Coach Storm’s EMass Top 25

Written by Tom Hellen

January 28, 2008

Somerville MA – Early things I think I think about the state tourney right now…In D1 Lowell has the most pieces as they can beat you inside with the Wilson twins…outside with Rivera, Rogers and Cavanaugh…they can defend…they have depth with 9 kids who can play…and they have quality seniors.  Andover has the quality seniors with like 10 of them and they are quality…I love Lauren Hughes’ game as she is so fundamentally sound and works hard but she is only 5’9” so they lack that 6’1” kid to match up with Lowell inside.  A sleeper in the North right now is Central Catholic…they have the pieces but still trying to get it together.

In the South Brockton has the tradition, the speed and quickness, their great defense and a stud senior inside in Taryn Johnson.  Barnstable has the great senior backcourt in Jill Lyons and Morgan Kendrew and they could be peaking at the right time.  New Bedford has the tough schedule which could cost them a home game and that could be a killer but boy will they be battle tested. 

Next week we’ll take a look at D2.  Anyways…check it out and see who moved up and who moved down and always feel free to e-mail me at coachstorm5@comcast.net with any comments or post a comment on the new forum if I ever have time to figure that thing out…LOL. 

NOW	LAST WEEK	DESCRIPTION
#1.	#1.	Cardinal Spellman (D3 S) – 12 - 0 They just keep rolling along…best Spellman team ever?
#2.	#2.	Bishop Feehan (D2 S) – 12 – 0 Killed Stang and Stang beat Durfee so should beat Durfee at home right?
#3.	#3.	Lowell (D1 N) – 12 – 1 Best team “on paper” in EMass in this writer’s opinion but…what do I know?
#4.	#5.	Masconomet (D2 N) – 11 – 1 Just want them to get to Super Bowl Sunday at Central Catholic with 1 loss to see where both clubs really at.
#5.	#6.	Andover (D1 N) – 12 – 2 – Should whup Haverhill Tuesday but then end with Central Catholic, Lowell, Archies, Pentucket and scrappy Billerica…quite an ending schedule…can you say battle tested??
#6.	#7.	Pentucket (D3 N) – 10 – 1 Interesting week at Wilmington (Sauve’s hurt though) and at Ipswich…can’t wait for thy Andover game on 2/10.
#7.	#8.	Brockton (D1 S) – 11 – 1 Should get 2 “W’s” this week to stay in line as the top ranked D1 South team.
#8.	#9.	Walpole (D2 S) -- 11 – 1 Can Needham give them a go??  Doubt it…should win 2 this week.
#9.	#3.	Archbishop Williams (D3 S) – 9 – 3 – A loss is a loss even against a good NY club so with 3 losses gotta’ move the Archies down a bit.  Hosting AC in a doozy this Tuesday…
#10.	#10.	Winthrop (D3 N) – 10 – 1 Almost upset by Revere which would have dropped the Vikings down some but they hung on.  Hosting Peabody Tanners Tuesday who may be down after getting beat by Swampscott.
#11.	#11.	Lincoln-Sudbury (D2 N) – 11 – 1 Good win over Westford with strong defense but the turnovers against the press and the missed free throws (only 17 of 35) could spell the death knell come tourney time.
#12.	#15.	Swampscott (D3 N) – 12 - 1 Huge road win at Peabody and favored to win both home tilts this week setting up next biggie at Winthrop on the 5^th.
#13.	#16.	Acton Boxborough (D1 N) -- 11 – 1 Would be nice to see them hit the road to Westford and L-S at 13 and 1 wouldn’t it??
#14.	#17.	Melrose (D2 N) – 12 - 2 Yep…rounding into form on both ends of the court after dismantling upstart Belmont by 14.  Could run the table and peak right at tourney time…a club to watch in D2 North.
#15.	#12.	Westford (D2 N) 10 – 3 – Losing super quick point guard Jocelyn Veilleux with a knee problem for a few weeks is not what the doctor ordered…Ghosts missed her “D” and transition offense big time against L-S.
#16.	#13.	Peabody (D1 N) – 10 – 2 The week off hurt more than it helped against Swampscott…better rally quick cause Winthrop’s next!
#17.	#19.	Dighton Rehoboth – (D2 S) -- 11 – 2 Okay good point they lost to Fairhaven head-to-head but we’ll leave the rankings as is until they meet again next Friday…assuming both win Tuesday night.
#18.	#20.	Whitman Hanson (D2 S) – 12 – 2 Props to Emily Trapp going for 38 to get her 1,000^th point in her junior year.  Rugged week @ No. Quincy and hosting New Bedford…let’s see what they are made of.
#19.	#22.	Westwood (D3 S) – 11 – 1 Bet they can’t wait for Medway rematch on the road on 2/5.
#20.	#23.	Fairhaven – (D3 S) -- 13 – 3 Fairhaven Friday night and New Bedford on 2/7 will be fun…another club rounding into peak form.
#21.	#14.	Franklin (D1 S) – 10 - 3 Losing by 16 to solid Sharon club…but Sharon without Rehnquist???...starting to wonder about the Panthers…need to beat OA, Canton and Brockton to prove they are as good as I thought.
#22.	#24.	Barnstable (D1 S) – 10 – 3 Can they run the table and win the Comcast?  If so, they will be one tough out in the states…quality seniors win and they have a fabulous backcourt with seniors Lyons and Kendrew.
#23.	#25.	New Bedford (D1 S) – 8 – 3 Great schedule left…2 tilts with Carver and W-H, at Fairhaven, Durfee, and Somerset and hosting Brockton…get through that and Whalers may be there at the end in D1 South.
#24.	#18.	Belmont (D2 N) – 11 – 2 Tough to beat Melrose 2x in one season…maybe I should say that’s impossible…good win over Lex though.
#25.	Cusp	Oliver ames (D1 S) – 11 – 2 Should get 2 this week setting up rematch for possible Hock title with Franklin on 2/6.

