Coach Storm’s Pre-Season EMass Top 25 

Written by Tom Hellen

                          December 5, 2007

 Somerville MA – Pre-season polls are a crap shoot especially when just about every team in this man’s Top 25 has questions….each team lost some talent….each club returns some excellent talent…and each one is either counting on younger players to step up or for key components to hopefully return from injury at 100%.  Right now there isn’t one team you think about and say “wow…fabulous club…no one can touch them.”  To me it makes for a fascinating year and one I’m looking forward to.

 

I look at the Merrimack Valley Conference as the toughest though the Catholic Central League may just be a shade behind….time will tell.  The Big 3 will truly be a Big 3 this winter and the Hock will be very competitive.  Props go out to many of the clubs shown below for going out and either entering their team in a strong Xmas or February tournament or for upgrading their own tourneys so that even the non-league schedules of the top quintets will truly provide some great competition.  Good news for fans is that you’ll really get to see some quality games…not many 40 point blowouts this year.  Looks to me like coaches want to be battle tested come tourney time. 

 

When you look at the top teams the common denominator is they lost the least…return the most…and have the fewest question marks.  Some teams are going to have like 5 losses and yet retain a high ranking because of the tough schedule they play.  Some with better records may be kept lower because the teams they played may not have that high a power ranking.  I honestly feel that you could flip a coin for the top spot with the balance this year brings to the table.  Fun times ahead for all of us and my money says no undefeated teams this year! 

 

Keep in mind that I’m just a “blogger” kind of guy and not a professional writer like the Herald’s Dan Ventura so go easy on me.  Let me apologize up front to anyone whose name I misspell or if any facts are inaccurate.  The opinions below are mine based on what my eyes have seen and any responses I received from coaches I was able to contact.  I’m getting more contacts from the South so I hope to get you folk’s better information and treatment this winter.  For what it’s worth here is one person’s opinion…let the arguments begin.

 

 

Top 25

Pre-Season

 

Rank

#1.     Archbishop Williams (D3 S) – 21 – 7 - D3 State champs and lost 1 starter from their top 8 players…so…7 of their top 8 players return.  This group looked very confident playing at Babson recently especially 6’3” soph Valerie Driscoll who is not a tentative frosh any longer.  The rest of the expected starters are all seniors including the irrepressible Christine Duffy who’ll be leading the break with Casey Capello flying down the court looking for a pass from Duff’ and Courtney McNamara and Meghan Black also filling the lanes.  Jill LaFond and Vicky Kennedy will also play key roles and Coach Bancroft is hoping to get Alex Knowles back in mid season as she is recovering from ACL surgery.  The schedule???  How about suicidal?  The league games are bad enough with 2 games each against league foes like Spellman, AC, Fenwick, and St.Mary’s…how about going out and playing non-league tilts with Andover, defending RI state champs LaSalle Academy who only graduated 1 kid, Mary Louis Academy of NY and 3 games in John McGraw’s high powered Xmas Tourney in Brooklyn…whew…You do need to have a .500 record to make the states right??  LOL…the Archie’s will be fine!!

 

#2.     Cardinal Spellman (D3 S) – 22 - 3 Keep in mind they beat the Archies twice last year.  They did lose center Carolyn Swanson to graduation but they return 4 quality starters.  Stonehill bound Cori O’Kane is a rock at the point…fellow senior Jade Santos is simply a quick  forward…juniors Alyssa Schlehuber as the downtown shooter and Reilly Poirier knocking heads inside.  6’2” senior center Julianne Barry will round out the starting five.  Jenn Collins, Catherine McManus and Kate Chuilli give Coach Lamb quality depth.  The schedule is another beauty with the same tough Catholic League clubs plus non-league tilts with New Bedford, at Masco, their own Xmas tourney with Cumberland High and St. Raphael’s of RI and Mercy High of CT featuring super guard Rachel Roberts.  They end with the annual Massasoit Hall of Fame tourney in February.  They play anyone…any time…any place.  They’ll be ready for that incredibly competitive D3 South state tourney bracket.

