Plenty of Girls Talent on Display in Durham

Walczak and French Shine for their Respective Teams

Portsmouth and Oyster River have one of the best rivalries in New Hampshire basketball. Last night it was clear that the rivalry exists not only on the boys side but wit the girls as well. Both of these teams have plenty of individual talent, and the result was a 65-56 win for Oyster River.

The big match-up in this game was in the paint between Portsmouth senior 6'1" forward Rosa Drummond and Oyster River junior 6'1" forward Danielle Walczak (pictured above). Walczak won the match-up, scoring a game-high 24 points compared to Drummond who had 14 points. Drummond also fouled out with 3 minutes left in the game. Drummond however, got the better of this match-up in the first game between these two teams earlier in the season. Walczak and Drummond are two of the best forwards in NH.

Leading the way for Portsmouth was 5'10" junior Susie French. Drummond was battling Walczak all game, and the Clippers' other key player, junior guard Ali Beauregard scored just 4. So it was French who rose to the occasion and single-handedly kept Portsmouth in the game.

In addition to Walczak, Oyster River also got an exceptional performance from Emily Sherry, a senior forward. Sherry had 13 points for the Bobcats, and combined with Walczak to provide a very tough 1-2 punch in the paint.

Elsewhere, in girls basketball in Mass., Bri Malone wrapped up a fantastic high school career Thursday night. Malone scored 19 points for Springfield Central, as they closed out their season with a 64-58 win over West Side High. Malone is headed to Holy Cross next season.

Great Battle Between Central Catholic and Saint John's Prep

Carson Desrosiers Was A Force Against St. John's Last Night

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report witnessed a spectacular high school basketball game in front of 2,500 fans in Lawrence last night as Central Catholic pulled out a 65 - 61 back-and-forth victory over Saint John's Prep. This game was high school basketball at its best. There was hard and clean basketball being played on the floor; loud, positive and entertaining support from both schools student sections; and a thrilling finish to a great basketball game.

Saint John's came in as the underdog, but controlled the game for most of the evening. Saint John's coach Sean Connolly who has done wonders with the Prep team this year did an outstanding job controlling the game as he forced the Central big guys to cover out at the perimeter and as a result got many good looks at the basket. However, although Saint John's outplayed Central on this evening, the Raiders 6'11" Wake Forest bound Carson Desrosiers was just too big of an advantage for the Prep to overcome. Here is why.

#1 ranked senior Carson Desrosiers was a monster almost putting up a quadruple double. The 6'11" forward had 24 points, 18 rebounds, 13 blocks, and 8 assists on the game. Most importantly, Desrosiers had a huge offensive put-back down the stretch and scored the last 8 points for Central in the last minute and 25 seconds to secure the victory. It's hard to lose when any player puts up numbers like these.

The #2 ranked junior Pat Connaughton did not disappoint either as he was the best player on the court during the first half of this game scoring 18 of his 26 points in a variety of impressive ways including some division 1 pull-up jump shots. Connaughton also had 12 rebounds on the night as he competed extremely hard before wearing down against the twin towers of Desrosiers and 6'7" Jimmy Zenevitch.

#6 ranked junior Zenevitch was impressive himself scoring 16 points and adding 5 rebounds on the evening. Zenevitch had an impressive break away two handed dunk and a remarkable scoop shot from underneath the basket that some how found its way through the cylinder.

Saint John's 6'3" junior Mack Burt was just as impressive as he battled with Zenevitch all night long knocking down a crucial three as he took the Central big man away from the basket. On another offensive possession, Burt used his ability to put the ball to the floor to go by Zenevitch for a bucket. Burt also compiled 8 rebounds two of which he put back for baskets.

#7 ranked sophomore Steve Haladyna also had an impressive night scoring 15 points that included 5 straight points in a crucial part of the game that brought Saint John's from two down to three up. The 6'3" Haladyna competed hard all night and added 7 rebounds and a couple of great takes to the Central big men.

Sophomore's Luis Puello of Central Catholic (#13 ranked) and Michael Carbone of Saint John's also were impressive as both were key factors in the game for both sides.

Great Battle Between Central Catholic and Saint John's Prep

Carson Desrosiers Was A Force Against St. John's Last Night

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report witnessed a spectacular high school basketball game in front of 2,500 fans in Lawrence last night as Central Catholic pulled out a 65 - 61 back-and-forth victory over Saint John's Prep. This game was high school basketball at its best. There was hard and clean basketball being played on the floor; loud, positive and entertaining support from both schools student sections; and a thrilling finish to a great basketball game.

