CMass Top 15 Power Rankings (week of Jan. 29th)

By Christian Bradley, Central Mass correspondent

 #1: Saint John’s (11-5): It’s hard to argue with Saint John’s now emerging as the top team in cmass after the Pioneers have knocked off the other three top teams in the area. Their case for #1? Wins in the past couple weeks over #2 Fitchburg, #3 Holy Name, #4 St. Peter-Marian, and #12 St. Bernard’s.

#2: Fitchburg (9-4): Fitchburg has showed their toughness and ability to keep up with top teams, they have very close losses to #1 Saint John’s, as well as eastern Mass. powers Charlestown and Boston College High.

#3: Holy Name (11-2): The Naps did beat #10 Doherty this week, but  #1 Saint John’s clearly showed their win over HN was not a fluke, which explains Holy Name’s drop from #1 to #3.

#4: St. Peter-Marian (9-4): The Guardians have lost two straight going into their Monday night matchup with Dorchester. Senior guard Matt Mobley is averaging 21 points per game.

#5: Quabbin (12-0): With quality wins over Shepherd Hill, #11 Malborough, #12 St. Bernard’s, #15 North Middlesex, and #10 Groton-Dunstable, Quabbin can expect another string of challenges come February, when they play #11 Marlborough, #4 St. Peter-Marian, Shepherd Hill, #10 Groton-Dunstable, and #15 North Middlesex over the course of 10 days.

#6: Wachusett (12-4): After defeating a couple inferior opponents, Leominster and Burncoat, two of the Mountaineers next three games are against ranked Mid Wach A opponents, #2 Fitchburg and #8 Milford.

#7: Whitinsville Christian (9-1): In what was expected to be a war between Division 3 powers, WCS proved, behind their menacing backcourt of juniors Tim Dufficy and Colin Richey, their superiority by blowing out Springfield’s New Leadership Charter.

#8: Milford (9-3): With only one game this week, a win over Algonquin, Milford will face a formidable challenge on Tuesday night when they take on #11 Marlborough.

#9: Doherty (7-6): After the Highlanders beat Groton-Dunstable on Thursday, their next four games against #2 Fitchburg, #4 St. Peter-Marian, #1 Saint John’s, and #14 Uxbridge may help decide their playoff fate.

#10: Groton-Dunstable (10-3): #5 Quabbin proved their Division 2 superiority with their 20 point win over G-D, but how the Crusaders respond after their losses to Chelmsford and #9 Doherty will be critical, as #13 Northbridge and #14 Uxbridge are also making runs for as high a seed as possible in the D2 and Clark tournaments.

#11: Marlborough (8-6): The Panthers still have plenty of chances to prove they are a legitimate contender in Division 1, with games against ranked teams #8 Milford, #5 Quabbin, #15 North Midlesex, and #10 Groton-Dunstable.

#12: St. Bernard’s (8-6): Trent Hunt’s late game heroics enabled the Bernardians to barely slip past Leominster, they’ll next take on #7 Whitinsville Christian at home in a rematch of their thrilling meeting in Whitinsville a few weeks ago.

#13: Northbridge (11-2): As expected, the Rams beat up on Leicester this week, but their game with #14 Uxbridge on Thursday will be very important in the SWCL East race.

#14: Uxbridge (10-3): Spartans center Corey Gomes is averaging 19 points per game for an Uxbridge squad who will be looking to repeat as Clark Tournament champions.

#15: North Middlesex (7-4): It’s been a season of inconsistent play for the Patriots since they started off 5-0. They take on Leominster and Gardner before a huge game against #10 Groton-Dunstable on Friday night.

CMass Mid-season Report

In a season that has already seen several upsets, highly contested head-to-head matchups, breakout performances by new stars, and standout games from the usual suspects, many questions are still yet to be answered as we pass the halfway point of this hoops season. Despite that though, here are our thoughts on the top players in central Mass, and the teams who have the best chance at making a run to WPI when playoffs come around in March.

The Central Mass. Fab Five:

G Colin Richey, junior (Whitinsville Christian)

G Matt Mobley, senior (St. Peter-Marian)

G/F Abi Akanni, senior (Fitchburg)

F Dan Kegbeh, junior (Holy Name)

C Matt Palecki, senior (Saint John’s)

Next five out: G Quinton Perkins, senior (Fitchburg), G Christian Horton, senior (Quabbin),G/F Rod Milton, junior (South), F Tim Sheridan, senior(Wachusett), C Corey Gomes, senior (Uxbridge)

Division 1 Top Five Playoff Contenders

1.      1.  Holy Name

2.      2.  St. Peter-Marian

3.      3.  Fitchburg

4.      4.  St. John’s

        5.  Wachusett

Division 2 Top Five Playoff Contenders

1.       1.  Quabbin

2.      2.  Groton-Dunstable

3.      3.  St. Bernard’s

4.      4.  Northbridge

5.      5.  Uxbridge

Division 3 Top Three Playoff Contenders

1.       1. Whitinsville Christian

2.      2. Quaboag

3.      3. Sutton

4.      4. Worcester Tech.

5.      5. Littleton

CMass Top 15 (week 0f Jan. 22nd)

#1: Holy Name (10-2): Yes, they lost both their games this week, but one loss was to a very underrated #4 St. John’s team, and the other to #2 St. Peter-Marian on the road in overtime. While choosing between HN and SPM is like splitting hairs at this point, we’ll take the Naps, for now.

#2: St. Peter-Marian (9-3): The Guardians were all but set in stone as #1 in central Mass. after beating #1 Holy Name in an overtime thriller on Friday night. That was, however, until they lost to #11 Marlboro on Sunday afternoon.

#3: Fitchburg (8-2): Abi Akanni and Quinton Perkins have gotten most of the headlines this year for the Red Raiders, but sophomore sharpshooter Mick Snowden is a future star to keep an eye on.

#4: Saint John’s (9-5): The Pioneers have some nice wins the past couple weeks over #1 Holy Name, #5 Wachusett, and #12 St Bernard’s. Per usual, Bob Foley’s team has progressed at a rapid rate since mid-December.

#5: Wachusett (9-4): After knocking off Algonquin and #8 Milford this week, you can bet the Mountaineers are highly anticipating their February 7 showdown with #3 Fitchburg.

#6: Quabbin (9-0): Beating Division 2 rival #8 Groton-Dunstable this week was enough for Quabbin to move ahead of #7 Whitinsville Christian.

#7: Whitinsville Christian (6-1): Tim Dufficy and Tyler Vanden Akker stepped up for the Crusaders in their rivalry win over Sutton, their next game vs. a ranked opponent is January 31st at St. Bernard’s

#8: Milford (8-2): A couple tough losses this week for Milford, but #5 Wachusett and #3 Fitchburg both aren’t exactly slouches.

#9: Groton-Dunstable (9-1): The Crusaders need to get over their loss to #6 Quabbin quickly, they have two tough games against #10 Doherty and #11 Marlboro this week.

#10: Doherty (6-5): The Highlanders have a fantastic opportunity, as they play #1 Holy Name and #9 Groton-Dunstable, to prove they can be a competitor in Division 1.

#11: Marlborough (7-5): Their wins over Tantasqua, #14 North Middlesex, and #2 St. Peter-Marian, as well as a one-point loss on the road to #6 Quabbin, are what can explain the Panthers jump in the rankings. This is an underrated and dangerous team in Division 1.

#12: St. Bernard’s (6-6): They’ve had some tough losses to some good teams lately in #7 WCS, Cathedral, #4 SJ, and #2 SPM, but St. B’s has the chance to get back on track this week vs. South and Leominster.

#13: Northbridge (9-2): The Rams have, and continue to, roll over SWCL opponents so far this season, inserting themselves as a darkhorse pick in Division 2.

#14: North Middlesex (7-3): After a win over Nashoba and a loss to #11 Marlboro, the Patriots now face a huge matchup with #6 Quabbin on Tuesday night.

#15: Uxbridge (9-2): The Spartans have won seven of their last eight games and are quickly rising in SWCL and Division 2.

CMass Top 15 (week of Jan. 16th)

#1: Holy Name (10-1): The Naps upended #2 St. Peter-Marian and escaped with a win despite being outplayed by South, but fell hard to #5 Saint John’s in their first loss of the season.

#2: St. Peter-Marian (8-2): Their win over eastern Mass. power Charlestown was the biggest win by any central Mass. team this season, and they may have the opportunity to take over the top spot in central Mass. after they showdown with #1 Holy Name Friday night.

#3: Fitchburg (7-2): Red Raiders beat #6 Wachusett and #9 Milford on the road in convincing fashion, despite minimal production from star guard Quinton Perkins in vs Wachusett.

#4: Whitinsville Christian (5-1): The Crusaders play three inferior DVC opponents leading up to their January 31st game in Fitchburg against #12 St. Bernard’s.

#5: Saint John’s (8-5): SJ hung with #3 Fitchburg in a loss and knocked off #6 Wachusett, #12 St. Bernard’s, and #1 Holy Name in their last four games.

#6: Wachusett (9-4): Fitchburg is the obvious favorite in Mid-Wach A, Wachusett’s matchup with #9 Milford on Friday night will be a huge deciding factor in who comes after Fitchburg.

#7: Quabbin (9-0): Their showdown with #8 Groton-Dunstable this Friday promises to be a good one and will temporarily show who holds Division 2 supremacy in CMASS.

#8: Groton-Dunstable (9-0): This is a veteran Crusader squad that has had a variety of leading scorers throughout the season. G-D can beat teams in many different ways and they will have the chance to do so once again vs. #7 Quabbin on Friday.

#9: Milford (8-2): Give this team credit for beating #14 Marlborough, Wellesley, Walpole, Tantasqua, and hanging with #3 Fitchburg. We’ll be able to better gauge how legit they are after their game with #6 Wachusett on Friday.

#10: North Middlesex (6-3): The Patriots have had some rather uncharacteristic losses against Leominster and #14 Marlborough, but their slew of shooters and solid post play will ultimately keep them a contender in Mid Wach B. Keep in mind this team took #8 Groton-Dunstable to the wire.

#11: Doherty (5-5): This is a very talented team with several different go-to scorers, we’ll see soon enough if they are for real or not, as five of their next six opponents are against teams in the top 10.

#12: St. Bernard’s (6-6): Hanging with #4 Whitinsville Christian on the road was impressive, but this is a team that, because of their tough schedule, will probably end up with a so-so record but will benefit from playing top tier teams.

#13 Northbridge (8-2): The Rams have won seven of their last eight games, including wins over #15 Shepherd Hill and Tantasqua.

#14: Marlborough (5-5): Beating #9 North Middlesex was certainly enough to put this legitimate Mid Wach B competitor in the top 15. Keep in mind they have two losses to #7 Quabbin and #9 Milford came by a combined three points.

#15: Shepherd Hill (8-2): The Rams loss to Northbridge brought them back down to earth, but their wins over quality opponents in Algonqin, Tantasqua, and Quaboag should all be taken into consideration.

CMass Top 15 (week 0f Jan. 9th)

 #1: Holy Name (9-0) The Naps fantastic defensive effort made them victorious in one of the most thrilling games of the year thus far in the MIAA, over #2 St. Peter-Marian.

#2: St. Peter-Marian (5-2) This Guardians team has two losses to two of the top D1 teams in the state: #1 Holy Name and Catholic Memorial. Senior guard Matt Mobley continues to show why he was included in ESPN Boston’s pre-season all-state team.

#3: Fitchburg (4-2)The Red Raiders faced their first real in-state challenge on Saturday, but ultimately fell in a rather close game with BC High.

#4: Whitinsville Christian (3-1): While plenty of rust was shaken off in a win against Douglas that was closer than many expected, WCS came back with a thrilling victory over #13 St. Bernard’s on Friday night. With 25, 34, and 22 points in the Crusaders’ three victories, Colin Richey is showing why he, along with Mobley, was in ESPN Boston’s pre-season all-state team.

#5: Saint John’s (6-4): Their loss to Shrewsbury at the Laska tournament was shocking to say the least, but the always dangerous Pioneers came back eight days later to crush Shrewsbury and win a thriller against #5 Wachusett.

#6: Wachusett (7-3): The Mountaineers took a loss to #5 St. John’s, and got smacked by BC High earlier in the week.

#7: Quabbin (6-0) With two key wins over ranked opponents #13 St. Bernard’s and #10 Shepherd Hill, Quabbin continues to rise behind talented senior point guard Christian Horton.

#8: Groton-Dunstable (6-0): The Crusaders will face their first challenging opponent of the season this coming Tuesday night, when they take on #8 North Middlesex.

#9: North Middlesex (5-1) Beating South and #14 Algonquin are very quality wins for the Patriots, but we’ll better be able to gauge how “for real” this NM team is after their showdown with #7 Groton-Dunstable.  

#10: Shepherd Hill (7-1): The Rams had three tough wins in a row in mid-December over Algonquin, Tantasqua, and Quaboag. Their only loss was by single digits to #6 Quabbin.

#11: Doherty (3-4): If any team in the top 15’s record doesn’t truly reflect their talent, it’s this one. Their four losses have come by a combined eight points, including two one-point losses.

#12: Milford (6-1): Jan Fuentes has led this team to a red-hot start. In a brutally difficult Mid Wach A, there will certainly be no upcoming lack of challenges for Milford.

#13: St. Bernard’s (5-3): The Bernardians have hung close with two very talented squads in New Bedford and #4 Whitinsville Christian, but came up short in both matchups. With Sutton, St. Peter-Marian, St. John’s, and Cathedral on their schedule over the next two weeks, those games will be a better indicator of how good this team can be in Division 2.

#14: Hopedale (6-2): Routing Sutton and Douglas, two solid DVC teams, will get you noticed early on. We’ll see quickly if this team is for real based on how they stick with #5 Whitinsville Christian on Monday night.

#15: Algonquin (4-3): They have some solid wins over Marlborough and Hudson, but youthful Algonquin came up short against #8 North Middlesex and #10 Shepherd Hill.

CMass Top 15 (week 0f Jan. 2nd)

 #1: Holy Name (7-0) Key wins: East Boston, #5 Whitinsville Christian, St. Joseph Central-Pittsfield, #9 Saint John’s

#2: St. Peter-Marian (5-1) Key wins: #10 South #9 Saint John’s #4 Wachusett. Losses: Beantownhoops EMASS #5 Catholic Memorial

#3: Fitchburg (3-1) Key wins: #10 South, Losses: La Salle (RI)

#4: Wachusett (6-1): Key wins: Xaverian, Cambridge Latin, Shrewsbury #11 Doherty, and #10 South. Losses: #2 St. Peter-Marian.

#5: Whitinsville Christian (1-1): Key wins: none,  Loss to #1 Holy Name.

#6: North Middlesex (4-0) Key wins: #13 South

#7: Quabbin (4-0) Key wins: #14 St. Bernard’s.

#8: Groton-Dunstable (5-0): Key wins: Littleton

#9: Saint John’s (3-4): Key wins: Marlborough, #11 Doherty. Losses: Beantownhoops EMASS #18 Brockton, #1 Holy Name, #2 St. Peter-Marian, Shrewsbury.

 #10: South (2-4) Key wins: #11 Doherty, Losses: #6 North Middlesex, #2 St. Peter-Marian, #4 Wachusett, #3 Fitchburg

#11: Doherty (2-4): Key wins: none. Losses to #4 Wachusett, #9 Saint John’s, #10 South, and Tantasqua. Note: four losses were by a total of eight points.

#12: Shepherd Hill (6-0): Key wins: Tantasqua, #14 Algonquin, Quaboag.

#13: Sutton (6-0): Key wins: North.

#14: Algonquin (4-1): Key Wins: Marlborough. Key losses: #12 Shepherd Hill

#15: St. Bernard’s (4-2): Key wins: North, Loss to New Bedford.

CMass Top 15 (week 0f Dec. 26th)

#1: Holy Name (5-0) Key wins: East Boston, #5 Whitinsville Christian, St. Joseph Central-Pittsfield, #6 Saint John’s

#2: Fitchburg (2-0) Key wins: #13 South

#3: St. Peter-Marian (3-1)Key wins: #13 South, Losses: EMASS #5 Catholic Memorial

#4: Wachusett (4-0): Key wins: Xaverian, Cambridge Latin, #10 Doherty, and #13 South.

