By Herald staff
Monday, April 11, 2011 / http://www.bostonherald.com
NICOLE BERESFORD
MARSHFIELD
The 6-foot senior small forward leaves as the most decorated player in school history. The all-time leading scorer with 1,804 points, Beresford averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds per game in leading the Rams to the Atlantic Coast League title and a 19-5 record. A member of the National Honor Society, Beresford will play her college basketball at Dartmouth.
NICOLE BOUDREAU
ANDOVER
The Mass. Gatorade Player of the Year, the 5-foot-9 shooting guard helped lead the Golden Warriors to their second straight Division 1 state title. Boudreau averaged 23.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 3.4 assists per game, sinking 102 3-pointers. For her career, Boudreau has 1,585 points and 278 3-point baskets. She has verbally committed to Boston College in the fall of 2012.
BLAKE DIETRICK
WELLESLEY
A standout two-sport athlete, the 5-foot-10 senior point guard earned Bay State Conference MVP honors after averaging 20 points, nine rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.5 steals per game. She leaves as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,480 points. A member of the National Honor Society and a two-time All-American lacrosse player, Dietrick will play hoops at Princeton.
NATALIE GOMEZ-MARTINEZ
ANDOVER
A three-time Dream Team selection, the 5-foot-7 senior point guard poured in 13.5 points, dished out five assists and added four rebounds and four steals per game for the two-time Division 1 state champions. The MVP of the Spartan Classic, Gomez-Martinez ended her career with 1,412 points. She will attend Marist College on a basketball scholarship.
BRENNA GONSALVES
COYLE-CASSIDY
A three-time Eastern Athletic Conference All-Star, the 5-foot-10 senior guard averaged 19.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in guiding the Warriors to the Division 3 South sectional title. A member of the National Honor Society, Gonsalves concluded her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,615 points. She accepted a basketball scholarship to Adelphi.
ELIZABETH BELANGER
ACTON-BOXBORO
A 5-foot-10 junior, Belanger averaged 20.5 points per game in leading her team to the Division 1 North final. She eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for her career, finishing the season with 1,081. A two-time Dual County League All-Star, Belanger earned MVP honors for the league this winter. An honor roll student, Belanger also plays volleyball.
SOPHIE BIKOFSKY
NEWTON SOUTH
A 5-foot-11 shooting guard, this senior earned Dual County League co-MVP honors for the league-champion Lions. Bikofsky averaged 18.5 points, seven rebounds and four 3-pointers per game, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for her career in the process. A four-time DCL All-Star, Bikofsky led the Lions to a 21-2 record and a spot in the Division 1 South final. She will attend Brown.
MOLLY BROWN
DARTMOUTH
The leader of the back-to-back Old Colony League champions, this senior averaged 22.7 points and eight rebounds per game to go along with 82 steals, 86 assists and 36 blocks this season. For her career, the 5-foot-9 senior totaled 1,204 points (17.4 average), 419 rebounds (six per game), 249 steals and 191 assists. An all-star volleyball player and a National Honor Society student, she will attend Bates.
KENDALL BURTON
NEWTON SOUTH
The co-MVP of the Dual County League and three-time league all-star averaged 15.5 points and six rebounds for the Lions to combine with Sophie Bikofsky to form one of the best backcourts in the area. The senior eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career and helped lead the Lions to the Division 1 South final this year. The 5-foot-7 shooting guard will continue her career at Villanova.
HANNAH CAIN
GLOUCESTER
A four-year mainstay in the Gloucester backcourt, this 5-foot-6 point guard scored her 1,000th point this season, averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and four steals per game. A two-year captain and four-year Northeastern Conference All-Star, Cain led Gloucester to four straight tournament appearances and a trip to the Division 2 North final this winter. Cain plans to attend Brandeis in the fall.
TORI FAIETA
ST. MARY’S
A 6-foot-1 senior center for the Division 4 state champions, Faieta averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds per game. The all-time leading scorer and rebounder in program history, Faieta earned co-MVP honors in the league and her fourth all-league honor. Also a two-time Spartan Classic MVP, Faieta competes on the Spartans’ volleyball team in the fall. The Lynn native will attend Stonehill in the fall.
KELSEY GARRITY
SOMERVILLE
A 5-foot-5 senior point guard, she started three years for the Highlanders and earned Greater Boston League All-Star status for each one, leading the league in scoring twice. This season, Garrity averaged 18.3 points per game on her way to 1,055 for her career, the third female in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. Garrity will attend UMass-Dartmouth.
OLIVIA HEALY
READING
The 5-foot-10 sophomore averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and four steals per game in her second year starting for the Rockets, who won the Middlesex League, went 21-2 and reached the Division 2 North semifinals. Healy earned league MVP honors and is on pace (with 709 points) to surpass the 1,000 barrier next season. Healy is also an all-league volleyball performer.
NICOLE HEAVERN
HULL
This 5-foot-10 senior forward powered Hull’s run to a Division 4 state title, averaging 19 points and 13 rebounds per game. Heavern put up 23 double-doubles for the season and ended her career with 1,157 points. Also a South Shore League All-Star in lacrosse, Heavern was the soccer team’s captain in the fall and holds a 3.8 GPA in the classroom.
MORGAN JENKINS
REVERE
The leader of a Revere team that ran the table in the regular season, this 5-foot-7 senior averaged 18.2 points and 19 rebounds on her way to Northeastern Conference MVP honors. The four-time NEC All-Star pulled off the rare feat of eclipsing both the 1,000-point and rebound barrier, with more than 1,300 points and 1,031 rebounds. She will continue her career at St. Michael’s.
