments are what great teams make in order to win. That is exactly why Wareham continued their win streak today and punched their ticket to the TD Garden.

WAREHAM, Mass. -- Kevin Brogioli recalls the day some 10 years ago when his wife came home from teaching first grade in Wareham, telling him about a student of hers performing 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.