#5: Whitinsville Christian (1-1): Key wins: none,  Loss to #1 Holy Name

#6: Saint John’s (3-2): Key wins: Marlborough, #10 Doherty. Losses: EMASS #18 Brockton, #1 Holy Name.

#7: North Middlesex (3-0) Key wins: #13 South

#8: Quabbin (2-0) Key wins: none

#9: Groton-Dunstable (4-0): Key wins: Littleton

#10: Doherty (1-3): Key wins: none. Losses to #4 Wachusett, #6 Saint John’s, and #12 Tantasqua.

#11: Shepherd Hill (4-0): Key wins: #12 Tantasqua, previously-ranked Algonquin

#12: Tantasqua (4-2): Key wins: Doherty, Losses to Grafton and Shepherd Hill

#13: South (0-4) Key wins: none, Losses: #7 North Middlesex, #3 St. Peter-Marian, #4 Wachusett, #1 Fitchburg

#14: St. Bernard’s (3-1): Key wins: North, Loss to New Bedford.

#15: Sutton (3-0): Key wins: North.

Central Mass Scouting Report from the week of December 19th

The top-ranked Holy Name Napoleons took down two of the best teams in central Mass. in defending D3 state champion Whitinsville Christian and four-time defending central Mass. D1 champ Saint John’s-Shrewsbury this past week. They got some outstanding performances from their talented upperclassmen. Here are players from HN, Whitinsville, and Saint John’s who impressed in central Mass. this week:

Holy Name

Jacek Louisville 6’ senior point guard-There just aren’t that many point guards in central Mass. who are quick enough to be able to defend the athletic Louisville when he’s going to the rim off the dribble. He’s drumming up a lot of attention from several D3 schools in New England, and his athleticism, ball handling, and decision making are big reasons why. He was clearly in a lot of pain in Holy Name’s victory over SJ on Friday night, yet he teamed up with Dan Kegbeh to ultimately put the Pioneers away in the 4th quarter.

Tyler Delorey 6’2 senior forward-He struggled to make shots against Saint John’s, but knocked down two three-pointers on his way to 11 points and 10 rebounds to lead Holy Name over Whitinsville Christian. His outside shooting is clearly his strongest trait as a player, and as he becomes a more aggressive scorer off the dribble he’s going to do a lot of damage to central Mass. opponents. Also very strong and built for his size, he is constantly on the glass and limiting opponents’ offensive rebounds.

Dan Kegbeh 6'1 junior forward-Kegbeh was the x-factor in both of the Naps big victories this week. WCS had a tough time stopping him in the post on his way to 16 points, while Saint John’s had the same problem Friday night as Kegbeh had several jumpers and inside finishes to drop 20 points on the defending Division 1 state finalist.

Anthony Hodges, 6’ senior guard-Hodges is so strong for a player his size and is such a gifted defender. He’s athletic, very fast, a good shooter, and a leader for Holy Name, but his most outstanding quality as a player is his on-ball defense. He is a relentless defender, even this past week while he was clearly playing hurt. His 20 second-half points were ultimately too much for Whitinsville Christian, Anthony (26 points against WCS, 9 vs Saint John’s) knocked down mid-range jumpers, he scored going to the rim off the dribble, and he had several second and third-opportunity tip-ins. Even in only scoring nine points against Saint John’s, the fact that Pioneers’ star guard Ken Harrington only scored two points is a clear indication of where Hodges’ efforts went.

Saint John’s

Matt Palecki, 6’6 senior forward-Palecki is relentless, especially on the offensive glass. He led the Pioneers in scoring with 18 points on Friday night, but his rebounding was what really kept Saint John’s in the game against #1 Holy Name. He will be the most dominant rebounder in any CMASS game he plays this year, but besides that he does a great job of drawing contact on the offensive end of the floor so that he can get to the line, where he is an excellent free-throw shooter.

Tarik Octave, 6’ junior guard-Tarik showed off a lot of athleticism and was that scoring spark for the Pioneers when they desperately needed it against Holy Name. He had several acrobatic finishes going to rim and whether he finished them or not, he often found himself going to the free throw line because of his aggressiveness. His outside stroke, while a little unconventional, was extremely effective against Holy Name, as he knocked down two threes on his way to 14 points in a losing effort.

Whitinsville Christian

Colin Richey, 6’2 junior point guard-Even facing one of the most dominant defenders in the MIAA in Hodges, Richey was still able to drop 25 points on the #1 ranked squad in central Mass. He knocked down three treys, got into the paint at a decent rate, and always looked to push the tempo when he deemed it necessary. He’s added some strength and is clearly a much more athletic point guard than he was for last year’s state title team, making him that much more effective.

Tim Dufficy, 5’11 junior guard-Think shooter. Dufficy picks his spots and the fact that he never hesitates is a true testament to his confidence in his outside jumper. He’s a transfer from Hopkinton, and as he becomes more familiar with playing with his Crusader teammates, his outstanding shooting ability will only become that much more valuable to WCS.

Scouting report: St. Peter-Marian vs. South

St. Peter-Marian came up with the 77-63 victory at South’s gym on Friday night behind gutsy performances by three of their talented seniors. The Guardians led the whole way, using their defense and ability to dominate the glass to put the Colonels away early in the second half. Here are the college prospects who impressed:

St. Peter-Marian

Matt Mobley, 6’2 senior guard-Mobley might be the overall most athletic player in central Mass. He had a couple of highlight dunks, showed off his outside shot with three treys (greatly improved shooting mechanics), and got to the rim almost at will. He struggled with finishing some shots inside, but overall still had a solid game while his other teammates stepped up. Mobley finished with 17 points.

Tre Watson, 5’11 senior point guard-Watson was one of the standout performances of the night, his cuts are quick and he moves well without the ball, within or outside of an offense. His game-high 19 points was critical for SPM’s offense. His outside shooting release is much quicker, and Tre showed an ability to finish going to the rim with either hand.

Brian Foley, 6’5 senior forward-Brian was the most dominant player on the floor when he was in the game. He and Steve Flynn were constantly on the glass, he knocked down several mid-range jumpers, and finished everything inside for the Guardians. Because of his shooting and finishing ability, Foley would make a very quality face-up four for a D3 program.

South

Kasheen Cunningham, 5’10 sophomore point guard-Kasheen (13 points) uncharacteristically struggled from behind the three-point line for most of the game, but his confidence in his outside shot never decreased. He showed that whether he grows much taller or not, he has the ability to finish inside thanks to a textbook floater and a runner in the paint with his right hand. He rarely turned the ball over against a veteran St. Peter-Marian backcourt, which is an obviously impressive trait for a young point guard.

Rod Milton, 6’3 junior guard-Milton’s offensive arsenal is deep. He nailed threes, pulled up for mid-range jumpers on a dime, had some wowing acrobatic dribble-drive finishes, and had a one handed dunk on a breakaway that had the South crowd going crazy. His standout athleticism, finishing ability, and jumper make him a college prospect, but he needs to continue to develop his left hand. That being said, scoring 26 points with that much efficiency, especially against a senior-laden SPM lineup, is very impressive.

Central Mass Top 10 pre-season preview

#1 Holy Name

Holy Name dominated this summer’s Crompton Summer League in Worcester and is a team that has a ton of potential to go far in the state tournament this year. In the backcourt, senior point guard Jacek Louisville is a very gifted player athletically and a tough matchup for opposing teams and Anthony Hodges is a lock-down defender with some scoring and finishing ability. Tyler Delorey is the go-to scorer; his outside shot has improved at a phenomenal rate while his athleticism and scoring will be a constant threat to opposing teams. The Naps also have forwards Seamus O’Sullivan and Dan Kegbeh, as well as sharpshooting junior Mike Woll.

Last year’s record: 12-9, lost to Doherty in the first round of the central Mass. Division 1 tournament

Beantownhoops’ central Mass. player of the year watch: 6’3 senior forward Tyler Delorey
#10: Tantasqua

The Warriors return a very talented core of players this year after finishing 14-7 last season and suffering a first round knockout in the first round of the Division 1 tournament to South. Their three leading impact guys will be junior guard Corey Gatta, and seniors Jaylen Dottin and Alex Lucas.

Gatta was a Beantownhoops honoroable-mention central Mass. all-star last year as a sophomore for the young Warriors, and he continued his success this fall in his standout performance at Beantownhoops’ “last chance” showcase at Tri-County High School.

Lucas has been an impact player his entire career, giving Tantasqua the combination of scoring, rebounding, and defense that it will take for them to make a deep run the central Mass. tournament come March.

Dottin is a multi-sport athlete, like Lucas, and does most of his damage off of slashing and dribble drives. He has standout athleticism and an intelligent feel for the game. He will be a very tough one-on-one matchup for any team that the Warriors meet this year.

Last year’s record: 14-7, lost to South 68-55 in the first round of the central Mass. Division 1 tournament.

Beantownhoops’ central Mass. player of the year watch: 5’11 junior guard Corey Gatta.

"I think our team's looking strong this upcoming year. We're consisting of mostly upper classmen and a lot of hard workers. We expect big things this year from our team and are willing to put the work in to get there. We are all very excited to get this basketball season underway."

-Corey Gatta

Cunningham, McCauley, Wisniewski Shine at Elite 75

South’s sophomore guard Kasheen Cunningham, Quaboag’s freshman guard Jake Wisniewski, and Worcester Academy’s 6’6 sophomore Tyreik McCauley both went a long way in getting their names out there to all in attendance at New England Recruiting Report’s annual freshman/sophomore Elite 75 this past Saturday.

Cunningham, a 5’10 point guard who NERR described as a “guard with handle; especially good in transition,” will be the focal point on both ends of the floor for a South squad who made the Division 1 final four at WPI last year. South’s backcourt duo of Cunningham and junior Rod Milton will be one of the top backcourts in central Mass. this year.

Wisniewski proved on a big stage, at the central Mass. Division 3 championship game against Whitinsville Christian, that he was a star in the making; scoring 13 points against one of the top teams in the state. Jake is a very impressive scorer, who, along with Cougars’ talented junior Thomas Jankins, has Quaboag as one of the favorites in Division 3 this year. He stood out at Elite 75 as a “lunch pail & hard hat guy who produces.”

McCauley spent last season at Holy Name, where he got a lot of minutes down in the post for a young, up and coming, Naps squad. He has endless potential because of his hands, size, athleticism, and skill; being at Worcester Academy for the next three years will give him the opportunity to compete against some of the best bigs in New England night in and night out.

    

Crompton Summer League Recap

One would be hard-pressed to find a central Mass. team that had a better summer than the Napoleons of Holy Name. The veteran Naps’ went 11-1 during the regular season of the Worcester Summer Basketball League at Crompton Park, as star senior forward Tyler Delorey was named regular season MVP after leading the league in scoring with 15.5 ppg. Not far behind Delorey was Naps’ senior guard Anthony Hodges, who ended the regular season averaging 13.5 ppg, good for third in the league in scoring.

     Hodges also received the Bob Cousy Award, for the passion and tenacity he emits defensively game in and game out, his court awareness/vision, and team leadership.

“Anthony Hodges set himself apart this summer. He controlled the tempo of games defensively. Offensively his mid-range and three-point shot have improved significantly. [He was] very impressive,” said Khrys King, summer league director, in praise of Hodges’ performance at Crompton.

     After tearing through the regular season, the Naps’ continued their strong play with a 64-50 semifinal victory over Whitinsville Christian (a game in which Hodges did his part in slowing down WCS’ guard Colin Richey, while Dan Kegbeh torched Whitinsville for 27 points) and in their finals victory over Wachusett on Thursday night, a game in which Delorey led the way with 20 points.

     Delorey and Kegbeh were named playoff Co-MVP’s for their gutsy performances against WCS and Wachusett.

     After defeating South 49-44 in the first round, Wachusett beat defending Division 1 state-finalist Saint John’s(who played the summer without talented shooting guard Kenny Harrington, as he is recovering from an injury) handily, 51-27, before advancing to the finals against Holy Name. 6’5 senior forward Tim Sheridan was named team MVP, as he anchored the Mountaineers on both ends of the floor all summer long.

     Doherty’s junior guard Antonio Jones, a long athletic, 6’2 scorer who averaged 14.4 ppg this summer for his Highlander squad, also did quite a job of standing out at Crompton. Antonio is a talented young player who is really going to blossom in his final two years at Doherty.

     Whitinsville Christian point guard Colin Richey, the main ball handler and distributor for the defending state champion Crusaders, finished the regular season averaging 13 ppg. WCS defeated Doherty 51-41 in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Holy Name.

     Here are this summer’s all-stars, provided to Beantownhoops by league director Khrys King:

The 2011 Crompton Summer League 1st Tier All-Stars

Holy Name: Tyler Delorey and Anthony Hodges
South High School : Rod Milton
St. John's : Matt Palecki
Whitinsville Christian: Colin Richey and Tyler Vanden Akker
Doherty: Antonio Jones
Wachusett: Tim  Sheridan
Worcester Voke : Steven Flores

Honorable Mention All-Stars:
Daniel Kegbeh - Holy Name
Zack Berman - Wachusett
Jacek Louisville - Holy Name
Kasheen Cunningham - South
Jamal Mustapha - Doherty
Ishola Tosin - Doherty
Jesse Dykstra - Whitinsville
Jesse Maresca - Wachusett
Nate Mensah – South

The following players were selected to participate in Jailyn’s 9th Annual Senior/All-Star Classic:

Holy Name: Tyler Delorey , Anthony Hodges, Jacek Louisville, Daniel Kegbeh
South High School : Rod Milton, Kasheen Cunningham, John Maday, Nathan Mensah
St. John's : Matt Palecki, Steve Vicidomino, Tarik Octave
Whitinsville Christian: Colin Richey, Jesse Dykstra, and Tyler Vanden Akker
Doherty: Antonio Jones, Ishola Tosin,  and Jamal Mustapha
Wachusett: Tim  Sheridan, Zack Berman, Alex Cooper
Worcester Voke : Steven Flores, Ronnie Johnson, and Tyler Walker                   

2010-2011 CMASS All-Stars

1st team All-Stars
G Hugh Daye, senior (South)
G Joel Katana, senior Doherty)
F John Henault, senior(St. Bernard’s)
F Richard Rodgers, senior(St John’s)
C Hans Miersma, senior (Whitinsville Christian)

2nd team All-Stars
G Steph’fon Teague, senior (Fitchburg)
G Corey Pryor, senior(Northbridge)
F Wil Michalski, senior(Shrewsbury)
F Andre Santana, senior(Doherty)
C Matt Palecki, junior(St. John’s)

3rd team All-Stars
G Colin Richey, sophomore(Whitinsville Christian)
G Ryan Stowe, senior (Shrewsbury)
F Taylor Bajema, senior (Whitinsville Christian)
F Tyler Delorey, junior (Holy Name)
C Matt Kneece, senior (Shrewsbury)

4th team All-Stars
G Matt Harrington, senior (St. John’s)
G Christian Horton, junior (Quabbin)
G Rod Milton, sophomore(South)
F Dan Tessier, senior(Uxbridge)
C Ryan Turbide, senior(Leominster)

5th team All-Stars
G Kayvon Lewis, senior (Sutton)
G Quinton Perkins, junior (Fitchburg)
F Brendan Tremblay, senior (Oxford)
F Decarlo Anderson, senior (Oxford)
C Kevin Boakye, senior (South)

Honorable Mention All-Stars
G Corey Gatta, sophomore, (Tantasqua)
G Ben Pierce, senior (Wachusett)
G Kyle McDermott, junior (North Middlesex)
F Antonio Jones, sophomore ( Doherty)
F/C Tim Sheridan, junior (Wachusett)

The Future of Central Mass. Basketball

Including: SPM’s Promising Juniors, WCS’s Sensational Sophomores, and  Future Freshman Stars

After an exciting finish to this year’s season, it’s never too early to look forward to what central Mass. basketball has in store next year. With 12 of our 15 CMASS player of the year candidates being seniors, there will be plenty of shoes to be filled by up and coming juniors and underclassmen next year. Here are some players in each class that will be expected to step in and star next season on the hardwood.