TIANNA JOHNSON
NEW MISSION
This 5-foot-5 junior stood out as one of the top point guards in the city and Eastern Mass., leading the Titans to a spot in the Division 4 state championship game for the first time since 2007. A Boston City League All-Star, the Dorchester native finished the season averaging 22.4 points per game. Johnson plans on continuing her career at the next level.
KELLIE MACDONALD
DANVERS
A two-time Northeastern Conference Small Division MVP, the senior captain led the Falcons to a 16-6 record and second consecutive division title. Macdonald averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per contest this season and scored her 1,000th point. Also an All-Scholastic soccer player, Macdonald is a National Honor Society member and will play basketball at Williams.
CASEY McLAUGHLIN
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The rest of the Merrimack Valley Conference is not looking forward to having to face this 6-foot sophomore forward for another two years after she averaged 15.8 points and eight rebounds per game, shooting 54.2 percent from the field. An MVC All-Conference selection and Comcast Tournament MVP, McLaughlin led Central to a 21-2 record.
AMY PELLETIER
BISHOP FENWICK
This 5-foot-6 Beverly native averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists and 3.9 steals per game from her point guard position this season, earning her second-straight Catholic Central League All-Star nod. She also hit 64 3-pointers at a 43.9 percent clip; for her career, Pelletier scored 1,129 points with 168 trifectas. A National Honor Society member with a 4.25 GPA, Pelletier will attend Stonehill on a full scholarship.
ALYSSA ROACH
NEW BEDFORD
Led by this 5-foot-8 point guard, the Whalers ran the table in the regular season and won the Division 1 South title. The senior averaged 17.7 points per game and finished her career with 1,284 points, good for second in program history. Also a standout soccer player, this National Honor Society member will attend American International College on a full basketball scholarship.
EMMA ROBERSON
ARLINGTON CATHOLIC
The leader of the Division 2 state champion Cougars, this 5-foot-8 junior guard averaged 18 points and seven rebounds per game to earn Catholic Central League All-Star status for the second year in a row. Roberson also earned all-tournament honors for both the Masconomet and Comcast tournaments. A league all-star in soccer, Roberson is a member of the Spanish and National honor societies student.
LEXI SELLS
BISHOP FEEHAN
This 5-foot-9 junior filled the stat sheet for the Eastern Athletic Conference co-champion Shamrocks, averaging 19.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and four steals per game. An EAC All-Star, Sells powered the Shamrocks to a 16-7 record and a spot in the Division 2 South sectional semifinals. A National Honor Society student, Sells is also an EAC All-Star in volleyball.
BROOKE STEWART
MASCONOMET
A 6-foot junior guard, Stewart was the Cape Ann League Player of the Year; she averaged 20.2 points and seven rebounds per game to go along with 62 assists. Stewart is well on her way to scoring 1,000 career points with 880 heading into next season to go along with 395 rebounds and 118 steals. A CAL All-Star two years in a row, Stewart also plays field hockey for the Chieftains.
ALEXIS UDOJI
CARDINAL SPELLMAN
Spellman’s run to the Division 3 South semifinals was due largely to the efforts of this 6-foot-3 senior center from Randolph. Udoji was the Catholic Central League Large Division MVP for the league co-champion Cardinals. Udoji, who was also a league all-star last winter, plays her AAU basketball with the Bay State Gators and will attend the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore next fall.
LIZ WLUKA
SHARON
This 6-foot senior captain produced a double-double from her center position in 20 of 22 games, finishing with an average of 19 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks per game in leading the Eagles to a spot in the Division 2 South quarterfinals. The Hockomock League MVP and two-time league all-star is also the Eagles’ captain in soccer and lacrosse, and will attend Syracuse in the fall.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/general/view.bg?articleid=1329796
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Boston Herald Boys Basketball All-Scholastics
Sunday, April 10, 2011 / http://www.bostonherald.com
JOE BRAMANTI
ANDOVER
The senior swingman averaged 23 points a game for the Golden Warriors. He was named the MVP of both the Christmas Tournament as well as the Merrimack Valley Conference. Bramanti surpassed the 1,000-point mark late in the season, finishing with 1,084 points. An honor roll student, Bramanti is looking to attend prep school next year.
PAT CONNAUGHTON
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-5 senior guard averaged 22.5 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists a game in leading the Eagles to their first Division 1 state boys basketball title. In addition to basketball, Connaughton is one of the top pitching prospects in the area and will play both sports at Notre Dame in the fall.
MARCO COPPOLA
WATERTOWN
The MVP of the Middlesex League, the 6-foot-2 senior point guard averaged 25.2 points a game in leading the Raiders to the Division 3 state finals. A part of three Division 3 North sectional title teams, Coppola ended his career with 1,461 points. He recently committed to play college basketball at WPI.
JAKE LAYMAN
KING PHILIP
The 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 24.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 2.3 assists a game in leading the Warriors to the Division 2 South sectional finals. A two-time Hockomock League All-Star and league MVP, Laymam surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season and his 1,196 career points is the most for any boy in school history. In the offseason, Layman competes for the BABC.
JIMMY ZENEVITCH
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The 6-foot-8 senior forward was a nightly double-double for the Raiders, averaging 21.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and four assists a game as the Raiders reached the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. Zenevitch was part of two state championship teams, concluding his career with 1,084 points. A volleyball standout, Zenevitch will attend Assumption on a basketball scholarship.
