Double Game of the Week
Mansfield @ Taunton - Boys Basketball
Mansfield @ Canton - Boys Hockey
Basketball: Mansfield (17-1) @ Taunton (14-3)
They say there are three guarantees in life: Death, taxes and Mansfield vs. Taunton’s second meeting deciding the Kelley-Rex champion in boy’s basketball. Well, that might not be true, but in the second straight season, this game will have huge implications on the large division. If Mansfield wins – like they did last year – they will clinch the Kelley-Rex division outright. If Taunton wins, they keep their chances – and likely Franklin’s chances – at getting a share of the title. With a win, the Tigers even have a shot at winning the division outright themselves.
In the first meeting between the two, Mansfield took the win by nearly 20 points. The Tigers were without their full assortment of players and based on how things changed from the first meeting to the second game last year, you can expect a closer game this time around. Taunton’s gym isn’t the easiest gym for opposing players to come into and shoot well but Mansfield’s offense has been dynamic in various gyms this year. The teams tip off from Taunton High at 6:30 on Friday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mansfield
At this point of the season, there aren’t too many secrets. For Mansfield, there hasn’t been too many secrets for over a year now with Rocky DeAndrade – a Player of the Year candidate – along with Ryan Boulter, Michael Boen and Kyle Wisnieski (all four potentially all-star candidates) have been producing at a high level on a consistent for some time now. But just because they’re well known doesn’t make it any easier to stop them. It seems that each game at least one of them steps up offensively and takes control. It’s hard to say the role players are the key for the Hornets, but they do play a vital role. The aforementioned four players can’t be expected to play 32 minutes game in and game out and that’s where the likes of Dean Jenssen, Nick Baskin and freshman Matthew Ehrlich and Max Boen come into play. They have all contributed this season and both freshmen can hurt you from deep if you forget about them. With all of these names, it’ll be a huge game for Kevin Conner, who is going to need to be a physical force in the paint with all of the size Taunton boasts.
Taunton
Like Mansfield, Taunton boasts not only a strong core of players, but a deep roster with names that are known around the league despite not starting. With that said, it starts with the guard duo of Gerald Cortijo and Shaq Davis for the Tigers. They are the team’s top two scorers and are very tough to handle one on one on either end of the court. Add in Cory Green, who is very capable of point up solid scoring numbers and also is one of the top on ball defenders in the league. Taunton also vaunts a strong group of big men that aren’t just one dimensional. Matt Midouin, Marcus Santos-Silva and Truly Kenku can be a nightmare match up for teams because of their ability to not only score, but play great interior defense. Kenku’s athleticism is among the best in the league and his basketball skill has greatly improved as the season has gone on. Also like the Hornets, it’s young role players like Jesse Machado, Colin March, Jordan Galloway and freshman Tommy McLean that play important minutes for Taunton.
In the first meeting between the two, Mansfield took the win by nearly 20 points. The Tigers were without their full assortment of players and based on how things changed from the first meeting to the second game last year, you can expect a closer game this time around. Taunton’s gym isn’t the easiest gym for opposing players to come into and shoot well but Mansfield’s offense has been dynamic in various gyms this year. The teams tip off from Taunton High at 6:30 on Friday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mansfield
At this point of the season, there aren’t too many secrets. For Mansfield, there hasn’t been too many secrets for over a year now with Rocky DeAndrade – a Player of the Year candidate – along with Ryan Boulter, Michael Boen and Kyle Wisnieski (all four potentially all-star candidates) have been producing at a high level on a consistent for some time now. But just because they’re well known doesn’t make it any easier to stop them. It seems that each game at least one of them steps up offensively and takes control. It’s hard to say the role players are the key for the Hornets, but they do play a vital role. The aforementioned four players can’t be expected to play 32 minutes game in and game out and that’s where the likes of Dean Jenssen, Nick Baskin and freshman Matthew Ehrlich and Max Boen come into play. They have all contributed this season and both freshmen can hurt you from deep if you forget about them. With all of these names, it’ll be a huge game for Kevin Conner, who is going to need to be a physical force in the paint with all of the size Taunton boasts.
Taunton
Like Mansfield, Taunton boasts not only a strong core of players, but a deep roster with names that are known around the league despite not starting. With that said, it starts with the guard duo of Gerald Cortijo and Shaq Davis for the Tigers. They are the team’s top two scorers and are very tough to handle one on one on either end of the court. Add in Cory Green, who is very capable of point up solid scoring numbers and also is one of the top on ball defenders in the league. Taunton also vaunts a strong group of big men that aren’t just one dimensional. Matt Midouin, Marcus Santos-Silva and Truly Kenku can be a nightmare match up for teams because of their ability to not only score, but play great interior defense. Kenku’s athleticism is among the best in the league and his basketball skill has greatly improved as the season has gone on. Also like the Hornets, it’s young role players like Jesse Machado, Colin March, Jordan Galloway and freshman Tommy McLean that play important minutes for Taunton.