 

#3.     Lowell (D1 N) – 20 – 3 Lost quality talent in 6’ Christine McCall (now at Bates) and the underrated leadership of Kelly Rogers (now at Fitchburg State) but no crying towels are being sent to Coach Mike Crowley.  Lowell “only” returns league MVP and Globe and Herald All-Scholastic Ashley Rivera at the point, sharpshooters Kara Rogers and a healthy Meaghan Cavanaugh (such shooting form) on the wings and the 6’3” Wilson twins inside.  Add the shooting touch of Ciara Shaughnessy to this mix and me thinks Lowell is in for another superb season in the tough MVC.  They play in the always tough Greater Lawrence Xmas Tourney as well as the Spartan Classic at St. Mary’s of Lynn.  A road game at Swampscott will also be a test.

 

#4.     Central Catholic (D1 N) – 20 – 6 They made it to the D1 state championship game behind their great senior duo of Melissa Lucas and Kaylan Grange.  Sue Downer’s crew got better every game last year and this should continue this winter.  The returning cast is strong led by super soph Katie Zenevitch, the strong point play of senior Jackie Vienneau and the tough minded Riley Dunn.  Ashley Evangelista, Lauren Berg, and Monique Gosselin will fight for some “PT” while promising frosh Melissa Miller at 5’11” should contribute as well.  The MVC schedule is rugged plus the Comcast with Winthrop, Barnstable, and the Archies.  The Greater Lawrence Xmas tourney is a challenge and so will Masco’s visit on February 3rd.  Team played really tough in the recent Babson tourney, a sign to me they learned their lessons well from Lucas and Grange.  This could be a replay of last year where they improve every game and peak at tourney time.  They are well coached and with a star like Katie Z this team will be a force.

 

#5.     Andover (D1 N) – 18 – 5 – Lost dynamic point guard Maggie Cosgrove (D1 Sacred Heart see below) but will start 5 seniors so there is plenty of experience on this club.  Start with Bentley bound Meghan Thomann with her NBA 3 point range and all-around skills and then add the quiet assassin Laura Renfro who also is deadly from the 3 point line and who is a defensive stopper.  Lauren Hughes plays the middle and is as smart a cookie inside for being only 5’9” as you’ll see and also can hit the 15 footer.  Camille Fantini really worked hard on her game in AAU and this should pay off in dividends for Coach Jim Tildsley.  Ilana Cohen will try and fill Cosgrove’s big shoes at the point and look for frosh guard Natalie Gomez (girl has “star” written all over her) to earn some quality minutes this year.  Catherine LoMedico, Kelly Driscoll, and Jordy Shoemaker provide depth and more senior leadership.  MVC is tough enough but the non-league is interesting with home games against AC, the Archies, Pentucket, and 2 with ND of Hingham.  This club is well coached, has an incredible tradition, a strong senior class, and if they rebound well can play with anyone.

 

#6      Lincoln-Sudbury (D2 N) – 24 – 2 They are the defending D2 state champs but lost 3 starters in BC star Carolyn Swords, Brittany Philips and Elena Carlson.  Coach Liza Feldman will get little pity from her coaching foes as she returns five seniors who will be keys this year.  Start with cerebral senior point guard Sarah Wetmore, Bentley bound 6 footer Tasia Kearse, 6’ Whitney Donaldson, Allison Linke, another strong 6 footer, and guard Kelly Cakert.  Sophomore guard Liz Newman played very confident over Thanksgiving hitting some 3’s so she’ll get some time this year.  DCL expanded this year which means 18 league games.  Westford is tough but the league is not as strong as in the past so the St. Mary’s Tourney at yearend will be one of the few tests…will it be enough to have them ready to defend their title??