Saint John's came in as the underdog, but controlled the game for most of the evening. Saint John's coach Sean Connolly who has done wonders with the Prep team this year did an outstanding job controlling the game as he forced the Central big guys to cover out at the perimeter and as a result got many good looks at the basket. However, although Saint John's outplayed Central on this evening, the Raiders 6'11" Wake Forest bound Carson Desrosiers was just too big of an advantage for the Prep to overcome. Here is why.

#1 ranked senior Carson Desrosiers was a monster almost putting up a quadruple double. The 6'11" forward had 24 points, 18 rebounds, 13 blocks, and 8 assists on the game. Most importantly, Desrosiers had a huge offensive put-back down the stretch and scored the last 8 points for Central in the last minute and 25 seconds to secure the victory. It's hard to lose when any player puts up numbers like these.

The #2 ranked junior Pat Connaughton did not disappoint either as he was the best player on the court during the first half of this game scoring 18 of his 26 points in a variety of impressive ways including some division 1 pull-up jump shots. Connaughton also had 12 rebounds on the night as he competed extremely hard before wearing down against the twin towers of Desrosiers and 6'7" Jimmy Zenevitch.

#6 ranked junior Zenevitch was impressive himself scoring 16 points and adding 5 rebounds on the evening. Zenevitch had an impressive break away two handed dunk and a remarkable scoop shot from underneath the basket that some how found its way through the cylinder.

Saint John's 6'3" junior Mack Burt was just as impressive as he battled with Zenevitch all night long knocking down a crucial three as he took the Central big man away from the basket. On another offensive possession, Burt used his ability to put the ball to the floor to go by Zenevitch for a bucket. Burt also compiled 8 rebounds two of which he put back for baskets.

#7 ranked sophomore Steve Haladyna also had an impressive night scoring 15 points that included 5 straight points in a crucial part of the game that brought Saint John's from two down to three up. The 6'3" Haladyna competed hard all night and added 7 rebounds and a couple of great takes to the Central big men.

Sophomore's Luis Puello of Central Catholic (#13 ranked) and Michael Carbone of Saint John's also were impressive as both were key factors in the game for both sides.

Desrosiers and Kelley Meet in the Middle

State's Top 2 Seniors Square Off

Folks who were in attendance at Boston College High School on Sunday night to see Central Catholic play Newton North were treated to a dream match-up. Central's 6'11" Carson Desrosiers, the top ranked player in the class went up against North's 6'9" Greg Kelley, the #2 ranked player in the class. Not only that, but this game involved two of the top 6 ranked teams in Massachusetts.

Central won the game 53-52 to win the Comcast Tournament championship.Despite the fact that this game had the dream match-up in the middle, this was not Desrosiers or Kelley's best game.

The Wake Forest bound Desrosiers was battling the flu, and he almost didn't play at all. But he persevered and still ended up with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks, including some big plays down the stretch. Desrosiers was named the tourney's MVP for the second straight year.

The Yale bound Kelley was limited to 12 points and 7 boards before fouling out late in the game.

Others who played well were sophomore guard Luis Puello (pictured above) for the Red Raiders and Kourtney Wornum-Parker for North. The 5'11" Puello scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Wornum-Parker chipped in with 12 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

On the girls side, the Comcast Tournament championship also went to Central Catholic, as they beat a good Westford team 67-57. The Red Raiders' Boston College bound Katie Zenevitch was the tourney MVP. The 6'3" Zenevitch had a monster game in the final, showing exactly why she's the state's top ranked senior. She had 31 points, 33 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks in one of the best individual performances in recent memory.

NH Girls Player Rankings 2010

Rank	Name	HT	Pos	School	Committed
1	Tiffany Ruffin	5'7"	G	Winnacunnet High School	Boston College
2	Cammie Warner	6'2"	F	Keene High School	Quinnipiac
3	Christiana Bakolas	5'7"	G	Central High School	Bentley College
4	A.J. Guidi	5'9"	G	Pinkerton Academy	UMass Lowell
5	Emily Siegart	6'2"	C	Winnacunnet	St.Francis College
6	Callie King	5'8"	G	Londonderry High School	SNHU
7	Laura Pierce	5'8"	G	Pinkerton Academy	Wheaton College
8	Kyla Gustovson	5'8"	G	Nashua North High School
9	Samantha Walker	5'5"	G	Central High School
10	Lindsey Mahoney	5'6"	G	Winnacunnet High School
11	Rosa Drummond	6'1"	F	Portsmouth High School	Smith College (volleyball)
12	Kelly Morgan	5'9"	G	Hollis-Brookline High School	Worcester Polytechnic Institute
13	Lauren Thayer	5'7"	G	Manchester Memorial High School	NHTI

Desrosiers and Kelley Meet in the Middle

State's Top 2 Seniors Square Off

Folks who were in attendance at Boston College High School on Sunday night to see Central Catholic play Newton North were treated to a dream match-up. Central's 6'11" Carson Desrosiers, the top ranked player in the class went up against North's 6'9" Greg Kelley, the #2 ranked player in the class. Not only that, but this game involved two of the top 6 ranked teams in Massachusetts.