On the Cusp

Reading (D2 N) – 10 – 2 Halfway there to controlling destiny…win out including 3 straight over  Melrose, Lexington, and Belmont and get a share of league title.

Central Catholic (D1 N) – 9 – 3 Confidence continues to build and it’s needed as this is the week that is…at Lowell, at Andover, and then hosting Masco Super Bowl Sunday…whoa doctor!

Arlington Catholic (D2 N) – 7 - 4 Cougars have quietly won 3 in a row but now visit the Archies Tuesday…does Brady have all the bugs worked out? We’ll know soon.

New Mission (D4 N) – 11 – 1 Still pointing to rematch with Brighton…could win the rest and city title if they can get confidence over Mahoney’s tough Brightonites.

Falmouth (D1 S) – 9 – 3 Two of their 3 losses to rugged Barnstable but thay have a quality win over ranked W-H so the Clippers are on board here.

Medway (D3 S) – 11 – 1 Hope they win 2 this week to set up dream rematch for Tri Valley title on 2/5.

Rockland (D3 S) -- 10 – 2 Back in the groove and need to stay there to get good tourney seed.

Silver Lake (D2 S) – 11 – 2 Losing at home to Duxbury and Marshfield doesn’t bode well…still have to play these 2 on the road now.

Lexington (D1 N) – 8 – 4 As Bill Parcells says…”You are what you are” and Lex is a team that defines the phrase “close but no cigar” dropping 2 each to Belmont and Melrose by a combined total of 17 points…

Sacred Heart (D4 S) – 11 – 1 Starting to get my attention…can they win at Coyle-Cassidy in the rematch next week?...If not, could be one and done on this list.

Pope John (D3 N) – 10 – 1 Any club with “A-Mac” has a shot in any game…only loss to Winthrop by a respectable 9 points.

Where are They Now????

Send me some ideas on players you wonder where they are at now and how are they doing…ok? 

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