Coach Storm’s EMass Top 25

Written by Tom Hellen

January 12, 2008

 

 Somerville MA – The lyrics from that old song keep popping up in my head…”…and another one (Westwood)…and another one (Reading)…and another one bites the dust  (L-S)” and Rockland, New Mission, Sacred Heart also fell from the ranks of the undefeated…list keeps shrinking and shrinking.  Only 4 teams in the poll or on the Cusp still have an unblemished record.  But this week could have us singing the same tune again though as Spellman has the Archies this Friday…Brockton has rivalry games with Durfee and New Bedford this week…Pentucket hosts #5 Masco…hmmm.  Bishop Feehan has a shot as I think they’ll be favored in their last 12 games…doesn’t mean they’ll win them all but on paper will be the choice to survive.  Then there is that game/scrimmage issue with their “match” with LaSalle Academy of Rhode Island who scored more points than Feehan when Feehan came to town….who knows… 

 

Anyways…mucho changes again with the activity over the last ten days or so.  Check it out and always feel free to e-mail me at coachstorm5@comcast.net with any comments or post a comment on the new forum. 

 

 

Top 25 Rankings

 

NOW

LAST WEEK

DESCRIPTION

#1.       

#1.

Cardinal Spellman (D3 S) – 8 - 0 Passed big test with nice road win at AC…AND…won without Sheleuber to nail the 3’s….sprained knee but MRI okay so she’ll be back soon…visit tough Fenwick Tuesday and then host Archies Friday…the one everyone has been waiting for.

#2.

#2.        

Bishop Feehan (D2 S) – 8 – 0 Wins over solid clubs in Stang and Fontbonne this week and did what they had to do against Bishop Connolly.…not sure on the RI game/scrimmage so…stays as is for now.

#3.

#3.        

Archbishop Williams (D3 S) – 6 – 1 – Only one game lately but rugged stretch coming @ Fontbonne, ND of Hingham, @ Spellman and Mary Louis of NY…challenging to say the least! 

#4.

#6.        

Lowell (D1 N) – 8 – 1 Wake up call in Andover loss worked as they got back on track winning rematch with Lady Warriors…I think they have shut the snooze alarm off for good.

#5.

#7.        

Masconomet (D2 N) – 7 – 1 Romeo’s charges are rockin’ and rollin’ winning good home tilt with Ipswich…heading on huge roadie at Pentucket Tuesday…will they get a payback for last year’s loss??

#6.

#8.        

Pentucket (D3 N) – 9 – 0 Closest contest to date is 16 point win over Swampscott.  Been pointing to the huge home tilt with Masco on Tuesday 1/15 all year…and they have a week off to get ready...fun night ahead.

#7.

#9.        

Brockton (D1 S) – 8 – 0 Boxers solid beating of Franklin bodes well come tourney time…now they play bitter Big 3 rivals Durfee and New Bedford…will they send 2 more messages to their D1 South foes?

#8.

#5.        

Andover (D1 N) – 8 – 2 – Thomann hurt…Thomann healthy….Thomann hits 3’s…but not enough to match Lowell’s size.

#9.

#11.      

Whitman Hanson (D2 S) – 9 – 1 Club plays tough “Man” D…Trapp is the real deal and Ali Hardiman is a perfect complement…tough kid who sees the floor and can score…New Bedford twice plus Rockland will be true tests down the stretch.

#10.

#13.     

Walpole (D2 S) -- 7 – 1 Class of the Bay State League so far…can Wellesley test them??…1 point away from perfection…

#11.

#14.      

Winthrop (D3 N) – 7 – 1 Vikes get the Lynn twins this week with Classical Tuesday and then the big one hosting English Friday.

#12.

#4.        

Lincoln-Sudbury (D2 N) – 7 – 1 Oops…AB surprised them in tough road loss…should hold serve this week then Westford comes to town on the 22nd for round 2.

#13.

#15.      

Westford (D2 N) 7 – 2 – Grey Ghosts can’t wait to hit the road for rematch with L-S on the 22nd but need to 1st take care of business this week.

#14.

#18.      

Peabody (D1 N) – 8 – 1 Tanners hope to tune up on Marblehead and Saugus before midterm tests with Swampscott and Winthrop must be passed.

#15.

#12.      

Franklin (D1 S) – 7 - 2 Panther loss to Brockton Boxers hurts their pride but will it be a lesson learned for the rematch and the state tourney??

#16.

#10.     

