#1.           #1.   

Andover (D1 N) – 27 – 1 – What a team!  Two straight D1 state titles is an amazing feat.  There are some obvious things in that they are extremely talented…can shoot the 3’s maybe better than any team to play since the “3” was instituted many moons ago…they are in phenomenal shape as I’ve never seen any of them tired on the court…and play the best defense in the state.  One thing often overlooked is how mentally tough these kids are.  After blowing out Central Catholic by 28 earlier in the tourney, it appeared the Warriors peaked at that point as they didn’t have their “A” game the last 3 tilts in my opinion.  Yet they willed their way to wins in those 3 games with guts and fortitude.  Amazing accomplishment!  Now you figure they must have lots of seniors graduating right?  Wrong…only one folks and that is a great one in Natalie Gomez-Martinez (D1 Marist).  My eyes are envisioning sweet stroking southpaw Olivia Biles filling that spot to complement another lefty with a sweet stroke in Devon Caveney…Ally Fazio and the tough “center” in 5’6 Jackie Alois (what a game at the DCU with 12 points and 8 boards).  Oh yea…the Gatorade Player of the Year is back also…some kid named Nicole Boudreau…maybe the best ever to play in the state…best 3 point shooter I’ve ever seen plus she rebounds, plays “D” handles and is a very underrated shot blocker.  Me thinks a 3^rd straight title will be in the works next year as well…can you say “three-peat?”            

#2.            #2.  

Central Catholic (D1 N) – 20 – 3 - Another super season here but still have to be frustrated with their 3 losses all being to Andover…but they did beat them once and no one else can say that this year.  They won their 3^rd straight Comcast Tourney and continue to be one of the top programs in the state year in and year out.  Stellar seniors Gabbie Polce (D2 St. Rose), Melissa Miller (D2 Merrimack), Courtney Williams, and Tori Brillaud all depart but the cupboard is not bare.  They return 2 starters in soph star Casey McLaughlin (Comcast MVP) and sharp shooting Alex Borelli.  I also liked what I saw from some frosh in 3 point shooting Courtney Walsh, Alex Nagri, Amanda Williams and Caitlin Dell’Orfano.  There will be some transition early next year but this crew will be back in the upper echelon of the Top 30 mix…trust me.           

#3.             #5.

New Bedford (D1 S) – 24 – 1 - Lasted the longest in the “UC” before bowing to Andover at the Garden in the state semifinals after running off a 24 game win streak, the longest in the state this season.  The Whalers were athletic, played tough in all aspects of the game and were well coached.  They graduate senior stars Alyssa Roach (D2 AIC), Arielle Gomes (D3 Smith), and hard working Courtney Miranda.  Allexia Barros returns and she is a good one who averaged 20 PPG in her 2 Garden games.  Defensive stalwart Brianna Perry and key subs Katherine Guilotte and Katelyn Peters are back also but this will be another team with an early transition phase to start the year.          

#4.          #14.

Mansfield (D1 S) – 24 – 2 - I thought they graduated so many quality seniors LAST year that they would struggle at least early in the year…but the exact opposite took place.  Great program with quality kids and an outstanding coach in Mike Redding got them to the South finals at the Garden again this season before losing to New Bedford by 1.  Winning the tough Hockomock League is quite the feat also.  Let’s see…7 seniors graduate again this year including 4 starters…those 4 scored 41 of the 46 points in the Garden game by the way.  Colleen Copley (D3 Tufts) will be sorely missed for her great inside presence plus the speed of Kathryn Campbell.  Kelli McPherson and Bridget Davis are the other starters graduating plus key reserves in Meghan Keohane, Krista Luchette and Jenna Morizio.  Michaela Bowes is a very impressive point guard and she’ll be back for her senior year plus Victoria Shannon and the other Katherine Campbell got some quality minutes this year as well.  Looks like another big transition for the Hornets next year though.  

#5.           #3.

Newton South (D1 S) 21 – 2 – Lions 2 losses were by a combined 4 points…makes me wonder what might have been if senior center Julia Sloan-Cullen hadn’t gotten hurt during Comcast weekend slipping on ice and missing the title game with Central Catholic and also the state tourney…hmmm.  The 7 graduating seniors had a wonderful run here and will be impossible to replace.  Led by the 1,000 point scoring duo of Sophie “Stylin” Bikofsky (D1 Brown) and Kendall Burton (D1 Villanova) these two stars will go down as all time greats at the school.  Chloe Rothman (D2 Merrimack) and starter Semira Haghhayeghi also had terrific years here.  Dynamite soph Kayla Burton returns and I love her talent and passion for the game.  Junior Ana Horowitz filled in admirably at the center spot and she returns also…another D1 team with a huge transition coming though.          

#6.         #18.

