Coach Storm’s EMass Top 25

Written by Tom Hellen

January 2, 2008

 

Somerville MA – Okay now we have a body of work where we can get some kind of handle on who belongs in what spot and who doesn’t belong at this point.  The “undefeateds” are dropping like flies just like we thought as the Xmas Tourneys all brought together tough teams playing other tough teams and someone has to lose.  I still think playing strong competition is the way to go to get you ready for the states so teams can learn from these battles what it will be like come March. 

 

Did I screw up or what?  If not, then how can I have to now insert 8 teams into the Top 25 that weren’t in the Pre-Season Poll?  Simple…all the rugged competition my original Top 25 faced over Xmas is why.  My guess is that this Poll will be somewhat “fluid” this year as teams that started slow due to a hard schedule will get back in gear now that league play is starting.  Those teams on fire right now have made a name for themselves and will have a bullseye on their backs the rest of the season…can they deal with that and sustain their early success?  Time will tell. A Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

 

 

Top 25 Rankings

NOW

LAST WEEK

DESCRIPTION

#1.       

#2.

Cardinal Spellman (D3 S) – 5 - 0 Great body of work so far with a tough win at Masco in OT then winning their own Xmas Tourney championship beating Connecticut power and defending state champ Mercy High in the title game.

#2.

#9.        

Bishop Feehan (D2 S) – 5 – 0 Scoring 62 points a night…beat strong Fairhaven twice…won their Xmas tournament…’nuff said!

#3.

#1.        

Archbishop Williams (D3 S) – 5 – 1 – Impressive showing in the Big Apple but did lose a tough one to JFK from the Bronx.  Duffy impressed Winthrop, SC and James Madison, two D 1 schools, and made All Tourney team.  Capello scored 21 in one tilt and named Honorable Mention All Tourney team. 

#4.

#6.        

Lincoln-Sudbury (D2 N) – 4 – 0 They did go into Westford and win in double OT and this club should get better all the time as life without Swords is off to a good start.

#5.

#5.        

Andover (D1 N) – 5 – 1 – Lowell win was outstanding as Thomann reigned down 6 bombs from 3 point land ending with 24.  Renfro’s “D” on Rivera was telling also plus coaches decision to double Rivera in the backcourt to force her to give up the rock was a key factor as well.  Lady Warriors show the value of strong seniors as Hughes had 10 points and 11 boards while Camille Fantini scored 10 and had 5 assists.  17 assists led by Cohen’s 6 and only 8 turnovers.  “As the World Turns” took over and Thomann got hurt and they lose to Pinckerton in the tourney finals…

#6.

#3.        

Lowell (D1 N) – 6 – 1 Looked so great destroying Central Catholic but then got beaten solidly by Andover though they played without Whitney Wilson.  Twin sis Brianna did her best scoring 11 and pulling down 14 boards but it wasn’t enough.  Smoked athletic Methuen on the rebound though as Rivera threw in 36 to break an 18 year old tourney record.

#7.

#7.        

Masconomet (D2 N) – 4 – 1 Learned a lot in tough OT loss to Spellman as new players got some great experience in pressure situations…especially Merry DeAngelis who hit some big 3’s down the stretch…may have helped them win their own Xmas Tourney with strong “W” over Westford.

#8.

#11.      

Pentucket (D3 N) – 6 – 0 This club is doing what it should so far but we need the home game vs. Masco on 1/15 to get a true barometer of how good they are and then there is this interesting road game at Andover on 2/10….hmmm.

#9.

#12.      

Brockton (D1 S) – 5 – 0 Big 3 power looks rock solid so far and the 2 tilts with Franklin should be fun to see with the ‘burbs heading to Boxerville and vice versa.

#10.

Cusp   

Rockland (D3 S) 5 – 0 – Thought they might move up fast but this is real fast. Great win over W-H sets the tone.

#11.

#21.      

Whitman Hanson (D2 S) – 5 – 1 Tough road loss at Rockland by 17 is the only blemish but 2 double digit wins over Sandwich give us a truer picture of this club.

#12.

#8.        

Franklin (D1 S) – 4 - 1 The Panthers have to be disappointed with loss by 1 to D3 Hopedale after gutty win over D1 rival Barnstable but loss may be a blessing in the long run…’gotta be ready all 32 minutes all the time.  Home tilt with Hock foe OA Friday will say a lot about both teams.

#13.

#23.      

Walpole (D2 S) -- 4 – 1 Club traveled to CT and split beating Bristol and losing by 1 to Westhill with 15 seconds left.

#14.

#15.      

Winthrop (D3 N) – 4 – 1 Tough road loss to Swampscott when Mallios rolled an ankle but may help in the long run knowing they have to be ready for prime time each and every night.

#15.

#10.      

