Games of the Week - 3/2
The Breakdown:
Hockey
No. 1 Canton vs. No. 8 North Attleboro - Saturday @ Asiaf
North Attleboro and Canton met once this season and the Bulldogs cruised to an 8-0 victory. North has made several changes heading into Saturday’s D2 South quarterfinal matchup to try and be more balanced. Ryan Burns has joined Tim Joyce and Matt McAuliffe on the first line while the second line is now all sophomores with Sean Young and Marshall Blackman joined by Mark Ventola. The sophomores scored four goals in the 6-0 win against an admittedly overwhelmed Milford in the first round. North will need to create much better chances to beat the top defense in the league and goalie Rich Nee.
The Bulldog are well-rested after a week off and will be looking to get off to a quick start and end thoughts of a potential upset. Brian Brooks and Pat Ward were joined on the top line by Michael Denehy in the tie with Coyle last week and, if Denehy is back from a hand injury, Coach Shuman will probably stick with that look to increase the first line’s defensive capability. The strength of Canton is in the forecheck and the Bulldogs depth can be too much to handle for opponents. Canton may also have the league’s best defensive tandem in Kurt Leavitt and Steve Mullaney.
North is still a relatively young program and is establishing itself in the Hockomock’s second tier, behind perennial powers Franklin and Canton. Expectations are low for the Rocketeers on Saturday against the top seed and league champions, but that also makes them a dangerous opponent. The first period will be crucial, as the longer the game stays close the greater the likelihood of an upset.
Basketball
No. 1 Mansfield vs. No. 9 Franklin
The Hornets and Panthers are meeting for the third time this season, and for the second straight year in the playoffs. We caught up with Canton head coach Ryan Gordy has worked under both Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan and Franklin head coach Dean O'Connor.
How similar are Mansfield and Franklin going to play on Saturday?
Gordy: Both the Hornets and the Panthers are extremely well coached, and they do a great job of getting the most out of their players. Both teams compete extremely hard, and both teams execute their systems very efficiently. Those are the similarities. Coach Vaughan and Coach O'Connor have different philosophies offensively and defensively. Franklin uses the flex offense, and the way they run it can be difficult to defend. Most teams start the flex out of a four low set, but Franklin starts it out of a 4 out 1 in look where they double screen away for shooters once the ball goes to the corner. They space the floor while setting flex screens allowing their point guard a lot of space for penetration. Mansfield runs an open motion offense where they look to penetrate and kick to their great shooters. On defense Mansfield looks to contain and contest, where as Franklin loves to ball pressure and jump passing lanes. The two clashing styles make for a great chess match between two of the top coaches in the state.
What's going to be the key for both teams to be successful offensively?
Gordy: For Franklin, Sam Bohmiller and Chris Rodgers will be effective scoring the ball. The question will be if Jaquan James, Marcus Giese, and Brendan Kuzio can provide scoring to keep up with Mansfield's high powered offense. Franklin's best offense might come off of their pressure defense, trying to create turnovers that lead to easy baskets in transition. In order to be successful in the second round of the state tournament, Franklin's all-stars need to play like all-stars. Rodgers and Bohmiller need to make shots, attack the rim and get to the FT line.
For Mansfield, the 3 pointer is the game changer. What makes Mansfield so difficult to defend is that everyone can shoot. Mansfield has a very big court and they do a good job of spacing the floor and attacking downhill hard in order to get to the rim or kick out for three. Mansfield will make open threes, the question is can they get enough opportunities to shoot uncontested threes against Franklin's great team defense. The key to getting these open looks is the pentration of their PG Rocky DeAndrade, and league MVP Brendan Hill. Both players are terrific passers which allows players like Greg Romanko and Ryan Boulter to get easy step in three point attempts.
What will Franklin do to try and limit Mansfield's high-power offense?
Gordy: Franklin needs to focus on defending the three point line, and limit easy transition baskets and second chance points. Transition defense is a lot easier to play when you don't turn the ball over, and with Bohmiller at the point I expect Franklin to be OK in that department. Franklin also does a good job on the boards limiting teams to few offensive rebounds resulting in fewer second chance points. Franklin will need to contain Mansfield's penetration in the half court. If Mansfield can get into the paint and Franklin is forced to help, they could potentially give up the three point shot which is exactly what Mansfield wants. It will be fun to watch the Hockomock league's best offense go against the leagues best defense.
What will Mansfield need to do to stop the red-hot Sam Bohmiller?