Arlington Catholic (D2 N) – 21 – 6 – In my pre-season report on AC I ended with “…However, I wouldn’t want to play the Cougars come tourney time as the growing pains me thinks will all be gone…”…I got lucky with that quote as Coach Brady’s full grown Cougars were absolutely brilliant down the stretch and got better and better with each game culminating in their first ever D2 state title.  Many seniors will have better stats than the 4 on AC but none filled their roles better than Brady’s class of 2011.  Erin Nee was always all over the floor and who knew she could shoot so well with a mask on as she played with a broken nose in the tourney.  Erin Klein and Rachel Buckley did all the dirty work inside and boy did they do it well always covering and rebounding with bigger kids but backed down from nobody. Kayla Awizsus became “Boudreauesque” down the stretch nailing 3’s and being a key contributor.  Earlier I lumped these ladies in with their younger teammates calling them all Cougar “Cubs”…these 4 seniors way too mature to ever be called “cubs” in anything!  Junior leader Emma Roberson was brilliant all year scoring just about 20 a game and all in the flow…never forced anything…what a player!  Nicole Catizone in the tourney became Nicole “Cats-in-a-zone” as she nailed 3 after 3 after 3.  Frosh Mo Buckley proved she has a bright, bright future while Britt Kotzuba showed flashes of the same as well.  Amazing run and well done ladies!  

#7.           #6.

St. Mary’s of Lynn (D3 N) – 24 – 4 – Might say ditto here as Jeff Newhall’s troops also took home the state title in D3 with a brilliant run especially over Lee in the championship tilt.  Their post play inside was a joy to watch as Tori Faieta, Cassi Amenta, and Ann Marie Idusuyi all looked like NBA vets with their moves.  Post moves mean nothing without the right passing to the post and that was aces also from Kirsten Ferrari and their fab frosh…it was Rondo like.  Faieta, Amenta and Ferrari are seniors who had immense careers at the school.  Tori Faeta (D2 Stonehill) graduates with 1,471 points and over 1,400 rebounds in her career…numbers unmatched in school history.  Cassi Amenta was so clutch with scoring, defense, and rebounds but maybe best of all were the pressure free throws she made at the Garden to beat Coyle. Kirsten Ferrari was a good player who made herself into an all star player this season giving the club the 3 point range it needed as she made a bunch this year while also pushing the ball down the floor like a speed demon.  These kids will be impossible to replace but Idusuyi does return as well as the 3 fab frosh in Brianna Rudolph, Jennie Mucciarone, and Sharell Sanders…these guards can all play and will be huge next year for Coach Newhall. 

#8.           #10.

Reading – (D2 N) -- 21 – 2 - Rockets had a wonderful season and their 2 losses were by 1 and by 4 so Coach Kim Penney and her crew also might be wondering how close they were to going all the way.  They won the tough York, Maine tourney at Christmas and won the Middlesex League again so another terrific season is in the books.  Carlene Kluge (D2 Bentley) was an outstanding senior leader and will be sorely missed but there is some serious talent coming back as 4 starters return.  Melissa DalPozzo is a force inside and will give them the senior leadership.  Olivia Healy and Morgan O’Brien are kids who can flat out play the game.  Katherine Callahan will be another senior and look for her to step up her game to replace Kluge’s offense and defense.    

#9.            #19.

Acton Boxborough (D1 N) -- 20 – 4 - Great job by new Coach Kim Landry leading this club to the Garden for the D1 North finals before bowing out by only 6 to Andover.  They won the Westford February Tourney beating Wachusett and Pentucket and then downed Billerica, Lowell and L-S in the state’s…all good wins.  4 senior starters graduate though led by sharp shooting Hannah Foley (D3 Tufts).  Weep no more though as super star do everything junior Elizabeth Belanger is back and that’s one heck of a base to build on.  Also getting quality time that should help as they transition next season were soph Sarah Smith plus juniors Abby O’Brien, Victoria Gomez, and Danielle Cremmin.       

#10.          #9.

Franklin (D1 S) – 18 – 4 – Great season here as well but just couldn’t get by talented Mansfield group losing to them 3 times.  Panthers are losing many seniors and that will be tough to replace…can you say transition anyone?  Start with point guard Sarah Doherty (D2St A’s for lacrosse), Katelyn Iafolla, sweet shooting 6’2 Meghan Shaw, Sam Irvine in the middle, Heather Grove’s strong inside presence, and all-around athlete Ellie Getchell all who were key contributors for years here.  They do return some talent though in juniors Alicia Wilde and Catie Phelan plus soph Alicia Kutil has a chance to be a really, really good player for them.  Thus some of the outside pieces are in place but it looks like rebounding and that inside game will be the key next year if they want to stay at this lofty status.       

#11.        #21.

Coyle Cassidy (D3 S) – 22 – 3 – Possibly the best team ever at the school and Brenna Gonsalves (D2 Adelphi) will go down as the best ever to put on the uniform.  She had another superb season including breaking the all time school scoring record.  Her career ended at the Garden where eventual state champ St. Mary’s edged them by 3 in a beauty of a game.  Kelsey Dermody’s speed and defense will also be missed.  Coach O’Brien does return his 2 “bigs” as talented 6’ junior Tricia Quinn and 6’ frosh banger Linsay Bumila will hold down the fort inside next season.  Junior Missy Perry is already a fixture at the point and fellow junior Andreya DeSousa will show her all-around game more and more next year.  A nice tradition is building here but that also means that Coyle will have the proverbial bullseye on its back for each and every game now.     