 

#7.     Masconomet (D2 N) – 20 – 3 Lost some good talent in Kristen D’Avolio (Endicott College) and Katie DiBennedetto…Returning however is their version of the Celtics Big 3 in Herald All-Scholastic Caroline Stewart, the cerebral Annie Burns, and the mercurial Jamie White.  The 6’ BU bound Stewart is probably the best all-around player in the North as this personable senior can score inside, hit the 15 footer and can even step back behind the arc.  Stewie is an excellent rebounder and Masco will need that as size might be an issue.  No top team can have a great season without a high quality point guard and Annie Burns surely fits that bill.  When I think of Jamie White all I picture is a game buster.  She starts the game jumping to the moon on the tap and then spends the rest of the game all over the floor…busting up opponents offenses.  Now her Hall of Fame dad Jo Jo is teaching her some offensive moves…what a player she could be come March.  Coach Romeo needs Krissy DiBenedetto and Merri DeAngelis to reach their potential and if they do, the sky is the limit with this crew.  This flight won’t be easy though…Xmas Tourney with AC, Westford, and Londonderry, NH is as tough as it gets…they open at home with Spellman…travel to Central Catholic on Super Bowl Sunday…Pentucket and Ipswich at home and February Tourney with Fenwick and Danvers will make it hard to only lose 3 again but….

 

#8.     Bishop Feehan (D2 S) – 23 – 2 Amy Lepley is a 6’1” junior guard and is well…just a STAR in the making.  Feehan however, lost a very good one from last year in Herald All-Scholastic Danielle Fontaine.  Christina Perez played very well at the Bay State Games so she should pick up some of the scoring slack that graduated with Fontaine.  Club has good size with 4 players at 5’10” plus including the 6’1” Lepley, 6’ senior Emma Creedon, 5’11” junior Kate Degnan, and 5’10” junior Jenna Roncarti.  Schedule has an interesting opening with back-to-back home and away games with powerful Fairhaven.  Other tests will come from Cumberland High of RI, the Attleboro Xmas Tourney plus 2 with Durfee, Somerset and Fontbonne.  They have Garden experience now and in my eyes will return there again this year and that experience will be a huge benefit if they can get past the likes of Whitman Hanson and Walpole.

 

#9.     Franklin (D1 S) – 20 - 2 Key to the season will be Meredith…I know you think I mean Kelly but I’m talking her 6’ sophomore sister Ashley who is returning from shoulder surgery.  She will be needed to replace Michelle Doody inside and get the ball out on the break to he sister and crew.  Assumption bound and Herald All-Scholastic Kelly Meredith on the other hand (the one she hurt in soccer is ok by the way) may be the best all-around player in the South.  She can handle, throws great passes, can stroke the 3, drive and at 5’10” is strong enough to be a huge factor on the glass.  Her fellow senior supporting cast is strong also.  With lacrosse star Siobhan Sullivan at the point, Andorra Salaices (interest from several D3 schools) nailing 3’s, and softball stud Jenna Dicruttalo’s all-around floor game, Franklin has enough to overcome the loss of key guard Courtney Walsh.  Coach John Leighton wants them battle tested come tourney time so upgraded the schedule playing Brockton twice and facing a tough Barnstable crew in the 1st round of the  Franklin Xmas Tourney and possibly Durfee in the other game.  League games in the Hock will be tougher as well this year.  Excellent seniors…seniors win…watch out D1 South.       

 

#10.   Westford (D2 N) 20 – 3 – The Grey Ghosts lost all time great Alyssa Jann (D1 Colgate) and the inside presence of Akello Ragwar to graduation.  A big current loss is the unfortunate ACL injury to excellent soph Lauren Gallant who became a key member of the rotation as a frosh.  All good teams are strong at the point and there is no exception here with speedy senior Jocelyn Veilleux returning.  They have some solid size in seniors Shalagh Dolan at 6’2”, 6’ Julianne Scott, and 5’10” Kate Coner plus 6’ junior Julianne Scott.  Look for 5’10” stud sophomore Asia Ewing to have a breakout year this winter as well.  Kira Ross is another kid who can fly around the floor and junior Jen Normandie is a kid who really knows how to play the game.  The DCL schedule is not as strong outside of the games with L-S but the Masco Xmas tourney will be excellent but you have to wonder if they’ll be tourney tough come March…

 

