Brook Stewart Getting Better Every Day

Brook Stewart Having Big Year

December 30, 2010
Masco's Stewart is having an explosive junior season
MIKE GRENIER STAFF WRITER
The Salem News

Thu Dec 30, 2010, 11:47 PM EST
Bounce Passes
Mike Grenier

Masconomet's Brooke Stewart was subjected to a hard foul in Wednesday's marquee basketball matchup against bitter rival Pentucket. Stewart, who was in the middle of a 24-point, 7-rebound, 5-assist game at the time, was shoved into a wall that had fairly thick padding, so she wasn't injured. Inwardly, Stewart might have been seething, but she didn't manifest that anger. She calmly went to the foul line for a pair of shots and Masco also retained possession due to the deliberate foul. By now, Stewart, a 16-year-old junior who's been starting since midway through her freshman season, is starting to understand the nuances of the game.

She's elevated her game to a new level of excellence this season, averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists (the team leader in all those categories) while displaying the versatility of a 6-footer who can play all five positions. That's the kind of performance that will get the opposing team's attention, and they'll try to mess with Stewart's head by getting extra physical with her.
Stewart realizes that she can't let it affect her demeanor or her play. She wants to be on the floor at all times — she needs to be there for her team, not just herself. "They want to rattle you," Stewart said of opponents in general. "I've kind of learned how to deal with all that just from messing up (in previous years). I didn't even score in last year's game against Pentucket."
Stewart showed considerable raw talent as a freshman two years ago, when she scored 7 points per game. That average zoomed to 14 points per game last season, when she earned Cape Ann League all-league and Salem News All-Star status, but she readily admits that she was still in the middle of the learning curve.

The biggest differences in her game this season are patience, discipline and mental toughness. With Pentucket's defense swarming her in the opening quarter Wednesday night, Stewart concentrated on delivering the ball to her teammates and didn't take a single shot. After the Sachems defense loosened up, Stewart found her scoring rhythm and accounted for 11 points in the second quarter and added 13 more in the second half. That's been her pattern all season. Stewart has averaged better than 8 points in the fourth quarter, when the game is often on the line. "She's one of the best players in the state," Pentucket coach John McNamara said after Stewart wrapped up the Masco Christmas Tournament MVP Award despite the Sachems' 61-60 win in the final. "What makes her so tough? She can drive to the basket or step back and hit the three. She can beat you in a lot of ways."

Stewart says she'll "do anything for a win," and she obviously plays like she means it. She's as much of a whirling dervish as she was earlier in her career, but last year she was always in a hurry to get to double digits, figuring that's what the Chieftains needed to put themselves in a position to win. Now she lets the game come to her, which is what the exceptional players do.
"She's always been a big part of this team," said Danielle Davis, who is a junior captain along with Stewart, "but this is her breakthrough year. She works her butt off. She's in the gym before and after practice, shooting around and doing her dribbling and ballhandling drills. I think that this year, being a captain, she feels this is her gym and it's also our gym. She's not being selfish — she's doing it for the team — but she's also personally strong."

Coach Bob Romeo has seen an explosive type of development in his young player in just two-plus seasons and there seems to be no end in sight. "She's only six games into her junior season and she still has a ceiling to reach," Romeo said of Stewart. "Given how hard she works and how much she wants it, I still don't think she's close to that ceiling. And the thing is, she has the physical tools to match her great desire. I tell her to never be satisfied."

Like any player who aspires to be great, Stewart has been doing her homework in the offseason. One night in the summer of 2009, Scott Hazelton found Stewart playing ball at Gordon College at 11 p.m. Hazelton, a former star at Central Catholic who was recruited by UConn and went on to play at Rhode Island, told Stewart he was going to put a team together and would she be interested in playing for him?

Hazelton's AAU team, based in Plaistow, N.H., was named the New Hampshire Rivals. This past summer, the Rivals traveled to Tennessee, Kentucky, Vermont and Washington, D.C. and Stewart's individual skills blossomed. So did her team assessment skills. "It was everything," said Stewart. "My dribbling and handling skills got much better because Hazelton had us dribbling all the time. I also see the court much better than I used to. The thing is, when you're playing against girls who are better, you have to get them the ball or they get mad. Everything kind of clicked and I've taken that back (to Masco)."

Stewart grew up in a basketball household. She's close to her older sister Caroline, who had a fantastic career at Masco and ended up with a scholarship to Division 1 Boston University, where she is currently a junior captain. Brooke has always had to listen to comparisons to her sister even though they have vastly different styles (Caroline is a classic low post player; Brooke is all over the building) and while she feels honored in many ways, she's also eager to break those chains. It's no secret that Brooke aims to be even better than her older sister. "Caroline always gives me a call when we play," said Brooke. "She tells me about the little things I need to do and I really listen. I mean, why wouldn't I listen to someone who has more experience than I do? Coach Romeo tells me not to compare my skills to Caroline, but it's always going to be there and I do want to be better."

Brooke is already drawing interest from St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, Rutgers and Princeton. She's visited Villanova. It's early in the process and more schools are bound to get involved, especially if she remains on the developmental fast track that Romeo talks about. "St. Joe's is in the Atlantic 10 and that's good, but in my mind, I want to go bigger," said Stewart, who is an honor roll student. "The Big East would be nice."

She realizes that a lot of things could change in the next year. For now, she wants to be the best player she can be for the 4-2 Chieftains, whose only losses have been by a point. "We're competitive," said Stewart, "and we want to get better. Last year we lost to Andover in the second round (of the Division 1 North Tournament). We should do well this season and if we get some home games (in the state tourney), it would be even better."

A Battle and A War in Nashoba Valley

Last evening, the Mass & NH High School Basketball Report traveled to the Nashoba Tech Holiday Tournament to see the Finals Matchup between King Phillip and Manchester Essex. King Phillips has our #1 rated junior in 6'8" Jake Layman (left) and Manchester has our #4 ranked senior in Joe Mussachia (right). The individual battle went to Mussachia (41 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists), but more importantly, the war was won by Jake Layman (22 points, 13 rebounds, 8 blocks) and King Phillip 75 to 68.

The game started out all King Phillip as they jumped out to a 14 to 2 lead, with Layman scoring 10 1st quarter points, but Manchester battled back to make it a 7 point game after 1 quarter (16 to 9). The second quarter was back and forth as Manchester’s full court pressure bothered King Phillip, and kept the game close, but struggles from the foul line haunted Manchester all night long as they missed a total of 21 on the evening.