Juniors

Abi Akanni, Fitchburg

Tyler Delorey, Holy Name

Jaylen Dottin, Tantasqua

Steve Flynn, St. Peter-Marian

Corey Gomes, Uxbridge

Christian Horton, Quabbin

Kyle McDermott, North Middlesex

Joey Mespelli, Nipmuc

Matt Mobley, St. Peter-Marian

Matt Palecki, St. John’s

Quinton Perkins, Fitchburg

Billy Robinson, Quabbin

Mac Roy, Sutton

Tim Sheridan, Wachusett

 Patrick Talentino, St. John’s

Tre Watson, St. Peter-Marian

Sophomores

Zack Berman, Wachusett

Grant Brown, Whitinsville Christian

Mark Devries, Uxbridge

Antonio Estrella, Whitinsville Christian

Corey Gatta, Tanasqua

Ken Harrington, St. John’s

Kyle Howes, Maynard

Thomas Jankins, Quaboag

Antonio Jones, Doherty

Jake Loewen, Hudson

Jesse Maresca, Wachusett

Rod Milton, South

Chris Murray, Littleton

Colin Richey, Whitinsville Christian

Jake Ryan, Northbridge

Duahime Steele, South

Ian Strom, Hopedale

Mike Woll, Holy Name

Freshman

T.J. Kelley, St. John’s

Kasheen Cunningham, South

Tyreik Mccauley, Holy Name

Richard Santos, Whitinsville Christian

Christian LaRoche, St. Bernard’s

Dan Orlando, Westborough

Henault named CMass Player of the Year

John Henault, senior (St. Bernard’s)

 It would have been impossible to not award the central Mass. player of the year to an unselfish star that is beloved by his teammates and coaches, played every game with everything he had in him, and averaged nearly 28 points a game against the toughest competition that this area has to offer. Henault quite literally carried St. Bernard’s on his back this year, leading them to the Division 2 final four at WPI before a heartbreaking upset loss to Oxford.

 Henault saw minutes off the St. Bernard’s bench as a freshman, as his older brother Tim scored his 1000^th point and later came up just short of Tantasqua in the central Mass. Division 2 championship. The younger Henault, John was quoted in a Telegram & Gazette article from his freshman year as saying that having his name on the St. Bernard’s 1000 point banner, like his brother, was a big goal that he had for himself in the coming years.  His sophomore year, John averaged a shade under 21 points per game, leading the Central Mass. Athletic Conference in scoring and helping his Bernardians win the central Mass. Division 2 championship.

Achieving the goal that he set for himself in middle school, Henault scored his 1000^th point in February of his junior year. He went on to lead St. Bernard’s to the Division 2 tournament, falling short of eventual Division 2 champion Groton-Dunstable in the quarterfinals. This season he displayed from the start that he was the most dominant player in central Mass. As mentioned above, he averaged just under 28 points per game as he led St. Bernard’s to a 15-7 overall record. He engraved his name as St. Bernard’s all-time leading scorer early in February, as he broke James Maloughney’s school record. He finished his storied career with 1682 points, and undoubtedly will go down as one of the best players to come out of central Mass. in the last 10 or 15 years.

John told BeantownHoops in an interview back in the fall, on scoring his 1000^th career point in front those closest to him: “My family, friends, and teammates couldn't have been more supportive. They were all so proud of what I had accomplished and there is no better feeling than that of having your loved ones being proud of you. To be able to celebrate with them made it ten times more special.”

Congrats to John on winning BeantownHoops’ central Mass. player of the year award, and congrats to the 14 other finalists on a great season.

CMass Player of the Year Candidates

Candidates listed alphabetically by last name:

Taylor Bajema, senior(Whitinsville Christian)

Carlos de la Cruz, senior(Marlborough)

Hugh Daye, senior(South)

Tyler Delorey, junior(Holy Name)

John Henault, senior(St. Bernard’s)

Christian Horton, junior(Quabbin)

Joel Katana, senior(Doherty)

Wil Michalski, senior(Shrewsbury)

Rod Milton, sophomore(South)

Hans Miersma, senior(Whitinsville Christian)

Corey Pryor, senior (Northbridge)

Richard Rodgers, senior(St. John’s)

Andre Santana, senior(Doherty)

Steph’fon Teague, senior(Fitchburg)

Dan Tessier, senior(Uxbridge)

Congrats to the 15 finalists on a great season! The central Mass. player of the year will be announced following the conclusion of the state tournament.

Scouting reports and shoutouts from WPI

Shoutout to…

Huge Daye, senior

                South’s 1000 point scorer came to play at WPI today against Fitchburg, he had several acrobatic lay-ups, enticing some “ooh’s” and “aah’s” from the Harrington Auditorium crowd. He scored 20 points in a losing effort in his final high school game.  The explosive point guard is a gifted athlete that possesses exceptional speed and athletic ability that makes opposing defenses go crazy. Hugh’s an unselfish player that makes his teammates better with his floor vision; he’ll be a great fit for virtually any Division 3 program.

Rod Milton, sophomore

                He had an uncharacteristically quiet day today, scoring just three points in all, but this sophomore is one to keep an eye on in the coming years for the Colonels. We’ve seen South produce some exceptional guards in the last couple years with guys like Emmanuel Feraud and Daye, and it looks like they have another special talent in this junior that has a reliable three-point jumper and an ability to finish going to the rim with either hand. An intriguing prospect for local Division 3 coaches.

Kasheen Cunningham, Freshman

                Cunningham got some big minutes today for the Colonels at guard; he scored five points in the second quarter and finished with 11 points total. South is going to lose some great seniors: Daye, sharp-shooter Eric Stenlund, a great rebounder in Kevin Boakye, and a tough post player (offensively or defensively) in Joe Brigham, but their future looks bright and they should undoubtedly be one of the top teams in Division 1 again next year as they have Cunningham and talented guard Rod Milton both coming back. Kasheen showed great athleticism going to the rim today, he knocked down a tough three (showing off his outside stroke), and really got after it on defense.

Fitchburg

Shoutout to…

Abi Akanni, junior

                The Red Raiders 6’3 forward is a very intimidating presence on the perimeter, he’s got a strong body and if he can improve his handle in the off-season he’ll be quite a player next year for Fitchburg. He scored 16 points today against South, finishing the game with four three-pointers. He showed his ability to come through in the clutch as well, as he hit the biggest shot of the game with 31 seconds left to give Fitchburg the lead for good. He’s a good college prospect because of his body, rebounding, and ability to stroke it from outside; college coaches take note.

 

Quinton Perkins, junior

                Perkins did a great job of making his teammates better today; he controlled the point for Fitchburg and had several assists to help the Raiders get a huge win over South at WPI.  He finished with 12 points in all, and because of his consistency in running the point Fitchburg will be playing for the Division 1 championship. A very gifted athlete, Perkins will be playing college football at UMass.

                Northbridge

Shoutout to…

Corey Pryor, senior

                Pryor was the most dangerous player on the floor for the Rams in their semifinal win over Nipmuc. He scored 27 points (14 in the 4^th quarter), knocked down five threes, and hit perhaps the biggest shot of the game: a three-pointer to tie up the game at 54 with just under two minutes left. Pryor has shown in the Clark tournament and the Division 2 tournament that he plays his best ball on a big stage, expect him to drive Oxford’s defense crazy in the Division 2 championship game.

Jake Ryan, sophomore

                Ryan played great for Northbridge in their semifinal win over Nipmuc, he scored 15 points(11 in the first half) and knocked down three three-pointers, all of which were in the first half. He sealed the game for the Rams scoring their final four points of the contest after Pryor’s big three-pointer that was mentioned above. The Rams’ 5’7 point guard has played great in big games this year, like Pryor. If he can continue to give Northbridge consistent offense and a trusted ball handler, the Rams will be Division 2 champions.

          Nipmuc

Shoutout to…

Joe Mespelli, junior

                Mespelli was very tough for Northbridge to guard in the semis, the junior guard scored 18 points in a losing effort. He knocked down a couple of three-pointers, and showed off his exceptional handle by penetrating Northbridge’s defense on several occasions to finish with a lay-up or runner. Also a very good football player, Mespelli is a kid to keep an eye on this summer and into next season. He’ll be one of the best players in the DVC and in Division 2 next year.

Oxford

Shoutout to…

Oxford High Basketball

                The Pirates shocked everybody in attendance with their win over heavily favored St. Bernard’s on Sunday night. They came out of the gates firing; they nailed eight three-pointers in the first half on their way to a 60-59 victory in front of an electric crowd at WPI’s Harrington Auditorium. Senior forward Brendan Tremblay(15 points on three three-pointers) did a great job of handling St. Bernard’s pressure with his ball handling. 6’3 senior Decarlo Anderson(11 points) was a big-time presence all game long for the Pirates in the paint, rebounding at a high level and keeping St. Bernards’ defense honest by dominating the post. Anderson went on to hit what most likely will be the biggest shot of his career: a drop-step lay-in as time expired to put Oxford into the Division 2 championship game. This team is a giant-killer, they’ve knocked off Uxbridge and St. Bernard’s already in the tournament (the two teams we picked as the favorites in Division 2). This Cinderella-story will continue on Saturday against Northbridge in the Division 2 final at Fitchburg State.

St. Bernard’s

Shoutout to…

John Henault, senior

Henault had one heck of a career for the Bernardians, finishing with 1682 career points and a legacy that will be talked about for years. He scored 33 points in a heartbreaking 60-59 loss to Oxford on Sunday night, coming up just short of a meet with Northbridge for the central Mass. Division 2 championship. He has been praised by opposing coaches, media, scouts, and college coaches his entire career for his dominant play on both ends of the floor. Henault has been one of the top scorers in the state this year and will be an outstanding asset for any Division 2 or high Division 3 program that he decides to become a part of.

CMass Tourney Difference Makers

As tournament time soon closes in, we’re looking forward to an exciting finish to a basketball season that has showcased great games and talented players all over central Mass. There are a handful of central Mass. players that have shown over the course of the year that they want the ball in their hands with the shot clock running down and a big win on the line; these guys are the leaders that you can expect to be the biggest difference-makers in the central Mass. tournament. Here’s a group of kids who, whether it be with leadership, defense, rebounding, or scoring, will undoubtedly be counted on by their teams to perform at a high-level in order to win the central Mass. championship:

                Seniors

Kevin Boakye(South)

South is a favorite to make the D1 finals this year, and they could see a big Shrewsbury team along the way, as well as a St. John’s team with a lot of size(which would only happen if South and St. John’s make the d1 finals). For South to win, Boakye and Joe Brigham MUST rebound at a high-level and pound the ball inside while finishing offensively. Boakye is a strong player and has been an uplifting rebounding presence for the Colonels all year long, but his pulling down rebounds, finishing lay-ups inside, and knocking down free throws may be the difference for South against bigger opponents.

Matt Kneece(Shrewsbury)

Defense is what’s going to win the Division 1 championship, and defense is what Matt Kneece does best. The 6’8 Kneece’s strength has overwhelmed opponents in the paint all season long. Kneece has also proven to be a top rebounder and he’s tough to handle on the offensive end because of his strength. Wil Michalski is very versatile and Ryan Stowe can really shoot it from outside, but Kneece will be the one to pick the Colonials up when they need some good post defense and rebounding.

John Henault(St. Bernard’s)

Henault gave opposing coaches headaches all year long, he is superb at finishing a lay-up while adjusting his shot in mid-air, he may very well have the best outside stroke in central Mass., he’s a very good rebounding presence for someone that’s 6’2, he plays high-energy defense, and doesn’t miss lot of free throws. We’ve said this all year long, if St. Bernard’s wins Division 2 it will be because no opponent could shut down Henault; he’s one of the best players in the entire state.

Corey Pryor(Northbridge)

 Pryor’s game is very similar to Henault’s. Pryor does it all: he passes and makes his teammates better, he rebounds, he hustles, he shoots from deep, and he can take most any central Mass. opponent to the rim off the dribble. Northbridge looked great at the Clark Tournament and they have some very good role players in guys like point guard Jake Ryan, Thomas and Harrison Murphy in the post, and guard Jake Ratcliffe, but Pryor is a guy that opponents understandably worry about when game planning. Northbridge is a dark horse pick to win D2 right now, but this is a team that has the talent to make a great run in the tournament.

Hans Miersma(Whitinsville Christian)

It will be interesting to see who, if anybody, in Division 3 will be able to shut down Miersma. Whitinsville’s backcourt has been solid all year long with Taylor Bajema having several big games and Colin Richey controlling the game offensively, but what Whitinsville has that no other team in Division 3 does is an athletic 6’8 center that is relentless on rebounds and a very good finisher.

Juniors

Matt Palecki(St. John’s)

St. John’s will have a size advantage on pretty much every team in the tournament outside of Shrewsbury, and with a lot of post attention going to Richard Rodgers, the 6’6 Palecki’s rebounding and offensive efficiency will have to be at a high-level for St. John’s to win. Palecki has been a dominant rebounder this season and he has shown to be a very good inside finisher who gets to the line with regularity and can step out and shoot the mid-range jumper.

Rod Milton(South)

Milton has been one of the top scorers in the area all season; he deserves a lot of respect from opposing defenses because of his finishing ability and reliable three-point jump shot. The Colonels will need their shooting guard to produce offensively in the Division 1 tournament if they want a chance to make the finals. With Milton’s offensive skill set, making the finals could become a likely scenario for South.

Corey Gomes(Uxbridge)

                Gomes looked great at the Clark Tournament, particularly in crunch time in the 2^nd half during the small school championship against Quaboag. The 6’6 center became the Spartans’ go-to guy in arguably their biggest game of the year to that point. There aren’t a lot of big guys in Division 2 that are of Gomes’ quality, expect him to get a lot of looks offensively throughout the D2 tournament.

Christian Horton(Quabbin)

Quabbin goes as Horton does, he will certainly be counted on offensively by his team and he will be a big difference-maker in every game Quabbin plays. Though they saw an early exit at Clark, expect this team to be a top contender for the Division 2 championship, thanks a lot to their junior guard who has lit up central Mass. opponents all season.

Mac Roy(Sutton)

When Roy gets hot Sutton becomes even more dangerous. He was one of the best, if not THE best, three-point shooters in Division 3 this year and opponents must shut him down if they want to beat Sutton in the D3 playoffs. Sutton has another guard, Kayvon Lewis, that can really fill it up and will be one of the best players in the Division 3 tourney, but we like Roy as a big difference maker because if he gets hot, Sutton is very, very tough to guard.

Underclassmen

Jesse Maresca(Wachusett)

Maresca is one of the Mountaineers top shooters; they’ll certainly need him in their opening round game against Fitchburg, a team that has one of the best backcourts in Division 1. Maresca, like Wachusett’s senior Ben Pierce, can light it up from deep. If he can knock down some three-pointers and give the Mountaineers some solid defense, Wachusett will be in position to get the win over a favored Fitchburg team.

Colin Richey(Whitinsville Christian)

Only a sophomore and Colin Richey has already established himself as one of the top 3 or 4 point guards in central Mass. Scouts, fans, and even opposing coaches have praised Richey’s playmaking ability all year. The Crusaders have been and will be one of the favorites to win the Division 3 state title, and Richey’s ability to penetrate opposing defenses and make things happen is a big reason why.

Mike Woll(Holy Name)

Woll can flat out shoot and he has no problem pulling up from far beyond the three-point arc if his man doesn’t close out on him. He could become a huge difference maker in Holy Name’s opening round matchup against Doherty. The Naps have got to play great defense if they want to beat Doherty, Woll will give Holy Name some great minutes and he’s the kind of player that will hit huge shots down the stretch of a close game.

Thomas Jankins(Quaboag)

Jankins led a near-comeback win over Uxbridge in the small school finals of the Clark Tournament. This should be a surprise to nobody, as Jankins and his pure three-point shot have been nightmarish to opponents all-season. Quaboag had a great regular season and came up just short of a championship at Clark. With Jankins’ ability to fill it up offensively, they could make quite the run in the Division 3 tournament.

Mark Devries(Uxbridge)

Devries has looked great this season playing guard for the Spartans, he’s shown an improved handle to go along with an outstanding three-point shot and a very good runner with either hand. Corey Gomes is a great option in the post offensively, 1000-point scorer Dan Tessier is undoubtedly Uxbridge’s best player and emotional leader, but Devries’ three-point shot gives the Spartans another dimension to their offense. Uxbridge is legit, they should be considered a favorite right alongside St. Bernard’s to win the Division 2 tournament.

Top 15 for the week of 2/20

Note-All tournament games on Monday, February 21 were not included and instead will be in next week’s top 15.

1. St. John’s (15-5) -The Pioneers had four guys in double figures in a 68-55 win over #6 St. Bernard’s, but suffered their first central Mass. loss of the year against #5 Fitchburg. They also lost on Sunday night to #3 South, with Ken Harrington, Matt Harrington, and Ryan Kelley all out with injuries.