Hockey: Mansfield (9-2-1) @ Canton (7-3-4)
Mansfield travels to the Metropolis Rink on Saturday night to take on Canton in another battle of two of the perennial powers in the Hockomock League. The Bulldogs come into the game still unbeaten in the league (6-0-2) and a win would give them at least a share of the Davenport title. The Hornets close defeat to Franklin has them a game back in the Kelley-Rex and was only their second loss this season. This promises to be another massive game in both league title races in the only meeting of the year between the two teams.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mansfield
There are few surprises between these teams, especially at this stage of the season. Canton will know that the key to stopping the Hornets is trying to find a way to slow down the top line and, in particular, the league’s leading scorer Adam Blackman, who comes in averaging nearly three points per game. He centers a line with Kyle Hurley and Jared Collins and each of them have become dangerous scorers in their own right. Sophomore Billy Grant has popped up with goals from the second line too, so it’s not only about the top three. Defensively, Mansfield is very strong led by Will Kelleher and Evan Kershaw but there can be issues with penalties and that will be something that the Hornets need to cut down. Goalie Dan Moyer has taken over for his senior year and been excellent and he can expect a busy night as Canton is usually a team that shoots at a high rate.
Canton
The Bulldogs also have been getting solid play from their top line. Sophomore Matt lazaro has been a revelation this season and leads the team in scoring, while senior Ben Lodge adds physical play along with goals. Freshman Jerry Harding has emerged as a threat in recent games as well. Sophomore John Femia has taken over the second line and it has started to gel in recent weeks and provide some extra scoring punch. Defensively, Canton boasts three strong seniors in Andrew Howlett, Tony Francescon, and Austin Zannino that can also step up in the offensive zone and provide the occasional goal. Freshman Jackson Maffeo has rounded out the top two defensive lines and has shown admirable puck handling and reading of the game that he’ll need against the Hornets high-powered attack. Sophomore goalie Justin Slocum has also developed into a solid netminder and has a GAA of just 1.52.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mansfield
There are few surprises between these teams, especially at this stage of the season. Canton will know that the key to stopping the Hornets is trying to find a way to slow down the top line and, in particular, the league’s leading scorer Adam Blackman, who comes in averaging nearly three points per game. He centers a line with Kyle Hurley and Jared Collins and each of them have become dangerous scorers in their own right. Sophomore Billy Grant has popped up with goals from the second line too, so it’s not only about the top three. Defensively, Mansfield is very strong led by Will Kelleher and Evan Kershaw but there can be issues with penalties and that will be something that the Hornets need to cut down. Goalie Dan Moyer has taken over for his senior year and been excellent and he can expect a busy night as Canton is usually a team that shoots at a high rate.
Canton
The Bulldogs also have been getting solid play from their top line. Sophomore Matt lazaro has been a revelation this season and leads the team in scoring, while senior Ben Lodge adds physical play along with goals. Freshman Jerry Harding has emerged as a threat in recent games as well. Sophomore John Femia has taken over the second line and it has started to gel in recent weeks and provide some extra scoring punch. Defensively, Canton boasts three strong seniors in Andrew Howlett, Tony Francescon, and Austin Zannino that can also step up in the offensive zone and provide the occasional goal. Freshman Jackson Maffeo has rounded out the top two defensive lines and has shown admirable puck handling and reading of the game that he’ll need against the Hornets high-powered attack. Sophomore goalie Justin Slocum has also developed into a solid netminder and has a GAA of just 1.52.
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Game of the Week - The Pick
| HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Picks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Michael Antonellis |
Cameron Merritt |
Jeff Pickette |
Chris McDaniel |
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| Game of the Week Staff |  |
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| Hockomock Sports |
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Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
Stoughton Media Access |
The Enterprise |
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| Mansfield @ Taunton Friday, 6:30 |
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| King Philip @ Attleboro Friday, 6:30 |
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| North Attleboro @ Franklin Friday, 6:30 |
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| Sharon @ Canton Friday, 6:45 |
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| Foxboro @ Stoughton Friday, 6:30 |
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| Milford @ Oliver Ames Friday, 6:45 |
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| Total | Lanigan 26-6 |
Perry 26-6 |
Antonellis 23-9 |
Merritt 20-12 |
Pickette 21-11 |
McDaniel 20-12 |
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| HockomockSports.com Girls Basketball Picks | ||||||||||
| Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Michael Antonellis |
Cameron Merritt |
Jeff Pickette |
Chris McDaniel |
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| Hockomock Sports |
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Stoughton Media Access |
The Enterprise |
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| Taunton @ Mansfield Friday, 6:40 |
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| Attleboro @ King Philip Friday, 6:30 |
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| Franklin @ North Attleboro Friday, 6:30 |
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| Canton @ Sharon Friday, 6:45 |
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| Stoughton @ Foxboro Friday, 6:30 |
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| Oliver Ames @ Milford Friday, 6:30 |
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| Total | Lanigan 25-5 |
Perry 28-2 |
Antonellis 13-17 |
Merritt 18-12 |
Pickette 18-12 |
McDaniel 17-13 |
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| HockomockSports.com Hockey Picks | ||||||||||
| Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Michael Antonellis |
Cameron Merritt |
Jeff Pickette |
Chris McDaniel |
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| Game of the Week Staff | |
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| Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
Hockomock Sports |
Stoughton Media Access |
The Enterprise |
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| Mansfield @ Canton Saturday, 6:00 |
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| King Philip @ Foxboro Saturday, 5:20 |
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| Franklin @ Milford Saturday, 7:00 |
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| North Attleboro @ Stoughton Saturday, 4:00 |
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| Oliver Ames @ Taunton Saturday, 2:00 |
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| Attleboro vs. St.Joseph's Prep Saturday, 4:30 |
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| Total | Lanigan 17-4-3 |
Perry 19-2-3 |
Antonellis 15-6-3 |
Merritt 11-10-3 |
Pickette 12-9-3 |
McDaniel 14-7-3 |
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