Basketball Review: On top of their game
By: Dan Ventura
Often times, we are guilty of hyperbole when discussing athletic greatness at any level.
That said, we present a case for the Braintree girls team and its place in state history. The Wamps put themselves in that all-time conversation by going undefeated and becoming just the fifth Division 1 girls team in history to repeat its state championship. In starting three future Div. 1 college players (Ashley Russell, Molly Reagan and Bridget Herlihy) and a fourth (junior Brianna Herlihy) who is soon to attain that status, it is not out of the realm to call them the best girls team ever.
Duxbury joined Braintree among the ranks of the undefeated in the 2014-15 season while Archbishop Williams rolled to its second Div. 3 state title in three years. Like Braintree, Millis was successfully able to defend its state title, defeating Fenway for the Div. 4 crown.
On the boys side of the ledger, Catholic Memorial had been inching closer to a Div. 1 state title. And this season, the Knights kicked the door down, dethroning two-time defending champion Putnam Vocational of Springfield to take home the school’s first Div. 1 championship since 1969.
Danvers, meanwhile, was the picture of perfection, winning all 27 of its games en route to its third state championship in four years, the first one at the Div. 2 level. Old Rochester (Div. 3) and Hamilton-Wenham (Div. 4) proved to be worthy champions, fully capable of competing in higher divisions.
In keeping with Herald tradition, we offer
one last look at the 2014-2015 season:
MOST MEMORABLE TOURNAMENT GAMES
BOYS
• Catholic Memorial 80, Putnam 70 — The Knights took down the two-time defending state champions — and did it in much the same fashion as they had all year, rallying late and stomping on the accelerator in the fourth quarter to pull away,
• Andover 86, Lawrence 79 — The Div. 1 North quarterfinal battle between MVC rivals needed two overtimes to determine a winner.
• Taunton 74, Quincy 68 — Cory Green posted 29 points as the Tigers rallied from a four-point deficit in the final 35 seconds to win in overtime in the Div. 1 South quarterfinal.
• Tewksbury 58, Belmont 56 — The back-and-forth affair went down to the final seconds before the Redmen prevailed to advance to the Div. 2 North semifinals.
GIRLS
• Cathedral 52, Greater New Bedford Voke 48 — The baby boomers from Cathedral rose to the challenge and knocked off three-time defending Div. 4 South champion GNB.
• Fenway 51, New Mission 49 — This was a wild and crazy Div. 4 North semifinal between the city rivals, one in which the Panthers somehow survived on a Jaqualah Holliman layup in the final seconds.
• Winthrop 47, St. Mary’s 44 — The Vikings ousted the defending Div. 3 state champions en route to a Div. 3 North sectional title.
• Mansfield 60, Taunton 54 — The Hornets roared back from a four-point deficit in the final seconds to force overtime, then went on to defeat the Hilltoppers to reach the Div. 1 South semifinals.
FINAL TEAM RANKINGS
BOYS
1. Catholic Memorial (23-2): Hard to find a team in recent memory which had a tougher four-game run to glory than the Knights.
2. Cambridge (21-3): The Falcons rode a terrific backcourt tandem to the Division 1 North title.
3. Danvers (27-0): What a run for the Falcons, three state titles in five years.
4. Newton North (22-3): The Tigers ran into a buzzsaw in Catholic Memorial in the Div. 1 South semifinals.
5. Mansfield (23-3): It won’t be easy replacing the B and B boys (Ryan Boulter and Michael Boen)
6. St. John’s Prep (18-5): A late-season win over Putnam helped fuel a long tournament run for the Eagles.
7. Westford Academy (22-3): The Grey Ghosts won the Div. 1 Central title before falling to Putnam in the state semifinals.
8. Arlington (22-2): The Spy Ponders gave Danvers all it could handle in the Div. 2 North final.
9. Brighton (20-5): If the Bengals can keep all their pieces in place, they might very well be the team to beat in Div. 2.