JAYLEN ALICEA
LAWRENCE
One of the quickest guards in the state, Alicea sparked the Lancers’ deep run through the Division 1 North tournament by averaging 30 points over five postseason games. A two-time MVC All-Conference performer and Greater Lawrence All-Tournament Team member this season, the 5-foot-10 senior point guard eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career and averaged 19 points per game this season.
JEFF AMAZAN
EAST BOSTON
This 6-foot-3 shooting guard powered the Jets to a Boston City League championship appearance with 22.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds. One of the area’s top outside shooters, Amazan buried 43.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. A two-year starter, Amazan averaged 15.7 points as a junior, hitting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, while pulling down 3.1 boards. He will attend the Taft School.
TRAVONNE BERRY-ROGERS
LYNN ENGLISH
Berry-Rogers produced in bunches for the Bulldogs, as the 6-foot-1 swingman averaged 25 points, six assists and eight rebounds to lead his team to a 21-3 record and a spot in the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. The two-time Northeastern Conference All-Star and honor roll student is considering Merrimack, Western Connecticut State, Johnson & Wales and Anna Maria.
MARK CORNELIUS
WESTFORD
A standout wide receiver in the fall, Cornelius proved to be just as dangerous as a forward in the winter, as he earned MVP honors in an ultra-competitive season in the Dual County League. A two-time DCL All-Star in both football and basketball, this 6-foot-3 senior poured in 21 points per game and grabbed 13 rebounds. An honor roll student, Cornelius is looking at both New Hampshire and Bentley.
DARIUS DAVIS
NEW MISSION
A key piece of the Titans’ Division 2 state championship squad, Davis helped control the tempo on offense from his point guard position and always seemed to hit a jumper when his team needed it. A Boston City League All-Star, the 6-foot-3 senior finished with 15 points and eight rebounds per game on a team that had a balanced scoring sheet on a nightly basis. Davis will attend Bentley University.
JOEY GLYNN
CARDINAL SPELLMAN
A junior from Abington, Glynn filled the stat sheet with 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, four assists and two steals per game as the Cardinals won the Division 3 South sectional title. The 6-foot-5 forward won the Catholic Central League’s MVP award this winter after making the all-star team a year ago. Glynn, who also plays football for Spellman, is a National Honor Society student.
BRYAN HURLEY
BC HIGH
A senior from Watertown, Hurley averaged 18 points, five assists and four steals as he earned Catholic Conference All-Star status and led the Eagles to a 14-9 record and a spot in the Division 1 South semifinals this season. For his career, Hurley averaged 15 points and six assists. A Catholic Conference All-Star in soccer and an honors student, Hurley will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin.
ROBERT JONES
COHASSET
This 5-foot-8 point guard earned South Shore League MVP honors and led the Skippers to both a league title and a Division 4 South sectional crown. A three-time league all-star, Jones averaged 18 points and eight assists to go along with a tenacious attitude on the defensive end. A 1,000- point scorer and two-time captain, Jones is the school’s all-time assist leader and will attend Framingham State.
MICHAEL LOFTON
MANSFIELD
The leader of a Hornets team that won the program’s first Division 1 South title this season, this senior did a little bit of everything, averaging 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals per game. A truly unselfish player, the 6-foot-5 forward also handled point guard duties and made the assist on his team’s game-winning basket in its South sectional final victory.
SAM LONGWELL
ACTON-BOXBORO
The 6-foot-3 senior averaged 17.5 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds. Longwell, who also led the Colonials in assists, was a two-time Dual County League All-Star for an A-B squad that earned back- to-back league titles and finished with a 20-4 record this winter. An honor roll student, Longwell is looking to play at the Division 2 or 3 level next winter.
AKOSA MADUEGBUNAM
CHARLESTOWN
The 6-foot-3 junior guard guided the Townies to the Boston City League title with an MVP performance in that tournament and led Charlestown to the Division 1 North quarterfinals. An athletic and skilled perimeter player, Maduegbunam averaged 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as he made the league all-star team for the second year in a row.
SAMIR McDANIELS
NEW MISSION
This 6-foot-4 guard was one of the more valuable players in the city, as the Titans improved drastically when McDaniels returned from an early injury. A Boston City League All-Star, McDaniels surpassed the 1,000-point barrier as a junior and averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists this season. A senior, McDaniels will continue his playing career at the University of New Haven.
BARRETT MURPHY
MARSHFIELD
One of the premier scorers in the area, this 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 24 points, six rebounds and six assists for the 16-5 Rams, who went unbeaten in Atlantic Coast League play. A three-time league all-star, Murphy averaged 14 points as a sophomore and 17.5 as a junior. A National Honor Society student, Murphy is looking at NESCAC schools but is undecided on his college destination.
JOSEPH MUSSACHIA
MANCHESTER ESSEX
The 6-foot-5 senior won Cape Ann League MVP honors in his third straight all-league season for the Hornets, as he averaged 24.2 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Mussachia owns the school career scoring record with over 1,700 points and led his team to the Cape Ann Small Division title this winter. A National Honor Society student, Mussachia will continue his career at Amherst College.
ANDREW SCOCCA
MELROSE
A 6-foot-8 force in the paint, the four-year varsity player finished his senior season averaging 20 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. A Middlesex League All-Star, Scocca missed his junior season to injury but finished his career with 650 points, 750 rebounds and 200 blocks. Also a baseball and football player, Scocca is undecided on his college plans.