Gordy: Bohmiller is one of the best guards in the state. Not only is he Franklin's best scorer, he is their best passer and playmaker too. He makes everyone around him a better player. Sam let's the game come to him, and doesn't force anything. Mansfield has a little extra motivation here. It was Bohmiller's three pointer that won the game for Franklin in last years state tournament game which ended Mansfield's season. You can count on Coach Vaughan coming up with a solid game plan to defend Sam, and the players really focusing extra attention on him at all times. Something Mansfield might emphasize is making Sam work extremely hard off the ball. Sam is the point guard and brings the ball up, but once he makes the first pass in the half court Mansfield's goal might be to not let him get the ball back. Full denial and face guard at all times making Sam work for every touch. Down the stretch late in the game Mansfield might run double teams at him in order to get the ball out of his hands, but this could be risky leaving another Panther open at an important part of the game. I am excited to see what strategy coach Vaughan takes with Bohmiller.
The last time these two teams met, the game went into overtime. Are we headed there again?
Gordy: We very well could be. If not overtime, be prepared for another great game. These two teams have a history of big time state tournament matchups. The rivalry has become fiecre, and both teams are always up for the challenge. The game always seems to come down to one big play in the final minute. Last season it was Bohmiller's game winning three pointer. In 2010 it was Manfield's Mike Lofton with an ally-oop dunk to score the go ahead and final basket of the game. I expect nothing less in Saturdays matchup. The storyline is great. Two great coaches who work together at Mass Premier courts, two great stars in Hill and Bohmiller, two great supporting casts with Rocky, Romanko, James, and Rodgers. An interesting fact here is that every time these two teams have met in the state tournament, the home team has won. Can Mansfield keep the tradition alive, or will the Panthers play spoiler for the second time this season and take out the league champions. As a fan and student of the game, I am truly excited for this one.
No. 1 Canton vs. No. 8 North Attleboro - Saturday @ Asiaf
North Attleboro and Canton met once this season and the Bulldogs cruised to an 8-0 victory. North has made several changes heading into Saturday’s D2 South quarterfinal matchup to try and be more balanced. Ryan Burns has joined Tim Joyce and Matt McAuliffe on the first line while the second line is now all sophomores with Sean Young and Marshall Blackman joined by Mark Ventola. The sophomores scored four goals in the 6-0 win against an admittedly overwhelmed Milford in the first round. North will need to create much better chances to beat the top defense in the league and goalie Rich Nee.
The Bulldog are well-rested after a week off and will be looking to get off to a quick start and end thoughts of a potential upset. Brian Brooks and Pat Ward were joined on the top line by Michael Denehy in the tie with Coyle last week and, if Denehy is back from a hand injury, Coach Shuman will probably stick with that look to increase the first line’s defensive capability. The strength of Canton is in the forecheck and the Bulldogs depth can be too much to handle for opponents. Canton may also have the league’s best defensive tandem in Kurt Leavitt and Steve Mullaney.
North is still a relatively young program and is establishing itself in the Hockomock’s second tier, behind perennial powers Franklin and Canton. Expectations are low for the Rocketeers on Saturday against the top seed and league champions, but that also makes them a dangerous opponent. The first period will be crucial, as the longer the game stays close the greater the likelihood of an upset.
Basketball
No. 1 Mansfield vs. No. 9 Franklin
The Hornets and Panthers are meeting for the third time this season, and for the second straight year in the playoffs. We caught up with Canton head coach Ryan Gordy has worked under both Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan and Franklin head coach Dean O'Connor.
How similar are Mansfield and Franklin going to play on Saturday?
Gordy: Both the Hornets and the Panthers are extremely well coached, and they do a great job of getting the most out of their players. Both teams compete extremely hard, and both teams execute their systems very efficiently. Those are the similarities. Coach Vaughan and Coach O'Connor have different philosophies offensively and defensively. Franklin uses the flex offense, and the way they run it can be difficult to defend. Most teams start the flex out of a four low set, but Franklin starts it out of a 4 out 1 in look where they double screen away for shooters once the ball goes to the corner. They space the floor while setting flex screens allowing their point guard a lot of space for penetration. Mansfield runs an open motion offense where they look to penetrate and kick to their great shooters. On defense Mansfield looks to contain and contest, where as Franklin loves to ball pressure and jump passing lanes. The two clashing styles make for a great chess match between two of the top coaches in the state.
What's going to be the key for both teams to be successful offensively?