Rockland (D3 S) 7 – 1 – Low game of 59 and high of 68…and then Silver Lake surprised them holding them to 47 points.  Interesting match with D3 CMass power Hopedale (beat Franklin) next Tuesday…

#17.

#22.     

Swampscott (D3 N) – 9 - 1 Big Blue keeps chalking up the W’s…road game at Lynn English on the horizon however…hmmm.

#18.

Missed

Acton Boxborough (D1 N) -- 7 – 1 Great win at home over L-S plus gave Westford all they could handle losing by 6.  Graduated 9 from last year so I thought they’d be down…my bad…sorry Coach Gallant!

#19.

Cusp

Melrose (D2 N) – 8 - 2 The Red Raiders are now adjusting to the Post-Peddy period so look out Middlesex League.

#20.

Cusp

Lynn English (D1 N) -- 8 – 1  Hogan’s Heroes puttin’ a hurtin’ on their hardwood foes…chance to prove they are for real as they host Swampscott and travel to Winthrop this week.

#21.

#23.

Oliver ames (D1 S) – 9 – 1 Road loss at Franklin by 20 had to be deflating but this well coached club came right back with 2 Hock wins. 

#22.

#24.

Belmont (D2 N) – 8 – 1 Rollin’ along until Reading Rockets ruin their unbeaten record.

#23.

#25.

Silver Lake (D2 S) – 8 – 1 Senior laden Lakers looked past Duxbury but reversed course and took out previously unbeaten Rockland.

#24.

#20.

Westwood (D3 S) – 7 – 1 Medway has Katy Howard and she’s got game so Greenberg’ girls go down for the 1st time.  Experience of a tight game may help come tourney time and for the road trip to Medway soon.

#25.

Cusp

Fairhaven – (D3 S) -- 9 – 3 Won 9 of 10…as posted on MassLive…”the Devils are baaccccckkkk.”

         

                  

On the Cusp

Dighton Rehoboth – (D2 S)  7 – 2 Tough loss to Fairhaven by 3 and to solid Stang by 2 are their only blemishes.

New Bedford (D1 S) – 5 – 3 Lost to all ranked clubs and have big week coming up with Carver and Brockton…Would 2 wins get them back in???

Barnstable (D1 S) – 7 – 3 Disappointing 6 point loss to New Bedford but should be favored to win next 8 games until the true tests in the Comcast. 

New Mission (D4 N) – 7 – 1 Can you say “Run and Gun”…quickest team around chalking up 68 points a game…fun to play for Coach Cory Mc….loss to solid Brighton bumped them down though.

Carver (D3 S) – 8 – 2 Monday night matchup at D1 New Bedford could put them back in the poll or will they be a “Cusp” club until the rematch??

Reading (D2 N) – 6 – 2 Another loss to Melrose followed by tough OT loss at Lexington could have ruined their season but rebounded with solid effort to knock Belmont from the unbeaten ranks…but they need to get more quality wins to return to the poll.

Notre Dame of Hingham (D2 S) -- 7 – 2 Only losses to Brockton and at Andover…who are these girls? 

Arlington Catholic (D2 N) – 4 - 4 Losses all to Top 13 ranked teams.  Brady still trying to fit all the pieces together but needs some “W’s” soon for confidence.

Fontbonne (D1 S) – 4 – 4 Lost to #1, #2, #7, and up and coming ND of Hingham…oh...and they play the Archies next…another suicide schedule.

Central Catholic (D1 N) – 5 – 3 Billerica is a solid club but the old Central teams win by more than one point…will be favored next 4 games and need to make some progress soon or could be a short post season this year for Coach Sue Downer and her troops.

 

 

 

Where are They Now???

 

Former Lynn Classical great Monique Lee is a starter for D1 Quinnipiac who currently sport an 11 and 2 record.  Lee scores at an 11 points per game clip while pulling down 8 boards each night and leading the club in blocked shots….Former Cambridge star Stephanie Darden is now the starting point guard for D2 Bridgeport.  Bridgeport has struggled a little with a 5 and 8 record but Darden still fills up a stat sheet scoring 8 points per game with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and leads the team in steals….Former Woburn hoop star Val Beckwith is enjoying her 3rd banner year for D3 Bates who sport an 8 and 4 record to date.  This scoring machine is pumping in close to 17 markers a game to lead the team and she also is the club leader in steals.  Congrats to all the ex-Mass high school stars who are lighting it up in the college ranks. 

 

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