MICKEL SIMPSON
WOBURN
A standout both on the court and off, this senior guard averaged 19.4 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks for the 18-7 Tanners, who won the Division 2 North title his junior year. The four-year letterman is a 1,000-point scorer and among the school’s top five for his career. A high honors student and class representative, Simpson will attend Trinity College in the fall.
JOHN SWORDS
LINCOLN-SUDBURY
One of the more imposing presences in the area, the 7-foot center averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for the Warriors, who reached the Division 1 North quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion St. John’s Prep. The senior is a two-time Dual County League All-Star and the co-MVP for this season. Swords will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin College.
JACQUIL TAYLOR
CAMBRIDGE
Only a sophomore, the 6-foot-8 center has already made quite an impression on the Eastern Mass. basketball scene. Taylor averaged 13.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.8 blocks to earn the Greater Boston League MVP award. A two-time GBL All-Star, Taylor averaged nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as a freshman. An honor roll student, Taylor plays for the Prodigy AAU program.
NOAH VONLEH
HAVERHILL
At 6-foot-7, the sophomore can play either guard or forward and do both at a very high level, as the rest of the Merrimack Valley Conference learned this season. Vonleh averaged 26 points and 22 rebounds for the Hillies. The highly skilled Vonleh’s versatility has several national recruiting publications projecting him as a high-major Division 1 prospect and one of the tops in his class.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/general/view.bg?articleid=1329565
JOE BRAMANTI
ANDOVER
The senior swingman averaged 23 points a game for the Golden Warriors. He was named the MVP of both the Christmas Tournament as well as the Merrimack Valley Conference. Bramanti surpassed the 1,000-point mark late in the season, finishing with 1,084 points. An honor roll student, Bramanti is looking to attend prep school next year.
PAT CONNAUGHTON
ST. JOHN’S PREP
The Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-5 senior guard averaged 22.5 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists a game in leading the Eagles to their first Division 1 state boys basketball title. In addition to basketball, Connaughton is one of the top pitching prospects in the area and will play both sports at Notre Dame in the fall.
MARCO COPPOLA
WATERTOWN
The MVP of the Middlesex League, the 6-foot-2 senior point guard averaged 25.2 points a game in leading the Raiders to the Division 3 state finals. A part of three Division 3 North sectional title teams, Coppola ended his career with 1,461 points. He recently committed to play college basketball at WPI.
JAKE LAYMAN
KING PHILIP
The 6-foot-8 swingman averaged 24.6 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.6 blocks and 2.3 assists a game in leading the Warriors to the Division 2 South sectional finals. A two-time Hockomock League All-Star and league MVP, Laymam surpassed the 1,000-point mark earlier this season and his 1,196 career points is the most for any boy in school history. In the offseason, Layman competes for the BABC.
JIMMY ZENEVITCH
CENTRAL CATHOLIC
The 6-foot-8 senior forward was a nightly double-double for the Raiders, averaging 21.4 points, 11.5 rebounds and four assists a game as the Raiders reached the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. Zenevitch was part of two state championship teams, concluding his career with 1,084 points. A volleyball standout, Zenevitch will attend Assumption on a basketball scholarship.
JAYLEN ALICEA
LAWRENCE
One of the quickest guards in the state, Alicea sparked the Lancers’ deep run through the Division 1 North tournament by averaging 30 points over five postseason games. A two-time MVC All-Conference performer and Greater Lawrence All-Tournament Team member this season, the 5-foot-10 senior point guard eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career and averaged 19 points per game this season.
JEFF AMAZAN
EAST BOSTON
This 6-foot-3 shooting guard powered the Jets to a Boston City League championship appearance with 22.1 points per game and 5.2 rebounds. One of the area’s top outside shooters, Amazan buried 43.7 percent of his 3-point attempts. A two-year starter, Amazan averaged 15.7 points as a junior, hitting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc, while pulling down 3.1 boards. He will attend the Taft School.
TRAVONNE BERRY-ROGERS
LYNN ENGLISH
Berry-Rogers produced in bunches for the Bulldogs, as the 6-foot-1 swingman averaged 25 points, six assists and eight rebounds to lead his team to a 21-3 record and a spot in the Division 1 North sectional semifinals. The two-time Northeastern Conference All-Star and honor roll student is considering Merrimack, Western Connecticut State, Johnson & Wales and Anna Maria.
MARK CORNELIUS
WESTFORD
A standout wide receiver in the fall, Cornelius proved to be just as dangerous as a forward in the winter, as he earned MVP honors in an ultra-competitive season in the Dual County League. A two-time DCL All-Star in both football and basketball, this 6-foot-3 senior poured in 21 points per game and grabbed 13 rebounds. An honor roll student, Cornelius is looking at both New Hampshire and Bentley.
DARIUS DAVIS
NEW MISSION
A key piece of the Titans’ Division 2 state championship squad, Davis helped control the tempo on offense from his point guard position and always seemed to hit a jumper when his team needed it. A Boston City League All-Star, the 6-foot-3 senior finished with 15 points and eight rebounds per game on a team that had a balanced scoring sheet on a nightly basis. Davis will attend Bentley University.
JOEY GLYNN
CARDINAL SPELLMAN
A junior from Abington, Glynn filled the stat sheet with 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, four assists and two steals per game as the Cardinals won the Division 3 South sectional title. The 6-foot-5 forward won the Catholic Central League’s MVP award this winter after making the all-star team a year ago. Glynn, who also plays football for Spellman, is a National Honor Society student.