Central won the game 53-52 to win the Comcast Tournament championship.Despite the fact that this game had the dream match-up in the middle, this was not Desrosiers or Kelley's best game.

The Wake Forest bound Desrosiers was battling the flu, and he almost didn't play at all. But he persevered and still ended up with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks, including some big plays down the stretch. Desrosiers was named the tourney's MVP for the second straight year.

The Yale bound Kelley was limited to 12 points and 7 boards before fouling out late in the game.

Others who played well were sophomore guard Luis Puello (pictured above) for the Red Raiders and Kourtney Wornum-Parker for North. The 5'11" Puello scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Wornum-Parker chipped in with 12 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

On the girls side, the Comcast Tournament championship also went to Central Catholic, as they beat a good Westford team 67-57. The Red Raiders' Boston College bound Katie Zenevitch was the tourney MVP. The 6'3" Zenevitch had a monster game in the final, showing exactly why she's the state's top ranked senior. She had 31 points, 33 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks in one of the best individual performances in recent memory.

Desrosiers and Kelly Meet in the Middle

State's Top 2 Seniors Square Off

Folks who were in attendance at Boston College High School on Sunday night to see Central Catholic play Newton North were treated to a dream match-up. Central's 6'11" Carson Desrosiers, the top ranked player in the class went up against North's 6'9" Greg Kelley, the #2 ranked player in the class. Not only that, but this game involved two of the top 6 ranked teams in Massachusetts.

Central won the game 53-52 to win the Comcast Tournament championship.Despite the fact that this game had the dream match-up in the middle, this was not Desrosiers or Kelley's best game.

The Wake Forest bound Desrosiers was battling the flu, and he almost didn't play at all. But he persevered and still ended up with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks, including some big plays down the stretch. Desrosiers was named the tourney's MVP for the second straight year.

The Yale bound Kelley was limited to 12 points and 7 boards before fouling out late in the game.

Others who played well were sophomore guard Luis Puello (pictured above) for the Red Raiders and Kourtney Wornum-Parker for North. The 5'11" Puello scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Wornum-Parker chipped in with 12 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

On the girls side, the Comcast Tournament championship also went to Central Catholic, as they beat a good Westford team 67-57. The Red Raiders' Boston College bound Katie Zenevitch was the tourney MVP. The 6'3" Zenevitch had a monster game in the final, showing exactly why she's the state's top ranked senior. She had 31 points, 33 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists and 2 blocks in one of the best individual performances in recent memory.

Mass Girls Player Rankings 2010

Rank	Name	HT	Pos	School	Committed
1	Katie Zenevitch	6'3"	F	Central Catholic High School	Boston College
2	Val Driscoll	6'4"	C	Archbishop Williams	University of Michigan
3	Ali Nalivaika	6'4"	C	St Peter Marian	University of Maine
4	Asia Ewing	5'11"	F	Westford Academy	Stonehill College
5	Rashid Agboola	6'1"	F/C	Methuen High School	Boston University
6	Bri Malone	5'9"	G	Springfiled Central High School	Holy Cross
7	Jacqui Brugliera	6'0"	G	Wachusett High School	Bentley University
8	Lindsey Roche	5'8"	G	Arlington Catholic	Assumption College
9	Tori Lehr	6'1"	F	Cohasset High School	St. Anselm's College
10	Mary Louise Dixon	5'6"	G	Wellesley High School	Stonehill College
11	Christine Ganser	5'10"	F	Needham High School	Holly Cross
12	Lauren Battista	6'1"	G	Oliver Ames	Bentley University
13	Britney Obi-Tabot	6'0"	F	Watertown High School	Fairfield
14	Laurie Fiola	6'0"	F	Durfee	UMass Lowell
15	Jenicia Duggins	5'8"	G	Lynn English High School

Double OT Thriller in Springfield

Springfield Central Girls Outlast East Longmeadow

Two teams who are clearly playing their best basketball at the right time of the season met up in Springfield Friday night. Springfield Central and East Longmeadow are two of the better girls teams in Mass. and when they squared off the result was one of the better girls games of the season. Central won 62-61 in double overtime, thanks to a big game by Bri Malone.

Malone, who is our #6 ranked senior in Mass., had a monster game for the Golden Eagles. She finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and 8 steals. Malone has committed to play hoops for Holy Cross next season.

Senior forward Krista Ferrentino led the way for East Longmeadow. Ferrentino continues to make strides in her game, as she put up 25 points and 20 rebounds.