#12.        #22.

Wellesley (D1 S) – 19 – 3 Wins were synonymous in the Blake Dietrick era and there were many in her 4 years playing at Wellesley.  This Princeton bound superstar will go down as one of the all-time greats ever to play at the school.  Talk about impossible to replace…it just ain’t happening as this kid was one of a kind.  Tierra Allen also gave a great account of herself in this her only year in Wellesley.  Kid was a beast inside and on the boards.  This is another club that will face a serious transition next season.  6’2 Grace Miller returns and she has a chance to be a good one.  Frosh guard Sophia Mavrommatis showed some good flashes as well.         

#13.        #25.

Revere (D1 N) – 21 – 1 - Best season possibly ever ended in a fashion nobody wanted with a tough 8 point loss to a hot L-S team.  Kids will remember that huge and loud home crowd in that great 2 point win over Lynn English for the Patriots first state tourney win in 22 years though…and that’s the way it should be.  This program has done wonders the last 2 seasons and graduating senior Morgan Jenkins (D2 St. Michael’s) was a huge factor in this amazing turnaround.  Kid had more than 1,000 points AND rebounds in her career and for her size that is an amazing feat.  Marisa Parent is another senior who put her heart and soul into this team and that will be hard to replace as well.  Soph shooting star Gena Restiano returns and she is a real good one.  Caitlyn Caramello is her sidekick and they have learned well the work ethic of the seniors so this club will continue to succeed going forward.  Young coach Diana DeCristoforo was a star in her own right at Revere and was the right person at the right time to lead this club…she will now lead the transition to the future without the Jenkins’ and Parents’ of the world and I think she and her players will be up to the task.

#14.       #12.

Cardinal Spellman (D3 S) – 18 – 5 – Pat Lamb’s kids had another super season including winning the Board 54 February Tourney plus 2 games in the state tourney before bitter rival Archbishop Williams ended their season…5^th straight year they have knocked Spellman out of the tourney…what a jinx.  6’4 center Alexis Udoji (D1 Maryland Eastern Shore) has been a terror to opponents for 4 years and she graduates now.  This kid routinely had double figure blocks in many games.  Amazing to see her come from the paint to block a kids’ 3 point shot but it happens…I saw it myself at their game at AC.  Special talent here that no one can replace. 3 point shooting whiz Christina Deiorio will also be very hard to replace as well.  They do return 6’ guard Molly Anderson and she can be very good plus fellow junior guard Alexandra Dean also returns.        

#15.      Cusp

Scituate (D2 S) – 21 – 3 – This club had a super season ending with a 2 point loss at the buzzer in the D2 South finals to Hopkinton.  However, this is one team that won’t be transitioning with what they have coming back…I think the Lady Sailors will be one of the favorites in what I envision to be the highly competitive D2 South bracket next season. Melissa Kiddie is the lone senior and her leadership will be missed but everything else is in place for another long run next year.  Soph point guard Kellie Martin can flat out play the game…shoot…see the floor…play “D”…board…Ditto for 5’10 Megan Otto who is a proven scorer with the size and athleticism to play inside or out…hit the 3…rebound…you name it.  Then add in 6’ junior Shannon Brady who plays much bigger due to her long arms and has a superb work ethic…kid never stops playing for a second.  Rumor has it some real promising frosh will factor into the mix next year as well.  Great year this year and me thinks more to come.    

#16.     Cusp

Norwell (D3 S) – 21 – 3 – Lady Clippers had an amazing year led by 6’2 soph star Brenna Diggins.  This kid was a “double double” machine all season and has 2 more years left.  5’10 Junior Ryanne Williams was never far behind in those categories either so the inside game for this club is all set next season as well.  They graduate Kelly Hudgins and Brooke Allman and they will be missed but most of the pieces will still be in place.  Great wins over Marshfield and New Bedford were the 1^st ever over a D1 school.  They also beat D4 state champ Hull twice and the rivalry with Abington will be classic next season as the Clippers won all 3 this year by a combined total of 7 points…get there early when these 2 teams meet next season and the last one might be for the D3 South title…hmmm.        

#17.        #16.

Archbishop Williams (D3 S) – 18 – 6 – Another great season for the Archies despite losing to Coyle by 7 after 3 state tourney wins.  Couple those “W’s” with beating Feehan twice and also beating 2 state champs in AC and St. Mary’s, and you see what I’m talking about.  This crew is young (no seniors) and return a bunch of juniors plus dynamite soph Sara Ryan and 6’ frosh Olivia Conrad.  The juniors will include shooter Aidan Duquette who missed this year with a back injury, power forward Kayla Papayzian, Michaela Flanagan, Mari Barry and Ali Dean.  This club will be making D3 South a war zone going against the likes of Norwell, Abington, Spellman etc; come state tourney time.        

#18.        #26.