BRYAN HURLEY
BC HIGH
A senior from Watertown, Hurley averaged 18 points, five assists and four steals as he earned Catholic Conference All-Star status and led the Eagles to a 14-9 record and a spot in the Division 1 South semifinals this season. For his career, Hurley averaged 15 points and six assists. A Catholic Conference All-Star in soccer and an honors student, Hurley will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin.
ROBERT JONES
COHASSET
This 5-foot-8 point guard earned South Shore League MVP honors and led the Skippers to both a league title and a Division 4 South sectional crown. A three-time league all-star, Jones averaged 18 points and eight assists to go along with a tenacious attitude on the defensive end. A 1,000- point scorer and two-time captain, Jones is the school’s all-time assist leader and will attend Framingham State.
MICHAEL LOFTON
MANSFIELD
The leader of a Hornets team that won the program’s first Division 1 South title this season, this senior did a little bit of everything, averaging 13.5 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and three steals per game. A truly unselfish player, the 6-foot-5 forward also handled point guard duties and made the assist on his team’s game-winning basket in its South sectional final victory.
SAM LONGWELL
ACTON-BOXBORO
The 6-foot-3 senior averaged 17.5 points per game to go along with 5.5 rebounds. Longwell, who also led the Colonials in assists, was a two-time Dual County League All-Star for an A-B squad that earned back- to-back league titles and finished with a 20-4 record this winter. An honor roll student, Longwell is looking to play at the Division 2 or 3 level next winter.
AKOSA MADUEGBUNAM
CHARLESTOWN
The 6-foot-3 junior guard guided the Townies to the Boston City League title with an MVP performance in that tournament and led Charlestown to the Division 1 North quarterfinals. An athletic and skilled perimeter player, Maduegbunam averaged 24 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as he made the league all-star team for the second year in a row.
SAMIR McDANIELS
NEW MISSION
This 6-foot-4 guard was one of the more valuable players in the city, as the Titans improved drastically when McDaniels returned from an early injury. A Boston City League All-Star, McDaniels surpassed the 1,000-point barrier as a junior and averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists this season. A senior, McDaniels will continue his playing career at the University of New Haven.
BARRETT MURPHY
MARSHFIELD
One of the premier scorers in the area, this 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 24 points, six rebounds and six assists for the 16-5 Rams, who went unbeaten in Atlantic Coast League play. A three-time league all-star, Murphy averaged 14 points as a sophomore and 17.5 as a junior. A National Honor Society student, Murphy is looking at NESCAC schools but is undecided on his college destination.
JOSEPH MUSSACHIA
MANCHESTER ESSEX
The 6-foot-5 senior won Cape Ann League MVP honors in his third straight all-league season for the Hornets, as he averaged 24.2 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Mussachia owns the school career scoring record with over 1,700 points and led his team to the Cape Ann Small Division title this winter. A National Honor Society student, Mussachia will continue his career at Amherst College.
ANDREW SCOCCA
MELROSE
A 6-foot-8 force in the paint, the four-year varsity player finished his senior season averaging 20 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and three assists. A Middlesex League All-Star, Scocca missed his junior season to injury but finished his career with 650 points, 750 rebounds and 200 blocks. Also a baseball and football player, Scocca is undecided on his college plans.
MICKEL SIMPSON
WOBURN
A standout both on the court and off, this senior guard averaged 19.4 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks for the 18-7 Tanners, who won the Division 2 North title his junior year. The four-year letterman is a 1,000-point scorer and among the school’s top five for his career. A high honors student and class representative, Simpson will attend Trinity College in the fall.
JOHN SWORDS
LINCOLN-SUDBURY
One of the more imposing presences in the area, the 7-foot center averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks for the Warriors, who reached the Division 1 North quarterfinals before falling to eventual state champion St. John’s Prep. The senior is a two-time Dual County League All-Star and the co-MVP for this season. Swords will continue his basketball career at Bowdoin College.
JACQUIL TAYLOR
CAMBRIDGE
Only a sophomore, the 6-foot-8 center has already made quite an impression on the Eastern Mass. basketball scene. Taylor averaged 13.5 points, 11.4 rebounds and 4.8 blocks to earn the Greater Boston League MVP award. A two-time GBL All-Star, Taylor averaged nine points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as a freshman. An honor roll student, Taylor plays for the Prodigy AAU program.