2. Whitinsville Christian (16-2) – 6’4 senior Taylor Bajema had a great week for the Crusaders, scoring 21 points in a 58-35 win over BMR, and scoring 27 in a 59-36 win against #6 St. Bernard’s. WCS held John Henault to 13 points in the win.

3. South (14-4) -Rod Milton’s 22-point effort led the Colonels past previously ranked St. Peter-Marian, Hugh Daye also had 14. Milton and Joe Brigham scored 17 and 18, respectively, and freshman Kasheen Cunningham scored 13 off the bench to give the Colonels the win over North. They got a win over #1 St. John’s at the CMC/Inter-High classic on Sunday night.

4. Shrewsbury (16-3) - Wil Michalski, Sean Russell, Josh Desai, and Matt Kneece were all in double figures for the Colonials in a 72-50 rout of #15 Groton-Dunstable. 13 different guys scored in a 75-44 win over Burncoat. Ryan Stowe had 21 points in a victory over conference foe Milford.

5. Fitchburg (12-7) -The Red Raiders are playing great basketball as playoff time nears, they beat a very good Clinton squad by 29, and also upset #1 St. John’s at home. Putting them ahead of Doherty was tough, as the Highlanders beat Fitchburg 68-63 early in the season, but beating the #1 team in central Mass (St. John’s) speaks for itself.

6. St. Bernard’s (14-5) -John Henault scored 26, right about on his average, but the Bernardians lost to #1 St. John’s in Fitchburg. Henault was held to his lowest scoring game of the season against #2 WCS, he had 13 points in a 59-36 loss. Henault had perhaps his best performance of the year on Sunday afternoon against #7 Doherty, he scored 38 points in a one-point overtime victory.

7. Doherty (12-6) -The Highlanders ran past Burncoat behind 19 points from Andre Santana and 18 from Antonio Jones. Jones also had 17 points in a Friday night win over #15 Groton-Dunstable. They also suffered a loss to #10 Uxbridge, and lost on Sunday to #6 St. Bernard’s at the CMC/Inter-High Classic.

8. Quabbin (15-4) -Christian Horton played hero for Quabbin against Gardner, he was the game high scorer with 30 points. Horton scored a game high 20 points to knock off previously ranked St. Peter-Marian.

9. Holy Name (10-8) –The Naps routed Innovation Academy in their only game of the week.

10. Uxbridge (17-3) -Dan Tessier and Corey Gomes were each in double figures, as the Spartans beat Oxford 54-51. Mark Devries had 21 points in an upset victory over #7 Doherty in Uxbridge. They also destroyed Murdock in their first round game at the Clark Tournament, their three leading scorers, Tessier(19 points), Devries(18 points), and Gomes(10 points, 10 rebounds) combined to shoot 57% from the floor in the win.

11. Wachusett (12-8) -The Mountaineers are playing for the highest seed possible at this point for the Division 1 tournament. They certainly helped their cause in wins over previously ranked St. Peter-Marian and Leominster.

12. North Middlesex (14-5)- Matt Foley was the game’s high scorer (23 points) in a 66-56 win over Lunenburg. Foley scored 17 in a win over Nashoba. Scott Cavanaugh(16 points) led the way for the Patriots in a win over Oakmont.

13. Quaboag (18-2)-Ryan Plante scored 20 points in an easy win over Ware, while Thomas Jankins was the game-high scorer with 18 points in a first round blowout victory over Ayer.

14. Tantasqua (14-5) The Warriors are back in the top 15 after quality wins over Marlborough(last week) and Springfield Sci-Tech, and a loss to Amherst (ranked #9 in western Mass. by Masslive.com)

15. Groton-Dunstable (11-8)-Laim Barberich had 14 points in a loss to #3 Shrewsbury. The Crusaders came up short against #6 Doherty, losing 59-42.

Clark Tournament Predictions

Teams Predicted to win their matchup are in Blue. All games are played at Clark University’s Kneller Athletic Center.

Feb. 20                 #6 Tahanto (9-6)               #3 Sutton (11-4)               1:00 PM                               

                Small School Quarterfinal

Prediction: The Stags have one heck of a player in 6’3 senior Josh Igwenagu, but Tahanto just can’t match up to Sutton’s talented shooters: Frank Brogie, Mac Roy, Kayvon Lewis, and Derrick Bethune.

                #7 Murdock (9-6)             #2 Uxbridge (13-3)          2:45 PM                               

                Small School Quarterfinal            

Prediction: Dan Tessier is a matchup nightmare for Murdock, Mark DeVries’ spectacular outside shooting will spread the floor, and Corey Gomes will be by far the biggest kid on the floor in this game. Uxbridge may have the most talented team in the tournament. Enough said.

                #5 Littleton (10-5)            #4 Douglas (11-5)             6:00 PM                               

                Small School Quarterfinal            

Prediction: Douglas is a dangerous team that will not only challenge for the small school championship, but also for the Division 3 championship at WPI. Ryan Hill has been one of the top point guards in Division 3 this year, Ryan Beaudette is one of the most aggressive forwards in this tournament, and Nate Pajka has been the Tigers’ do-it-all man all year. Douglas should win this one to advance to the semis.

                #8 Ayer (7-6)      #1 Quaboag (15-2)           7:45 PM                               

                Small School Quarterfinal            

Prediction: Quaboag is one of the top teams in Division 3, and they have so many options offensively that opponents’ defenses can’t just key off of one opposing guy. The Cougars haven’t overlooked any “lesser” opponents all year; don’t expect it to happen in this one, either.

 

Feb. 21                 #6 Shepherd Hill (10-6) #3 Northbridge (12-5)    1:00 PM                               

                Large School Quarterfinal

Prediction: Corey Pryor is the best player in this tournament. We’ve seen Shepherd Hill get some really good wins this year, but expect the higher seeded Rams to win behind Pryor and Northbridge’s depth off the bench.            

                #7 Nipmuc (8-6)                #2 Clinton (12-3)               2:45 PM                               

                Large School Quarterfinal

Prediction: Clinton has been really impressive so far this year. However, Nipmuc is coming off a pretty big win over Sutton-if they can keep the good wins coming they could surprise a lot of people at the Clark. We like the Gaels in this matchup though: Harry Franco, Sergio Colon, Brendan Cutler, and Cody Trautner have been great all year long.   

                #5 Oxford (10-6)               #4 Groton-Dunstable (11-5)        6:00 PM                               

                Large School Quarterfinal

Prediction: This could end up being one of the closest games of the tournament; both the Pirates and the Crusaders have had several different leading scorers all year and both have some very talented players. Groton-Dunstable has won two straight Clark championships and despite losing key guys like Cam Wilcox, Ryan Romich, and Derek McCaffrey, they should still be considered a favorite to win again this year. Despite that though, Oxford has been very close in several big games this year; Jeff Bolio has been a consistent contributor, Brendan Tremblay has more than held his own in the Pirates backcourt, and Decarlo Anderson has been a force in the post.

                #8 Bartlett (8-8)                #1 Quabbin (13-3)            7:45 PM                               

                Large School Quarterfinal

Prediction: Christian Horton is one of the top guards in central Mass., it will be interesting to see how Bartlett attempts to slow him down. Quabbin also has a very good forward in 6’3 Billy Robinson. Bartlett has been very solid as of late, especially after a rather slow start this season; but Horton will be the difference against Bartlett and should be able to lead his team into the next round.      

              BeantownHoops central Mass. Power Rankings (As of 2/14/11)

1. St. John’s (13-3)-The Pioneers outmatched North from the start, winning 85-37 behind 18 points from Pete Richer.

2. Whitinsville Christian (13-2) –The Crusaders had four players in double figures in an easy win over BMR. 13 guys scored in a blowout win over North Brookfield, and then went on to defeat DVC foe and previously ranked Sutton. If we could put WCS and St. Bernard’s at 2A and 2B, we would; but for now we’ll have to wait for their matchup on February 18th in Whitinsville. 

3. St. Bernard’s(13-3)- John Henault had 21 of his 30 points in the 2nd half, but the Bernardians couldn’t get past St. Peter-Marian in Worcester. Henault scored 21 points in a 55-46 win over BMR.

4. South(10-4)-Senior Eric Stenlund scored 19 points and Hugh Daye added 18 in a win over a Joel Katana-less Doherty Highlander squad.

5. Shrewsbury(13-3)- Wil Michalski and Matt Kneece each scored 19 points in an easy 75-43 win over Shepherd Hill. Ryan Stowe scored 15 points as the Colonials rolled over Leominster.

6. Doherty(10-4)-Andre Santana scored 18 points in a loss to Holy Name. Santana had 25 in their season to South(63-58).

7. Fitchburg(10-7)-Abi Akanni, Stephfon Teague, and Quinton Perkins combined for 55 points, but the Red Raiders couldn’t get past North Middlesex, falling 81-76 in overtime. Perkins had 21 points in a win over Wachusett. Perkins’ 15 points was the team high in a loss to B.C High.

8. St. Peter-Marian(7-7)-This is one team whose record doesn’t reflect how truly good they are. The Guardians are starting to look like the team that we expected them to be at the beginning of the season. With the return and quick emergence of Matt Mobley (19 points in a win over #3 St. Bernard’s, 18 points in a win over #9 Quabbin), SPM is proving that they can be a force if they can qualify for the Division 1 tournament.

9. Quabbin(14-4)-Junior Christian Horton scored 27 points in a 75-52 win over Hudson. Horton’s 19 points wasn’t enough though, in a loss to St. Peter-Marian.

10. Holy Name (9-8) –Mike Woll and Tyler Delorey combined for 32 points in a 64-58 win over Doherty. Delorey had 23 points in a blowout win over Burncoat, putting the Naps one win away from qualifying for the Division 1 tournament.

11. Wachusett(10-8)-The Mountaineers were led by Tim Sheridan’s 24 points in a win over Algonquin. Ben Pierce scored 16 points in a loss to Fitchburg.

12. Groton-Dunstable(11-5)-Liam Barberich was the only scorer in double figures for the Cruaders in a loss to Marlborough. They also fell to Westborough 60-49.

13. North Middlesex(11-4)-Making 90 % of your free throws can kill other teams, espescially when you attempt 32 free throws in one game; the Patriots upset Fitchburg behind spectacular 29/32 shooting from the line. However, they followed up with an interesting loss to 4-12 Milford.

14. Quaboag(16-2)-Ryan Plante scored 14 of the Cougars 40 points in a 40-29 win over David Prouty. Plante had 19 and Thomas Jankins scored 18 points in an easy win over Leicester. Plante’s 22 points led the way in a victory against North Brookfield.

15. Uxbridge(14-3)-The Spartans have been one of the top teams in SWCL all season, and should be considered a legitimate contender for the Clark Tournament title and the Division 2 crown.

Clark Tournament Schedule

Feb. 20	#6 Tahanto (9-6)	#3 Sutton (11-4)	1:00 PM
	Small School Quarterfinal
	#7 Murdock (9-6)	#2 Uxbridge (13-3)	2:45 PM
	Small School Quarterfinal
	#5 Littleton (10-5)	#4 Douglas (11-5)	6:00 PM
	Small School Quarterfinal
	#8 Ayer (7-6)	#1 Quaboag (15-2)	7:45 PM
	Small School Quarterfinal
Feb. 21	#6 Shepherd Hill (10-6)	#3 Northbridge (12-5)	1:00 PM
	Large School Quarterfinal
	#7 Nipmuc (8-6)	#2 Clinton (12-3)	2:45 PM
	Large School Quarterfinal
	#5 Oxford (10-6)	#4 Groton-Dunstable (11-5)	6:00 PM
	Large School Quarterfinal
	#8 Bartlett (8-8)	#1 Quabbin (13-3)	7:45 PM
	Large School Quarterfinal
Feb. 22	#4 / #5 Winner	#1 / #8 Winner	7:45 PM
	Small School Semifinal
	#3 / #6 Winner	#2 / #7 Winner	6:00 PM
	Small School Semifinal
Feb. 24	#3 / #6 Winner	#2 / #7 Winner	6:00 PM
	Large School Semifinal
	#4 / #5 Winner	#1 / #8 Winner	7:45 PM
	Large School Semifinal
Feb. 26	TBA	TBA	6:00 PM
	Small School Championship
	TBA	TBA	7:45 PM
	Large School Championship   Note: All semifinal and championship games are on Charter TV3     BeantownHoops.com’s Clark Tournament predictions will be up this weekend!

 

BeantownHoops Central Mass. Power Rankings (2/8/11)

1.  St. John’s (13-3)-The Pioneers survived a scare from Burncoat, as they were down 25-24 at halftime. Matt Harrington and Richard Rodgers combined for 33 points.

2.  St. Bernard’s (12-2)-There isn’t a team in central Mass. that can shut down John Henault, the star senior guard scored 36 points against #9 Holy Name in a 76-45 win on Thursday night. He passed James Maloughney on St. Bernard’s all-time scoring list, a little less than four years after Maloughney became the school’s all-time leading scorer, Henault had 32 in all in the 62-50 win over Leominster.

3.  Whitinsville Christian (12-2) –The Crusaders backcourt, sophomore Colin Richey and senior Taylor Bajema, combined for 38 points in a 65-38 rout of Nipmuc. But WCS ran into a Charlestown squad that is one of the top teams in the state, and lost 78-67 despite 18 points and 14 rebounds from Hans Miersma and 25 points from Bajema. Richey scored 16 for the Crusaders as they rolled over BMR. 

4.  South (9-4) - Kevin Boakye came up huge for the Colonels with 11 points and 21 boards in a 52-44 win over #6 Doherty. Rod Milton had 24 points as South beat #9 Holy Name 58-47.

5.  Shrewsbury (11-3) - Matt Kneece and Ryan Stowe were each in double figures for the Colonials in a victory over Leominster. Wil Michalski scored a career-high 29 points in a victory over #12 North Middlesex. Stowe scored 28 for Shrewsbury as they slipped past #11 Wachusett, 71-67.

6.  Doherty (10-2)-The Highlanders came up short against #4 South, senior forward Andre Santana scored 15 points.

7.  Fitchburg (9-5)-Steph’fon Teague scored 19 and Quinton Perkins had 18 in a 52-46 win over Milford. Teague also scored 27 and Perkins had 19 in a win over Algonquin.

8.  Quabbin (12-3)-Three more wins this week for Quabbin, Christian Horton scored 16 points in a win over Nashoba. Following a big win over #10 Groton-Dunstable, Billy Robinson led the way with 20 points in a 62-50 win over Hudson.

9.  Holy Name (7-8) –The Napoleons struggled after the injury of Jacek Louisville and fell hard to #2 St. Bernard’s; junior Tyler Delorey, sophomore guard Mike Woll, and freshman center Tyreik McCauley were all in double figures. They also came up short in a home loss to #4 South. They need to win three of their last four games, against Doherty, Burncoat(x2), and North, to qualify for districts.

10.  Groton-Dunstable (11-4)-The Crusaders lost to Quabbin in their only game of the week.

11.  Wachusett (9-7)-After a win over Milford and a loss to #5 Shrewsbury, the Mountaineers are one win away from qualifying for postseason play.

12.   North Middlesex (10-4)-Drew Dion had 13 points in a 62-55 loss to #5 Shrewsbury.

13.  Quaboag (14-2)-The Cougars prevailed in a potential trap game on the road against Southbridge, Thomas    Jankins had 24 points in the 71-43 victory. Jankins (15 points) combined with Ryan Plante (16 points) to knock off Bartlett, 55-39. Plante had 15 points in a win over David Prouty.

14.  Marlborough (9-6)-Derek McDonald led the way for the Panthers with 21 points and 21 rebounds in a 77-62 win over Hudson. They got beaten badly by Westborough later in the week though, 73-54.

15.  Sutton (10-4)-Kayvon Lewis continues to impress, he scored 15 points and had 8 assists in a win over BMR to put the Sammies into the D3 tournament.

CMass Game of the Week:  Milton’s 2nd Half Heroics Lead South
By: Christian Bradley, central Mass. correspondent

South’s junior Rod Milton turned in one of his best performances of the year on Sunday, scoring 24 points in all to lead the Colonels past Holy Name on the road, 58-47. Milton, a 6’1 guard, scored 18 points in a dominating second half performance.

