BeantownHoops Blog

It was a great 2009-10 basketball season and starting Tuesday March 16th, we will be posting our end of the season awards.  Our final awards will be our boys and girls 1st, 2nd, and 3rd All-Beantownhoops teams and our Players of the Year.  Here we go:
The criteria:  Our members submitted their choices for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams and votes were tabulated accordingly.  The player receiving the most voting points is acknowledged as our player of the year.  The player of the year is listed first, the rest of the team is listed in no particular order.  If a player received votes, but did not make one of the teams, they made the Honorable Mention list. (Any complaints?  Become a member and have your say next season!)
Boys All-Beantownhoops.com First Team
1.  Carson Desrosiers, Central Catholic (Player of the Year)
2.  David Campbell, Madison Park
3.  Ryan Woumn, Lynn English
4.  Pat Connaughton, St. John’s Prep
5.  Jules Tavares, Wareham
Boys All-Beantownhoops.com Second Team
1.  Greg Kelley, Newton North
2.  Jimmy Zenevitch, Central Catholic
3.  Osmel Odena, New Mission
4.  Spencer Braithwaite, Madison Park
5.  Matt Palazini, Franklin
Boys All-Beantownhoops.com Third Team
1.  Rodney Beldo, Scituate
2.  Jasper Grassa, Lynn Classical
3.  Andrew Musler, Belmont
4.  Jarell Byrd, Lynn English
5.  Samir McDaniels, New Mission
Honorable Mention
Marco Coppola, Watertown
Ousmane Drame, New Mission
Sam Longwell, Acton-Boxborough
TJ Jann, Westford
Mike Ingram-Rubin, Bedford
Jacquil Taylor, Cambridge
Rodney Chance, Mansfield
Dino Mallios, Winthrop
Andrew White, Medford
PJ Douglas, Braintree
Wes Schroll, Acton-Boxborough
Jordan Rezendes, Wareham
Dan Brooks, Catholic Memorial
Elijah Chislohm, East Boston
Girls All-Beantownhoops.com First Team
1.  Lauren Battista, Oliver Ames (Player of the Year)
2. Nicole Boudreau, Andover
3.  Katie Zenevitch, Central Catholic
4.  Val Driscoll, Archbishop Williams
5.  Khadijah Ellison, Burke
Girls All-Beantownhoops.com Second Team
1.  Natalie Gomez, Andover
2.  Jenicia Duggins, Lynn English
3.  Rashidat Agboola, Methuen
4.  Erin McNamara, Pentucket
5.  Nicole Beresford, Marshfield
Girls All-Beantownhoops.com Third Team
1.  Asia Ewing, Westford
2.  Brittany Obi-Talbot, Watertown
3.  Alexis Peters, Fontbonne
4.  Niesha Kelley, New Mission
5.  Tori Faieta, St. Mary’s
Honorable Mention
Colleen Hooper, Mansfield
Jess Eason, Mansfield
Lauren Fiola, Durfee
Molly Breen, Millis
Hannah Brickley, Melrose
Cara Paladino, Arlington Catholic
Lindsey Roche, Arlington Catholic
Christine Ganser, Needham
Mary Louise Dixon, Wellesley
Liz Belanger, Acton-Boxborough
Top Coaching Jobs
The criteria: It’s easy to pick the coaches who won this year, but there were many coaches who turned their programs around and had wonderful seasons. Here is our list of top coaching jobs on the boys and girls sides.  Coaches are listed in no particular order.
Boys Coaches
1.  Jim Dolan, Weymouth
2.  Cory McCarthy, New Mission
3.  Rick Kilpatrick, Acton-Boxborugh
4.  Rick Nault, Central Catholic
5.  Anthony Faradie, Medford
6.  Sean Connolly, St. John’s Prep
Girls Coaches
1.  Sara Behn, Foxboro
2.  Mike Redding, Mansfield
3.  Jim Tildsley, Andover
4.  Elaine Clement-Holbrook, Oliver Ames
5.  John LeVangie, Cohasset
6.  Jeff Newhall, St. Mary’s
Girl’s Best Floor Generals

The criteria:  The players chosen were the best players at running their respective teams this season.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Lindsey Roche - Arlington Catholic, Senior
2. Natalie Gomez - Andover, Junior
3. Erin McNamara - Pentucket, Senior
4. Gabie Polce - Central Catholic, Junior
5.  Jenicia Duggins - Lynn English, Senior

Boy’s Best Floor Generals Team

The criteria:  The players chosen were the best players at running their respective teams this season.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Ryan Woumn - Lynn English, Senior
2. Spencer Braithwaite - Madison Park, Senior
3. Osmel Odena- New Mission, Senior
4. Sam Longwell - Acton-Boxborough, Junior
5.  Darren Gray - Wareham, Senior

Girl’s All-Low Post Team

The criteria:  The players chosen were the best players down low this season.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Katie Zenevitch - Central Catholic, Senior
2. Asia Ewing - Westford, Senior
3. Tori Faieta - St. Mary’s, Junior
4. Brittany Obi-Tabot- Watertown, Senior
5.  Val Driscoll - Archbishop Williams, Junior