The second half was a physical battle that saw Manchester cut the lead to 3 with 5:45 to play, but Layman made a huge 3 and then ran the length of the floor to block an uncontested layup, that was followed up by a reverse layup in transition by the Big Fella, putting King Phillip up 8 with 4:04 left. Manchester cut it to 4 again, but Layman was solid from the Free Throw stripe and sealed the deal for King Phillip.

Jake Layman is a 6’8" guard, with skills way beyond his age. When we saw Laymen play this Summer we said that he has a chance to play at a high-major level. Now, we know for sure that this young man will be doing just that come Fall or after a potential post grad year. Laymen is impressive basketball player. He is best in transition and can finish well above the rim. He has a great touch and an explosive dribble drive game, that is finished off with great vertical jump. He also has an excellent stroke from behind the three point arc. Laymen has realized much potential over the last year and there is much more to come. He is a high major scholarship player.

Joe Mussachia is a 6’5 guard that plays the game hard and plays all 5 positions on the floor for Manchester. He did it all for Manchester tonight, his triple-double performance was the single best effort we have seen from a high school player this year. He dominated both ends of the floor. Mussachia's offensive game has continued to improve as the southpaw showed he has good dexterity around the rim. Mussachia's also continues to become a better and better three point shooter. What might be most impressive about Mussachia's is how hard he plays the game. He is a tough nose kid that is not afraid to mix up on the glass. Mussachia will bring his game to Amherst College next year passing up several other division 2 scholarship offers from St. Anselms, Bentley, and Southern New Hampshire. Lucky Amherst.

Other Key Contributors:

6’5" Alec May who chipped in with 14 points for King Phillip. He was very aggressive and took 4 charges in the paint on some of the dribble penetration by Manchester’s guards.

King Phillips 6’7" Connor Layman is still progressing, but he has a big long basketball body and his skill level will only get better.

Manchester guard Jason Stasiak had some impressive drives to the basket and showed the ability to play solid defense for Manchester.

Manchester's 6’4 Sophomore forward Taylor Ketchum played well and looks to be a player we will be talking about for the Hornets in the years to come.

Dana Theobold goes to the rim

Western Mass Girls Hoop Top Performances:

Dana Theobald, Monique Heard and more
Ben Larsen, MassLive.com, December 30, 2010

Dana Theobald, West Springfield: 33 points vs. Holyoke

Monique Heard, Holyoke: 28 points vs. Chicopee

Gabriella Felix, Commerce: 26 points vs. McCann Tech

Brianna Del Valle, Belchertown: 23 points vs. Southwick

Chelsea Merritt, Gateway: 22 points vs. Pioneer Christian

Arielle Ward, East Longmeadow: 22 points vs. West Springfield

Kiley Cleveland, Athol: 21 points vs. Mahar

Dallas Jackson, Central: 21 points vs. Minnechaug

Elizabeth Whitney, Easthampton: 21 points vs. Turners Falls

Alexis Chappell, Sabis: 21 points vs. Granby

Margo McCarthy, Hampshire: 21 points vs. Putnam

St. John's & St. John's Best in East and Central Mass

Pat Connaughton Leads St. John's Prep Again

Pat Connaughton put together yet another afternoon of big numbers and a triple-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists as St. John's Prep Danvers captured the Class A crown of the BABC Holiday Tournament with an 81-77 victory over New Bedford. Sophomore forward Isiah Robinson had his second strong game in a row as he added 13 points and nine rebounds. Our #1 ranked team moved to 5-0 on the season with big wins now over East Boston, New Mission, and New Bedford. New Bedford, who moved to 4-1 with the loss got a valiant effort from senior Jules Tavares who scored 32 points in the loss.

At Assumption College in Worcester, Matt Harrington scored 16 points on his way to the Joseph M. O'Brien Memorial Outstanding Player award at Laska Yuletide Invitational as St. John's Shrewsbuy easily handled Shrewsbury 59-33. Other Pioneers played well included Matt Palecki with 15 points, Richard Rodgers with 13 points, and Ryan Kelley with 9. St. John's earned its fifth straight win to improve to 5-3 after losing there first three being away in the Gonzaga D.C. Classic.

Other Boy's Tournament Action

Sophomores AAU Rivals teammates Derek Collins (left) and Sam Dowden (right) both came up big in semi-final victories and will face off in the finals of the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament.

Andover pulled out a 55-52 win over three-time defending champion Central Catholic. The loss, was the first of the season for our #2 rated team. Senior Joe Bramanti led the way with 20 points before fouling out with slightly over 2:00 minutes remaining. Andover sophomore Sam Dowden scored the go ahead and winning basket and then rebounded a Jimmy Zenevitch miss to seal the victory.

Andover (4-1) will battle undefeated North Andover (5-0) in the tourney finals Thursday night at 8:00 p.m.. North Andover advanced to the finals with a win over Greater Lawrence Tech. With the game tied at 29-29 in the third quarter, sophomore Derek Collins hit 3-pointers from each corner on consecutive possessions to give the Scarlet Knights a 6-point lead it would never surrender. Collins finished with 18 points on the evening and junior Zach Karalis finished with 23 points.

St. John's Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury High School to Battle it out
In the 2010 LASKA Yuletide Invitational Tournament at Assumption College, St. John's Shrewsbury defeated Saint Peter Marian yesterday behind 25 points from senior Matt Harrington. Ryan Stowe had 16 points, Wil Michalski had 11 points, and Matt Kneece added 10 as Shrewsbury defeated Wachusett 60 -45 to set up tonight's match up between the #1 and #2 teams in Central Mass. The game will tip-off tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Assumption College.

Madol Proves Best in New Hampshire

David Madol Leads Manchester Memorial

David Madol showed why he is our #1 ranked player in the New Hampshire Class of 2011 as he dominated play all evening long in the opening round of the Queen City Invitational Basketball Tournament in Manchester, New Hampshire. Madol was a man amongst boy's as the 6'6" forward scored a game-high 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 3 shots to lead Manchester Memorial to a victory of Trinity.

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report has Manchester Memorial ranked second in division 1 behind Bishop Guertin based on the talent of Madol, as nobody in New Hampshire has close to Madol's ability and we all know great players make great teams. We have said all along that if Madol decides that he going to play full speed ahead every evening, Memorial is the team to beat in division 1. If last night was a sign of things to come, look out for Memorial. Added to that, we have seen Bishop Guertin play twice thus far, and they have not looked like the BG we expected in either game.