Pentucket (D3 N) – 20 – 5 – The Sachems under Coach John McNamara have built a mini dynasty here chalking up another 20 win season with a tough 2 point loss to D3 state champ St. Mary’s putting a frustrating end to their year.  This team I thought would be in transition this season and if they were, it went really well.  Starting center Vanessa Cahill plus Victoria Castiglione and Alyssa Nogueira graduate but weep not here as tons of talent return.  Soph Nicole Viselli seemed to hit four 3’s every game…junior Sarah Higgins is an all-around force on the court plus soph Alex Moore has one of those sweet southpaw shooting strokes I like and 6’ soph Tess Nogueira has tons of potential.  Club plays great “D” and will be a major player in D3 next year.         

#19.      Cusp

Woburn (D1 N) – 18 – 3 – Great coaching job by 2^nd year man Steve Sullivan as this program continues to rise.  3 starters graduate and they were all good…Danielle Perkins, Gabby Parker, and Natalie Maguire won’t be back next season.  These kids had their best night on senior night with a pulsating buzzer beating hoop by Perkins to beat Reading and that memory will last forever.  Tanners do have some talent returning.  Katy Knight missed a ton this year with a broken hand plus fellow junior guard Erin Marshall got hurt in the Reading game and both will be 100% next season.  Junior Katie Esquilin showed she could shoot the 3 ball plus soph Taylor Pacheco and frosh Leanne DiMauro got quality time this year as well.    

#20.      Cusp

Braintree (D1 S) -- 19 – 4 – Speaking of good young coaches, Kristen McDonnell is another 2^nd year coach who turned the Wamps program around.  You can’t do it without players and she had some good one’s this season.  7 seniors depart led by Amanda Mckenney who hit 2 free throws with 1 second left to beat Wellesley in the state tourney in the highlight win of the year.  The inside presence of Jeannette Hogan, Ann Donahue, and Anne Beach will need to be replaced next season.  A special shout-out to senior Meghan Dougherty also.  I sat near their bench in the Wellesley game and this kid didn’t get in the game but boy did she cheer her team on…loved that spirit.  There is good talent coming back as 3 talented starters return.  They will be led by junior Paige Marshall who has got game…same can be said for soph Rachel Norton who has a big upside.  Soph Taylor Russell gives the club all the little things and hope the knee she hurt at Wellesley will be okay.  Junior Annie Kate Joyce was the 6^th man and frosh Jen Whyte got quality time also this year.  If they find some “bigs”….hmmm. 

#21.        #27.

Stoneham (D3 N) -- 19 – 4 – When your only losses to Reading twice, state champ St. Mary’s, and Woburn, all ranked clubs, it is a highly successful season…I wonder sometimes if it could have been even better if senior Ariana Sicuso hadn’t hurt her knee.  Coach Angela Billings has done a terrific job here the last few years but the “transition” word really comes into play here.  You can’t lose Sicuso plus 4 talented starters and not be impacted.  Floor general Ariana Tuccelli, shooter Alison Brennan, the rebounding of Jen Geraghty, and the inside and outside (who knew she could shoot 3’s?) presence of Vanessa Bramante will really be missed.  Junior starter Jill Macura plus soph guard Sam Trant and frosh Stephanie Bramante have lots of potential and hopefully they have learned their lessons well from this great senior class because they’ll be the leaders next season for the Spartans.       

#22.        #29.

Medfield (D2 S) – 20 – 3 – The Warriors and Coach Mark Nickerson have really built a great program here as they win the TVL again this season going unbeaten in the league.  Tough home loss to Feehan in the state’s ended their season.  5 seniors graduate and they have been cornerstobes in this building process.  Hilary Collins, Maddie Bouchard, Kate Wasley, Natalie Dickinson, and Bridget Carrigan have done a fine job during their high school years.  The picture is still bright here though as 6’ soph Jen Narlee was named TVL MVP and has 2 more years to wreck havoc in D2 South.  Kristin Fechtelkotter and Lauren Petit also return plus some other good young talent so look for Medfield to be in the thick of things the next 2 years as well.     

#23.       #15.

Marshfield (D1 S) 19 – 5 – Another highly successful season here before bowing out to highly ranked New Bedford in the 2^nd round of the state tourney.  Unfortunately, this also marks the end of the career of one Nicole Beresford (D1 Dartmouth) who graduates as the school’s all time leading scorer.  You can make a good case here also that she is the best ever to play at Marshfield.  Also graduating will be Kim Robbins who saved her best for last scoring a career high 17 in the loss to the Whalers.  Junior forward Erin Doherty returns and look for this kid to throw up some good numbers next season.  I like her game a lot and she is one heck of a building block for Coach Rick Fredericks to start molding the “post Beresford” era for the Lady Rams.        

#24.      Cusp

Hopkinton (D2 S) – 19 – 6 – When Alee Leteria returned in January this club started to take off and only a brilliant comeback by eventual state champ AC (Leteria had 26) at the Garden stopped them from a state title game appearance.  Included in this run were great wins over Fontbonne, Foxboro, Feehan and Scituate…all very, very good teams.  Senior guard Katie Sousa graduates but this club returns some tall and talented kids next season.  Junior classmates Leteria at 6’, Lindsey Doucette is 6’1 and 5’10 Victoria Munger with a great 3 point stroke plus 5’11 soph guard Tess Chandler all return and should make this club dynamite next year.