NOAH VONLEH
HAVERHILL
At 6-foot-7, the sophomore can play either guard or forward and do both at a very high level, as the rest of the Merrimack Valley Conference learned this season. Vonleh averaged 26 points and 22 rebounds for the Hillies. The highly skilled Vonleh’s versatility has several national recruiting publications projecting him as a high-major Division 1 prospect and one of the tops in his class.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/general/view.bg?articleid=1329565
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
New Mission top final boys high school basketball poll
MIAA TOP 25
1. New Mission
2. St. John’s Prep
3. Charlestown
4. Central Catholic
5. Cambridge
6. Lawrence
7. Lynn English
8. Newton North
9. Lincoln-Sudbury
10. Mansfield
11. New Bedford
12. Hopkinton
13. Woburn
14. King Philip
15. Brighton
16. North Andover
17. Falmouth
18. Oliver Ames
19. Wellesley
20. Duxbury
21. Watertown
22. Cardinal Spellman
23. Winthrop
24. Bishop Feehan
25. Cathedral
-KR
1. New Mission
2. St. John’s Prep
3. Charlestown
4. Central Catholic
5. Cambridge
6. Lawrence
7. Lynn English
8. Newton North
9. Lincoln-Sudbury
10. Mansfield
11. New Bedford
12. Hopkinton
13. Woburn
14. King Philip
15. Brighton
16. North Andover
17. Falmouth
18. Oliver Ames
19. Wellesley
20. Duxbury
21. Watertown
22. Cardinal Spellman
23. Winthrop
24. Bishop Feehan
25. Cathedral
-KR
UCONN tops final NCAA poll of season
NCAA TOP 25
1 UCONN
2 Kentucky
3 Kansas
4 Duke
5 Ohio State
6 VCU
7 North Carolina
8 Butler
9 Arizona
10 Florida
11 Pittsburgh
12 San Diego State
13 Louisville
14 Notre Dame
15 Texas
16 BYU
17 Purdue
18 Syracuse
19 Florida State
20 Marquette
21 Richmond
22 Missouri
23 Baylor
24 Kansas State
25 Memphis
-KR
1 UCONN
2 Kentucky
3 Kansas
4 Duke
5 Ohio State
6 VCU
7 North Carolina
8 Butler
9 Arizona
10 Florida
11 Pittsburgh
12 San Diego State
13 Louisville
14 Notre Dame
15 Texas
16 BYU
17 Purdue
18 Syracuse
19 Florida State
20 Marquette
21 Richmond
22 Missouri
23 Baylor
24 Kansas State
25 Memphis
-KR
Shabazz Napier had help along the way
When times got tough for Velasquez, Napier at a young age went to live with Will Blalock, the former Iowa State standout and Detroit Piston. Blalock was 10 years older and willing to let Napier into his home, serving as a mentor to a boy who needed direction.
Napier at that point wasn’t serious about basketball, but Blalock was among those who taught him lessons on the court and made him realize his talent. “He was pretty mean to him in a good way,” recalled UConn forward Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, who also grew up in the Boston area.
“I felt like it was the best time of my life because he was the biggest brother to me in my life,” Napier said of Blalock. “He didn’t have to do what he did. He didn’t have to put me under his wing. He didn’t have to show me the ropes. But he decided to.
“Without him, I wouldn’t be here in this position.”
Napier developed into a tough point guard and defender through high school. At UConn he has come to represent the type of fearless player that coach Jim Calhoun cherishes and awards with early playing time. He is the fourth-leading scorer on the team (7.9) and also is second in assists, with Calhoun pushing him along the way.
“For someone to give me criticism, it’s great for me because they want to see me get better,” Napier said. “For him to give me criticism, it’s like 'Wow, this guy’s a Hall of Fame coach. He doesn’t really have to say anything to me.' When he tells you something, you have to listen.”
After a poor shooting performance in his first college loss on Nov. 27 at Pittsburgh, Napier cried. There to console him was Walker. “He came over to me in the locker room and told me I wasn’t my fault,“ Napier said. “He took me under his wing and has given me great advice.”
Now UConn relies on Napier to take the pressure off Walker. With his ability to handle the point guard position, Napier frees Walker to focus on playing shooting guard -- better utilizing Walker's speed and energy toward becoming the lethal scorer the nation has come to know.
Napier has found many opportunities to score as well, and those crucial points from him have gotten the Huskies to the title game. He scored 10 in the West Regional final against Arizona and again had the ball in his hands late in the national semifinal game against Kentucky.
After missing his first six field goals, Napier drove past Brandon Knight and scored on an acrobatic layup to give UConn a six-point lead with 2:30 left. He then dribbled the ball right into the teeth of the defense in the final minute. Unfortunately for him, he lost the handle trying to split a double-team, giving the Wildcats a chance to win the game.
But it was Napier who corralled the rebound on the other end of the floor. Despite looking into the stands and seeing the frightened look on Velasquez’s face, he sank the game-winning free throws that extended the lead to four with two seconds left.
Now UConn, because of the cool confidence of a freshman, has a chance to win its third national championship in Monday's game against Butler.
“I was so concerned during the timeout that he’d be so concerned about losing the basketball, dribbling into traffic,” Calhoun said. “He looked to me and said, ‘Coach, I’ll make it up next play.’ What am going to say? Of course, he makes two foul shots.
“We can’t have Kemba do everything. Obviously Shabazz as a freshman has been invaluable to us.”
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Local flavor lifts UConn to the top of the heap
Posted by Danny Ventura at 1:53 pm
From head man Jim Calhoun down to reserve Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Connecticut’s march to the NCAA men’s basketball title was sprinkled with good old-fashioned home cooking.
Last night’s 53-41 win over Butler made Calhoun the oldest coach (68) to win an NCAA men’s basketball title. The championship was Calhoun’s third at the school, making him just the fifth coach to win at least three titles joining a crowd which includes the likes of John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Knight.
Not bad for a Braintree kid who spent two years at Dedham (1969-1970) before taking over the Northeastern program. Jerry Morelli was one of the millions watching UConn pull away from Butler in the second half. An assistant to Calhoun at Dedham High, Morelli thought he was getting flashbacks seeing some of the Huskies’ plays.
“A lot of what they ran was exactly what we did at Dedham,” said Morelli, who succeeded Calhoun at Dedham. “The only difference is that he has 6-foot-10 kids running the plays.”
Morelli said there is no secret to why Calhoun has thrived at Northeastern and Connecticut.
