Coach Storm’s EMass Top 30             

      at 1-23-12 !!! Click here! 

          Written by Tom “Coach Storm” Hellen

                                                                       Games Played as of January 23, 2012

 Somerville, MA – Random Rim Ramblings – The season for most is a little more than half done so the picture gets clearer on what teams will or will not make a serious run come state tourney time. Earlier with my pre-season picks I tried to forecast the winner in each Division for the North and South but now I reserve the right to change my mind. Earlier I picked in the North, for D1Andover, D2 Reading, D3 Pentucket, and D4 New Mission. I still love Andover and Reading is playing off the charts so they are still my picks. Pentucket’s engine keeps misfiring so they must have a bad spark plug right now and Swampscott, Ipswich, and Bedford are quietly sneaking up on everyone. St. Mary’s had a significant injury and that may be too much for them to overcome. I still think Pentucket but really wavering and hope they get a tune-up real soon. In D4 Whittier Tech is playing super with their only loss to Pentucket so they get the nod now but Fenway is right there. In the South I had Braintree, OA, the Archies, and Nantucket. Still going with Braintree but Falmouth, New Bedford and Barnstable are all now proving they belong in the mix. OA is another not firing on all cylinders so that has to change before I can continue riding their wagon. Medfield is rolling and so is Scituate right now but I’m going with Medfield as they have great depth. Archies are still the best in a tough D3 bracket. Greater New Bedford Voke is now my flavor of choice in D4 as they have 9 seniors. Wondering how good Old Colony is as I just found out they are in the “UC” at 10 and 0. Nantucket goes as far as Jess Halford carries them…and I mean that literally.

 

The “UC”…Unbeaten Clubs”…How about this…the day after I posted the first list of members in the UC, 4 teams got beat and knocked out of this exclusive club…Greater New Bedford Voke, Shawsheen, Ipswich, and Watertown all fell that day. Then Oliver Ames got knocked off by Franklin and AC blasted by the Archies so the list is now down to 7…oops 8 with Old Colony…the “Magnificent 7”…I mean “Elite 8” teams remaining in the “UC” are…Andover, Reading, Braintree, Franklin, Lynn English, Medfield, Old Colony, and Scituate.

 

Still having trouble seeing the scores from the Cape especially Barnstable. The Big 3 teams of Brockton, Durfee, and New Bedford make it difficult also trying to track them. I heard a rumor that New Mission has stopped playing so don’t know what is going on with that but no scores in the Globe lately so it may be true. Remember this only helps your kids so get those scores into the Globe or Herald.

 

I hope you enjoy the rankings and comments.  If you know of players or teams that you think are very good, always feel free to e-mail me at coachstorm5@comcast.net with who the player is and also the team name of those you think I should be tracking.…anything you feel is valid to make this a more accurate listing.  Our goal here is to make this the best source for your reading and ranking pleasure and also to get talented kids some exposure and publicity to help them find the right college fit and to create memories for them so they can show their kids and grandkids someday.  Enjoy the season folks!