Holy Name got an impressive performance from sophomore guard Mike Woll, who scored the Napoleons first five points of the game on a deep three-pointer and a lay-up in a 2-on-1 to answer an opening three ball by South senior Eric Stenlund(7 points). Woll scored eight of Holy Name’s 14 first quarter points, and had his team in the lead after one quarter, 14-9.

The Colonels were able to bring the game to within two points(21-19) by the end of the first half, and rode Milton and senior big man Kevin Boakye(13 points, 16 boards) to a two point lead at the end of a third quarter.

The Colonels went on a 10-2 run in the first 3-and-a-half minutes of the 4th quarter, as Milton decimated the Naps defense with his three-point jumper, his speed on the break before finishing with his left hand off of a block and great hustle play by Boakye(see highlight reel), and a crossover dribble that simply couldn’t be defended.

Woll was able to finish with 19 points on five three-pointers to try to pick up the Napleons on a day where they saw their leading scorer, Tyler Delorey(8 points), have an uncharacteristically off shooting day; but it was to no avail. South also got a very solid performance in the post from 6’4 senior Joe Brigham(10 points), who had several nice moves in the post and combined with Boakye to control the glass.

After defeating Doherty and Holy Name in the same week, expect the Colonels to be moving up in BeantownHoops’ central Mass. top 15 power rankings. South showed on Sunday that their starting five’s talent rivals any other top team in central Mass. South will play Burncoat at home on Wednesday night before a huge matchup with Inter-High foe Doherty at home on Friday night. 

Holy Name plays Doherty at home on Tuesday, in a potential must-win game so that the Naps can give themselves a shot at qualifying for the Division 1 tournament.

 

Mid-season Divisional rankings

Note: The ranking mentioned in “Key Wins/Notable Losses” is the OVERALL central Mass. ranking of the mentioned team. If a team is ranked in the top 15, it is noted following their record.

Division 1

1.       St. John’s (10-3, #1 overall) -Key wins: #2 Shrewsbury, #3 St. Bernard’s, #5 Doherty, #7 Holy Name, #8 South. Notable losses: None.

2.       Shrewsbury (6-3, #2 overall)-Key wins: #6 Fitchburg, #11 Wachusett. Notable losses: #1 St. John’s, #12 North Middlesex.

3.       Doherty(7-1, #5 overall)-Key wins: #8 South,  #11 Wachusett, St. Peter-Marian. Notable losses: #1 St. John’s

4.       Fitchburg(6-3, #6 overall)-Key wins: #8 South, #12 North Middlesex, Leominster. Notable losses: #2 Shrewsbury.

5.       Holy Name(7-4, #7 overall)-Key wins: #3 St. Bernard’s, #8 South. Notable losses: #1 St. John’s by 1, #4 Whitinsville Christian, St. Peter-Marian.

Last three out: South(4-4, #8 overall), Wachusett(7-4, #11 overall), North Middlesex(8-3, #12 overall).

Division 2

1.       St. Bernard’s(9-2, #3 overall)Key wins: #4 Whitinsville Christian, #9 Groton-Dunstable, #10 Quabbin, Leominster, Sutton, St. Peter-Marian. Notable losses: #1 St. John’s, #7 Holy Name.

2.       Groton-Dunstable(9-2, #9 overall)Key wins: #10 Quabbin, #13 Marlborough. Notable losses: #3 St. Bernard’s, #12 North Middlesex.

3.       Quabbin(6-3, #10 overall)Key wins: #12 North Middlesex, Shepherd Hill. Notable losses: #3 St. Bernard’s, #9 Groton-Dunstable, #13 Marlborough

4.       Uxbridge(10-2)Key wins: Douglas, Northbridge. Notable losses: #14 Quaboag, #15 Tantasqua.

5.       Oxford(8-1)Key win: Shepherd Hill. Notable loss: #14 Quaboag.

Last three out: Clinton(8-2), Nipmuc(5-3), Northbridge(6-3).

Division 3

1.       Whitinsville Christian(9-1, #4 overall)Key wins: #7 Holy Name, New Leadership, Douglas, Sutton. Notable loss: #3 St. Bernard’s.

2.       Quaboag(10-2, #14 overall) Key wins: #15 Tantasqua,  Uxbridge, Oxford. Notable losses: Shepherd Hill, Northbridge.

3.       Sutton(7-4) Key wins: Leominster, Douglas. Notable losses: #3 St. Bernard’s, #4 Whitinsville Christian, #8 South.

4.       Douglas(5-2)Key wins: Tahanto, Nipmuc. Notable losses: #4 Whitinsville Christian, Sutton.

5.       Worcester Tech(10-1)Key win: Keefe Tech.  Notable loss: Greater New Bedford.

Last three out: Ayer(5-3), Tahanto(5-4), Bromfield(5-5).

Top 15 Rankings for the week of Jan. 23rd

 

By: Christian Bradley, central Mass. correspondent

0. St. John’s (10-3)-The Pioneers saw their closest central Mass. challenge against #7 Holy Name, winning 64-63; Richard Rodgers scored 28 points.
0. Shrewsbury(6-3)- The Colonials beat Algonquin behind 21 points from senior Wil Michalski.
0. St. Bernard’s(9-2)-John Henault continues to light up central Mass. opponents, his latest victim being the #9 Groton-Dunstable Crusaders; he scored 29 points in a 70-60 win. He then followed that up with a 31 point, 18 rebound performance over previously ranked St. Peter-Marian.
0. Whitinsville Christian (9-1) –The Crusaders defeated Sutton, the 3^rd  ranked central Mass. Division 3 team, 65-43 behind 23 points from senior guard Taylor Bajema.
0. Doherty(7-1)-Alex Abreau scored 17 points while Andre Santana had 15, as the Highlanders rolled over North, 95-58.
0. Fitchburg(6-3)-Senior Steph’fon Teague scored 23 points for the Red Raiders in a victory over rival Leominster.
0. Holy Name (7-4) –Jacek Louisville’s 11 points led the Naps against #1 St. John’s, but Holy Name fell just short of the defending state runners-up by a point.
0. South(4-4)- No games last week.
0. Groton-Dunstable(9-2)-Wil Peregoy scored 17 points for the Crusaders, as they beat #13 Marlborough 56-55. G-D put up a very respectable fight against #3 St. Bernard’s, but in the end they lost by ten despite a combined 38 points from Wil Peregoy and Peter Liljegren. Peregoy scored 19, while Kyle Romich and Liam Berberich poured in 17 points each in a win over Chelmsford.
0. Quabbin(6-3)-Billy Robinson’s 13 points led the way in a 41-38 win over Ludlow.
0. Wachusett(7-4)-Eric Windler(17 points) and Zack Berman(15 points) came up big for the Mountaineers in a victory on the road over #12 North Middlesex.
0. North Middlesex(8-3)-Kyle McDermott and Mark Schulze combined for 38 points in a 76-65 win over Milford. Schulze’s 17 points wasn’t enough for the Patriots in a 66-59 loss to #11 Wachusett.
0. Marlborough(7-3)-Derek Macdonald scored 16 points for the Panthers in a one point loss to #9 Groton-Dunstable.

1  14.  Quaboag(10-2) The Cougars are back in the top 15 after a victories this week over #15 Tantasqua and Southbridge.

0. Tantasqua(10-1)-Jaylen Dottin and Corey Gatta each scored 11 points for the Warriors, but they fell to #14 Quaboag, 45-39.

 

BeantownHoops.com’s Central Massachusetts Mid-Season All-Stars

1st

G Hugh Daye, senior (South)

G Joel Katana, senior (Doherty)

G John Henault, senior (St. Bernard’s)

F Richard Rodgers, senior (St. John’s)

F Andre Santana, senior (Doherty)

Analysis: Richard Rodgers and John Henault have been two of the top players in central Mass since their sophomore year. Rodgers has been endlessly problematic on the post for opponents this year, while Henault has used a textbook outside stroke and a full arsenal of dribble moves to light up opposing teams. The 6’4 Santana can flat out finish at the rim, he uses his superior quickness and athleticism to his advantage and is fearless when going to the rim off the dribble. Katana has one of the best outside strokes in the area and uses his deceptive quickness and athleticism to create quite a tandem with Santana. Hugh Daye’s South High team gave St. John’s quite a scare earlier in the year, for what it’s worth. Though choosing between Daye and Matt Harrington was like splitting hairs, the lightning-quick guard has been an explosive finisher and possesses outstanding handle and feel for the game. Outside of Rodgers, who is playing Division 1 football at Cal next year; Daye, Katana, Henault, and Santana all have college-level talent. Henault is looking at possibly playing D2 or high D3, while Daye, Katana, and Santana would all be great recruits for any Division 3 school.

2^nd

G Matt Harrington, senior (St. John’s)

G Tyler Delorey, junior (Holy Name)

G Rod Milton, junior (South)

F Wil Michalski, senior (Shrewsbury)

F/C Matt Palecki, junior (St. John’s)

Analysis: Like those mentioned on the 1^st team, all five of these guys would be very good recruits for a Division 3 school and a couple may possibly become Division 2 players. Harrington and Palecki have been great so far this year for #1 St. John’s. The 6’2 point guard Harrington scored 27 and 16 points respectively and won MVP at Assumption College’s Laska Yuletide Invitational, while the 6’6 Palecki is a double-double machine with a great nose for the ball off the defensive glass and he also has an ability to use his strong body to finish strong down low or consistently with a jumper out to 15 feet. Delorey, who stands at 6’3, is a very good scoring guard who has led Holy Name to some great wins this year. He averaged 17 points per game last year for the Naps as a sophomore, and is putting up similar numbers this year. Rod Milton’s perimeter presence has been key for South so far this year; he’s a very quick and athletic guard who is averaging about 14 points per game. Michalski may be the most improved player in central Mass. since last season, the 6’5 Shrewsbury senior has put on a lot of muscle since last year and has shown that he can be a dangerous weapon in the paint with a variety of post moves, driving ability from the perimeter, and a consistent mid-range jumper.

3rd

G Colin Richey, sophomore (Whitinsville Christian)

G Christian Horton, junior (Quabbin)

G Steph’fon Teague, junior (Fitchburg)

F/C Matt Kneece, senior (Shrewsbury)

C Hans Miersma, senior (Whitinsville Christian)

Analysis: The pair from Whitinsville Christian has led the Crusaders to a 9-1 record so far this year, good enough for the #4 ranking in BeantownHoops’ central Mass. power rankings. The 6’8 Miersma is the most versatile center in central Mass., with an ability to finish high above the rim with his solid athleticism or with a jump shot of out to 17 feet; he is also a very good shot blocker and rebounder with the ability to play Division 2 or high Division 3 college ball. Richey is a point guard that has wowed some Division 2 scouts with his basketball intelligence and feel for the game, he has an ever-improving handle and outside shot and is a fearless competitor. Horton is averaging a little less than 20 points per game for Quabbin, and the junior guard has his team in the hunt for a Division 2 championship. He can play both guard positions and will undoubtedly be hearing from several Division 3 colleges before his senior year begins. The 6’8 Kneece is a very, very strong big man that has been an anchor defensively for Shrewsbury this year, he has the raw ability to be a college player, and with some polish to his offensive game could be a good Division 3 big man.  Teague is the leading scorer on one of central Mass’s best teams; Fitchburg High has an opportunity to go far this year with Teague’s guidance. The super quick junior guard, along with Quentin Perkins and Abi Akanni, will undoubtedly be making noise when the Division 1 tournament starts.

4th

G Carlos de la Cruz, senior (Marlborough)

G Corey Pryor, senior (Northbridge)

G Ryan Stowe, senior (Shrewsbury)

F Josh Igwenagu, senior (Tahanto)

F/C Ryan Turbide, senior (Leominster)

Analysis: For what the 5’4 de la Cruz lacks in size, he makes up for in skill and heart. He’s one of the top scoring guards in central Mass., and so far the Marlborough Panthers are in a very good position to make a run at their league championship and a Division 1 tournament berth. The 6’2 Pryor is one of the favorites to win SWCL player of the year, he has a very good outside shot and an ability to take anybody in central Mass. to the rim off the dribble. St. Bernard’s appears to be the favorite in Division 2 right now, but Northbridge will have a good shot at a Division 2 title as well as a Clark Tournament championship with Pryor on the perimeter. Stowe has been the floor general of one of the top teams in central Mass. this year, Shrewsbury is one of the favorites to win in Division 1 and Stowe is a big reason why; his outside shooting, greatly improved driving ability, and perimeter defense will be a huge asset to the Colonials all season long. Igwenagu is a strong 6’3 forward that has led Tahanto to a respectable 5-4 record in Division 3 thus far. His biggest game of the year, a spectacular 30 point performance against Murdock, showed that he is going to be a name we’ll here much more about as the season goes on. The 6’8 Turbide is on the verge of his 1000^th point is an extremely underrated big man that has started a lot of games for the Blue Devils the past four years-he is very good at finishing in the paint but his best asset without a doubt is his ability to grab rebounds on either end of the floor.

 

Honorable Mention

G Ben Pierce, senior (Wachusett)

G Tre Watson, junior (St. Peter-Marian)

G Dan Tessier, senior (Uxbridge)

F Tim Sheridan, junior (Wachusett)

F/C Corey Gomes, junior (Uxbridge)

Analysis: Pierce is one of the best outside shooters in central Mass., and has been a necessity for a Wachusett team that has been consistently in our top 15 power rankings all year long. Watson, like Pierce, has done his share to keep his team in the top 15 all season. Last week they were ranked #15, and Watson is a big reason why. The Guardians have done a pretty decent job thus far without Matt Mobley, who will soon be back, and once he is back expect St. Peter-Marian to win some important ball games.  The 6’3 Tessier has had some big games for the Spartans and his scoring and rebounding presence is one of the big reasons why Uxbridge will be a favorite to win the Clark Tournament and the Division 2 central Mass. tournament. The 6’5 Sheridan is one of the most consistent forwards in Division 1, he made the All-Tournament team at the Laska Invitational, and has combined with guards like Pierce and sophomore Jesse Maresca to lead a Wachusett squad that is one of the most improved in central Mass. since last year. The 6’6 Gomes has been one of the best big men in central Mass. so far this year. Gomes will without a doubt get recruited by several Division 3 colleges, and this year he’s combining with Mark Devries and Dan Tessier for an Uxbridge team that is one of the most talented in Division 2.

 

Updated Top 15 for the week of January 16th

Game of the week:  #1 St. John's too much for #3 St. Bernard's

Pioneers Stay #1

Rodgers’ 22 Second Half Points Leads St John’s

Shrewsbury, MA- In a highly anticipated matchup between #1 ranked St. John’s and #3 St. Bernard’s on Friday night, it was senior forward Richard Rodgers (25 points) that stole the show for the Pioneers.

The St. John’s captain scored 22 in the second half, including 13 points in the third quarter while the Pioneers stellar defense held Bernardians’ star senior John Henault (25 points) to just seven second-half points.

The Pioneers’ 6’4 sophomore shooting guard Ken Harrington(8 points) scored five of St. John’s first 7 points, including a three-pointer from the corner and a put-back 10-foot jumper the following play to serve as an early spark in the first two minutes.

Henault scored all of St. Bernards’ ten first quarter points, and nailed three-pointers on consecutive possessions to bring the Bernardians to within five, before Rodgers put in a strong lay-up underneath at the other end to close out the first quarter at 17-10.

The Bernardians opened up the second quarter on a quick 6-0 run to bring the score to 17-16, as Henault and junior guard Andrew Pierce each knocked down three-pointers before a St. John’s timeout. The Pioneers came out of the timeout with a 12-5 run to end the first half, highlighted by a three-pointer by captain Matt Harrington (7 points) as well as a mid-range jumper and an old-fashioned three-point play by the Pioneers senior captain, Ryan Kelley (11 points).

Henault finished the half with 18, with his team trailing 29-21.

Bernardians’ junior forward Trent Hunt(11 points) scored his first points of the game early in the third quarter on a three-pointer that was assisted by Henault; but St. John’s junior center Matt Palecki(11 points) came right back with a lay-up at the other end. Hunt continued his eight-point quarter by knocking down a three-pointer from the corner and a put back on the next possession to keep the game within eight.

Rodgers was unstoppable in the post in the second half, he scored 13 points in the third quarter and Ken Harrington knocked down a 17-foot jumper despite being fouled, finishing the three-point play with a free throw.