“He has such a passion for the game and the fundamentals that go along with it. We’d practice for hours on the fundamentals,” recalled Morelli. “He’s very demanding of his team, but just look at how many kids he coached made it to the NBA.”
Morelli ended his coaching career at BC High in 2004 after leading the Eagles to the Division 1 South sectional finals. Ironically, his replacement, Bill Loughnane, played for Calhoun at Northeastern from 1977-1980. A three-year starter for the Huskies, Loughnane still holds the single-game assist record (15) and ranks third on the all-time assist chart (500).
“It’s always nice when you know someone and see him do well,” said Loughnane. “I know my kids were sitting there cheering him on.”
As for Calhoun’s reputation for being tough on point guards, Loughnane chuckled when discussing his former coach.
“One thing he said always stuck with me,” he said. “He would always say if you don’t like the yelling, you can always sit on the bench because I am going to let you know when you made a mistake.”
As Calhoun, Morelli and Loughnane would be the first to attest, you’re only as good as your players. Last night, one of those locals played a large part in the win. Lowell’s Alex Oriahki (Brooks/Tilton) was a beast in the paint with 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
His former high school and AAU teammate Jamal Coombs-McDaniel chipped in with a couple of points. Coombs-McDaniel (a Dorchester native) began his high school career at Charlestown High, spending a year on the junior varsity before winding up at Tilton. Both Oriahki and Coombs-McDaniels verbally committed to UConn as sophomores in high school.
The third member of the Local Three, Shabazz Napier, had a similar start to Coombs-McDaniels. The freshman point guard spent three years at Charlestown before transferring to Lawrence Academy. Napier played 27 minutes last night, scoring four points, but his ability to run the offense allowed tournament MVP Kemba Walker to freelance a bit more.
As anyone who saw Napier play at Charlestown and Lawrence Academy can attest, he loves the big stage. Check out his comments in the Hartford Courant following the win.
“You can’t call us Kemba and the little guys anymore,” he said. ”Now I feel we’re playing to the max and helping him out. He’s still our hero. He’s still the guy he was in the beginning of the year. But we all understand how to work around him.”
And having the locals guys around made it all work in the end.
From head man Jim Calhoun down to reserve Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Connecticut’s march to the NCAA men’s basketball title was sprinkled with good old-fashioned home cooking.
Last night’s 53-41 win over Butler made Calhoun the oldest coach (68) to win an NCAA men’s basketball title. The championship was Calhoun’s third at the school, making him just the fifth coach to win at least three titles joining a crowd which includes the likes of John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bobby Knight.
Not bad for a Braintree kid who spent two years at Dedham (1969-1970) before taking over the Northeastern program. Jerry Morelli was one of the millions watching UConn pull away from Butler in the second half. An assistant to Calhoun at Dedham High, Morelli thought he was getting flashbacks seeing some of the Huskies’ plays.
“A lot of what they ran was exactly what we did at Dedham,” said Morelli, who succeeded Calhoun at Dedham. “The only difference is that he has 6-foot-10 kids running the plays.”
Morelli said there is no secret to why Calhoun has thrived at Northeastern and Connecticut.
“He has such a passion for the game and the fundamentals that go along with it. We’d practice for hours on the fundamentals,” recalled Morelli. “He’s very demanding of his team, but just look at how many kids he coached made it to the NBA.”
Morelli ended his coaching career at BC High in 2004 after leading the Eagles to the Division 1 South sectional finals. Ironically, his replacement, Bill Loughnane, played for Calhoun at Northeastern from 1977-1980. A three-year starter for the Huskies, Loughnane still holds the single-game assist record (15) and ranks third on the all-time assist chart (500).
“It’s always nice when you know someone and see him do well,” said Loughnane. “I know my kids were sitting there cheering him on.”
As for Calhoun’s reputation for being tough on point guards, Loughnane chuckled when discussing his former coach.
“One thing he said always stuck with me,” he said. “He would always say if you don’t like the yelling, you can always sit on the bench because I am going to let you know when you made a mistake.”
As Calhoun, Morelli and Loughnane would be the first to attest, you’re only as good as your players. Last night, one of those locals played a large part in the win. Lowell’s Alex Oriahki (Brooks/Tilton) was a beast in the paint with 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.
His former high school and AAU teammate Jamal Coombs-McDaniel chipped in with a couple of points. Coombs-McDaniel (a Dorchester native) began his high school career at Charlestown High, spending a year on the junior varsity before winding up at Tilton. Both Oriahki and Coombs-McDaniels verbally committed to UConn as sophomores in high school.
The third member of the Local Three, Shabazz Napier, had a similar start to Coombs-McDaniels. The freshman point guard spent three years at Charlestown before transferring to Lawrence Academy. Napier played 27 minutes last night, scoring four points, but his ability to run the offense allowed tournament MVP Kemba Walker to freelance a bit more.
As anyone who saw Napier play at Charlestown and Lawrence Academy can attest, he loves the big stage. Check out his comments in the Hartford Courant following the win.
“You can’t call us Kemba and the little guys anymore,” he said. ”Now I feel we’re playing to the max and helping him out. He’s still our hero. He’s still the guy he was in the beginning of the year. But we all understand how to work around him.”
And having the locals guys around made it all work in the end.
Three for Jim Calhoun in the blink of an eye
HOUSTON — In one of those simple, brilliant leads that occasionally grace the sports pages, Hartford Courant beat writer Michael Arace sent 17 words back to Connecticut from St. Petersburg, Fla., on March 29, 1999.
