Mansfield and King Philip squared off Sunday afternoon in the Mass. Premier Court Summer League Final. The Hornets continued their winning ways with a 71-50 win over the Warriors. Point guard Rocky DeAndrade led Mansfield with 14 points while KP's Jimmy Layman scored 15.
Bohmiller shot a weighted 87 percent. By Josh Perry, Managing Editor Franklin High guard Sam Bohmiller, the reigning HockomockSports.com Player of the Year, finished just outside the top three at the inaugural A Shot For Life Challenge on Saturday at the University Sports Complex in Hanover. Bohmiller, who will be attending Babson College this fall, was one of 11 shooters chosen to take part in the two-hour jump-shooting competition that raised money for cancer research. He put up over 700 shots in the first hour alone and finished with a shooting percentage of around 80 percent (his exact final totals weren’t available at the end). “I really took advantage of the two-for-one three’s [in the final 30 minutes],” Bohmiller explained. “I started off, the first 20 minutes, just shooting free throws and I think that worked.” He added with a smile, “I was just trying not to think about heavy my arms were.” Despite being arm-weary at the end, Bohmiller made a late charge as three-pointers were counted as double in the final 30 minutes. Unfortunately, he could not make up any ground on the winner, Walpole High rising senior Scott Arsenault, who made more than 90 percent of his shots on the day. Brookline’s Shiraz Mumtaz and Newton North’s Tommy Mobley rounded out the top three and both shot well above 80 percent. No matter where he finished, Bohmiller was thrilled to have been able to take part. “It is a huge honor,” he remarked. “When Brendan [Hall of ESPNBoston.com] first emailed me about it, I was thrilled to even be mentioned and considered one of the top shooters in the state. The event was organized by Catholic Memorial graduate and Watertown resident Mike Slonina to raise money for the A Shot For Life Foundation, which he created after his mother was misdiagnosed with brain cancer. Slonina gained notoriety for his fledgling foundation in 2011 when he shot jumpers for 24 consecutive hours. On Saturday, the inaugural A Shot For Life Challenge raised over $10,000 to be distributed to a pair of local hospitals. The success of the event surpassed even Slonina’s very high expectations. “We put this together in four or five months,” he marveled. “I’m not kidding when I tell you that in a week I’ll be calling companies to corporate sponsor for next year. There are other A Shot For Life events between now and then, but this is going to be my baby. I’m really going to make sure that this event becomes as big as it can be.” Slonina emphasized, “We will have a dunk contest next year; it is going to happen.” With friends and family in attendance, including several vocal members of Franklin’s fan group Rattle City, and entertained by his rebounders, Bohmiller had a great time at the event and excited that in the process he was able to help raise money for an important cause. “Thanks to Mike for putting this thing on,” said Bohmiller. “It’s a great event and raised a bunch of money for cancer research. So, it was the best of both worlds.” As HockomockSports.com continues its look back at the 2012-13 season, Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan and Managing Editor Josh Perry take a look back at the "Best Games That They Covered" from the past year. The only qualifications were that the games had to be between two Hockomock League teams (so Mansfield hockey's shootout win over North Quincy or Sharon football's Super Bowl win wouldn't be eligible) and in order to be considered a favorite they had to be there whether covering it for HockomockSports.com or another media outlet. From overtime thrillers to shootouts to tension filled playoff games, HockomockSports.com staff were on hand for a number of amazing moments. These are just some of the great games that happened this season. By Josh Perry, Managing Editor 10. Canton 3, Franklin 2 (Hockey): This was the third place game in the Joseph Quinn Memorial Tournament in Raynham and gave Canton a 2-1 edge in the season series Canton jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Franklin came storming back to tie it before Canton got the winner. The Panthers, showing the resolve that would take them to another D2 final, battled hard to tie, but the Bulldogs held on. It was a great and entertaining game between the top two teams in the league. 9. Mansfield 21, Attleboro 19 (Football) This was one of the top games I saw because at halftime it looked like the Hornets were going to run away with a typically easy win over Attleboro only to have the Bombardiers come right back and have several chances to win the game in the 4th quarter. Malique Clark was dominant, but showed the other side of his personality with a pair of late penalties that stole Attleboro’s momentum and gave Mansfield the ball back to run out the clock. 8. Mansfield 45, Taunton 41 (Basketball): It was not the prettiest basketball game of the season (and played on the eve of a terrible blizzard), but it was a knockdown affair between two of the league’s best defensive teams. Brendan Hill showed off his ability to control the game without being the top scoring threat and Fawaz Mass solidified himself as Taunton’s big game player. In the end, Mansfield had too many offensive weapons and the Hornets clinched the league title in front of a packed house. (Thanks to Brendan Hall of ESPNBoston.com for the video.) 