St. Bernard’s was still in striking distance at the end of the third, down 51-39. But a great team defensive effort in the fourth quarter by the Pioneers, giving up just seven points in the quarter, was what proved to be the deciding factor. They were able to hold Henault, one of the best players in the state, to just two points in the fourth quarter, and the Pioneers prevailed by a score of 69-46.

St. Bernard’s will be in action next this Sunday, playing at Leominster at 2:30. St. John’s next game is on Tuesday night at Holy Name at 7:00.

 

Central Mass Boys Top 15 (as of 1/9/2011)

0. St. John’s (7-3)-Senior captain Richard Rodgers scored 21, fellow captain Ryan Kelley had 16 points, and sophomore Ken Harrington scored 14 in win over South.  Rodgers scored a game high 18, while Ethan Borchelt scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Pioneers routed Burncoat.
   
0. Shrewsbury (5-2)- 6’8 center Matt Kneece had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Colonials defeated conference rival #6 Fitchburg.
0. St. Bernard’s (6-0)-The Bernardians took advantage of 19 offensive rebounds, and got 23 points and 11 rebounds from senior John Henault, who hit the game winning three-pointer in a home win over #4 WCS, 56-54. St. B’s also defeated previously ranked Westborough, 67-47, Henault scored 25.
0. Whitinsville Christian (5-1) –Sophomore Colin Richey scored 14 in a loss to #3 St. B’s, but the Crusaders blew-out Hopedale by 40 at home.
0. Doherty (5-1)-Andre  Santana and Joel Katana combined for 45 points in a blowout victory over Burncoat. Santana scored 21, defeating North High on the road.
0. Fitchburg (3-3)-Junior Quentin Perkins scored  14 for the Red Raiders in a road win over Milford.
0. South (3-3)- South lost to #1 St. John’s in their first game of the week , Rod Milton and Hugh Daye each scored 21 in the loss. Kevin Boakye led the Colonels with 14 points and 6 boards in a 20 point win over previously ranked Sutton. South has some notable close losses, falling short to #6 Fitchburg by two in overtime, and losing by seven to #1 St. John’s.
0. Holy Name (5-3) –Tyler Delorey scored 23 as the Napoleons rolled over North by 42. However a one point loss to #14 St. Peter-Marian dropped Holy Name down in the power rankings a little bit.
0. Tantasqua (8-0)-Tantasqua had a comeback victory against Uxbridge, Corey Gatta  scored 18. They smacked Southbridge behind 14 from Jaylen Dottin. Dottin poured in 19 more later in the week, as the Warriors beat 3-6 David Prouty by nine.
0. Marlborough (5-2)-Senior guard Carlos de la Cruz erupted for  30 points, leading the Panthers  in a 69-65 win over #13 Quabbin.
0. North Middlesex (6-1)-The Patriots haven’t appeared yet in BeantownHoops top 15, but they showed they are plenty deserving of their #11 ranking thus far by blowing out Groton-Dunstable, beating Leominster, and defeating #13 Wachusett, with their only loss coming to #12 Quabbin.
0. Quabbin (4-2)-Quabbin got a four point win over Westborough behind 21 points from Billy Robinson and 13 point from Christian Horton. However, they suffered a loss to #10 Marlborough in their 2^nd game of the week.
0. Wachusett (4-4)-The Mountaineers suffered a loss in the only game they played this week, falling rather easily to #14 North Middlesex.
0. St. Peter-Marian (3-3)- The Guardians got 17 from Brain Foley and 12 2^nd half points from Tre Watson, upsetting #7 Holy Name 60-59. Upsetting the #8 team is a big win, but not quite enough to put them ahead of #13 Wachusett, who handled SPM in the 3^rd place game of the Laska Invitational.
0. Quaboag (7-1)-The Cougars beat Bartlett in a low-scoring game, 31-25. Thomas Jankins scored 15 in a 12 point win over Auburn.

 

#1 St. John's dominant over #2 Shrewsbury

Harrington, Palecki, Rodgers Lead Pioneers to Laska Title

WORCESTER, MA-In a highly anticipated #1 vs. #2 matchup at Assumption College on Wednesday, St. John’s stole the show and proved why they are ranked as the top team in central Massachusetts, dismantling #2 Shrewsbury, 59-33.

Shrewsbury drew first blood off of a put back lay-up by 6-8 center Matt Kneece(6 points, 7 rebounds) . Although the Colonials struggled early from the field, they were able to keep up in the first half with the #1 Pioneers, who had their fair share of offensive setbacks early on as well.

Shrewsbury was able to muster just six points in the first quarter, but got quite a boost from 6’2 senior Ross Fournier, who came off the bench to score all six of his points in the second quarter.

Despite Richard Rodgers’ (13 points, 15 rebounds) early shooting woes, the Pioneers continued to pound the ball inside and often were able to get good shots in the paint, due in part to the fact that Shrewsbury’s 6’5 senior Wil Michalski(3 points, 4 rebounds) received his 3rd foul early in the first half and couldn’t get out of foul trouble the rest of the game.

Rodgers got it going after missing on his first several shots, and St. John’s also got dazzling performances from tournament MVP Matt Harrington(16 points, 4 assists) and efficient junior center Matt Palecki(17 points, 8 rebounds).

Harrington had an outstanding tournament, clearly deserving of MVP honors. He averaged 20 ppg in the tournament while making over half his field goals and shooting 6-12 from behind the arc against St. Peter-Marian and Shrewsbury.

After shooting over 61% from the field in their opening game against Wachusett, Shrewsbury shot just under 28% against the Pioneers superb defense. Colonials three leading scorers, Michalski, Kneece, and Ryan Stowe(8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) combined to score just 17 points, a testament to the St. John’s  tight defense.
Following a relatively close halftime score of 23-17, in favor of St. John’s the Pioneers dominated the 2nd half and were able to put Shrewsbury away by outscoring the Colonials in the half, 36-17.

Following the 59-33 victory, four players from the game(Shrewsbury’s Matt Kneece and Ryan Stowe, St. John’s Richard Rodgers and MVP Matt Harrington) were selected to the all-tournament team; along with Wachusett’s 6’5 junior Tim Sheridan.

St. John’s will next be in action on January 4, where they will take on #8 South. Shrewsbury will play #5 Fitchburg on January 4, a game that features two of the favorites to win Mid-Wach A this year.

Check out more Central Mass Basketball Highlights at http://www.youtube.com/user/CMASSBeantownHoops

Colonials overpower Wachusett

Stowe Leads Shrewsbury with 16 Points

Worcester, MA-Seniors Matt Kneece and Wil Michalski each had double-doubles as Shrewsbury cruised past Wachusett on Tuesday in the first round of the Laska Yuletide Invitational Tournament at Assumption College.

Wachusett kept it close early despite shooting woes that lasted the entire game. They had a 7-6 lead after a 3-pointer by sophomore Jesse Maresca with three minutes left in the 1^st quarter, but the Colonials overtook the lead thanks to a 3-pointer by sophomore Mike Coggeshall(11 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds).

Shrewsbury was on top at the end of a very sloppy first quarter, by a score of 9-7. Coggeshall ended a strong half with a buzzer-beating jumper, as he finished off the first half with nine points and had his team in a commanding 29-15 lead.

Kneece(10 points, 10 rebounds) started off the 3^rd quarter with four consecutive points, the Mountaineers simply didn’t have the size to contain the 6’8 center as well as the 6’5 Michalski(11 points, 11 rebounds). The Colonials two big men combined to shoot 10-for-13 from the field.

Senior guard Ryan Stowe(16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) increased the lead with about two minutes left in the 3^rd, as he nailed 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Shrewsbury led 43-23 the end of the 3^rd.

Although they really struggled offensively (24% FG for the game) through the first three quarters  despite committing only 12 turnovers, Wachusett continued to fight in the 4^th quarter and even outscored Shrewsbury by four points in the quarter. The Mountaineers finished with two players, seniors Zach Berman(12 points, 7 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds) and Ben Pierce(12 points, 4 rebounds), in double figures.

Shrewsbury also got a strong contribution from Sean Russell, the Colonials guard finished with 10 points and four rebounds as the Colonials finished off Wachusett 60-45.

Wachusett will play St. Peter-Marian in the third place game of the Laska Yuletide Invitational at Assumption on Wednesday, December 29^th at 6:30. BeantownHoops’ top ranked central Mass. teams, #1 St. John’s and #2 Shrewsbury, will meet in the championship game at 8:00.

Central Mass Boys Top 15 (as of 12/24)

1. St. John’s (3-3)-The Pioneers went 0-3 at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic, but since coming back up north they have defeated Xaverian, destroyed #4 Doherty 68-29, and beat #7 Holy Name with relative ease.

2. Shrewsbury(3-1)- The most impressive story in central Mass. so far this year? Shrewsbury’s forward Wil Michalski. The senior has led a great start for Shrewsbury as the Colonials are off to a 3-1 start, with their only loss coming to Alta High School of Utah. Be sure to check out the Laska Tournament at Assumption College on the 27th and the 29th, the finals could pose a possible 1 vs. 2 matchup as Shrewsbury will play Wachusett in the first round, and St. John’s will take on St. Peter-Marian.

3. Whitinsville Christian (4-0)-14 points a game from sophomore point guard Colin Richey has the Crusaders sitting pretty early in the season as they prepare for a showdown with #6 St. Bernard’s in Fitchburg on January 4. 

4. Doherty(1-1)- Joel Katana was the game high scorer with 20 in a 66-56 victory over Wachusett, and he combined with Andre Santana(14) and Antonio Jones(14) for 48 points. The Highlanders apparently forgot to show against #2 St. John’s, falling 68-29. Doherty will take on #8 South on the December 28th. 

5. Fitchburg(2-0)-Julio Alvarez led the Red Raiders with 20 in a big rivalry game victory over Leominster. Alvarez had 15, and Quinton Perkins led all scorers with 19 points in a two point victory over #8 South.

6. St. Bernard’s(3-0)20 points per game thus far for senior John Henault, as the Bernardians beat Sutton and cruised past South Lancaster Academy as well as Westborough.

7. Holy Name (2-2) Tyreik McCaulley had 15 and Tyler Delorey 14 as the Naps coasted past Wesborough in their opening game. Holy Name went on to defeat #9 St. Peter-Marian, and sophomore Mike Woll was the leading scorer with 13 as the Naps were easily beaten by #3 Whitinsville Christian before they suffered a loss to #1 St. John’s.

8. South(1-1)-Rob Milton had 19 and Hugh Daye scored 13 as the Colonels coasted past Milford. They fell to Fitchburg in a close game, Daye was the team-high scorer with 14.

9. St. Peter-Marian(2-1)-Tre Watson had 18 and Jordan Knowles scored 10 as the Guardians defeated Burncoat 54-46. SPM went to fall by 14 to Holy Name, but came back as they destroyed North by 61. 

10. Tantasqua(3-0)-Jaylen Dottin dropped 24 and Corey Gatta added another 22 in a win over Northbridge. Gatta had 19 and Dottin 14, as the pair easily led the Warriors past Auburn. Tantasqua remained undefeated by beating Bartlett, as Alex Lucas scored 22 points.

11. Wachusett(3-1)-Senior Ben Pierce has led the Mountaineers to a very solid start thus far, Wachusett looks like a completely different team compared to the young one that lost a lot of games last year.

12. Quabbin(3-0)-Quabbin beat North Middlesex in their first game of the season, destroyed Gardner 88-49, and beat Shepherd Hill 79-58. Senior guard Christian Horton has proven to cause problems for opposing defenses, he’s averaging a shade under 20 ppg.

13. Sutton(2-1)-Their only loss came to #6 St. Bernard’s, and the Sammies will be tested in the coming weeks as they play Leominster on the 27th, and #8 South on January 7, and #3 Whitinsville Christian on January 18.

14. Quaboag(4-0)-The Cougars have shown a strong start as sophomore Thomas Jankins is averaging 23 points per game.

15. Uxbridge(3-1)-The Spartans fell to Quaboag in their first game of the year 57-43, and got double figure scoring efforts from Corey Gomes and Mark Devries. Uxbridge went on to beat BMR behind 24 from Gomes. Dan Tessier led all scorers with 15, and they cruised past Auburn, 56-42.

Central Mass "Must-See Games" this season

Saint John’s vs St. Peter-Marian @ Assumption College, December 27, 7:45 pm: Juniors Tre Watson, Matt Mobley, and Steve Flynn have the talent and varsity experience to win a lot of ball games this year. Playing defending state runner-up St. John’s, led by seniors Richard Rodgers and Matt Harrington with junior center Matt Palecki, at Assumption’s Laska Tournament will be a great early season test for a Guardians squad that should have a breakout season this year.

South @ North, January 11, 7 pm: South will certainly be favored, but seeing how their star senior guard Hugh Daye steps up in a huge rivalry game in an expected full-to-capacity gym should say a lot about how far the Colonels may go in Division 1 this year.

Sutton @ Whitinsville Christian, January 18, 6:45 pm: More often than not, the DVC championship comes down to the result of Sutton/WCS. This year that’s not going to change as they are two of the top teams in Division 3. Both teams have quite the cast of players coming back. Sutton returns guards Mac Roy, Kayvon Lewis, and Derrick Bethune with forward Frank Brogie, and Whitinsville Christian including guards Colin Richey and Taylor Bajema, with forwards Tyler Vanden Akker, Hans Miersma, and Justin Tienharra.

St. Peter-Marian @ St. Bernard’s, January 22, 6:30 pm: St. B’s star guard John Henault dropped 40 in a losing effort last year against the Guardians, this year expect no different. Henault is one of the top players in central Mass and it should be interesting to see if he can push his team past a very talented SPM squad. As previously mentioned, SPM’s big three of Watson, Mobley, and Flynn will be a force to be reckoned with this year, but don’t underestimate the zone defense of St. B’s for this matchup in Fitchburg.

Uxbridge @ Northbridge, January 27, 7 pm: Spartans/Rams is one of the oldest and richest rivalries in central Mass. Expect this rivalry to once again be renewed as SWCL East will be a fun race to follow this year, with Uxbridge, Northbridge, and Oxford all returning teams that are capable of winning the league title. Right now, for what it’s worth, the talent Uxbridge has coming back appears to have a slight edge on the other two, which is why seeing how they play on their rival’s home floor should tell us a lot about their team. In the end this is just one of their two regular season matchups, but this game will be a great preview for a possible matchup at the Clark Tournament.

Oxford @ Uxbridge, February 1, 7:00 pm: Another possible Clark Tournament preview, the Pirates and Spartans can expect a heated battle in Uxbridge. Uxbridge is facing off against two of their strongest returning SWCL East foes in a six day span. With presumably their two biggest regular season games of the year in less than a week, we are going to learn a lot about Uxbridge and where they rank in Division 2 from this stretch. Big man Corey Gomes and guards Mark Devries and Dan Tessier will be leading Uxbridge this year, and it should be interesting to see how a Brendan Tremblay led Oxford Pirates team will matchup.

Doherty @ South, February 4, 7 pm: These are two of the top teams in Division 1, and if you’re in Worcester on this Friday night you cannot miss this matchup of two of the most talented teams in central Mass. Doherty returns one of the area’s best athletes in guard/forward Andre Santana, a superb shooter and underrated rebounder Joel Katana, and athletic senior big man Andre Pluverge. South will be coming with previously mentioned explosive guard Hugh Daye, with strong forwards Kevin Boakye and Joe Brigham. The Inter-High champion may very well be the winner of this game, and both of these teams will undoubtedly be two of the top teams at WPI once tournament times comes around.

Charlestown @ Whitinsville Christian, February 5, 3 pm: The Townies will be led by Akosa Maduegbunam, one of ESPN’S top 100 seniors in the United States. The 6’4 guard/forward is a super-athletic slasher with a deadly outside jumper. WCS will have to be at their best defensively in this Saturday afternoon matchup, and it will be interesting to see how the Crusaders plan to stop one of the top players in the Northeast. Division 3 or not, Whitinsville has the size and talent to be able to hang with Charlestown, who may very well be one of the best Division 1 teams in the state.

Sutton @ Douglas, February 8, 7 pm: If either of these teams can upset Whitinsville Christian, this already exciting matchup gains even more meaning in terms of the DVC champion. Douglas has one of their most talented teams in years, with center Ryan Beaudette, point guard Ryan Hill, and guard/forward Nate Pajka. Sutton’s credentials are just as impressive, Frank Brogie will be one of the best forwards in the area while juniors Mac Roy and Kayvon Lewis could prove to be the top backcourt in Division 3 this year.