#25.        #17.

Oliver ames (D2 S) – 17 – 6 – Love the talent this young group returns next year.  Sophs Asia Minet-Mitchell and Caitlyn Abella have big upsides and now with a year playing lots of minutes these 2 will take big steps next year.  5’11 junior Candace Steadman can swing between guard and forward and is another kid who can play plus classmate Lexie Gold gives the Tigers a tough inside presence.  Fellow junior Lindsay McNeice has proven she has 3 point range.  Sophs Allie Brennan and Kristen Ellis also got quality time and will be good contributors next season as well.  Can’t talk about the Tigers without mentioning senior Nicole Bostic who had an excellent career here and will be remembered for coming up huge at the Garden in their state title run a year ago.  Kid will be missed but I sense she taught the returners very well…this club will be in the mix in the potentially great D2 South bracket next year. 

#26.      Cusp

Natick (D2 S) – 15 – 6 – Loved the improvement in this team this year.  Heartbreaking 1 point loss to Holliston in the state tourney ended their year in a sad fashion but lots of good things happened on the court as natick’s program is back in print.  I look for more next year as well with junior guard Lexi Gifford back and she can flat out play and will be a top star in these parts next winter.  Sophomore forward Bridget Furdon also returns and she has a huge upside.  Junior forward Ericka Foley also returns but senior center Sarah Marcinkiewicz, Katy Biagi (D1 Soccer at Bryant), and classmate forward Holly Lanchantin all graduate and will be missed.  Still there are a lot of pieces in place for Coach Dan Hinnenkamp to be smiling next season.  

#27.   Missed

Falmouth (D1 S) – 16 – 5 – The improvement in this team as the season went on can be summarized in the 3 battles with Marshfield.  Early on the Clippers got hammered by 34 on the road but lost by only 4 at home in late January.  So who do they draw in round 1 of the state’s but Marshfield and they lose a heartbreaker by 1…huge difference eh?  I think they would have beaten them if they could have played a 4^th time.  They were led by senior captain Shannon Marcoux who did it all her team and will be very difficult to replace.  Frosh Grace Geary has lots of potential so let’s see if she can be a key into maybe beating Marshfield next season.  27   Missed

#28.        #11.

Bishop Feehan (D2 S) – 16 – 7 – Club was kinda’ up and down this year but young teams will do that to you.  Shed no tears for Coach Mike Deady as he returns some major talent.  Junior Lexi Sells is dynamite in all aspects of the game while point guard Marissa Cicchetti is a pass first point who can shoot the rock and looked terrific in a showcase I attended recently.  Add in soph Sierra Schrader and her long arms, board work, and inside scoring and you have all parts of the game covered.  Senior bigs who graduate and will be sorely missed include 6’ Kate Hill and 5’10 Cara Howard.  But me thinks this crew makes some big noise next year when there will be many ups and few, if any, downs.  

#29.          #8.  

Lincoln-Sudbury (D1 N) – 16 – 7 – Season started slow but they ended with a very good stretch going 11 and 3 despite injuries to Ali Murray and Katelyn Wright, 2 senior starters.  Club also loses some other quality kids to graduation with Lindsey Jones (D3 Roger Williams), the Quadri sisters…4 of these kids were starters. Team had some highlights like knocking off unbeaten Revere in the state tourney, beating Wellesley by 20, and AB by 11.  AB was the jinx team as they beat them by 3 in OT in the state’s when Iliana Quadri’s 3 at the buzzer hit the rim to end their season.  The transition here will be made smoother as talented 6’ sophs Ashley Lutz and Mandy Sifferlen return and these two give Coach Liza Feldman a nice inside presence to get the Warrior’s back in the hunt next season.       8

#30.      Cusp

North Andover (D2 N) 18 – 5 – Great win over Pentucket is the season’s best plus wins over Masco and 2 state tourney wins before state champ AC shut them down.  3 starters graduate and all were big factors here.  Guard Amanda Foote plus forwards Erika Zahoruiko and Caitlin Enright all are moving on now but soph star Morgan Lumb returns and she is an offensive force.  Junior 5’9 forward Julia Titone returns and 5’10 Michaela Mello got some good time but rebounding could be an issue next year.  5’6 guard Pam Coufos and 5’7 forward Alex Medlock also contributed this season so the transition here will also be interesting.   

Quincy (D1 S) – 17 – 4 – Good solid season here in what many thought would be a transition year as only 1 starter returned in senior 3 point shooter Kori Sorenson.  The Presidents also graduate Stella Edwards and Christina Cahill and they will be missed as well.  Junior 5’11 center Kiley McDonald proved to be quite a find as she had a terrific season including pumping in 25 in the state tourney loss to the Taunton Tigers.  Catie Lowry and Nicole Lamie also return so there are some good pieces in place here.  