#11.   Pentucket (D3 N) – 23 – 2 This club matured a ton last year and should use their Garden tourney experience to good advantage this season.  Graduated 2 starters in Katie Murphy and Stephanie Murray but return some serious talent.  Look to the middle first and you can’t miss 6’2” junior Kirsten Daamen who can block shots with the best of them, clean the boards and hit the turnaround “J” as well.  Their strong sophomore class will impress this year as well led by star Ashley Viselli who can flat out score.  Erin McNamara started as a frosh and classmate Holly Jacobson was the 1st off the bench last year.  Senior guard Lyndsay Beaton and junior Andrea Attenasio will play a ton as well.  The schedule has them in the Haverhill Xmas Tourney playing Timberlane, NH and Cambridge and one other team.  Interesting non-league road game at Andover plus all their tough league games are on the road…at Ipswich, at Masco, and at Wilmington.  They snuck up on teams last year so teams will be ready now and they’ll be the big game on everyone else’s schedule.  The bullseye is now on their backs so they need to put last year’s learning experiences to good use this year and me thinks they will!

 

#12.   Brockton (D1 S) – 17 – 5 Saw this team at Stonehill and they looked good.  Any team with Taryn Johnson leading the way will be a force come tourney time.  They did lose the strong inside game of Cortney Robinson so that question needs to be answered.  The adjustment to first year Coach Eric DiBiase is now complete as he knows what the players can do and the players know what he expects from them.  The schedule is solid and the home and home with Franklin will tell a lot about both clubs… No tourneys during the vacations though.  The Boxers should be ready from the get-go this year so look out D1 South. 

 

#13.   Durfee (D1 S) – 14 – 8  They return 3 starters including slick shooting senior Alex Fiola who needs 9 points for 1,000…Her 6’ sister Lauren will be the inside force and a point guard I love in 5’5” soph Kate McDonald.  You may even say its 4 returning starters as combo guard Julie Plasski is back after missing all of last year with ACL surgery.  She looked very good at the Bay State Games last summer.  The questions relate to the 5th starter, depth, and who helps Lauren Fiola on the glass.  I saw a strong 5’10” frosh at the Stonehill summer tourney that could be the answer but she was very raw.  It could be a 5’9” transfer from rival New Bedford that may help but time will tell.  The schedule is rugged…Brockton, New Bedford, Somerset, and Feehan all twice…the Franklin Holiday Tourney and facing Natick and possibly host Framingham in the Flyers February Tourney.    

 

#14.   New Bedford (D1 S) – 14 – 8 Whalers lost Naomi Clay to graduation but return New Bedford Standard Times all stars Shelly DePina and Stephanie Houtman.  They won the Mattapoisett summer league going undefeated against the likes of Barnstable, Fairhaven and Carver.  They don’t play in any Xmas or February Tourneys but don’t need to as the schedule is real tough with 13 of their 20 games against teams included in this very Top 25 list.  Team could end up with a similar regular season record as last year but still be a force in the state tourney.

 

#15.   Winthrop (D3 N) – 21 – 1 Tough to lose such a quality player like Meredith Soper who transferred to AC but they still return 4 outstanding starters from last year’s one loss club.  Senior Nicole Giaquinto is lightning quick going to the hole and is excellent penetrating and kicking out for 3’s to teammates.  5’10” Katerina Mallios to me is a natural slashing guard with 3 point range but may have to help a lot inside with Soper leaving.  The Finn sisters are talented and have grown so that both are close to 5’10” now.  They were excellent rebounders last year and will need to be again this year.  Courtney is the junior and this kid can flat out play the game.  Kristen has that solid all-around floor game where she fills out every box on a stat sheet…rebounds, steals, assists, hitting 3’s, ball handling…does it all.  Kristen…remember one thing…lose the left at the top…LOL.  6’1” promising frosh Johnna Fisher looked very comfortable at the recent Babson Tourney and if she can contribute some on the glass, with some putbacks and free throws, look out D3.  She should also improve as the year goes along.  Depth is a huge key but it has been the last 2 years as well.  They are mentally tough as I love their poise on the court during and especially at the end of games plus they are fundamentally so sound… they pick and roll the best of any EMass club I’ve seen.  Schedule is not as challenging as they might like.  The Massport Tourney is “required” for the 4 teams involved but the Vikings should cruise.  The league is not as rugged as usual with the one match with Peabody the toughest test.  Will the end with the Comcast Tourney be enough for them to be ready for the Pentucket’s of the world???...Time will tell.