"The UConn Huskies won the national championship Monday night.
"There.
"It has been written in your lifetime."
The 17 words were 98 years in the making, of course, yet they so concisely captured the sweeping nature a most unlikely achievement.
Jim Calhoun’s first grandchild, Emily, had been born that month in 1999, 24 days earlier to be exact, and as she sat there with the other five Calhoun grandchildren Monday night at Reliant Stadium, a thought flashed through the mind. Emily’s grandpa stood to win three national championships in her lifetime.
Yes, the first one took forever.
And three happened in the blink of a young girl’s eye.
As Kemba Walker fell into Calhoun’s arms and buried his tired head into his coach’s shoulder after UConn’s 53-41 national championship victory over Butler, both the import of a coach’s most improbable achievement and crowning moment of a remarkable young athlete’s life came together in one sweet, sweet embrace.
What seemed impossible once has been made possible three times, by players like Richard Hamilton and Khalid El-Amin, by players like Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon and now by players like Walker, Alex Oriakhi and Jeremy Lamb. What seemed impossible once has been made possible by the fiercest competitor, the best winner, the worst loser, Connecticut has ever seen.
On Sunday, Calhoun talked about pumping gas, making candy, cutting stone, collecting metal in a shipyard among the many jobs he held as he hardened his youth in support of his family after his dad had died. He called himself a high school coach. He said he wasn’t coaching blueblood.
Yet as he peered through the shining moment of a special night in Houston into the rising sun of the morning, Jim Calhoun can see his face on the Mount Rushmore of coaches. Up there with John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight as the only men ever to win three national titles. Amazing.
UConn had been playing basketball since 1901, back when it was called Connecticut Agricultural College and it played a single game that year against Windham High School. Ninety-eight years would pass before the school won its first national title.
All those decades, the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, folks in our state grew up and grew old, worked and retired, lived and died. It went on for generations. Who among them, from Thompson to Greenwich, from Stonington to Danbury, thought a national title was possible?
The game was invented in Springfield and their savior eventually would go to college there, at AIC, but the legends would lie to the west. At Kentucky, Rupp won three in four years during the Truman administration and, in 1958, would add a fourth in 11 years. Wooden, of course, won 10 times in 12 years, at UCLA with names like Alcindor and Walton between 1964 and 1975. His record was one that bridged American culture, a record never to be broken. Indiana’s Knight won three times 12 years, an imperfect man with a perfect season. More recently, Duke’s Krzyzewski won three in 11 years and four in 20.
These men had nicknames for the ages. Baron of the Bluegrass, Wizard of Westwood, the General ... UConn only had the Yankee Conference and bus rides to Orono. With Dave Gavitt’s son, Dan, at the press conference, Calhoun went out of his way to thank Gavitt for the vision that became the Big East Conference. UConn basketball doesn’t turn into what it became without the Big East, no way, now how. Not even the Maniac, Brainiac From Braintree could have built all this without a league that would give and take so much each winter.
Yet there was a time when Calhoun himself looked as if he could leave the game unfulfilled. For a time he was called the best coach in America without a Final Four appearance. He denied such a tag bothered him, but he also cried that day in Phoenix when the Huskies beat Gonzaga in the 1999 Elite Eight.
And now here he was on Monday morning at the ceremony to honor Walker as the winner of the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.
"He’s as fast as you ever seen," Calhoun would say, "and he might be quicker than that."
Yes, the long, forever road that it took for UConn to gain national respect, at least by historical perspective, suddenly has brought dividends that never could have been expected.
On March 10, Walker broke Gary McGhee’s ankles with his step-back, last-second shot to beat Pitt. He did nothing but break hearts since then. Broke them in New York. Broke them in Washington. Broke them in Anaheim and, finally, in Houston.
Perhaps it’s fitting we bring up names like Adolph Rupp, because this game played like the 1946 national title game. Nobody could score. There was good defense. There was bad shooting. The difficulties of shooting in a dome, with the sightlines and slight breeze, are evident. The rims seemed tight. The players definitely were. Butler had a three-point lead at halftime after sinking only six baskets. At one point in the second half, the Bulldogs were 8-for-52.
Make no mistake, most of America was pulling for Butler. In was never accurate to portray Butler as David, the Bulldogs made the final last year, but convenient stereotypes rule the national landscape. Butler was Milan High. UConn was the Evil Empire. Butler was good. UConn was bad. UConn was the cheater, although, in truth, NCAA violations had nothing to do with this team.. Even on Monday night, Nate Miles, who had been at the center of two years of hardship, contacted The Courant. He’s not making any further claims to the NCAA. And now, media and folks, far and wide will call this the worst title game ever.
There will be nothing to clog the arteries of joy for this UConn team. The way they played nine game in 19 days. They way they won them all and then in two exhausting fights to the finish, the way they outlasted Kentucky and Butler.
Derrick Williams’ three or Jamelle Horne’s three at the buzzer could have gone in for Arizona in the Elite Eight and UConn could have gone home. They didn’t.
DeAndre Liggins’ three, although contested big-time, could have gone in for Kentucky in the Final Four and UConn could have gone home. It didn’t .
Shelvin Mack’s did make a three- pointer from the top of the key to beat the buzzer to give Butler a 22-19 halftime lead. But it was a three-pointer that hurt no more than a rubber dagger. Butler could do no further damage.
Yes, the UConn Huskies won the national championship Monday night.
There.
It has been written ... three times in Emily Calhoun’s lifetime.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view.bg?articleid=1328440
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