Last night, Madol showed why he is so good as he scored the ball in a number of ways including knocking down three, pull-ups, and penetrations and finishes above the crowd. Madol also separates himself from his peers with his athleticism as he is able to play the game above the rim. Madol rebounded the ball above the rim all evening. He also brought down the house down with a thunderous slam dunk in the 1st quarter. Memorial senior guard Dylan Haines got a steal around half court and went to the basket. He laid the ball of the backboard for Madol, who jumped up and while in mid-air caught the ball and threw it down with authority. Madol added another thunderous dunk in the 2nd half.

6'7" Sophomore Mabor Gabriel led Trinity with 14 points.

Tuesday's Results
Manchester Memorial 57 - Trinity 49
Manchester Central 49 - Manchester West 42
Dover 65 - Bow 43
Merrimack 50 - Exeter 45

Wedneday's Schedule
3:00 Exeter vs. Bow
4:30 West vs. Trinity
6:00 Dover vs. Merrimack
7:30 Memorial vs. Central

Steve Haladyna Leads St. John's Prep

Steve Haladyna Led Saint John's Tonight

We visited the BABC Holiday tournament and watched several games. St. John's Prep and New Mission, our number 1 & 4 teams in Massachusetts, were featured in the last game of the evening at Chelsea High School. St. John's prevailed 53-49 in what was a sloppy game. Junior Steve Haladyna, who is known for getting his hands on balls and being in the right place at the right time, did just that tonight on his way to a game high 19 points. Haladyna outworked his opponent and was the most effective player on the court. Notre Dame bound Pat Connaughton did not have his best evening on the offensive end as he netted only three field goals and 8 free throws for 14 points. However, Connaughton came up big on the defensive end with six blocks, three of them being big time blocks.

St. John's took early control as they opened up a 15-8 lead and then led 31-17 at the half. Second half pressure by New Mission caused a multitude of St. John's turnovers that eventually turned this into a competitive game that could of gone either way. New Mission got to within two in the fourth quarter behind 6'5" senior Kachi Nzerem's 16 points. However, Haladyna's play down the stretch and two clutch free throws by Connaughton sealed the victory.

6'8" Sophomore Jacquil Taylor scored a game high 20 points to lead Cambridge to a 67 - 49 victory over Putnam. Taylor used some nifty inside moves and had a nice steal and breakaway dunk. 6'1" senior guard Kyroe Qualls-Betts added 14 of his own including 3 trifectas, and 6'4" senior guard Deondre Startling was impressive as he added 13 points of his own.

Everett's senior forward Erno Deshommes had a big night around the basket scoring 23 points on way to Everett's 61-44 victory over Haverhill. Everett took control early holding Haverhill to 16 points in the first half and led 27-16 at the half as Haverhill was struggling from the floor missing several 3 point attempts.

B.C. High defeated Mount Si, Washington 57-44 behind 5 threes and 15 points from Bowdoin bound Bryan Hurley. Junior 6'4" forward Dan Curtis showed us good touch from the perimeter adding 12 points. B.C. High broke open a 27-27 half time game by holding Mount Si to eight points over the first 11:00 minutes of the second half.

In the opening game of the day, Windsor, CT easily handled Bishop Guertin 81-54. Windsor's consistent pressure in this one was the difference maker as BG looked nervous against the pressure. After going into half time down 8, 39-27, BG started the second half with 3 straight turnovers and found themselves down 42-27. BG would cut it to 10 at 58-48 to end the third, but would never get any closer. Connor Green led BG with 15 points and Sean McClung added 10 points.

2010 Laska Yuletide Invitational

Wil Michalski Hopes to Lead Shrewsbury

Saint John's Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury, arguably the best two boys teams in Central Mass are likely to face off on Wednesday evening at the seventh annual 2010 LASKA Yuletide Invitational Tournament at Assumption College.

Saint John's Shrewsbury is 3-3 on the season, but all three of their losses came at the Gonzaga D.C. Classic. Since coming home, Saint John's is 3-0 with wins over Xaverian, Doherty, and Holy Name.

Shrewsbury is 3-1 with their only loss being against Alta High School of Utah who traveled East to play a few Massachusetts schools. Senior forward Wil Michalski is off to a great start for Shrewsbury and look for Wednesay nights finals to be a great contest.

Below is the Schedule:

Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Shrewsbury vs. Wachusett, 6:30 p.m.
Saint John’s vs. Saint Peter-Marian, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Third-Place Game, 6:30 p.m.
Championship Game, 8 p.m.

Western Mass Boy's Top Performers

West Springfield's Senior Musa Elsir - our #16 ranked player

Boys Hoop Top Performances:
Ben Larsen, MassLive.com, December 28, 2010 9:52 a.m.

Tyrus Gaynor, Palmer: 35 points vs. Gateway
Angel Felix, Westfield Voc.: 31 points vs. Renaissance
Marquez Collins, Cathedral: 29 points vs. Northampton
Corey Mortimer, Smith Academy: 27 points vs. Dean Tech
Mat Sulda, Smith Academy: 27 points vs. Dean Tech
Josue Figueroa, Dean Tech: 27 points vs. Palmer, 25 points vs. Smith Academy
Musa Elsir, West Springfield: 26 points vs. Agawam
Jarrod Neumann, Northampton: 25 points vs. Cathedral
John Basille, Longmeadow: 25 points vs. Central
Lance Hill, Minnechaug: 25 points vs. Ludlow

BABC Holiday Classic Schedule Brings Out the Best

Noah Vonleh will at the BABC Holiday Classic

Many of the top high school players in Massachusetts plus a couple of real talented ones from New Hampshire will meet at Chelsea High School starting Tuesday at 1:00 p.m.

The field includes our top ranked Sophomore in Haverhill's Noah Vonleh and our top ranked senior in St. John's Prep's Pat Connaughton who will be taking his talent to the University of Notre Dame. New Mission also bring the top guard duo in Massachusetts in Kachi Nzerem and Samir McDaniels. Cambridge comes with our third ranked sophomore in Jacquil Taylor. New Hampshire's Division 1 favorite Bishop Guertin also brings two top seniors in Connor Green and Sean McClung.

Added to that, Saint John's Prep brings ranked juniors Steve Haladyna and Mike Carbone. Boston College High brings recent Bowdoin commit Bryan Hurley and athletic sophomore guard Jameilen Jones. Cambridge also brings ranked junior Maurice Taylor.