Boy’s All-Low Post Team

The criteria:  The players chosen were the best players down low this season.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Carson Desrosiers - Central Catholic, Senior
2. David Campbell - Madison Park, Senior
3. Ousmane Drame - New Mission, Senior
4. Greg Kelley- Newton North, Senior
5.  Nick Lund - Woburn, Junior

Boy’s Most Exciting Players

The criteria:  These players are just fun to watch.  This is our list for the most exciting boys and girls players this season

1.  Jules Tavares - Wareham, Junior
2. PJ Douglas - Braintree, Senior
3. Matt Palazini - Franklin, Senior
4. Demitry Coronel - East Boston, Sophomore
5.  Osmel Odena- New Mission, Senior

1.  Khadijah Ellison - Burke, Junior
2. Jenicia Duggins - Lynn English, Senior
3. Erin McNamara - Pentucket, Senior
4. Nicole Boudreau- Andover, Sophomore
5.  Tori Faieta- St. Mary’s, Junior

Girl’s All-Middlesex Team

The criteria:  Our selections for the best five girl’s players in the Middlesex League this season.    Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Cassi Liston - Stoneham, Senior
2. Brittany Obi-Tabot - Watertown, Senior
3. Hannah Brickley - Melrose, Senior
4. Carlene Kluge - Reading, Junior
5.  Colleen Hanscom- Melrose, Senior

Girl’s All-City Team

The criteria:  Our selections for the best five girl’s players in the Boston City league this season.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Khadijah Ellison - Burke, Junior
2.  Tajanay Vega-Lee - Fenway, Freshman
3.  Donhaiza Fountain - New Mission, Freshman
4.  Niesha Kelley - New Mission, Center
5.  Frederika Lawson - Burke, Junior

Boy’s All-Middlesex Team

The criteria:  Our selections for the best five boy’s players in the Middlesex League this season.    Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Mickel Simpson - Woburn, Junior
2.  Marco Coppola - Watertown, Junior
3. John Dillon - Belmont, Sophomore
4. Andrew Musler - Belmont, Senior
5.  Nick Lund- Woburn, Junior

Boy’s All-City Team
The criteria:  Our selections for the best five boy’s players in the Boston City league this season.  As you can see, the team is dominated by the top two city teams this year, Madison Park (DI South Champs) and New Mission (D4 State Champs).  Players were selected by position.

1.  Point Guard - Spencer Braithwaite, Madison Park, Senior
2.  Shooting Guard - Elijah Chislohm, East Boston, Senior
3.  Small Forward - Samir McDaniels, New Mission, Junior
4.  Power Forward - David Campbell, Madison Park, Senior
5.  Center - Ousmane Drame, New Mission, Senior

Girl’s All-Defensive Team
The criteria:  These players were either shutdown one-on-one defenders or were players who controlled the painted area. Six players were chosen for this team and our listed in no particular order.
1.  Courtney Williams - Junior, Central Catholic guard
2.  Deshanthi Perera- Senior, Reading guard
3. Djaidah Wynn - Junior, Newton North  guard
4.  Nicole Boudreau - Sophomore, Andover guard
5.  Katie Zenevitch- Senior, Central Catholic center
6.  Jess Eason - Senior, Mansfield center

Best Boy’s and Girl’s Scorers
The criteria:  I’m sure this category will get a lot of feedback, so let’s be clear on what we mean.  The players selected for this team can flat out score.  They may not have the best shot, be the tallest player on the court, or be the shut down defender on their team, but at the end of the day they put up big scoring numbers for their team.  Before we get bombarded with emails, understand that we have seen a lot of basketball this season, but didn’t see every single player in the state play, although we tried.  Players are listed in no particular order.

1.  Franklin Salvador - Senior, Somerville  guard
2.  PJ Douglas - Senior, Braintree guard
3.  Pat Connaughton - Junior, St. John’s Prep guard
4.  Jasper Grassa - Senior, Lynn Classical guard
5.  Marco Coppola - Junior, Watertown guard
Honorable mention - Jarrell Byrd (Lynn English), Andrew White (Medford), Matt Palazini (Franklin), Andrew Musler (Belmont), Ryan Woumn (Lynn English),
1.  Khadijah Ellison - Junior, Burke guard
2.  Natalie Gomez - Junior, Andover guard
3.  Nicole Boudreau - Sophomore, Andover guard
4.  Niesha Kelley - Senior, New Mission guard
5.  Jenicia Duggins - Senior, Lynn English guard
Honorable mention - Asia Ewing (Westford), Alexis Peters (Fontbonne), Erin McNamara (Pentucket), Rashidat Agboola (Methuen), Colleen Hooper (Mansfield)
Boys All-Defensive Team
The criteria:  These players were either shutdown one-on-one defenders or were players who controlled the painted area. Six players were chosen for this team and our listed in no particular order.
1.  Osmel Odena - Senior, New Mission guard
2.  Luis Puello - Sophomore, Central Catholic guard
3.  Ousmane Drame - Senior, New Mission center
4.  Jacquil Taylor - Freshmen, Cambridge center
5.  Carson Desrosiers - Senior, Central Catholic center
6.  Greg Kelley - Senior, Newton North center
Best Student Sections
The criteria:  Students had to have a good following at a majority of their teams games this season, had to be creative in their chants, had to be highly involved in the game, and had to be united in their color schemes.  Here are our choices for 2009-10 and the respective teams that they followed:
1.  Central Catholic - boys and girls teams
2.  Newton North - boys team
3.  St. John’s Prep - boys team
4.  Stoneham - girls team
5.  Mansfield - boys and girls teams
Honorable mention:  Andover boys and girls teams