Saint John’s @ Doherty, February 23, 7 pm: It seems as if every year Saint John’s gets better as the season progresses. On paper, this game will really only impact tournament seedings, but this will be the last impression we get of Saint John’s and Doherty before the Division 1 tournament begins. Both of these teams, as mentioned above, have some great talent coming back and either of them would be solid picks for Division 1 champion predictions this year.

 

Division 2 Central Mass Preview

Groton-Dunstable defeated Millbury in a thriller at WPI in the Division 2 central Mass. finals last year. Division 2 looks just as wide open as it was last year, as G-D graduated their three top players in Ryan, Romich, Derek McCaffrey, and Cam Wilcox. Likewise, Millbury graduated Tim Swenson and Ryan O’Leary, while sophomore Mike Woll left Millbury High to go play at Holy Name.
One of the early favorites this year is St. Bernard’s, as they return the best player in Division 2 and perhaps the best scorer in all of central Mass., 6’2 senior guard John Henault. Henault will look to team up with fellow seniors Brendan Jean-Simon, Garrett Mahoney, and Kevin LeGendre to avenge a quarterfinal ousting by Northbridge in last year’s Division 2 tourney. Henault is one of the top early candidates for central Mass. player of the year, and if his supporting cast is strong, expect St. B’s to make quite a run in the Division 2 tournament this year.
Another one of the top favorites is Uxbridge; the Spartans are returning 6’3 senior guard Dan Tessier, 6’6 junior Corey Gomes, and one of the top sophomores in the area, Mark Devries. The Spartans finished 15-6 last year and lost in the quarterfinals of the tournament to Clinton, 60-50. Despite their shortcomings in the tournament last year, this is an Uxbridge team that has grown and has a lot of young talent. With the core stars that they have, expect them to be one of the top two or three teams in Division 2 this year and compete for a Clark Tournament title and central Mass. championship.
The Clinton team that came within three points of reaching the central Mass. finals last year looks to have a strong year despite graduating Alvin Mayard. The Gaels return seniors Sergio Colon and Cody Trautner from last year’s team that made the semifinals of the Division 2 tournament, and Clinton will be sure to have some success this year in Mid-Wach C.
Northbridge came up just short in the semifinals of the Division 2 tournament last year, losing to Groton-Dunstable 66-63 and finishing their season at 14-8. The Rams graduated 6’5 center Casey Hippert, but they return a very good team that starts with star senior guard Corey Pryor. The Rams also return several contributors from last year, including: seniors Bryce Simonds and Thomas Murphy, junior Harrison Murphy, and sophomore point guard Jake Ryan. Northbridge looked good this summer, for what it’s worth, winning the Auburn Summer League championship by defeating Douglas, and should have a strong season ahead of them.
Nipmuc lost to Northbridge last year in the quarterfinals of the Division 2 tournament, but they are looking to build off of a 14-7 season. The Warriors will be led by senior guards Justin McCann and Kelley Rooney, both of whom were DVC all-stars. The DVC will be a tough race this year, as Whitinsville Christian, Sutton, and Douglas will all be very competitive challenges, but the Warriors will have some good tests in conference this year that they can learn from and use once the Clark Tournament and Division 2 tournament come around.
The Oxford Pirates are also looking to have a very good year this year, as they return impact seniors Nick Bolio, Decarlo Anderson, and Brendon Tremblay. Bolio and Anderson are both very tough to handle in the pant, while Tremblay plays inside and out with a good shooting stroke and ability to take defenders to the rim off the dribble. The Pirates lost guard Matt Bixby, who is now playing at Quinsigamond Community College, but have a solid core of seniors coming back after an 11-10 campaign in which they lost to St. Bernard’s in the opening round of the Division 2 tournament and lost to Littleton in the opening round of the Clark Tournament.

A dozen to remember:
Sergio Colon, senior(Clinton)
Mark Devries, sophomore(Uxbridge)
Corey Gomes, junior(Uxbridge)
John Henault, senior(St. Bernard’s)
Christian Horton, junior(Quabbin)
Nick Kobel, junior(Bartlett)
Justin McCann, junior(Nipmuc)
Corey Pryor, senior(Northbridge)
Kelly Rooney, senior(Nipmuc)
Ben Shaw, senior(Grafton)
Dan Tessier, senior(Uxbridge)
Brendon Tremblay, senior(Oxford)

Division 3 Central Mass Preview

Several of the favorites in Division 3 will once again be from the DVC. With Whitinsville Christian, Sutton, and Douglas all returning some talented squads, the DVC should be a fun race to follow this year. Count on at least one DVC team making the Division 3 finals this year. One of those teams could be Whitinsville Christian: the Crusaders again appear to be the most talented team in central Mass Division 3 after beating previously undefeated Maynard in the Central Mass. finals last year.

Colin Richey of Whitinsville Christian

 The Crusaders return seniors Hans Miersma, Taylor Bajema, Justin Tienharra, and sophomore Colin Richey. Miersma is an athletic 6’8 big man that plays with high intensity, puts loads of pressure on the offensive glass, can finish almost anything going to the rim, and has no problem stepping out and shooting from 17 feet.  He has the physical tools to be the best big man in central Mass. this year and could very well be looking at some scholarship offers by seasons end. Bajema, a 6’3 senior guard who is getting recruited by several Division 3 schools, is a sniper from outside with a great handle and feel for the game. He and 6’ guard Colin Richey will combine to be one of the top backcourts in Central Mass. this year. Richey showed promising signs last year and improved drastically on the AAU circuit this past summer and fall. His leadership and high level of play have put him on the radar of several colleges around New England, don’t be surprised when he establishes himself as one of the top point guards in Central Mass. this year as a sophomore. 6’5 forward Justin Tienharra will also be a big presence for WCS, the senior made the decision to transfer and spend a year in Whitinsville after previously attending Wachusett Regional. Tienharra gives Whitinsville even more size and athleticism on the low block; he also is a good mid-range shooter and shows comfort playing out on the wing. They ended last year at #3 in BeantownHoops central Mass. top 15. Expect the Crusaders, with the talent and experience coming back, to once again have a consistent presence as one of the top four or five teams in central Mass.

Mac Roy of Sutton

Per usual, Sutton will also be at the top of the Dual Valley Conference and Division 3 this year. Sutton is coming off an appearance in the Clark Tournament small school finals (lost to eventual central Mass. runner-up Maynard by 5) and an 18-point first round loss to Littleton, ending their season at 12-9. The Sammies return sharpshooting guards Derrick Bethune and Mac Roy, 6’4 forward Frank Brogie, and athletic guard Kayvon Lewis. Brogie is a very good rebounder, he has strong moves in the post, and can also step out and shoot the 3. Bethune and Roy can light it up from outside and Lewis has the ability to shine this year; he looked greatly improved this summer playing with the CMAC Hawks. He’s an attacker with a very solid handle with both hands while his passing and ability to see the floor make him a huge threat at all times.

Douglas didn’t make the Division 3 tournament last year, but they’re a great sleeper pick in Division 3 this year. They have some talented upperclassmen coming back that have a lot of varsity experience. 6’4 senior guard/forward Nate Pajka is the best overall athlete on the team, he’s tough to defend off the dribble going to the rim, has the physical make-up to be the Tigers’ best defensive stopper, and his catch-and-shoot ability from behind the arc is dangerous. Ryan Beaudette has grown to about 6’6, and he’s exactly the kind of big body Douglas will need this year when playing against Brogie and Miersma. 5’9 senior point guard Ryan Hill will prove to be one of the top point guards in Division 3 this year. We saw him at BeantownHoops’ Showcase at the Cape, and he’s the kind of player that doesn’t force offense, an excellent game manager.

Tahanto also returns some good talent this year, including senior forward Josh Igwenagu, who is one of the best returning talents in Division 3. The Stags have the talent to be one of the leading teams in Midland Wachusett D, senior Nate DiTomasso and sophomore forward Nate Hergert are very good inside-out players with long-range 3-point strokes. Despite the fact that the Stags didn’t make the Division 3 tournament last year, they should be considered a favorite to win Mid-Wach D and make a run in the tourney this year.

A dozen to remember:

Taylor Bajema, senior (Whitinsville Christian)

Markquell Berry, senior (Main South)

Frank Brogie, senior (Sutton)

Ryan Hill, senior (Douglas)

Josh Igwenagu, senior (Tahanto)

Kayvon Lewis, junior (Sutton)

Brock Macarelli, senior (Murdock)

Hans Miersma, senior (Whitinsville Christian)

Nate Pajka, senior (Douglas)

Mac Roy, junior (Sutton)

Colin Richey, sophomore (Whitinsville Christian)

Ian Strom, sophomore (Hopedale)

Division 1 Central Mass Preview: Expected Contenders

St. John’s won their third consecutive Central Mass. Division 1 last year, dismantling Worcester North, 58-35, in the finals at WPI, and continuing their run to the state title game to take on Central Catholic. St. John’s ultimately lost to CC by a point in the state finals, as they were just barely unable to overcome a Central Catholic team lead by near 7-footer Carson Desroisers, who will be playing at Wake Forest this season, and 6’7 Jimmy Zenevitch, who recently committed to playing college ball at Assumption College next year on a full scholarship.

The Pioneers graduated their all-time leading scorer in David White, their leading rebounder Chad LaBove, one of the best 3-point shooters in the state last year in Bennett Knowlton, and perimeter stopper Brian Perron. Despite their many losses, expect the Pioneers to once again contend for their fourth consecutive Central Mass. title.  St. John’s will return probably the best athlete in the area in senior Rich Rodgers, 6’5 junior Matt Palecki, 6’2 senior Ryan Kelley, 6’ point guard Matt Harrington, and a slew of talented young guards such as Junior Patrick Talentino and Sophomore Kenny Harrington.

It would be hard for many to argue that Worcester North had the most talented starting 5 in Central Mass. this past year, the only problem is that none of those starters are returning.  6’9 center  Cedric Kuakumensah is transferring to St. Andrew’s (RI), and the Polar Bears graduated every senior that got significant playing time last year, including their productive 7^th man Frankie Peterson, floor general Emmanuel Tarwoe, sharpshooter Quazay McClain, and one of the top scoring duos in the area this past year in Gaetano Iacovone and Markese Berry.  Look for North guard Kennedy Dennis to shine this year for North, as he is pretty much their only returning player with a significant amount of varsity minutes.

Despite losing seniors Jose Cruz and Colby Reese, count on Shrewsbury to be one of the top teams in Division 1 this year.  Reese will be playing this season at Castleton State, while Cruz will be doing a postgraduate year at Worcester Academy.  The Colonials will be returning one of the most talented trios in the area, including sharpshooting guard and leading returning scorer Ryan Stowe, 6’5 Wil Machalski, who has shown a ton of improvement over the summer-especially on the offensive side of the ball, and 6’8 center Matt Kneece, who has added a ton of strength since last season and will be a load to handle in the paint.  Expect Shrewsbury to be one of the top teams in Division 1 this year as they have a great base to build off of with three very talented returning players.

The Doherty Highlanders took a first round exit in the Division 1 tourney last year, as they got upset by a talented Marlboro squad led by Zach Auguste and Carlos de la Cruz.  Doherty graduated three very productive players: starting point guard Eddie Capstick, who will be playing at Marianapolis Prep this year, Yawin Smallwood, who will be at Uconn on a full football scholarship, and Curtis Hickson, who was an excellent athlete for Doherty on the basketball court as well as the gridiron.  Although they lost some excellent talent, they also return two of the best scorers in Central Mass, seniors Andre Santana and Joel Katana, as well as rising big man Andre Pluverge.  Joel made teams pay last year with his very efficient  mid-range and three-point jumpers, while Santana showed his high-flying ability as he brought the house down with a couple of dunks during Beantownhoops coverage of Doherty’s matchup against Tantasqua, which proved to be a rout in favor of the Highlanders.  Pluverge gave Doherty some great minutes off the bench behind Smallwood and Hickson, but will be looked at to step up this year in the paint for Doherty.

Marlboro’s Zach Auguste, who now stands at 6’10, will be playing prep ball at New Hampton School this fall, which is a great step for Zach, but a tough loss for a Marlboro Panther squad that returns one of the best point guards in the area, Carlos de la Cruz.  The 5’4 de la Cruz averaged nearly a double-double last year and can be counted on to be a menace to other teams when the ball is in his hands.

South High graduated Emmanuel Feraud, one of the top guards in the area this past year, but have extremely high expectations this year as they return a great core of talented players from this past years’ 13-9 squad.  The Colonels return their second leading scorer, explosive guard Hugh Daye, as well as Joe Brigham and Kevin Boakye, who will be a tough 1-2 punch in the post for South.  They came up just short of the Crompton Summer League Championship, falling in the title game to Doherty, but the Colonels look to be the most improved team in Division 1 and will without a doubt turn some heads this year.

Though St. Peter-Marian fell short of qualifying for the Division 1 tournament last year, expect them to make quite a run this year as they return juniors Steve Flynn, Tre Watson, and Matt Mobley.  All three proved to have a ton of potential last year as sophomores, and this particular group will be a force to be reckoned with over the next two years.  The Guardians will have some stiff competition this year, of course sharing a conference with an always-reloading St. John’s, a St. Bernard’s team whose best player, John Henault, might be the best scorer in Central Mass, and Holy Name, who will look to junior Tyler Delorey to lead the way for them; but it’s a sure shot that SPM will surprise a lot of people this year.

Ten to Remember-Here are ten names that will be well worth the price of admission this year…

Carlos de la Cruz (Marlboro)

Hugh Daye (South)

Tyler Delorey (Holy Name)

Kennedy Dennis (North)

Joel Katana (Doherty)

Matt Kneece (Shrewsbury)

Matt Mobley (St. Peter-Marian)

Matt Paleck i(St. John’s)

Rich Rodgers (St. John’s)

Andre Santana (Doherty)

 

Central Mass players shining at Fall Showcases

By Christian Bradley, Central Mass correspondent

As the winter season slowly inches near, there are a few Central Mass. players that are shining at fall showcases and have proven to be worth watching out for as December comes around:

Whitinsville Christian’s sophomore point guard Colin Richey continued his impressive “off-season” this past weekend as he continued to show-off his playmaking ability to scouts at Elite 75 and the Hoop Mountain Fall Classic. BeantownHoops has also seen Richey quite a bit the past few months, as he dominated the Showcase at the Cape and took away all-tournament first-team honors at the BeantownHoops Fall Shootout. “Colin is an assist machine and scores the ball very efficiently…he seems a step quicker than he was last spring and is consequently that much more of an effective playmaker,” said the New England Recruiting Report after witnessing Richey’s play last weekend.

Wachusett’s sophomore guard Jesse Maresca also took full advantage of the opportunity while at Hoop Mountain.  He wasn’t very well known at the end of last season, but a summer where he has greatly improved his outside stroke and playmaking ability will give Wachusett fans reason to be excited by the young talent they will have this coming season.

Shrewsbury’s senior center Matt Kneece was another player who BeantownHoops saw at the Showcase at the Cape, and he added to his impressive summer with a very strong performance at the Hoop Mountain Fall Classic. Matt has made a living off of dominating defenders on the low block and he has shown that he can use his tremendous strength to his advantage in a one-on-one post situation. He continued that consistent effort at Hoop Mountain: “The big from Shrewsbury showed a rapidly developing skill set and was great with his back to the basket,” said the NERR. Kneece has been impressive when it counts, and his recruitment is heating up thanks to a superb showing the past couple months.

Going One on One with St. Bernard’s guard John Henault

By Christian Bradley, Beantownhoops Central Mass Correspondent

Already a 1000 point-scorer, two time Central Mass Conference all-star, and twice an honoree of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette’s SuperTeam, Central Mass basketball fans will want to keep an eye on John this season. The 6’2, 175 pound senior guard is not only a student athlete of high character, but he is also a coveted college recruit thanks to his deadly jump shot, unmatchable work ethic on the defensive end of the floor, and a competitiveness and will to win that will be worth the price of admission once this season comes around.

Christian Bradley: So John, how'd the summer go for your AAU team and for you personally?

John Henault: My summer went really well. Playing with Bay State Magic was a lot of fun and I got a lot of good exposure. Personally, I thought I played well. I improved a lot on my game playing against top competition. Every tournament we went to we played against top players and that really helped me.