10. Tewksbury (20-5): The Redmen had one of their best seasons in decades.
GIRLS
1. Braintree (25-0): Greatest team ever? The Wamps certainly made a compelling argument for that claim.
2. Bishop Feehan (20-3): In most years, the Shamrocks would have been the favorite to win Div. 1.
3. Duxbury (26-0): Terrific defense and sound fundamental play paved the way for an undefeated season.
4. Archbishop Williams (21-7): When the Bishops were good, they were very good.
5. Andover (22-3): The Golden Warriors back in the limelight.
6. Watertown (21-1): The Red Raiders have come a long, long way in a short period of time.
7. Billerica (20-4): Solid season ended one game short of the parquet.
8. Chelmsford (19-4): The Lions certainly proved their mettle in the ultra-competitive Merrimack Valley Conference.
9. Foxboro (21-3): Terrific run for the Warriors behind Hockomock League Player of the Year Katherine Tamulionis.
10. Pentucket (23-2): The Sachems will certainly miss the Mac Attack next year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT SEASON
BOYS
• Noah Fernandes, Old Rochester
• Kellan Grady, Catholic Memorial
• Jakigh Dottin, Cambridge
• Wabissa Bede, North Andover
• Jack Loughnane, BC High
• Anthony Silfa, Lynn English
• Marcus Zegarowski, Hamilton-Wenham
• Matt Hanna, Catholic Memorial
• Maurice Works, East Boston
GIRLS
• Brianna Herlihy, Braintree
• Alyssa Casey, Andover
• Emily Chang, Newton South
• Joie Grassi, Plymouth North
• Anna Kelly, Lexington
• Claire Markey, Chelmsford
• Takora McIntyre, Fenway
• Shannon Murphy, Watertown
• Jen Worden, Abington
THE ANNUAL GRIPES
• This one boggles the mind. The MIAA constantly promotes the theme of sportsmanship and the goal of providing a great positive experience for schools and student-athletes. That said, it needs to take a serious look at the conduct of some of the people in its employ. Once again, a pair of MIAA female workers chose to put their 15 minutes of fame to good use at TD Garden, deciding to take their powers to another level. One coach was dressed down for having the temerity to stop and say hello to a member of the media in the hallway, while a winning team trotted off the court to the chant of “Hurry up, get off the court.” I understand the need to keep things moving, but I don’t think this is the way the MIAA wants to promote its product.
• The MIAA should do something to ensure that all sectional finals are played on the same day. With all due respect to Catholic Memorial, you can’t tell me that Cambridge wasn’t at a disadvantage in the state semifinals playing on less recovery time. Catholic Memorial played its sectional final on Friday, while Cambridge played on Saturday, giving the Falcons one day of rest before Monday’s state semifinal at TD Garden.
• I love how the prep school piranhas justify the poaching of local stars by claiming they are doing it in the best interests of the player. Funny how the preps never seem to go after a team’s 13th man on the roster. Heck, he or she is the one who needs the help more than the stars in most cases.
• I don’t understand how the MIAA can stage games in facilities in which wireless is not, or not allowed to be, available. I know for some, it is not a big deal, but for those who work in the media to report on these game, it is essential.
• The growing number of exempt games (those that are excluded from postseason qualification standings) begs the obvious question: If the games don’t count, should any stats accrued by a player in those games count toward their career totals?
By: Dan Ventura
Often times, we are guilty of hyperbole when discussing athletic greatness at any level.
That said, we present a case for the Braintree girls team and its place in state history. The Wamps put themselves in that all-time conversation by going undefeated and becoming just the fifth Division 1 girls team in history to repeat its state championship. In starting three future Div. 1 college players (Ashley Russell, Molly Reagan and Bridget Herlihy) and a fourth (junior Brianna Herlihy) who is soon to attain that status, it is not out of the realm to call them the best girls team ever.
Duxbury joined Braintree among the ranks of the undefeated in the 2014-15 season while Archbishop Williams rolled to its second Div. 3 state title in three years. Like Braintree, Millis was successfully able to defend its state title, defeating Fenway for the Div. 4 crown.
On the boys side of the ledger, Catholic Memorial had been inching closer to a Div. 1 state title. And this season, the Knights kicked the door down, dethroning two-time defending champion Putnam Vocational of Springfield to take home the school’s first Div. 1 championship since 1969.
Danvers, meanwhile, was the picture of perfection, winning all 27 of its games en route to its third state championship in four years, the first one at the Div. 2 level. Old Rochester (Div. 3) and Hamilton-Wenham (Div. 4) proved to be worthy champions, fully capable of competing in higher divisions.
In keeping with Herald tradition, we offer
one last look at the 2014-2015 season:
MOST MEMORABLE TOURNAMENT GAMES
BOYS
• Catholic Memorial 80, Putnam 70 — The Knights took down the two-time defending state champions — and did it in much the same fashion as they had all year, rallying late and stomping on the accelerator in the fourth quarter to pull away,
• Andover 86, Lawrence 79 — The Div. 1 North quarterfinal battle between MVC rivals needed two overtimes to determine a winner.
• Taunton 74, Quincy 68 — Cory Green posted 29 points as the Tigers rallied from a four-point deficit in the final 35 seconds to win in overtime in the Div. 1 South quarterfinal.
• Tewksbury 58, Belmont 56 — The back-and-forth affair went down to the final seconds before the Redmen prevailed to advance to the Div. 2 North semifinals.
GIRLS
• Cathedral 52, Greater New Bedford Voke 48 — The baby boomers from Cathedral rose to the challenge and knocked off three-time defending Div. 4 South champion GNB.
• Fenway 51, New Mission 49 — This was a wild and crazy Div. 4 North semifinal between the city rivals, one in which the Panthers somehow survived on a Jaqualah Holliman layup in the final seconds.