The schedule for 2010 BABC Holiday Classic at Chelsea High School is as follows:


Tuesday, December 28th
1:00 p.m. - Windsor (CT) vs. Bishop Guertin (NH)
2:15 p.m. - BC High vs. Mount Si (WA)
3:30 p.m. - Everett vs. Haverhill
4:45 p.m. - Cambridge vs Putnam
6:00 p.m. - Mansfield vs. New Bedford
7:15 p.m. - New Mission vs. St. John’s Prep

Wednesday, December 29th
10:00 a.m. - Windsor/Bishop Guertin loser vs. BC High/Mount Si loser
11:15 a.m. - Everett vs. Putnam
12:30 p.m. - Mansfield/New Bedford loser vs. New Mission/St. John’s Prep loser
1:45 p.m. - Windsor/Bishop Guertin loser vs. BC High/Mount Si winner
3:00 p.m. - Mansfield/New Bedford loser vs. New Mission/St. John’s Prep winner

Thursday, December 30th
1:30 p.m. - Mount Si. vs. Mount Pleasant (RI)
3:00 p.m. - Cambridge vs. Haverhill

Kelley Collins Nets 1,000 Career Point

Senior point guard Kelley Collins notched the 1,000th point of her career point this week finishing with 27 points as the Groveton High School girls' basketball team downed Woodsville 57-28 to start the season 4-0 in New Hampshire's Division IV.

Collins, a four-year varsity starter, entered the game needing 16 points to hit the milestone, which she reached on her final shot of the first half, sinking a turnaround jumper.

Mussachia Overcomes Diabetes, Heads to Amherst

Joe Mussachia On His Way to Amherst

This Article appeared in the Boston Herald on Thursday, December 23 and was written by Dan Ventura.

Hot Shots: Joe Mussachia learns to cope with diabetes
By Dan Ventura / Hot Shots
Thursday, December 23, 2010

MANCHESTER — Joe Mussachia knew something was seriously wrong with his body.

Having played basketball all his life without issues, the Manchester Essex star suddenly began experiencing increasing bouts of fatigue two summers ago. After returning home from a vacation in California, Mussachia decided to see his doctor.

The diagnosis was something he never expected: diabetes.

“I just wasn’t feeling well at all, went to the doctor and they diagnosed me right away,” Mussachia said. “I couldn’t believe it, I was young and healthy. But I learned right away it’s something that you can manage if you take care of yourself.”

Mussachia wears an OmniPod, an insulin pump, on his left arm at all times covered by a protective bandage. The device allows Mussachia to monitor things without an endless supply of needles.

Coach Duane Sigsbury said the basketball staff takes special precautions to ensure that Mussachia isn’t pushing the envelope in practice or during the game.

“We really haven’t had to do as much because Joe has learned to cope with it. He knows what he can or can’t do,” Sigsbury said. “We do ask him all the time, we make sure he is checking the blood sugar levels. He knows he can leave practice at any time if he needs to take some sugar tablets or a drink.”

The disease hasn’t affected the 6-foot-5 swingman on the court. A Boston Herald All-Scholastic last season, Mussachia averaged more than 22 points a game in leading the Hornets to a 16-6 season and a berth in the Division 4 North semifinals.

He eschewed college scholarship offers from Northeast-10 schools in Division 2, opting instead to attend Div. 3 Amherst.

“At first, I wanted to play as high as I could and I had some offers,” Mussachia, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark last season, said.

“But I listened to my dad, coach Sigsbury and my AAU coach (Vin Pastore), who told me education was the most important thing. I just couldn’t let an opportunity like Amherst pass by.”

Sigsbury isn’t surprised that Mussachia put the books ahead of the ball. He also feels deep in his heart that his star could have played at a much higher level.

“He’s competed against the best guys during the AAU season and his team (Mass. Rivals) went something like 13-1,” Sigsbury said. “He went toe-to-toe with a lot of those kids and did very well for himself. He’s a 6-5 slasher, he plays both ends of the floor and plays above the rim.

He just does it all.”

Reading Takes Double Header Against Burlington

Olivia Healy does it all for Reading

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report visited Reading High School to see a girls/boys double header. In the first game, the Reading girls dominated Burlington in a 60-21 blowout win. Senior wing and Bentley bound Carlene Kluge (our #16 ranked senior) outscored the entire Burlington team 25-21 to lead the Rockets. The Rockets have two super sophomores guards in 5'9" Morgan Obrien and 5'10" Olivia Healy. Both talents chipped in with 10 points each.

Morgan Obrien was impressive as she is an exceptional shooting guard who has great rotation on the basketball. Her handle has improved since the last time we saw her. Although the point is not her natural position, she is benefiting from playing that position for her high school team. Olivia Healy was also impressive and we love the way she competes. She is a talented guard that can do it all. She can shoot it, put it to the floor, and she is physical and aggressive around the basket.

In the second game, the Reading boys defeated Burlington in a 75-71 in a competitive basketball game that came down to the last minute. Reading's senior point guard Trey Jones was the catalyst for Reading as he played as well as we have ever seen him. He was sensational last night as he made big shot after big shot and made great pass after great pass. Jones has surely matured as a point guard as he stayed under control all evening and made the right basketball play each and every time down the floor. His second half performance sealed the victory for the Rockets and included two sensational passes, two sweet pull-ups, an NBA range three, and a hard take to the basket. Junior Kenny Reed did not have his best outing and netted 8 points for the Rockets. Burlington's senior point guard Zach Hurynowicz was his usual self as he played hard, came up with lose ball, and finished on offense in a multitude of ways netting 22 points on the evening.

Andover Girls Win Round 1 Against Central

Natalie Gomez-Martinez/Andover Too Much For Central

The Andover High (#1 ranked team) and Central Catholic (#2 ranked team) girls met last evening for the first time this season in the Greater Lawrence Girls Christmas Tournament at Methuen High School. The number 1 and number 2 ranked team in Massachusetts met in what will likely be the North Sectional division 1 final come tourney time. In this one, Andover prevailed 53-43 behind 15 points from our #1 junior Nicole Boudreau and 12 points from Marist University bound Natalie Gomez-Matinez (our # 2 senior). It is well known that Gomez-Matiniez and Boudreau are the best high school guard tandem in Mass. They are both electrifying players and a whole lot of fun to watch. Gomez-Matinez is as good as anybody we've seen at creating space off the dribble. Boudreau is a sharp shooter that can also finish off the dribble. Boudreau, although only a junior, has already committed to play at Boston College.