Boys: Watertown Red Raiders

The Red Raiders went 2-0 last week with wins over Winchester and then #12 Belmont.  The win over Belmont, the Middlesex league champions, was the signature win for the team this season.  It was especially gratifying since the the team was supposed to have a down year after losing a strong senior class.  Coach Steve Harrington has the team clicking on all cylinders right now and they are one of the favorites to win the D3 North.  Congratulations to the Watertown Boys for being Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.

Girls:  #22 Whitman-Hanson Panthers

The Panthers capped off a perfect week by beating previously unbeaten #6 New Bedford 62-53.  Earlier in the week, the Panthers defeated Silver Lake 53-32 and with the two wins improved their record to 17-3.  Coach Jim Daley has led the team to a first place finish in the Patriot Keenan division and they are on a roll heading into the playoffs winning nine of their last ten games.  They earned their first ranking of the year last week debuting at #22 and are well deserving of this honor.  Congratulations to the Whitman-Hanson girls for being Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.

Boys:  #25 Catholic Memorial
Coach Denis Tobin’s team has played a brutal schedule and all that competition paid off last week with the Knights defeating previous unbeaten St. John’s Prep to earn a share of the Catholic Conference title.  CM would complete the week by beating BC High and La Salle (RI).  The Knights are currently on an eight game winning streak and are well deserving of Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.  Congratulations.
Girls: #22 Cohasset
The Skippers finished off a two game week by beating Hull 45-29 and clinching a South Shore league title.  Earlier in the week, Cohasset defeated Mashpee 55-29.  Coach John LeVangie has done a tremendous job and has the Skippers undefeated and primed for a deep post-season run.  Congratulations to the Cohasset Girls for being Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.

Boys - Belmont Marauders

Record: 14-0 overall, 14-0 in the Middlesex League (1st place)

This past week:  Defeated Woburn and Wakefield

Notes:  One of four undefeated teams remaining, the #4 Marauders have been the surprise of the Middlesex this season.  Predicted to finish behind traditional powers Lexington and Watertown and upstart Woburn, Belmont has been led by the play of Senior Andrew Musler, Junior Luca Ladan, and Sophomore John Dillon.  Coach Adam Pritchard has put together a nice balanced squad and along with the three stars the role players have been playing well and keeping the Marauders record unblemished.  Congratulations to Belmont for being Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.

Girls - Pentucket Sachems

Record:  18-0 overall, 8-0 in Cape Ann Division I (1st place)

This past week:  Defeated Hamilton-Wenham, Notre Dame (Hingham), and Rockport

Notes:  Alright Sachem fans, you have made us believers.  #9 Pentucket has been rolling through the competition giving up only 30 points last week in two wins and beating a talented ND (Hingham) team.  We were unsure of how good this team really was, but with victories over #16 St. Mary’s and #20 Ipswich, the Sachems are a legitimate Top 10 team.  Coach John McNamara’s team was supposed to be down after losing Kirsten Daaman and Andrea Attenasio, but the team has stepped up behind the play of Erin McNamara and Ashley Viselli.  Congratulations to Pentucket for being Beantownhoops.com’s team of the week.

Boys Team of the Week:  Medford Mustangs
Record:  7-4, 3-2 in the Greater Boston League (tied for second)
This past week:  Two league road wins  over Malden and #19 Everett
Notes: After going winless in the league last year, Coach Anthony Faradie has led a revival at Medford.  The Mustangs beat Malden on Andrew White’s last second lay-in and then point guard Kadeem Smith led them to their second victory of the week at Everett.  Coach Faradie is quick to point out that defense was the key factor in the team’s successful week.
“We have really focused this year on our defense.  It is what has been working and winning for us,” said Coach Faradie.
Coach Faradie noted that there is still a long way to go and he wants his team to “maintain its focus and keep working to achieve their goals.”  Congratulations to the Medford Boys for being the Beantownhoops.com Boys Team of the Week.
Girls Team of the Week:  New Bedford Whalers
Record: 15-0, 2-0 in the Big Three (first place)
This past week:  Two league wins over #4 Brockton and Durfee
Notes:  #14 New Bedford is on a roll and is sure to climb in the rankings when our Top 25 rankings for Jan. 24th are released.  Down eight points with 3:30 left in the 4th quarter at Brockton, the Whalers stormed back behind the play of Juniors Alyssa Roach and Arielle Gomes to win by one.  On Friday, New Bedford easily handled Durfee by 22 points to take sole possession of first in the Big Three.  Congratulations to the New Bedford Girls for being the Beantownhoops.com Girls Team of the Week.