Joe Mussachia Has Been A ForceThe last two weeks have been sweet for Joe Mussachia and the Manchester Essex Hornets as they have picked off league foes Hamilton-Wenham, North Andover, and this Friday night they added #22 ranked Wilmington to the list. The result is that the Hornet's are 8-1 in league play and comfortably in first place in the Cape Ann Small division and will represent the league in Division IV North Sectionals. North Andover and Wilmington who are battling it out with Masconomet in the Cape Ann Large also only have one loss in league play (both to Manchester) and will be heading to the division II North Sectionals. Hamilton-Wenham will represent Division III.
So how did this team that has less than 200 boys in grades 9 through 12 do it? Much of this is the result of the play of senior small forward Joe Mussachia. A talent like Mussachia comes along once every twenty-five years in a town like Manchester and Coach Duane Sigsbury is taking advantage. Sigsbury allows the 6'5" small forward the freedom to make basketball plays. Sometimes it's in transition, other times it has been by knocking down the three, but when a basket is needed most the Amherst College bound Mussachia knows how to get it done around the basket. In the process, Mr. Mussachia has made a case for himself as Massachusetts's high school player of the year. Mussachia has been of fire this season averaging 24.5 points per game, 18 rebounds per game, as well as 5 assists. In the three big wins against the Cape Ann's brass, Mussachia has averaged over 30 ppg and 22 rebounds per game. Added to that this young man plays hard and with a purpose. Mussachia is a winner.
Friday night was no different as Manchester traveled to Wilmington High School as the underdog again. The Wilmington Wildcats entered the game with a league record of 11-1. We knew this was going to be a high scoring game early as both teams got off to a quick start and at the end of the first quarter the game was tied 21 all. The second quarter went back and forth by the Hornets battled hard and with a consistent defensive effort were able to take a 5 point lead into the locker room at the end of the first half.
The scoring continued at a furious pace in the second half as Mussachia and Wilmington's junior Vinny Scifo went back and forth. In the end, the Hornets proved to be too much the Wildcats as Manchester Essex won the game 92-85. Mussachia racked up 31 points while grabbing 21 rebounds. Senior guard Alex Porter scored 15 points of his own while accumulating 9 rebounds in the game. Junior guards Sean Nally (22 points) went 5-7 from behind the three point arc and Chris Bishop added 9 points. For Wilmington, Skifo put on a show of his own as he ended the first half 6-of-7 from the field and ended the night with a game high 33 points.