Wareham (D3 S) – 20 – 2 – What a season here as to me they came from nowhere and won 20 games.  The only slips were a tough 2 point loss to ORR and then just a bad day at Bedrock when the Archies beat them up pretty good in the state tourney.  Senior Captains Ally Watkins, Brianna King, and Kira Correia will be greatly missed but there is a lot of talent coming back and I guarantee I won’t miss them next season.  Start with do-it-all junior point guard Lexie Silvia and you have a sense of what I mean.  Add in junior Gabby Santos plus frosh Breanna Muir who got some quality time in her first season and the makings are there for more success next winter.   

Hull (D4 S) – 16 – 10 – State title in D4 finally gets the Hull kids some props here.  Losing at Winthrop in OT to end the regular season somehow woke this club up and they reeled off 6 straight wins including dynamite victories by 4 over Cohasset and New Mission in the title game.  Nikki Heavern went for 27 and 14 boards in the title game…talk about coming up big!  Heavern graduates as the program’s all time leading scorer and always fills up a stat sheet…points…rebounds…assists…whatever the team needs.  They also graduate guards Amy MacDonald, Stefanie Cohen, and Elena Karski, forward Marissa Johnson, ) and 5’10 center Samantha Larson. Great job ladies!

Cambridge (D1 N) – 15 – 7 - Falcons gave Andover as good a game as anyone this year so you know they had quite a club.  Star guard Dyamond Gardner (Prep School) graduates and she was lights out going for 21 against the super Andover guards and she will be missed.  Star soph Donnaizha Fountain was also a force this year and I heard a rumor that her mom moved to Virginia and that she will join her when the school season ends…boy will she be missed as well if that happens.  Fellow sophs Lydia Vital and Carine Verlus return though so some pieces are in place to help with another transition.  

Cohasset (D4 S) -- 19 – 4 – Thoughts of another state title were dancing in their heads as they came back to go ahead of Hull late in the game only to see Hull score the final 5 points to win the game…Hull then went on to win the title…so close to going back-to-back.  The Clippers did have some great wins including 2 over Hull (3^rd time wasn’t a charm here), Abington, Norwell, Brookline, and Newburyport.  Inside force Carli Haggerty is gone to graduation and she will be difficult to replace and so will the 3 point shooting of Lindsey Davis and fellow starter Rachel Fredey.  Junior point guard Anna Seraikas returns and she is a good one.  Coach John Levangie definitely has his hub to build on with Seraikas back.  6’2 junior Allie Farren returns and so does soph Kristen Alexander will also help out so the cupboard is not bare and with the tradition in this town me thinks the Clippers will be back in the hunt again.     

North Attleboro (D1 S) – 14 – 7 – Real good season here and would have been better except they play in the tough Hockomock League.  6 of the 7 losses for the Red Rocketeers were  to ranked teams including twice each to Franklin, Mansfield, and Feehan…no shame in any of those…and they did beat Franklin and OA so a few good wins here as well.  Club is led by junior sharpshooter Jill Cullen along with classmates Meaghan McHugh and Kerry Coyne.  Soph rebounder Kate Kummer also returns.  Club only loses 2 seniors in Kelsey Boyd and Brianna Barney so look for them to do battle in the Hock war zone next season as well.    

Masconomet (D1 N) – 16 – 6 – Lady Chieftans return their entire starting 5 next year so their transition is behind them. 4 of those 5 will be seniors and I love senior dominated teams.   Junior 5’11 guard Brooke Stewart will be one of the top 5 players in the state next year…’nuff said on her…she is brilliant.  Danielle Davis can score and board and complements Stewart perfectly.  Chelsea Nason will be at the other guard and soph Claudia Marsh at a forward spot.  Katie Hutchinson and Julia Simonetti also got quality minutes and also will be seniors…hmmm…6 seniors in your top 7 next year…recipe for mucho wins.    

Gloucester (D2 N) – 19 – 7 – What a run winning 3 in the state tourney before bowing to state champ AC.  Senior Hannah Cain had a superb senior season getting her 1,000^th point and being named the MVP in the St. Mary’s tourney…kid’s scoring and passing skills were terrific but her rebounding numbers for a 5’7 point guard were amazing as she had 3 or 4 triple doubles.  The Fishermen do return 2 top notch kids in Heather Cain and Audrey Knowlton so Coach Flanagan has building blocks in place for another good year next winter.  

Taunton (D1 S) – 15 – 9 - Tigers had one of the best years they have had in a while but they lose speedy Lauren Perra and her 3 point shot plus her passing skills and ability to pick people clean every game.  6 footers Gracie Harrigan and Taylah Pelote do return so the inside game will be top notch.  

Medford (D1 N) – 14 – 7 - Mustangs program has come so, so far in 2 years under Coach Leo Burke it is unreal.  They went 8 and 0 in the GBL, made the State Tourney and junior Tania Holmes was named league MVP for the 2^nd straight season.  Captain Kasey Moran graduates but with Holmes and 3 other starters returning the forecast is for very sunny weather here.  5’10 frosh forward Sarah Donnelly has a big upside also as I like her game a lot.