7. North Attleboro 1, Milford 0 - 10 inn. (Softball): The defending state champs lost a 35-game win streak and allowed one of the only three runs they gave up all season thanks to tiebreaker rule. It could have been very different, but North threw out two runners at the plate in extra innings and scored the lone run on a groundball to third. It was a game played with playoff intensity and may have been the moment that refocused the Hawks on their way to another title. 6. North Attleboro 3, Attleboro 2 - 10 inn. (Baseball): I covered this game for North TV and it was an incredible battle under the lights at Community Field. Adam Woodhead pitched 9-1/3 innings for Attleboro and threw nearly 150 pitches and Dave Manning scored the game-tying run in the 7th and game-winning run in the 10th, while picking up the win in relief. The win kept North’s season alive and both teams played as though it were a sectional final. 5. Franklin 44, Attleboro 41 (Football): On pure entertainment value this was far and away the best game I saw all season, but it drops down the list as it ended up having little consequence on the final league standings. Malique Clark rushed for 294 yards (plus an 80-yard TD that was called back by penalty) and five TDs in his final game on the field for Attleboro and Nick Zucco managed four touchdowns of his own in response. Mike Carden booted a remarkable 41-yard field goal to win it. 4. King Philip 16, North Attleboro 14 (Football): Another game I was calling for North TV, it didn’t boast the scoring punch of the game at no. 5, but this battle between two of the best teams in the league lived up to the billing. Freshman kicker Derek Roschlein made a 19-yard field goal with only seconds remaining forcing reporters everywhere to scramble and figure out who no. 7 was for KP (his name was not even listed on the roster). The game knocked North out of contention for the league title and handed a playoff appearance to Mansfield, despite the Warriors finishing 11-1. 3. Oliver Ames 0, Franklin 0 - OA wins 5-3 on penalties (Boys’ Soccer): There was a lot of disappointment from Hockomock followers that OA and Franklin had to meet so early in the postseason. These were two powerhouse teams that could compete with just about anyone in D1 (would have liked to see either team line up against eventual champs Needham). The game was tight, physical and intense. The lack of goalscoring chances was compensated by the nonstop tension and the feeling that any goal would be decisive. 2. Franklin 4, Mansfield 3 (Hockey): This was one of the games that epitomized why I loved D2 hockey far more than D1. Both teams created chances galore, there were goals, great saves, big hits, and a freedom to attack that created an exciting end-to-end game. Mansfield led 1-0 and 3-2, but a shorthanded goal by Cam Curley was followed by a score from sophomore Alec Borkowski to send the Panthers into the finals. It was breathless and a great example of how deep and balanced the league was this year. 1. Milford 1, King Philip 0 - 9 inn. (Softball): Honestly, this felt like the state title game. No disrespect to Franklin, B-R, and the other teams that Milford beat on the way to the title, this was its toughest test and KP was the best team they faced in the playoffs. Senior Rachel Levine came through in the bottom of the 9th inning with the winning hit and watching head coach Brian Macchi race onto the field to meet her showed just how much it meant to get past KP. At no other point in the tournament did it really feel like Milford could lose. The Hockomock is the best softball league in the state, these were the two best teams in the Hock, and this was the best Hockomock League game I covered this year. Just missed the list: Taunton 3, Franklin 2 (baseball); Taunton 2, North Attleboro 0 (softball); Franklin 3, Sharon 2 (boys soccer); Canton 3, Milford 3 (boys soccer), Canton 7, Foxboro 6 - 2OT (boys lax); Canton 9, Foxboro 9 (girls lax), Sharon 60, Milford 56 (boys basketball), King Philip 2, North Attleboro 0 (softball), Oliver Ames 2, Canton 0 (hockey), North Attleboro 2, Mansfield 1 (hockey) By Ryan Lanigan, Editor-in-Chief 10. Milford 58, Sharon 43 (Boys' Basketball) It was easily one of the most dominant runs inside one game that I saw all year. Both teams were having successful years and it was the first time they met this season. It was one of the oddest second halves I saw all season as Milford finally hit some of their three pointers while Sharon couldn't seem to buy a basket. It was one of the most impressive runs - a 28-4 run from the Scarlet Hawks to close out the game - I saw all basketball season. 9. Milford 69, Stoughton 63 (Boys' Basketball) This was my first look at what turned out to be a very special Milford basketball team. The game was tied at 46 after three quarters in a game that was pretty evenly match with neither team able to put together a substantial run. Then, senior Aaron Anniballi had one of the best quarters I saw any player have all season. He scored the Scarlet Hawks' first eight points of the fourth and ended up with 12 of his 14 total points coming in the last frame. It was the biggest spark of the game by far and was a great introduction to Milford hoops. 8. Oliver Ames 22, Taunton 21 (Football) It wasn't the most appealing game on paper, with Oliver Ames (4-1) hosting Taunton (1-4), but the game on the field was much better than it appeared it was going to be. Taunton had a strong running game from Domingo Jenkins, Jamal Williams, and Gerald Cortijo and it looked like they were on their way to their first Hockomock win with a 21-6 lead after three quarters. But OA didn't quit, bringing it within one touchdown with under 9 minutes to go and a two-point conversion. The interesting part of the game came when OA's Nick Cidado connected with Greg Cummings in the end zone, making it 21-20. With just over two minutes left, OA head coach Jim Artz made the gutsy call to go for two -- and it paid off. It was an exciting games with some big momentum shifters throughout. 