Gordy: For Franklin, Sam Bohmiller and Chris Rodgers will be effective scoring the ball. The question will be if Jaquan James, Marcus Giese, and Brendan Kuzio can provide scoring to keep up with Mansfield's high powered offense. Franklin's best offense might come off of their pressure defense, trying to create turnovers that lead to easy baskets in transition. In order to be successful in the second round of the state tournament, Franklin's all-stars need to play like all-stars. Rodgers and Bohmiller need to make shots, attack the rim and get to the FT line.
For Mansfield, the 3 pointer is the game changer. What makes Mansfield so difficult to defend is that everyone can shoot. Mansfield has a very big court and they do a good job of spacing the floor and attacking downhill hard in order to get to the rim or kick out for three. Mansfield will make open threes, the question is can they get enough opportunities to shoot uncontested threes against Franklin's great team defense. The key to getting these open looks is the pentration of their PG Rocky DeAndrade, and league MVP Brendan Hill. Both players are terrific passers which allows players like Greg Romanko and Ryan Boulter to get easy step in three point attempts.
What will Franklin do to try and limit Mansfield's high-power offense?
Gordy: Franklin needs to focus on defending the three point line, and limit easy transition baskets and second chance points. Transition defense is a lot easier to play when you don't turn the ball over, and with Bohmiller at the point I expect Franklin to be OK in that department. Franklin also does a good job on the boards limiting teams to few offensive rebounds resulting in fewer second chance points. Franklin will need to contain Mansfield's penetration in the half court. If Mansfield can get into the paint and Franklin is forced to help, they could potentially give up the three point shot which is exactly what Mansfield wants. It will be fun to watch the Hockomock league's best offense go against the leagues best defense.
What will Mansfield need to do to stop the red-hot Sam Bohmiller?
Gordy: Bohmiller is one of the best guards in the state. Not only is he Franklin's best scorer, he is their best passer and playmaker too. He makes everyone around him a better player. Sam let's the game come to him, and doesn't force anything. Mansfield has a little extra motivation here. It was Bohmiller's three pointer that won the game for Franklin in last years state tournament game which ended Mansfield's season. You can count on Coach Vaughan coming up with a solid game plan to defend Sam, and the players really focusing extra attention on him at all times. Something Mansfield might emphasize is making Sam work extremely hard off the ball. Sam is the point guard and brings the ball up, but once he makes the first pass in the half court Mansfield's goal might be to not let him get the ball back. Full denial and face guard at all times making Sam work for every touch. Down the stretch late in the game Mansfield might run double teams at him in order to get the ball out of his hands, but this could be risky leaving another Panther open at an important part of the game. I am excited to see what strategy coach Vaughan takes with Bohmiller.
The last time these two teams met, the game went into overtime. Are we headed there again?
Gordy: We very well could be. If not overtime, be prepared for another great game. These two teams have a history of big time state tournament matchups. The rivalry has become fiecre, and both teams are always up for the challenge. The game always seems to come down to one big play in the final minute. Last season it was Bohmiller's game winning three pointer. In 2010 it was Manfield's Mike Lofton with an ally-oop dunk to score the go ahead and final basket of the game. I expect nothing less in Saturdays matchup. The storyline is great. Two great coaches who work together at Mass Premier courts, two great stars in Hill and Bohmiller, two great supporting casts with Rocky, Romanko, James, and Rodgers. An interesting fact here is that every time these two teams have met in the state tournament, the home team has won. Can Mansfield keep the tradition alive, or will the Panthers play spoiler for the second time this season and take out the league champions. As a fan and student of the game, I am truly excited for this one.
The Pick:
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| HockomockSports.com Picks | ||||||||||
| Ryan Lanigan |
Josh Perry |
Dan Libon |
Andrew Cyr |
John Botelho |
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| HockomockSports.com Staff |  |
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| #1 Canton vs. #8 North Attleboro Saturday @ Asiaf, 6:00 |
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| #1 Mansfield vs. #9 Franklin Saturday @ Mansfield, 1:00 |
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| Hockey | Lanigan 2-2 | Perry 2-2 | Libon 3-1 | Cyr 3-1 | Botelho 3-1 |
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| Boys Basketball | Lanigan 8-2 | Perry 7-3 | Libon 7-3 | Cyr 8-2 | Botelho 2-2 |
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| Girls Basketball | Lanigan 5-2 | Perry 6-1 | Libon 6-1 | Cyr 6-1 | Botelho 1-0 |
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