 

#16.   Fairhaven – (D3 S)  22 – 4 Erin Baldwin and Maggi Rossi form one of the best backcourts around.  Look for this dynamic duo to provide tons of firepower as they’ll probably score a combined 35 to 40 points each night…Kaliegh Charette is another key returning senior.  Club only graduated one last year…they have a solid schedule playing both Bishop Feehan and New Bedford twice and then Bridgewater and OA or Framingham at the OA Xmas Tourney.  Their only problem is the highly competitive bracket they again face in D3 South with the likes of Spellman, the Archies, Carver and more.  Many also play volleyball and recently lost in the South finals to Bourne.  That frustration may be taken out on their opponents on the bball courts this winter…time will tell. 

 

#17.   Arlington Catholic (D2 N) – 17 - 5 The Cougars lose maybe their best player ever in Elise Caira and got 2 surprises…1st an early Christmas present for Brady’s Bunch with the transfer in of former Winthrop star Meredith Soper but then as the Catholics say…”the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” as 6’2” shot blocker Maria Scocca, a scholarship volleyball player at future D1 Bryant University, has decided not to play basketball.  The 5’10” Soper will blend in nicely with, 6’ jump shooter Kellie Reardon, 6’ hustler Katie Farino, and promising 5’11” frosh Amanda Keane so size will obviously not be a problem.  Add in the quickness and 3 point shooting of junior Kelsey Roberson who looked very good in a summer tourney that I saw and AC will be in the hunt again this winter.  The point job will be a battle between senior Laura Strelis and promising soph Lindsey Roche but both lack varsity game experience.  Ashley Daniels and Caroline Paladino give Brady excellent depth.  Playing in the incredibly tough Catholic League will be a challenge plus Andover and the Masco tourney in non-league affairs means they need to be ready every night or their tourney seeding will suffer.  If you were doing this Top 25 Poll, what would you do if they open like 2 and 5 as they may face 5 teams ranked above them in this poll in the first 7 games?

 

#18.   Barnstable (D1 S) – 17 – 4  Their returning senior guards are as good as any duo in the state in senior point Jill Lyons (Wendy’s High School Heisman Winner for Massachusetts) and long range bomber Morgan Kendrew.  Lyons has hands so fast she can probably steal hubcaps from moving cars.  She sees the floor well averaging 7 assists a game.  She can score having averaged 16 PPG and at close to 5’10” contributes a lot on the boards as well.  Kendrew pumped in 19 PPG last year and is another at close to 5’10” who is an excellent rebounder for a natural shooting guard.  Kendrew is getting lots of interest from D1 and D2 schools.  5’7” senior Margaret Cobb gives this club a strong defensive presence and is being looked at by D3 schools as well.  They did lose their rebounder and inside presence as Tashauna Ashmeade graduated (UMass Dartmouth) but look for 6’1” senior Lauren Bell to fill those shoes.  This strong senior leadership will be needed as they are playing Franklin in the strong Franklin Xmas Tourney and then possibly Durfee plus the Comcast in February.  Add in New Bedford along with the Cape foes Sandwich and Falmouth and the schedule is strong.  Teams with good seniors WIN…watch this club…

 

#19.   Melrose (D2 N) – 21 - 2 They return only 2 starters from last year’s super club but they are quality kids.  5’9” Meghan Kirwan at guard is being recruited by numerous D3 schools and also some D2’s and budding sophomore star 5’10” Siena Mamayek returns at center/power forward.  The athletic 6’ senior Emily Clark gives the Red Raiders much needed size though sophs Hannah Brickley and Laura Irwin can more than hold their own on the boards.  Promising soph Colleen Hanscom has some tough shoes to fill replacing all time great Shey Peddy (D1 Wright State) and vastly underrated Lynley DeAmato at the guard positions.  Another sophomore guard is 5’5” Nicole Meuse will also be a factor.  The Middlesex League will be solid and Melrose has an interesting Xmas Tourney at Peabody including Fenwick and defending New Hampshire state champs Winnacunnet.  This club will have an early season adjustment getting used to “life after Peddy” but will be one tough customer come tourney time. 