Both young ladies also have a great understanding of the game, and when they are both healthy, they will nearly be impossible to beat. If this round 1 game told us anything, it told us just that. When you consider that Boudreau only made one 3-pointer, Andover as a team was a dismal 2 for 13 from behind the arc, and Gomez-Martinez was just 6 for 19 from the floor, you wonder if Andover can be beat. The answer is, I don't think so.

However, if the Warrior can be beat, it is Central's height that gives them the only real chance in Eastern, Mass. Merrimack College bound 6'0" Melissa Miller (our # 13 ranked senior) had 10 points and 11 rebounds and was a huge factor in this game. 6'0" sophomore Casey McLaughlin (our #4 ranked sophomore) posted big numbers including 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks. We predicted that McLaughlin would have a break out year for the Raiders, and if we judge by early results, it seems we are right on point.

Andover moved to 5-0 on the season and advanced to the semifinals of the Christmas Tournament against Lowell on Monday. Central is now 3-1 on the season.

Saint John's Prep Dominates

Pat Connaughton Leads Prep

Saint John's Prep (our #1 ranked team in Mass) won easily last night defeating Lynn Classical 88-59 behind 28 points from our #1 ranked Mass senior Pat Connaughton.

The Eagles jumped all over visiting Lynn Classical. Although the final was 88-59, this one was much worse as St. John’s led 45-14 at one point in the first half. During this early run the Eagles drilled twelve 3's to open up the big lead.

As usual, Notre Dame-bound Pat Connoughton didn’t disappoint. The 6'5" senior played the point and drilled four ong-range threes early in the game on his way to 28 points. Junior Michael Carbone (our #18 ranked junior) tallied 21 points including 14 during the early run as his stroke was on from downtown.

Saint John's moved to 2-0 on the season and Lynn Classical to 1-1.

Performances of the Weekend

Alex Garstka Had Big Night


Seniors Alex Garstka of Westfield, Marco Coppola of Watertown, and Jaylen Alicea of Lawrence had big weekends. While all three put up big numbers, their respective teams moved to a total of 8-0 for the season.

In Western Mass, our 26th ranked senior guard Alex Garstka pumped in 37 points as Westfield staged a fourth-quarter rally to defeat visiting Chicopee 66-58. Westfield and Garstka went on a 14-2 run to close it out. The Bombers are 4-0 on the season.

In Watertown, our 19th ranked senior guard Marco Coppola scored 40 points versus Reading on Friday night in a 63-62 victory. In addition, Coppola had 29 in the Raiders opening night win against Burlington. Watertown is 2-0 and Coppola has 69 total points. Wow.

Our 9th ranked senior Jaylen Alicea scored 38 points with seven assists and three steals to power Lawrence over Chelmsford 77-66. The Lancers moved to 2-0 on the season.

A Funny Story about a Boy and a Drum

The Little Drummer Boy Causes Technical

The Haverhill High School boy's bench was given a technical foul in Friday evening's game against Dracut because a student was banging the drum in the crowd. The M.I.A.A. does have a rule about noise makers and I guess they hold the home team responsible. To be honest, I like the drum banging as it makes the atmosphere college-like. However, in the officials defense, he had warned the student earlier in the game. The funny part of this story is that the technical foul came with 8 seconds left in the game and Haverhill up by 7 points. The story gets even better as the technical occurred as the home team was shooting free-throws, not their opponent.

Byran Hurley Heading to Bowdoin

Byran Hurley

A couple of day's ago we announced that our 24th ranked senior in Massachusetts, Lincoln Sudbury center John Swords would be playing his college basketball at Bowdoin College.

Today, we announce that Boston College High School standout Bryan Hurley will be joining Swords at Bowdoin. Hurley had narrowed his choices down to Rochester and Bowdoin before making the decision. Hurley, a 5'11" point guard, is our 9th ranked senior in Massachusetts. We watched him on the road this Spring and Summer with the Middlesex Magic and we were impressed with his desire to win. Hurley is a scoring point guard who can knock down jump shots and can get to the rim and finish.

Hurley has had a great career at BC High where he has averaged 15 points and 6 assists in his career. It was much of the same on opening night when Hurley posted 16 points and 8 assists in BC's big win over Brockton.

Connor Green and John Wickey Battle It Out

Connor Green leads Bishop Guertin to victory

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report visited Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, NH this evening to watch several of our top rated NH boys compete in what many think is a preview of what is to come in the division 1 NH State Finals. In this highly anticipated contest, our #3 rated NH senior (John Wickey) and our #7 rated senior (Connor Green) battled it out.

In the end, it was the pressure defense of Bishop Guertin that prevailed in a closely contested contest. The Cardinals came back from a 36-27 deficit to win 62-55 behind 25 points from 6'5" G/F Connor Green. Green scored in a variety of ways knocking down the three, getting to the rim off the dribble, as well as adding a couple of nice pull ups.

In the first half it was the play of John Wickey (20 points) that propelled Manchester Central to a half time lead as the 6'7" forward dominated the paint. When Wickey stepped out and hit a three Manchester Central would go up 26-23 and have a lead that they would not relinquish until the 4th quarter. We were impressed with Wickey tonight as he showed that he can run the floor, has good rotation and a nice touch, and can get after it on the boards.

Also impressive tonight were Manchester Central's 5'9" senior guard Audie Melendez who knocked down a couple of big threes and finished a couple of nice baskets around the rim to finish with 14 points.

Bishop Guertin's 6'2" G/F Logan Kesty finished with 9 points, including a big three to put Guertin up 49-48 with 7:10 to play. Kesty also put together another 4 point run late in the game to tie the score at 55-55 and then give Bishop Guertin the lead 57-55. Bishop Guertin would not give up another point the rest of the way as their pressure defense forced several Central mistakes down the end.

Bishop Guertin's 6'3" forward Sean McClung (our #8 rated senior) added 11 points and Manchester Central's 6'0" guard Gabe LaCount (our #6 rated junior) finished with 10 points.

Jeff Amazan Leads East Boston

Jeff Amazon Leads East Boston


6'3" senior wing Jeff Amazon (our 23rd rated MA player) scored 27 points for East Boston as the Jets improved to 2-0 with a 68-43 Boston City League win over Latin Academy last evening. Teammate Steve Winn added 16 points.