7. Oliver Ames 2, Canton 0 (Hockey) It was the ideal rubber match, with the two rivals meeting in the Division 2 South Semifinals to decide the season series. Both teams had won on home ice and now it was time to decide the best of three series. Both teams played a little timid, doing their best not to make a mistake. After two scoreless periods, it was OA captain Andrew Romans who broke the deadlock, with just his second goal of the season. OA sophomore goalie Jimmy Tierney played another strong game in goal, shutting out the Bulldogs for the second time of the season. After the game, Canton head coach Brian Shuman called Tierney one of the best goalies in the state. 6. Taunton 1, North Attleboro 0 - 11 inn. (Softball) It was the best pitching dual between two Hockomock pitchers - in baseball or softball - that I saw all season. Jesse Aleixo and Meg Colleran both pitched the distance, with Aleixo striking out six and Colleran getting 14 via strikeout. The game might have gone longer too if the league didn't go by international rules in extra innings. Both teams had chances but there were a handful of plays at the plate that kept the game scoreless. Even better is that this game could have been a preview for two of next year's MVP candidates in Aleixo and Colleran. 5. North Attleboro 2, Mansfield 1 (Hockey) There was an incredible energy at the rink for this one. I had never seen a game between these two teams before, but I felt that I knew all about their history just by this game. The two fans sections were strong and the game was even better. The two teams traded goals in the first period which was even better for the atmosphere. Matt Raposo made some huge saves for North while Rich Shipman did the same for the Hornets. The game winner came in the second period, but the back and forth third period complete the game. It looked like the game could change with every shot and in the end, North emerged with their first win over Mansfield. 4. Foxboro 27, Mansfield 21 (Football) It essentially didn't have any importance, as Mansfield was already playoff bound and Foxboro would be watching from the sideline and the first half played out just like that. Mansfield imposed its will in the first half, jumping out to a 14-0 lead at the break with Foxboro having little to show for. But every Thanksgiving has meaning, playoff implications or not, and Foxboro showed that in the second half. Foxboro scored on their first drive through the air and then Hockomock MVP Kiivone Howard took over, scoring on three of Foxboro's next four possessions. A huge hit in the fourth quarter from Alex Pacitti was a huge momentum shift that went from a big gain for Mansfield to an interception by Luc Valenza, which essentially sealed the game. 3. Stoughton 20, Foxboro 0 (Football) This was easily the most emotionally charged game I covered all season. It was just six days after Stoughton senior David Wade was accidentally fatally shot. It was just hours Wade's funeral and the Black Knights took the field in a pivotal Davenport Division game against Foxboro and the league's best running back Kiivone Howard. Stoughton went on to deliver one of the best performances of the season, shutting out Foxboro 20-0 in front of classmates and Wade's family members. You're not supposed to pick a side when you cover a game and Stoughton accomplished enough by just stepping onto the field, but I think almost everyone there felt better for the kids who had experienced such a rough week. 2. Oliver Ames 0, Franklin 0 - OA Wins 5-3 on Penalties (Boys' Soccer) Is there any surprise that the top games I covered were playoff games between Hockomock teams? Soccer isn't for everyone, but I happen to be a big fan of the game so I'm completely OK with a scoreless draw through 90 minutes when its a good game. The passion was evident despite it being freezing outside and the fact that it was scoreless made every chance that more important. I'm not a huge fan of Penalty Kicks to decide games, especially in the playoffs, but it does add extra drama. 1. Mansfield 57, Franklin 48 - OT (Boys' Basketball)
If there was a Top 10 countdown for the most hyped games of the year, this Mansfield/Franklin playoff rematch would be #1. And it absolutely lived up to the hype that it received. I arrived at Mansfield High about an hour and a half before tip off with a line with over 100 people wrapped around waiting for the doors to open. The gym was absolutely packed and the game itself was worth the wait. It was a back and forth game with neither team looking like losing wasn't an option. A free throw with 6.1 seconds from Franklin's Pat O'Reilly - with incredible noise coming from the Mansfield crowd - sent the game into overtime, where Franklin finally went cold and Hornet point guard Rocky DeAndrade took over. It was an incredible atmosphere and a nail bitter of a game, a great combination. Just missed the list: Taunton 3, Franklin 2 (Baseball), Stoughton 25, Mansfield 6 (Football), Oliver Ames 1, Canton 0 (Hockey), Sharon 14, Foxboro 7 (Football), Oliver Ames 3, Milford 0 (Boys Soccer), Mansfield 72, Stoughton 57 (Boys Basketball), Sharon 2, Oliver Ames 0 (Baseball). |
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