 

#20.   Carver (D3 S) – 22 – 1 This young club really made a mark last  year with a close 3 point loss to Fairhaven the only “L” on the docket.  They lost senior Tina Gillen but return key senior center Lakiesha Govoni inside and league all star leading scorer captain Ashley Fruzzetti now a sophomore.  Two other sophs were also key starters last year in point guard Ally Thatcher and 5’11” power forward Mari Meserve.  They gave Durfee all they could handle in a recent scrimmage.  Look for more good things from Coach Tony Pina’s club and a good measuring stick will be how they fare in their 2 games with D1 New Bedford.

 

#21.   Whitman Hanson (D2 S) – 18 – 6 Club has a strong returning core led by super junior Emily Trapp.  This 6’1” star is a scoring and rebounding machine.  Combo guard/forward Ali Hardiman is another junior with great credentials having been named an ACL all star last winter.  Seniors are always a key and they have 4 returning.  Katelyn Arouca and Alyssa Eich at the guards, Alicia Rideout is another combo player and 5’11” Brittany McGue will be in the middle.  Eich and Rideout are coming off ACL surgery.  The schedule is challenging with North Quincy and Quincy being tough in the league.  Ludlow in a Xmas Tourney and 2 with New Bedford and Rockland will also be tough matchups.

 

#22.   Westwood (D3 S) – 19 – 2 Do everything Globe All-Scholastic senior point guard Jill Greenberg returns and will be the engine that makes this club roll.  They lost shooter Ashley Logan but return 5 other seniors from last year’s strong club.  6’ Laura Maloney and 5’10” Paige Condon will control the inside while 5’10” Kara Powers can shoot the rock including some 3’s.  Meredith Frank gives them a defensive presence while 5’3” Colleen McGrail is a sparkplug with her energy on the floor.  Should defend their league title but will the overall schedule be tough enough to give them a better shot in the tourney this year??...Time will tell.

 

#23.   Walpole (D2 S) -- 12 – 7 This club went out in the 1st round of the states last year but I don’t think you’ll see a repeat of that come March.  They return 5’8” all-around senior leader Caroline Stedman who is a good one.  A strong junior class now has the experience needed for the Rebels to make some hay in the Bay State League and the South sectionals this year.  5’10” Sarah Roof will be the inside presence but she also has that sweet southpaw shooting form that all lefty’s possess and can nail the 15 footer as well.  Classmate Sydni Salvatore will be a fixture at one guard spot.  Mikhaila Ausbe, Lauren Bariski, and Courtney Gouthro will be strong contributors as well.  Schedule only shows 16 games and no tourneys…is that enough to be tourney tough?  Hope it’s a mistake on line…

 

#24.   Framingham – (D1 S) -- 16 – 8 Superstar Denise Beliveau now plays for D1 UNH and the Flyers graduated 2 other starters.  But 6’1” senior Kathleen King has looked excellent this fall and was a BSC All Star last year.  Classmate Bri Velasquez is a defensive stopper at guard who will be counted on a lot this year.  They have great size inside and will improve as the season goes on.  Sounded like they played real well against Franklin so may be a club to watch out for.  Their league is wide open and they play OA in the OA Xmas Tourney and could face Fairhaven after.  They host their own tourney in February meeting Milford in the opener and possibly Durfee the 2nd night.

 

#25.   New Mission (D4 N) – 22 – 3 Club is the defending D4 state champs and Coach Cory McCarthy thinks this years club will be one of the fastest around.  They lost 2 starters but return some high quality players.  Start with super soph Niesha Kelley who was a main cog in their title run as a frosh.  Miesha Reynolds will man the point and she had a great AAU season with the CT/Boston Select 15U team that went 5 and 1 at the Junior Nationals.  You’ll find the diminutive Huong Vu hanging out at the wing where she nailed 76 bombs from 3 point land last year.  First year Khadidja Ellison and fellow frosh Cheese Hall will also contribute.  Hall in particular has had some early publicity that she will someday soon be the best in the city.  Size will be an issue and this club is very young but favored to win the city title and may repeat in D4.

 

 

 

 

 

   

On the Cusp

Rockland (D3 S) – 19 – 3 They return Patriot Ledger All Scholastics  Jackie Bohenek and Stephanie Crawford so this club could move up quickly.