St. John's Shrewsbury's Richard Rogers Nets 1,000

Richard Rogers Scored His 1,000 Point

Senior Richard Rodgers led all scorers with 21 points and earned his 1,000th career point with a put-back early in the game to help Saint John's Shrewsbury (1-3) win their first game of the season with a 63 - 43 home victory over Xaverian (0-1). Center Matt Palecki added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pioneers.

Kelsey Brown Leads Oyster River

Kelsey Brown Had Big Night

Sophomore guard Kelsey Brown (our #2 ranked NH sophomore) scored 22 points, had 12 rebounds, 3 assists, & 3 steals in Oyster River's 54-41 win over Coe-Brown Northwood Academy on Tuesday night. After trailing by five at halftime, Oyster River turned up the intensity in the second half and went on a 9-3 run over the final four and a half minutes of the third quarter. Danielle Walczak's (our #1 ranked NH senior) made a layup with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter giving the Bobcats their first lead at 33-32 since midway through the second quarter. Brown started the fourth quarter by knocking down a deep 3-pointer to extend Oyster River lead to 36-32. Oyster River never looked back.

Swords to Bowdoin

John Swords To Bowdoin

Lincoln Sudbury Senior center and Captain John Swords will play basketball at Bowdoin College next season. Swords is our 24th ranked senior in Massachusetts. As we said before, Swords is an intriguing big man because his size automatically changes the game. At 6'11", he can block and/or changes a slew of shots. Swords can also move a bit for a big guy and can finish close to the basket. Swords is a great pick up for Bowdoin and we expect he will be an impact player in the NESCAC from the get go. We congratulate him on a great choice.

Andover Gets Best of Vonleh, Haverhill

Joe Bramanti Leads Andover

The Mass & NH High School Basketball Report visted Andover High School last night to watch Andover's Joe Bramanti & Sam Dowden take on Haverhill's Noah Vonleh. Last night Andover got the best of the young 15 year old as the Warriors prevailed 59-50.

Joe Bramanti had 22 points including a big three to start the fourth quarter that was part of an 11-0 Andover run that stretched a 42-38 lead into a 53-38 lead with 5:00 minutes left to play in the game. Bramanti also connected on a couple of nice pull-ups and had a nice finish in transition. Sweet stroking Sam Dowden was his usual efficient self as he scored 15 points on 7 of 10 shooting from the floor and put the ball in the basket in a variety of different ways. We love Dowden as he is a complete player that gets the job done in so many different way. He started the game with a college looking pull-up off the dribble, knocked down a three that came off his hand with beautiful rotation that was all net, and had both nice right and left hand finishes in this one. Dowden also competed hard and was active on the glass for the Warriors.

As far as Noah Vonleh, he really never got a chance to get into this one as he got his first foul less than 30 seconds into the game when he was dribbling East-West and no advantage was gained. He got his third foul with over two minutes left in the first quarter on a charge that was taken with the defender standing under the basket and falling down before the contact. What should of been an and-one turned into a game changing foul that put Vonleh on the bench for the remainder of the first quarter and all of the second quarter.

With three fouls, Vonleh for the most part became the designated passer on the offensive end. The 6'7" phenom ran the point, and found the open man every time the help came. As a result, Haverhill was 10-23 from behind the arc (all open looks) and stayed close until Andover's fourth quarter run. Vonleh finished with 6 points on 3 for 8 shooting, had 12 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 8 assists in 2 1/2 quarters of play. Vonleh, who had received his second big time offer from Pittsburgh just yesterday had Syracuse long time Associate Head Coach Bernie Fine in attendance to see him. Vonleh need not worry, at 6'7" he plays above the rim, can play five positions on the court, and has a very high basketball I.Q. Last night it was quite impressive to watch him run the offense from the point guard position. He's as good a 15 year old as I've ever seen. The future is big and bright for Mr. Vonleh.

Andover moved to 1-1 with the win and Haverhill starts the season 0-1.

Nicole Boudreau Nets 1,000 Point

Nicole Boudreau scored her 1,000 point

Andover and Boston College bound Nicole Boudreau hit the 1,000 point mark last night as part of an 80-51 drubbing of Methuen. Boudreau scored 21 points and added 10 steals, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on the evening. That's quite a night. She hit a jumper at the beginning of the fourth quarter for her 21st point of the game and her 1,000 point before retiring for the evening.

Boudreau is a combo guard who has a history of putting up big numbers. She is a deadly shooter from the outside but she can also attack the hoop and finish at the rim. Boudreau is also an exceptional passer. She seems to thrive when the game is on the line and likes to have the ball in pressure situations. Boudreau plays with a little swagger to her and plays with a lot of heart and confidence. She is a natural leader who loves to win. Boudreau is currently a top 100 prospect in the country and it will be fun to watch her finish her career in Andover and to follow her for her four years at Boston College.

Boudreau is on pace to shatter the school record held by 1998 Andover graduate Charlotte Muller (1,616). Given she has two years to play, a healthy Boudreau will surely do that.

Noah Vonleh Lands Another Big Time Offer

Noah Vonleh lands Pitt Offer

This article appeared on ESPN Insider on December 14, 2010

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/

Noah Vonleh (Haverhill) picked up his second high-major scholarship offer on Tuesday from Pittsburgh.

Panthers assistant coach Pat Skerry was in the Haverhill gym to watch practice and extended the offer before leaving. The Panthers join Boston College, who became the first high-major school to offer the talented sophomore earlier this summer.

Despite the early offers, this is undoubtedly just the beginning of Vonleh's recruitment as schools like North Carolina and Kentucky have already called to express interest, according to Vonleh's AAU coach Vin Pastore.

"He's 6-foot-7 and plays all five positions on the floor. He's actually playing the point at Haverhill this year," Pastore said. "His skill level is through the roof as well as his body."

Vonleh's development has been quick and consistent since entering the high school ranks a year ago when he averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds in his freshman season while earning all conference nods.

Since that time he has celebrated his 15th birthday in late August, grown another three inches, developed a powerful body despite having never lifted a weight, and seen his skill set blossom at an equally rapid rate.

Pastore, who is known for his ability to develop skilled young big men (most recently Evan Smotrycz and Carson Desrosiers, says Vonleh is still only scratching the surface of his potential.