Foxborough (D2 S) – 12 – 10 – The Warriors had some good moments this year beating a very good Hopkinton team and smoking the Archies to win their own February Tourney but some down times as well.  Talented seniors Leigha Tacey and Kayleen Whall plus fellow starter Meghan Fay all graduate and will be very hard to replace.  Soph Ally Perry has been a 2 year starter so she will be a big key in their transition next season plus junior starting guard Brooke Martyniak returns and Kassidy Quaddrozzi showed potential from the 3 point arc.   

Westford (D1 N) 11 – 10 – The Grey Ghosts started their transition this season and it went well with a nice road win early over L-S then beating tough Wachusett in their own February tourney will be great confidence builders for next season.  Shannon Mills had an excellent senior season and fellow starter Rachel Secrist will be missed as well but the pieces are starting to fall into place with what returns.  Soph starters Meghan Kibblehouse and Casey Doremus learned well and frosh Samantha Hyslip and Hannah Hackley both look like “playa’s”    to me…look for Coach Coward’s crew to create more W’s the next 2 seasons.

Danvers (D2 N) – 15 – 6 - Club had a solid season but their only consistent trait was their inconsistency.  Kellie MacDonald  (D3 Williams) was a great player for this club for 4 years and one of the best talents around…she will be deeply missed.  Sarah Palazola returns and as a 5’10 kid with guard skills has the potential to be one very good player next season. Kasey Sherry is also back and her shooting skills will be another key for Coach Pat Veilleux. 

Fairhaven (D3 S) – 17 – 7 – Blue Devils had a real good year here and went one round further in the D3 South tourney before bowing to Cardinal Spellman.  Lots of good pieces in place for next year as 4 starters return.  6’1 junior Kara Charette already has broken the 1,000 point barrier.  6’ soph center Kay Mullen has lots of potential plus guards soph Ashley Brown and junior Kelsey Perron-Sovick are all back.  They do lose Brittney Texeira and Jessica Galligan to graduation but this crew has tons of potential.  They split with Abington this year and I look for Fairhaven to be in the mix with them, Norwell, the Archies, Spellman and Coyle to be in a dogfight in D3 South next winter. 

Abington (D3 S) – 16 – 8  - The Green Wave had its best season in a while winning a state tourney game for the 1^st time in 7 years before bowing out in OT to ranked Norwell…3 losses to Norwelll by a combined 7 points.  Two seniors graduate in Brittany Ezell and Bridget Wakelin.  This club will NOT be transitioning though as they have a stud sophomore class with Amanda Hawkesworth, Stephanie Cornish and Nora O’Neill returning for 2 more seasons…oh yea…they were the team’s top 3 scorers.  Add in junior Katie Cawley and promising frosh Sam Thompson and that’s quite a talent pool returning.  Look for more battles next year in D3 South with Norwell as they both will be strong contenders to get to the Garden this time next year…me thinks Coach Steve Moore is smiling with that prospect… 

Silver Lake (D2 S) – 15 – 6 – Solid season here before Foxboro ended it in round one of the tourney.  Laker Coach Richard Steele loses his backcourt as Ashley Bartlett and Mackenzie Hatfield graduate but the stud inside presence of 6’ Courtney Yost returns and she is very good. 

Brookline (D1 S) – 14 – 7 Team was 4 and 4 at one point but ended on a 10 and 2 run before bowing out in the state’s to Braintree by 7.  Amber Dillon and fellow senior star Tasha Bernardez (26 in the state tourney game) graduate so Coach Allyson Toney has her work cut out replacing these 2 next year. 

Lowell (D1 N) – 10 – 8 - Coach Crowley’s crew may be hurt more by budget issues that limit his team to only 16 games than anything.  They did knock off Woburn in the 1^st round of the tourney but 6’2 Tess Cigliano and guard Chelsea Luis graduate and they were good one’s.  They do return 3 starters led by Kaitlyn Bryan and look for Trisha Luis to have a great year as she should be 100% from last year’s knee injury.  

Billerica (D1 N) 12 – 9 – Great start to the season winning 8 of 1^st 9 but bad ankle injury to senior center Brittany Moore hurt them down the stretch.  Fellow starter Hannah Nolan is also graduating and they will be missed.  I do like their young talent a lot.  Soph point guard Brittany Lomanno has started every game since she has been at the school while 6’1 classmate Joslyn King has good potential inside.  Junior starter Erin Brooks is back plus sophs Danielle Nickerson and Kayla Leverone and frosh shooter Shannon Hayes mean the Indians should be very, very good next year.

Duxbury (D2 S) – 13 – 8 Faded down the stretch as injuries hurt this club.  2 great road wins over ranked clubs Scituate and Marshfield were highlights here plus winning the Patriot League.  6’2 league all star soph Michaela North returns to man the middle and she is a real talent.  Graduation of fellow all star Devin Tsinzo plus Maggie Norton, Jenna Cusick and Maggie Dunn will make things hard for Coach Mark Dunn as he transitions this crew next year.     

Fenway (D4 N) – 20 – 4 – Soph star Tajanay Veiga-Lee led this club night after night going for many triple doubles and getting Fenway to the D4 North finals before New Mission ended their great year beating them by 9.  Coach Steve Drayton has to be thrilled he has her back for 2 more seasons.  