CB: You mentioned getting a lot of exposure. Who have you been getting interest from?

JH: So far I've gotten interest from St. Anselm, Stonehill, St. Michael's, Franklin Pierce and several division 3 schools.

CB:  Your recruitment looks pretty widespread so far. You've shown that you're one of the top scorers in the area, averaging around 20 a game the last two years. But what's one asset of your game that you think is either underrated or that you've worked a lot on this spring and summer?

JH: Being known as a scorer and playing zone at St.Bernard's, I don't think that people get to see my defensive game as much. During AAU we played straight man to man defense and while being in Orlando for the national tournament I think I showed that I can play defense against top players. I've really tried hard to work on my strength training and just being aggressive in general.

CB: How is St.Bernard’s basketball going to look this year?

JH: I feel that we should have a strong team this year. Last year we were pretty young. This year’s team consists mostly of seniors with the exception of a couple underclassmen. We have some solid players and I think that our experience will take us far.

CB: Your brother Tim (Worcester State) was also on some really good teams in high school with James Maloughney and Michael Mercier. How did seeing some really good teams like that right in front of you affect you as a player?

JH:I guess you could say that watching those teams motivated me. I always loved watching them play. All those teams either made it to the district championship or farther. Seeing them play at WPI or the Centrum gave me a drive to want to play there as well. I wanted to see myself playing there doing the things that they were doing. My dream has always been to win a state championship. Watching those teams make it that far really drove me to push myself to reach my potential so I could help my team as much as I could to reach that goal.

CB:  You’ve worked hard to make yourself one heck of a player, what was it like to be able to score your 1000th point last year and be able to celebrate that milestone with your friends, family, and teammates?

JH: Reaching my thousandth point was an incredible feeling. That has always been one of my individual goals since I was in middle school. My brother Tim, being a thousand point scorer as well, made it even better. My family, friends, and teammates couldn't have been more supportive. They were all so proud of what I had accomplished and there is no better feeling than that of having your loved ones being proud of you. To be able to celebrate with them made it ten times more special.

CB: Of course playing ball you give every game your best. But are there any teams in particular that you’re going to have circled on the schedule when the Monday after Thanksgiving comes around?

JH: I circle every team when the Monday after Thanksgiving comes around. I love to compete regardless of who it's against. I JUST WANT TO WIN.

Sutton's Mac Roy ready to explode this season

The junior from Sutton High School showed outstanding offensive prowess at Beantownhoops' Showcase at the Cape. He knocked down long jumpers from behind the arc all day and showed quickly that he might have had the best outside stroke of any player there. He’s put on a lot of muscle since his high school season ended and he also looks very explosive when driving to the rim off the dribble. Mac was one of the top shooters in central mass this past year as a sophomore and was an honorable mention DVC all-star. The 6’ guard is a very good college prospect right now and will look to lead his Sutton team, along with 1st team league all-stars Kayvon Lewis and Derrick Bethune, to a lengthy run in the Dual Valley Conference and Division 3 tournament this year

CMass Summer Developments

By Christian Bradley, Beantownhoops.com Central Mass correspondent

 First and foremost, congratulations to Zach Auguste from Marlborough High School, who got his first high-level D1 offer earlier this month from Boston College following BC’s prospect clinic. He's a 6'9 power forward with a superb skill-set and he's the 40th ranked power forward in the class of 2011 according to ESPN.com. Don’t count on him being ranked 40^th for long though, because Zach’s stock is rising as fast as any other player in the country. His defensive presence, rebounding, versatility, back-to-the-basket game, and his ability to shoot mid-range and 3-point jumpers has really impressed scouts. Zach will be transferring this upcoming school year from Marlborough to New Hampton School (NH). He will be repeating his junior year, therefore reclassifying him into the class of 2012. Zach also has offers from Holy Cross, UMass-Amherst, and Quinnipiac. According to Rivals.com, Zach has also generated a lot of interested from Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, Rice, and Syracuse. The story about Boston College’s scholarship offer is on ESPN.com, however it’s only available to ESPN insiders. But a story about the BC offer is also up on New England Recruiting Report. http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1494/BC-Prospect-Clinic-Event-Recap.php

6’9 junior forward Cedric Kuakumensah of Worcester North High will reportedly be transferring to St. Andrew’s School(RI) this fall. Cedric was one of the top big men in Central Mass the last two years and has constantly put his ability to rebound, defend the paint, and block shots on display. Cedric is without a doubt a Division 1 talent, as he was also at Boston College’s prospect clinic, and he will continue to receive more and more attention as his one-on-one offensive game develops. Cedric has shown a great ability during his time at North to score off of offensive rebounds and finishing passes he receives based off of dribble drives with short jumpers and lay-ups, but developing a better one-on-one offensive game on the post with back to the basket moves as well as finishing strong will put him on the radar of Division 1 schools across the country.

Former St. Peter-Marian point guard and Worcester native Naadir Tharpe, of Brewster Academy (NH), decommitted from Providence College last month. His reasoning behind decommitting was the fact that Providence assistant coach Pat Skerry took an assistant coaching job at the University of Pittsburgh. "Coach Skerry was the guy who was recruiting me the whole time, the one who I was close with.”So once he left I just wanted to look at my other recruitment and see what was out there," Tharpe said as he explained his decommitment to ESPN.com’s Adam Finkelstein. Tharpe reportedly has offers from Boston College, Seton Hall, Iowa State, Marquette, Rutgers, and Charlotte. Though Naadir told Alex Bozich of Insidethehall.com(a site that covers Indiana University basketball but is technically unrelated to the university) that he has spoken several times to staff from the Hoosiers this summer, he also confirmed that Indiana has yet to offer him a scholarship, despite the fact that he is one of only 2 or 3 2011 PG’s that they are heavily recruiting. In other words, don’t be surprised if Tharpe, one of the Top 100 players in the nation, gets another high level Division 1 offer coming from Indiana in the coming months. This is the link from the article about Naadir on Insidethehall.com, as well as video footage: http://www.insidethehall.com/2010/06/22/naadir-tharpe-confirms-iu-interest-keeping-options-open/

Rutland native and incoming senior Pat Ackerman from Worcester Academy is also receiving Division 1 looks. Pat is a 6’11 center with a soft touch on his mid-range jumper and a pretty good finisher going to the rim. He also excels at rebounding and blocking shots as he really makes his presence felt, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He’s getting a lot of attention from low to mid level D1 programs, mostly receiving questions from Division 1 coaches because of the fact that he lacks some speed and explosive athleticism. Despite this though, Pat could receive some higher level D1 attention if he shows he can produce and run the floor well going into his final year at Worcester Academy.

Former Westborough High School big man and current Northfield-Mt.Hermon(MA) incoming junior Evan Cummins has become one of the most followed big men in New England, especially over the past year. The 6’8 power-forward/center has gotten a ton of Division 1 buzz because of his stellar improvement during his time at Northfield-Mt.Hermon. Evan is an above average athlete, he runs the floor well, and often finishes above the rim, even in traffic. In addition to his athleticism and his defensive effort, Evan has a very good outside shot and, with good reason, doesn’t hesitate to shoot an open jumper from behind the 3-line. He also finishes very strong going to the rim and often draws contact while finishing down low with relative ease. He’s still growing and his game is still developing, don’t be surprised to see him receive some legit mid to high-level Division 1 buzz for the rest of his prep career.

According to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Central Mass Player of the Year David White will be playing basketball at Worcester Polytechnic Institute(MA), one of the top Division 3 programs in the Northeast, next year. The former St. John’s point guard had a glorious four-year career that included three Central Mass. Division 1 championships, a state title, twice a state runner-up, over 1000 career points, and he was also selected to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette Super Team three times (the Super Team is the Telegram’s appointment of the top player in Central Mass and the top 12 players besides the player of the year). Over the course of his high school career, David was 16-3 in the playoffs. “He’s tough as nails...people say: ‘how do you replace a David White?’ I say you don’t! He’s a great point guard and a great leader,” St. John’s coach Bob Foley said to me after the Pioneers heartbreaking loss in the state title game at the hands of Central Catholic. David’s teammate, 6’7 shot blocking, rebounding, and defensive post stopping big man Chad LaBove, will be headed to Division 3 Wesleyan in the fall.

Ryan Romich (2010) from Groton-Dunstable will be reclassified into the class of 2011 as he will be taking a post-grad year at Vermont Academy. Ryan is a 6’6 forward who is excellent at running the floor. Throughout his time at Groton-Dunstable he was known as one of the best finishers and most athletic players in the area. Romich and T&G Super Teamer Derek McCaffrey formed one of the toughest duos in Central Mass during their career, McCaffrey was also an All-American in soccer and he will be playing soccer at Boston University this fall. Ryan reportedly had offers from Niagra, Iona, and Colgate before deciding to prep for a year.“I had some options as far as college but I wanted to work on my game and kind of get to where I wanted to go in terms of the level I wanted to play at,” he told the New England Recruiting Report in late June. You can read the whole article by clicking the link below:  http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.com/news/article/1497/Romich-Prepping-in-Vermont.php

6'4 guard/forward Anthony Barry from Milford High School will be transferring to Brooks School (MA) next year and he'll be repeating his junior year, putting him in the 2012 class. He has strived off of his excellent ability as a slasher to drive hard to the rim, often with what appears to be relative ease. Anthony is a hard-working defensive player that has mostly been getting looks from lower-level Division 1 schools, but that could quickly change as he develops a more balanced offensive game that includes a consistent jumper from 15-feet and beyond, that will be a great addition to his excellent driving ability.

5'8 guard Jake Gubitose from Tantasqua will be playing college ball at Division 3 Clark University in Worcester next year. Jake averaged just under 20 points per game during his senior year and was also named a Telegram & Gazette Super-Teamer as one of the very best area players. Jake feasted on opposing defenses during his career with a very quick first step, a strong finishing ability going to the rim, and one of the best 3-point strokes in Central Mass this past year that kept his defenders in check. Also a pest on defense, Jake averaged around 5 steals per game this past season.

Whitinsville Christian guard/forward Andrew Dykstra will be headed to Calvin College (MI) in the fall to play ball for the Knights. Calvin is among the top tier of Division 3 schools, as they have averaged over 20 wins per season over the last decade. Dykstra was a T&G Super Team selection and he captained the WCS team his last two years, as the Crusaders won the Division 3 Central Mass title this past year, and were the Division 3 runners-up the year before. Andrew had perhaps the two best games of his career during the playoffs in his senior year, when he dropped 31 points on Littleton in the district semis and 29 as he carried his team in the state semis in a Double Overtime 78-76 loss to New Leadership of Springfield. Andrew’s fellow junior and senior captain Kurt Steiner will be headed to Worcester State in the fall and he will be playing ball for the Lancers. Kurt is a tough defensive stopper, but he also has an excellent 3-point shot and pretty good driving ability that should help him make in impact for the Lancers.

One of the best shooters in Central Mass during his career, Shrewsbury High School guard Colby Reesewill be playing at Castleton State next year. Reese was a 1000-point career scorer and was able to form quite a duo with his classmate Jose Cruz. Cruz School will be going to Worcester Academy for a post-grad year. The 6’7 Cruz has a versatile offensive game as he could be seen dribbling the ball up the floor just as often as catching the ball in the high post during his four years at Shrewsbury.  Jose was also one of the most athletic players in Central Mass this past year and was unstoppable driving to his favored left-hand and finishing with a strong lay-up or an explosive dunk. He will be joined at Worcester Academy next year by 6’6 post-grad forward Dave Mack, from the Bancroft School in Worcester. Dave is a strong post presence who is an excellent on-ball defender in the post and he also has a pretty good offensive game down low, tending to finish off of offensive rebounds, back to the basket moves, and feeds from driving guards.

6’4 point guard Eddie Capstick, who just finished off his career at Doherty, will be doing a post-grad year at Marianapolis Prep next year. The only way to describe Eddie is that he’s a playmaker, just a flat out smart basketball player. Though not overly athletic, he was able to lead the Highlanders’ fast break and often set up playmakers Yawin Smallwood and Andre Santana for lay-ups and dunks at the other end. He always seems to be in control: he’s never out of control when he drives to the rim, doesn’t force or rush his excellent 3-point jumper, doesn’t turn the ball over, and he has no problem pulling the ball out on the fast break if he feels executing a play is a better choice than running. I would say Eddie’s one weak point is his on-ball defense out on the perimeter. He’s long and has good size for a point guard, but he doesn’t have a lot of acceleration and isn’t very laterally quick, so when he is defending on-ball and doesn’t stay low, he gets beat easily-but it’s something that a year at prep school will definitely help him out with. The 6’4 Smallwood will be attending Uconn in the fall on a full football scholarship, as he was one of the most coveted football recruits in New England this past year. Santana was a T&G Super Teamer in both basketball and spring track this past year, as he led Doherty’s basketball team with a   16-5 record as well as winning the gold medal in the high jump at this year’s district track meet. He will again be one of the top area basketball players this upcoming season, his senior year. You’ll be sure to see his name again later in the summer when BeantownHoops.com will publish info on some of the top returning Central Mass players.

0. St. John’s (9-3)-Matt Harrington (17 points) and Richard Rodgers(21 points) combined to outscore #14 Wachusett as the Pioneers rolled over Wachusett by a final score of 64-33. Rodgers 22’ second half points led St. John’s over #3 St. Bernard’s.
0. Shrewsbury (5-3)- The Colonials lost to #10 North Middlesex in their only game of the week, Wil Michalski was the high scorer with 18 points.
0. St. Bernard’s (6-2)-John Henault scored 29 points, but the Bernardians couldn’t quite get past #7 Holy Name, losing 66-65. Henault scored 25 against #1 St. John’s in Shrewsbury, but got held to just 7 points in the second half in a losing effort.
0. Whitinsville Christian (8-1) –Sophomore Colin Richey scored 17 points as the Crusaders beat Nipmuc with ease, 82-39. Senior big men Hans Miersma and Justin Tienharra each scored eight points as WCS routed North Brookfield at home, 58-32. The Crusaders have won their first three conference games by an average of about 36 points.
0. Doherty (6-1)-The Highlanders defeated #15 St. Peter-Marian behind 22 points from senior forward Andre Santana.
0. Fitchburg (5-3)-Stephfon Teague and Abi Akanni each dropped 14 as Fitchburg rolled over Algonquin, 58-35. Teague’s 23 points led the Red Raiders over conference foe #10 North Middlesex, 86-57.
0. Holy Name (7-3) –The Naps got a very good win in a close game against #3 St. Bernard’s, Tyler Delorey scored 28 points. Delorey had 18 points for Holy Name, as they got their second win of the week over a ranked opponent, beating #8 South by a point.
0. South (4-4)- Hugh Daye led the way with 17 points for South as they destroyed North, 80-33. Daye’s 21 points wasn’t quite enough for the Colonels, losing 62-61 to #7 Holy Name.
0. Tantasqua (10-0) -Alex Lucas had 21 points for the Warriors in their 19 point win over Shepherd Hill. Jaylen Dottin scored 20 points in a 62-54 win over Millbury.
0. North Middlesex (7-2)The Patriots had a great showing against #2 Shrewsbury, winning 65-63 behind 16 points from Kyle McDermott. McDermott scored 14 points in a losing effort against #6 Fitchburg.
0. Marlborough (7-2)-The Panthers got impressive performances from senior Carlos de la Cruz(18 points) and Mike Tirpak(21 points) in a win over conference foe Hudson. De La Cruz also had 18 in a 55-34 win over Westborough.
0. Groton-Dunstable (7-1)-Junior Kyle Romich scored 22 points in a win over Westborough. Romich’s 18 points led the Crusaders in a 12 points win over #13 Quabbin.
0. Quabbin (5-3)-Christian Horton and Billy Robinson have been giving opponents a lot of trouble, and they showed it once again against Nashoba, as they combined for 40 points. Horton scored 20 against #12 Groton-Dunstable, but lost 69-57.
0. Wachusett (6-4)-Wachusett had no scorers in double figures in their loss to #1 St. John’s. The Mountaineers got 22 points from senior guard Ben Pierce and 15 from their promising sophomore Jesse Maresca, beating Milford 75-56. Junior Tim Sheridan scored 18 points in an 11 point win over Algonquin.
0. St. Peter-Marian (3-4)- Tyler O’Neil scored scored 15 while junior Tre Watson had 13 in a losing effort against #5 Doherty, 72-64.