Westford (D2 N) 4 – 2 – Grey Ghosts lost bitter battle in OT game to rival L-S at home but beat a solid AC club before losing on the road at Masco in the Masco tourney championship.

#16.

Cusp   

Fontbonne (D1 S) – 4 – 1 Ducks win Somerville tourney led by Alexis Peters MVP.  Only loss a close 3 point game to Brockton.

#17.

Cusp   

Reading (D2 N) – 4 – 0 Solid start for this athletic and well coached group.  Hosting Melrose Friday night at 7…hmmm….will the Lyons family finally get a win over their bitter rival???

#18.

Cusp

Peabody (D1 N) – 5 – 1 Tanners didn’t set their own tourney up right picking tough Winnacunet, NH to open with and paid the price.  Flawless other than that though.

#19.

#25.

New Mission (D4 N) – 4 – 0 This D4 power left the comfort zone of Beantown to venture out to WMass and took down D1 Chicopee and D2 power Monument Mountain with soph Niesha Kelley almost going for a quadruple double in one tilt.  Bianca Flores pumping in 22 a game.

#20.

#22.

Westwood (D3 S) – 4 – 0 Williams bound Jill Greenberg and her mates doing a replay of last winter to start…hope the ending is different though.

#21.

#18.

Barnstable (D1 S) – 4 – 2 Gave Franklin all they could handle in 6 point loss at Franklin then smoked Falmouth so they are rounding into form.  Dartmouth bound Jill Lyons popping in close to 25 a game and Morgan Kendrew appears to be 100% healthy now also.

#22.

Cusp

Swampscott (D3 N) – 6 - 1 Lost to Pentucket but beat Winthrop for a quality win…Beaulieu and Nimkar doing their thing.

#23.

Missed

Oliver ames (D1 S) – 6 – 0  Winning their own tourney with a tough OT victory over Framingham and then downing D1 Bridgewater means they are now on the radar screen…can they win at Franklin Friday night in a key Hock game though???

#24.

Missed

Belmont (D2 N) – 5 – 0 Great start with road win at Lexington and home stunner over Melrose…gotta’ watch these Marauders now.

#25.

Missed

Silver Lake (D2 S) – 5 – 0  Who are these guys??  Help me here.

         

                  

On the Cusp

Melrose (D2 N) – 4 - 2 Two losses by a total of 4 points hurts but 2 losses are 2 losses.

Lynn English (D1 N) -- 5 – 1  Surprise…surprise…surprise…need a quality win to move up though.

New Bedford (D1 S) – 2 – 2 Lost to Spellman and Barnstable so no shame there but smoked a 4 and 0 Somerset team so they may be getting untracked now.

Fairhaven – (D3 S)  5 – 3 Tough way to start with back-to-back losses vs. #4 ranked Bishop Feehan but too much talent here so they’ll rally.

Central Catholic (D1 N) – 3 – 3 They may have a longer Lucas/Grange transition than Coach Sue Downer would like but we’ll keep an eye on them to see if the strides are being made.  Katie Z, Vienneau, Dunn…too many good players for it not to get done.

Arlington Catholic (D2 N) – 3 - 3 The Cougars lose to Archies after out playing them most of the way…then to a talented Westford team and NH power Londonderry…they’ll be back soon….or will they??...a roadie at Andover on Monday 1/7 followed by a home tilt with Spellman on 1/11…suicide schedule so far and the story goes that Soper got hurt in practice recently.

Carver (D3 S) – 4 – 2 Not sneaking up on anyone this year so they need to be ready for war each and every night.

Framingham – (D1 S) -- 3 – 2 Solid start but tough OT loss to OA despite 30 points by Kathleen King ruined the momentum so Fairhaven beat them up a bit in the consolation tilt.  

Lexington (D1 N) – 2 – 2 Tough going early but losing at Melrose no surprise and Belmont is proving to be an upstart this winter.

Durfee (D1 S) – 2 – 3  Injury to Plasski may have mentally killed this team for a stretch.  Still time to recover though as they have talent.

 

 

 

Where are They Now???

 
Former Ipswich star Megan Berry has become a starter as a sophomore at D2 UMass Lowell and is scoring 7 points a game including 14 and 16 the last 2 games.  Braintree’s Stephanie Geehan is a soph at D1 Fairfield and has started all 13 games scoring about 8 points a game with 9 boards and leads the team with 15 blocks. The Stags are off to a great start with a 10 and 3 record.  Ursuline’s all time best player Molly Griffiths has started all 13 games as a frosh at Assumption College scoring over 9 points a game and is the team’s 2nd leading rebounder.  Assumption is also off to a great start winning 10 of their 1st 13 tilts.  Two former NE 10 superstars are now plying their trade professionally in Italy.  Somerville and Merrimack all time great Joelle Martin and Bentley star Kerry Flynn from Rockland are doing their thing over in Europe.
 

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