"He already has a college-ready body and a handle that is a weapon. The next thing is the shot," Pastore said. "He has good touch but the next step is to make the shot a weapon. He can already go where he wants, he's strong, he's physical, his body is coming fast now."

Vonleh's sophomore campaign is set to begin on Tuesday night when his Haverhill squad tips their 2010-2011 season against Andover High School with an assistant coach from Syracuse expected to be among those looking on.

Expect that door to be a revolving one for the rest of the year as Vonleh has the tools and talent to be among the very best prospects in the country.

Bishop Feehan & Lexi Sells too much for Attleboro

Lexi Sells Heads to the Basket

On Monday evening, the Mass & New Hampshire High School Basketball Report was on hand to see Bishop Feehan take on cross town rival Attleboro. Bishop Feehan features our 4th ranked junior Lexi Sells. Attleboro hung tough with Feehan in the first quarter trailing by only 5, but Feehan responded with back-to-back 20-point quarters, outscoring Attleboro 40-19 over the second and third frames and eventually cruised to a 72-43 victory. Junior guard Lexi Sells lead the way with 15 points and 12 rebounds. We have always said that Sells is a special player. Tonight Sells proved just that, as she didn't have her best shooting game, but showed that she can score in variety of other ways. She was relentless at attacking the hoop, and very aggressive on the glass rebounding at will. Feehan also received a strong effort from 5'10" senior forward Kate Hill. Hill pumped in 11 points for Feehan, 9 of which came in the first half. Attleboro's Briana Hochwarter who tallied 20 points in her season opener against Sharon finished this one with a team high 13 for the game.

Perez Leads Lowell over Andover

Jonathan Perez Leads Lowell to Victory

Jonathan Perez (our eleventh ranked sophomore) scored 19 points as Lowell High School upset Andover 50-47 on Saturday afternoon at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, MA. Perez scored the winning basket with 50 seconds left to put Lowell up by a point. Andover was our eleventh ranked team in Massachusetts and Andover featured our 4th ranked senior in Joe Bramanti (16 points) and 7th ranked sophomore in Sam Dowden (6 points).

In action out West, Alex Garstka (our 24th ranked senior) scored 25 points on four threes to lead Westfield to a 69-39 victory over Nazerath (NY). Jake Laga made five threes and had 28 points in Northampton's 74-62 win over Tacomic.

In Central Mass, Xavier Garcia scored 14 points to lead Sabis to a 58-48 victory over Worcester North.

NH Boy's Class of 2014 Rankings

Andrew Lechner is one of many talents in NH Class of 2014

Below is the initial rankings for the New Hampshire Boy's Class of 2014. We know it's early, but Spring and Fall provide some initial insight. We know that there a couple of real talented big men and Bedford High School and that both Bedford and Trinity High School have very talented freshman classes. If you have some new talent we should check out, please feel free to email us with the information and will be sure to check them out. See the rest of our rankings under the NH Boy's Class of 2014.

1. Roger Larrivee (6’6”, Bedford) - The talented 6'6" wingman has a good start on a skill set that could make him a special player. He can step away from the basket and make shots and put the ball to the floor. He can can also run the floor and catch and finish. He has size, skill, and touch, and thus has a chance to be the real deal.

2. Collin McManus (6'8", Bedford) - He's a 6'8" forward that works hard and gets after the glass. He, like his teammate Larrivee, has a great upside.

3. Eric Gendron (6'2", Merrmimack) - He already looks like he belongs. The 6'2" guard has good size and can make shots from the perimeter and use the dribble to get into the center of the defense.

4. Pat Keefe (5'10” , Trinity) - Keefe is a well schooled guard that knows how to play the game of basketball. Keefe has good athleticism and can score the basketball both from behind the arc and off the dribble.

5. Carmen Giampetruzzi (6'1", Trinity) – The 6’1” two guard can really shoot the basketball from beyond the arc.

6. Andrew Lechner (6'1", Pinkerton Academy) - Lechner is an athletic guard with some size that has a great first step and can knock down shots. He is going to be a good one and his best days are ahead.

Mass Girls Preseason Team Rankings

Should be a Repeat for Andover High School

The following are our 2010-2011 Massachusetts Girls Preseason Rankings.

1) Andover - Marist bound Natalie Gomes and Boston College bound Nicole Boudreau are two of the most talented guards in New England. Add junior Allie Fazio and sharpshooting youngster Devon Caveney to the mix and the Warriors will be very tough to beat this year.

2) Central Catholic – The Raiders return four starters from last years squad that lost to Andover in the division 1 North Sectionals. St. Rose bound Gabie Polce and Merrimack bound Melissa Miller will have to step up big for the Raiders this year if they are to beat their neighbor and rivals Andover High School. Look for 6’1" sophomore Casey McClaughlin to have a huge break-out year.

3) Newton South – Newton South has two stars with Villanova bound Kendall Burton and Brown University bound Sofie Bifkosky. Add crafty point guard Chloe Rothman to the mix and this team has a chance to win it all come tournament time.

4) New Bedford- Returning 4 starters from last years squad led by talented guard Alyssa Roach if they can stay healthy look for them to play deep into the tournament.

5) Wachusett Regional - Cheyenne Jennings is one of the top guards in Central Mass. Add to that talented 6’0" forward Katie Murray and this team has a chance is the favorite to make it out Central Mass come tourney time.

6) Newton North- The backcourt duo of Brianna Hunt and Djaidah Wynn can play with anyone in the state. Look for forwards Megan Gentile and Ella Schueurell to step up big for Coach DeSantis this season.

7) Holyoke- Holyoke is looking like the favorites this year in Western MA. Look for 6’1" junior post player Alison Littles to make a name for herself. Littles had some huge games last high school season. Senior guard Monique Heard is one of the best guards in Western MA.

8) Reading - On paper Reading High looks like the favorite in the Middlesex league. Reading’s big three of Carlene Kluge, Olivia Healey and Morgan O’Brien will be tough to beat.

9) Marshfield- Lead by 6’1" forward Nicole Beresford, Marshfield is a force to be reckoned with . Beresford is already a 1,000 point scorer and one of the best players in the state as she has shown us she has the ability to dominate games. 5’10" front court mate Erin Doherty is a star in the making. Doherty has made great improvements in her game. Look for these two to carry the load for Marshfield.

10) St.Mary’s – Returns all but one player from last year’s squad . Look for 6’2" center Tori Faieta to lead this team to a Catholic Central title.