Peabody (D1 N) – 16 – 3 Tanners move to the Northeast Conference and could win it in their 1st year.  Graduated 5 quality seniors though losing Cruz, Moutsoulas, Macchi, Blodgett, and Ingersoll.  I like sophs Janelle Rodriguez and Ginny Fleming a lot so let’s keep an eye on Jane Heil’s crew.

 

Fontbonne Academy (D1 S) – 12 – 8 Ducks lost one senior starter so they return a bunch including Molly Rattigan, Alexis Peters, Amanda Driscoll, Kristen Penney and Sarah Simmons.  Schedule is tough so the record may be the same but very solid group.

 

Reading (D2 N) – 16 – 6 Lost quality talent in Mary Silvia (D1 Hartford), Tegan Atallah (D2 Mansfield), Carolyn Crampton (D3 Vassar)  and Meredith Gent (D1 volleyball at Providence).  Rockets do get the mercurial Jackie “24/7” Lyons back from an ACL and who looks better than ever by the way…plus her 3 point shooting running mate Cat Carey.  Very athletic club but will rebounding be a problem?

 

North Quincy (D1 S) – 16 - 5 Return 5’10” Patriot Ledger All Scholastic Becca Goreham and junior Siobhan Carnell from last year’s strong club.

 

Wilmington (D3 N) – 20 – 4 Lost key seniors Ashley Vitale (Endicott) and Brianne Bozzella (soccer at UMass Lowell).  But Coach Keane returns 3 starters in 5’11” combo guard Stephanie Sauve, 5’9” Saint Lawrence bound Alyssa Brown, and 5’10” Lauren Hitchens.   Challenging schedule playing out in the lovely woods of Bolton going against D1 Nashoba and possibly facing D1 power Algonquin or D2 St. Bernard’s plus 2 with Methuen and Salem, both D1 clubs, then toss in Masco, Ipswich, and Pentucket…now that’s “challenging.”

 

Lexington (D1 N) – 18 – 3 Lost Igoe, Needham, Boudreau, and Martini but return star point guard Nena Ugwuomo who flat out loves the game and I’ve heard she plays every day…gotta’ love that attitude.  Junior starting guard Micaela Cyr returns and 6’2” senior Stacey Linehan does as well.

 

Swampscott (D3 N) – 21 - 2 Lost Tenant, Driscoll, and Luke but do return multi-talented Allie Beaulieu and Tara Nimkar.

 

Mt. Alvernia (D4 N) – 15 - 5 Lost only 1 starter and return AIC bound star Michelle DeRoma plus 6’1” Mary O’Donnell in the middle with Olivia Joyce at the point and Mackenzie Gordon at a forward.  D4 North has some tough matchups but these kids could surprise.

 

Needham (D1 S) – 22 - 1 You don’t lose stars like Hart (Tufts and see below) and Mosgrove (D1 UMass) and not suffer somewhat.  Teams may get some pay back on Needham this year but not if the Ganser sisters can help it.  Christine is a 5’10” soph while Katie is a guard in their attack.  

 

 

 

 

Where are they now?...Sacred Heart freshman Maggie Cosgrove of Andover was named the Northeast Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week.  Cosgrove made her second career start at point guard in Sacred Heart's lone game of the week, a 70-52 victory over Binghamton. The freshman guard had 12 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 31 minutes of play en route to the win. All 12 of Cosgrove's points came from behind the arc as part of a 4-of-5 three-point shooting clip.  For the season, she is averaging 4.8 points while hitting a team-best 42.9% from behind the arc (6-14). …Needham’s Colleen Hart is the starting point guard on the undefeated (7 and 0) D3 Tufts University Jumbos.  Hart leads the team in minutes played with close to 34 minutes each game, in assists at 5 per game, and is 2nd in scoring averaging 12 points a contest.  She is shooting 50% on 3 pointers and…get this… is PERFECT at the line making all 26 free throws to date!.... Who says you need to be over 6’ to play well in college??

Anyways…enough for now…again, feel free to e-mail me at coachstorm5@comcast.net with corrections on anything and also with information on where players plan to play in college next year if you want that news made public.

 

Gotta' run folks!…  Remember…  “No ability without eligibility!”