Newton North (D1 S) 12 – 10 – Frustration is the only word here as this club was just devastated with injuries starting with star senior Briana Hunt (D2 Franklin Pierce).  A concussion early in game 1 put her on the shelf until late January…frosh starter Infiniti Thomas-Waheed had a cast on her hand…junior shooter Gracie Rolfe a boot on her foot…Djaidah Wynn missed the Comcast with an ankle injury…it just seemed to never end.  It did allow Coach Hank DeSantis to get some good experience for talented frosh Maddie Bledsoe and Amelia Williams though.  This is another team in a big transition as Hunt, Wynn, the all-around skills of Ella Scheurell, and the inside work of Megan Gentile all are gone to graduation plus Jamie Renner is leaving for prep school.   

Ipswich (D3 N) – 15 – 8 – Tigers got it together winning 2 state tourney games over Winthrop and Newburyport before bowing out to tough Stoneham.  Hannah O’Flynn graduates and she has been a great star her entire career at Ipswich and will be impossible to replace.  O’Flynn was again named the Cape Ann D2 Player-of-the-Year and finished with 1,050 career points.  3 point shooters Shannon MacFayden (saw her at a recent showcase…great stroke) and Nyra Constant return as well as O’Flynn’s sister Brigid so the cupboard is far from bare here.    

Lynn English (D1 N) – 13 – 11 – An up and down season almost ended with a huge upset over a talented Revere club in the state tourney but they fell short by 2 points when a Katherine Stinson 3 ball rimmed out at the buzzer.  Stinson and fellow frosh Diondra Woumn have incredibly bright futures here as they are very talented.  Props to LaShaunda and Miranda Hogan for their great careers at English and also for bringing along the talented frosh so well this season.  Coach Fred Hogan will miss his daughters tremendously on the court next year.

Medway (D3 S) – 16 – 6 – Mustangs had some good wins here beating talented Hopkinton early and getting a 1^st round state tourney win before bowing out to highly ranked Coyle by 12.  Soph star Sarah Hope is the real deal but they lose senior Sarah Coakley and she was a good one. 

Holliston (D2 S) – 14 – 8 – Club had great wins over Hopkinton and then nice upset by 1 over a talented Natick crew in the state tourney before  Top 30 ranked Scituate ended their year.  Center Vicky Sostilio graduates but sister Jackie returns as does fellow junior Ashley Higgins and will be a nice building blocks for Coach Kristen Hedrick to build on.

Weston (D3 N) – 14 – 8 Wildcats had a solid season in the tough DCL winning the Small Division championship and beating Wayland in the 1^st round of the state tourney before bowing out to Top 30 Pentucket.  Star senior Ally Pemberton graduates and she will be sorely missed but 6’ Saliah Serrette had a super soph season and looks like she will be filling a stat sheet with points, boards, and blocks for the next 2 years here.

New Mission (D4 N) – 18 – 6 Titans did what they seem to do annually and that’s rise to the occasion in the state tourney as they reeled off 4 straight wins to get to the state title gamed before bowing to super hot Hull by only 4.  Coach Greg Berry did his usual bang-up job with his crew and they will battle again next year towards that D4 title.

Ashland (D3 S) – 13 – 8 – Club seemed to be a tiny step below the iron of the TVL as the Clockers end up in the middle of the pack plus a tough 2 point loss to Fairhaven ended their season in the state’s.  Me thinks with talents like Blake Underhill and Natalie Leone returning that these close losses will turn into more wins next season and they might challenge for the TVL title. 

Old Rochester (D3 S) – 13 – 8 – Good overall year especially with talented senior Kelsey Johnson getting her 1,000^th point but after winning 6 straight they drop last 4 to end the year…not sure if injuries came into play but that could be the reason for the late season fade. 

Bishop Fenwick (D3 N) – 13 – 11 – Team played in a league with two state title teams so 11 losses is understandable as the schedule was brutal.  They did get a win in the state tourney before Stoneham knocked them out by 9.  Amy Pelletier (D2 Stonehill) now graduates and will be remembered as one of the best ever to play at the school.  She will be impossible to replace and the word “transition” really fits here as Pelletier was such a big part of this team for 4 years. 

Fontbonne (D2 S) – 11 – 10 - Ducks went through their transition year this past season and made the tourney before losing a tough 2 pointer to tough Hopkinton on the road.  Jen Gemma is the real deal and she’ll be back and looks to be a routine “double double” kid next year as a junior…kid is a good one.  Lessons learned this year will transition into more “W’s” next season.  

Wilmington (D2 N) – 12 – 10 – Injuries also played a role here but Coach Jay Keane kept the ball afloat so they got into the tourney and got themselves a win before North Andover beat them for the 3^rd time this season.  That loss also ended the career of one Amanda Keane, the coaches daughter and best player graduates and now moves on down to a room with an ocean view as she’ll be playing for D3 Roger Williams next fall. Talented 6’ junior Maggie Brown does return and she is a good one though. 

More Rim Ramblings

  Gotta' run folks…Remember…“No ability without eligibility!”…and…“The ball stops bouncing for everyone at some point but a college degree lasts forever!”