11) Durfee – With four starters returning from last year’s team look for Durfee to contend for the Big Three title. Could very well be a top 5 team by the end of the year.

12) Acton-Boxboro- Lead by talented forward Liz Belanger, who is one of the top juniors in New England, to be the catalyst of this young Acton-Boxboro squad.

13) West Springfield – West Springfield is a team that could challenge for the top spot in Western MA. West Springfield is led by Junior guard Dana Theobald who is a terrific guard who has a natural ability to put the ball in the basket. Theobald averaged close to 19 points per game last season and 6 assist. Senior guard Emily Taylor will also be a huge contributor as well.

14) Danvers – Look for talented forwards Kellie MacDonald and Sarah Palazola to build on the success of last years season. Talented sophomore Kasey Sherry, who had some big games last season, will also be a critical component for Danvers.

15) Wellesley – Wellesley could be a sleeper this season in the Bay State League. They lost some key players to graduation from last years conference championship team , but they have a shinning star in Princeton University bound Blake Dietrick. Dietrick is a jack of all trades and has the ability to dominate ball games.

16) Bishop Feehan – Lead by emerging star Lexi Sells this team did some great things last season. Look for them to be a dangerous team this winter.

17) Brockton – Person for person, Brockton may be as talented as any team in the State. Dynamic guard Tianna Johnson will surely make a name for herself.

18) Cardinal Spellman – Lead by 6’3" defensive specialist Alexis Udoji look for Spellman to challenge for the Catholic Central title.

19) Somerville – Should be exciting to watch this young team who is lead by talented sophomore guard Indira Evora and senior Kelsey Garritty. Evora and company will be the team to beat in the Greater Boston League.

20) Woburn – Woburn had a great year last season. With some key players returning look for them to compete with Reading for a Middlesex League title.

Massachusetts Girls Team Rankings

Who we expect to be the top 20 girls teams in Mass during 2010-2011:

Rank Name

1 Andover
2 Central Catholic
3 Newton South
4 New Bedford
5 Wachusett Regional
6 Newton North
7 Holyoke
8 Reading
9 Marshfield
10 St. Mary's
11 Durfee
12 Acton-Boxboro
13 West Springfield
14 Danvers
15 Wellesley
16 Bishop Feehan
17 Brockton
18 Cardinal Spellman
19 Somerville
20 Woburn

Kaleb Joseph Heading to Prep School

Kaleb Joseph On His Way to Prep School

The Nashua South boy's basketball team suffered a big loss as sophomore Kaleb Joseph will be transferring to Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA after Christmas vacation. The 6'1" point guard is our #4 ranked sophomore in the State of New Hampshire.


Joseph has a quirky game, but a very effective one. He has a good handle, is unselfish with the basketball, and has a good basketball I.Q. He is able to create space off the dribble and can finish around the rim. Joseph's body needs to develop and we believe he is hoping that Prep school gives him some extra time for that development.

Jules Tavares Returns to the M.I.A.A.

Jules Tavares has returned to Massachusetts High School basketball after a short stay at Wilbraham-Monson Academy. Tavares will play for New Bedford High School this Winter. Tavarus is a high flying athlete who can create a ton of offense and get to the rim at will. He will surely change division 1 high school basketball in the south this year.

Below is the article written by Buddy Thomas found on http://www.southcoasttoday.com/.

By Buddy Thomas
December 02, 2010 12:00 AM

Jules Tavares' smile looked as wide as the basket he was shooting at in last season's state championship game. And, maybe for the first time since that March afternoon in Worcester, he seemed totally relaxed and confident.

It's been a rocky road off the court for the kid with the smooth basketball moves, but for now, anyway, Tavares seemed totally at peace with himself. "It's great to be here," Tavares said as he looked around New Bedford High School, his newest home away from home. "All I want to do is help this team win." New Bedford is the third landing spot in the last seven months for the former Wareham basketball standout.

After leaving Wareham late in his junior year, he enrolled at Wilbraham-Monson Academy in September with a goal of turning what he hoped would be an improved academic average and unquestioned basketball talents into a potential college scholarship. Less than three months later, Tavares is looking at that same goal as a New Bedford High School senior. "I don't have any regrets about going there (Wilbraham-Monson)," Tavares said. "It was a nice school and I learned a lot in the short time I was there. But I just didn't feel comfortable."

Tavares was clearly in a comfort zone last season as he helped lead Wareham to a Division 3 Championship by averaging a team-high 20.1 points during a 20-2 regular season and 18.3 points in a 6-0 run through the playoffs. His 30-point effort in a 78-71 victory over Cardinal Spellman in the South Sectional title game enabled him to become the second of three Wareham players to reach 1,000 career points. But off-the-court troubles deflected what should have been a deluge of interest from colleges and universities across the country.

Tavares hoped to change that image at Wilbraham-Monson with a solid year on and off the court. Now, both he and head coach Tom Tarpey are hoping to turn Jules into diamonds at New Bedford. "I met him when he registered last week and I'll sit down with him to tell him what I've heard and what I expect of him," Tarpey said.

One thing the coach isn't likely to do is build a young and potentially talented team around an incoming senior — which is just fine with Tavares. "I'm not coming here thinking this is my team, because it isn't," he said. "I'm here to try and help this team win. This team has plenty of talent and I just want to fit in."

In his three seasons at Wareham, Tavares played in 68 varsity games, averaging 15.5 points and finishing with 1,059 for his career. More than half of those points came on 3-point field goals or thunderous dunks, and most of his big shots came in big games. "I always seem to get up for the bigger games and I'm already pumped up just thinking about playing here against tougher opponents and in front of bigger crowds," he said.

Basketball practice officially began on Monday but, for Tavares, the playing never stops. When he's not playing in-season, Jules can usually be found at the Wareham YMCA on weekends, shooting at any number of courts with current or former teammates, or displaying his talent in a variety of AAU tournaments. It's been his eye-popping performances in the latter that continues to peak the interest of a handful of college scouts. "I've heard from UConn, Clemson, Cincinnati, DePaul, St. Bonaventure and Boston University and, hopefully, I can play well enough to earn a scholarship to one of those schools or somewhere else," he said.

Anyone who has seen Tavares play clearly recognizes his ability on the basketball court. The only thing this gifted athlete has to prove is his worthiness away from it. "I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I'm 18 now and I truly believe I've matured," he said. We'll see. And here's hoping he has.

Buddy Thomas' column appears on Thursday in The Standard-Times.