• Winthrop 47, St. Mary’s 44 — The Vikings ousted the defending Div. 3 state champions en route to a Div. 3 North sectional title.
• Mansfield 60, Taunton 54 — The Hornets roared back from a four-point deficit in the final seconds to force overtime, then went on to defeat the Hilltoppers to reach the Div. 1 South semifinals.
FINAL TEAM RANKINGS
BOYS
1. Catholic Memorial (23-2): Hard to find a team in recent memory which had a tougher four-game run to glory than the Knights.
2. Cambridge (21-3): The Falcons rode a terrific backcourt tandem to the Division 1 North title.
3. Danvers (27-0): What a run for the Falcons, three state titles in five years.
4. Newton North (22-3): The Tigers ran into a buzzsaw in Catholic Memorial in the Div. 1 South semifinals.
5. Mansfield (23-3): It won’t be easy replacing the B and B boys (Ryan Boulter and Michael Boen)
6. St. John’s Prep (18-5): A late-season win over Putnam helped fuel a long tournament run for the Eagles.
7. Westford Academy (22-3): The Grey Ghosts won the Div. 1 Central title before falling to Putnam in the state semifinals.
8. Arlington (22-2): The Spy Ponders gave Danvers all it could handle in the Div. 2 North final.
9. Brighton (20-5): If the Bengals can keep all their pieces in place, they might very well be the team to beat in Div. 2.
10. Tewksbury (20-5): The Redmen had one of their best seasons in decades.
GIRLS
1. Braintree (25-0): Greatest team ever? The Wamps certainly made a compelling argument for that claim.
2. Bishop Feehan (20-3): In most years, the Shamrocks would have been the favorite to win Div. 1.
3. Duxbury (26-0): Terrific defense and sound fundamental play paved the way for an undefeated season.
4. Archbishop Williams (21-7): When the Bishops were good, they were very good.
5. Andover (22-3): The Golden Warriors back in the limelight.
6. Watertown (21-1): The Red Raiders have come a long, long way in a short period of time.
7. Billerica (20-4): Solid season ended one game short of the parquet.
8. Chelmsford (19-4): The Lions certainly proved their mettle in the ultra-competitive Merrimack Valley Conference.
9. Foxboro (21-3): Terrific run for the Warriors behind Hockomock League Player of the Year Katherine Tamulionis.
10. Pentucket (23-2): The Sachems will certainly miss the Mac Attack next year.
PLAYERS TO WATCH NEXT SEASON
BOYS
• Noah Fernandes, Old Rochester
• Kellan Grady, Catholic Memorial
• Jakigh Dottin, Cambridge
• Wabissa Bede, North Andover
• Jack Loughnane, BC High
• Anthony Silfa, Lynn English
• Marcus Zegarowski, Hamilton-Wenham
• Matt Hanna, Catholic Memorial
• Maurice Works, East Boston
GIRLS
• Brianna Herlihy, Braintree
• Alyssa Casey, Andover
• Emily Chang, Newton South
• Joie Grassi, Plymouth North
• Anna Kelly, Lexington
• Claire Markey, Chelmsford
• Takora McIntyre, Fenway
• Shannon Murphy, Watertown
• Jen Worden, Abington
THE ANNUAL GRIPES
• This one boggles the mind. The MIAA constantly promotes the theme of sportsmanship and the goal of providing a great positive experience for schools and student-athletes. That said, it needs to take a serious look at the conduct of some of the people in its employ. Once again, a pair of MIAA female workers chose to put their 15 minutes of fame to good use at TD Garden, deciding to take their powers to another level. One coach was dressed down for having the temerity to stop and say hello to a member of the media in the hallway, while a winning team trotted off the court to the chant of “Hurry up, get off the court.” I understand the need to keep things moving, but I don’t think this is the way the MIAA wants to promote its product.
• The MIAA should do something to ensure that all sectional finals are played on the same day. With all due respect to Catholic Memorial, you can’t tell me that Cambridge wasn’t at a disadvantage in the state semifinals playing on less recovery time. Catholic Memorial played its sectional final on Friday, while Cambridge played on Saturday, giving the Falcons one day of rest before Monday’s state semifinal at TD Garden.
• I love how the prep school piranhas justify the poaching of local stars by claiming they are doing it in the best interests of the player. Funny how the preps never seem to go after a team’s 13th man on the roster. Heck, he or she is the one who needs the help more than the stars in most cases.
• I don’t understand how the MIAA can stage games in facilities in which wireless is not, or not allowed to be, available. I know for some, it is not a big deal, but for those who work in the media to report on these game, it is essential.
• The growing number of exempt games (those that are excluded from postseason qualification standings) begs the obvious question: If the games don’t count, should any stats accrued by a player in those games count toward their career totals?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.