Stoughton's Small stands tall at Suffolk

Former Hockomock League All-Star Brian Small is off to a terrific start for the Suffolk University men's basketball team this year. The former Stoughton High standout is second on his team in scoring, averaging 16.9 points per game and leads in rebounds, pulling down an average of 6.4 per game.

Last year, as a freshman, the 6-foot-4-inch Small earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week honors twice when he averaged 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

At Stoughton High School, he was a team captain and the Black Knights' most valuable player. Small was a member of the National Honor Society as well.

"Brian already decided to come here when I was named coach, and I'm so happy he did," said Adam Nelson, Suffolk's head coach and the school's assistant athletic director. "He's been a joy to work with. He can do a little bit of everything."

Nelson, who lives in Quincy, said Suffolk and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference is a perfect fit for Small. "He's too quick for the big guys to cover and he is too big for the small guys to cover," said Nelson. "The thing is, he can play inside and go outside and shoot the three-pointer. We're happy to have him on our team."

Substantial playing time for Savas at Wesleyan

Former Brockton High School basketball star Stephanie Savas is playing valuable minutes for the Wesleyan College women's basketball team in Connecticut. Wesleyan is off to a 7-2 start and Savas, a 5- 10 junior, has come off the bench in every game to make an impact.

In nine games, she is averaging 14 minutes of playing time. She has connected on 13 of 24 shots from the floor and 19 of 26 foul shots for the Cardinals.

"Stephanie Savas is a tough and athletic forward who runs the floor well and can score both inside and outside," said her coach, Kate Mullen, in the team's pre season evaluation. "Her defensive abilities and heart will make her an important contributor."

Wesleyan is chasing its third straight 20-win season and NCAA tournament appearance.

Norwell hoopster heats up at Wheaton College

Junior John Mohan of Norwell has not missed a beat. Returning to the Wheaton (Ill.) College men's basketball team lineup on Dec. 29 -- he had taken the first semester off -- Mohan picked up where he left off last year when he was one of the Thunder's top scorers.

Last season, Mohan made an impact. He finished second on the team with 13 points per game. Mohan is a tremendous shooter from the outside. He connected on 49 percent (59-121) of his 3-point shots last season, finishing second in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in 3-point shooting.

Mohan was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player on the team last year. In a preseason assessment, Wheaton coach Bill Harris said, "If he returns in playing shape and can step in and contribute like he did last year, we will be very good in the backcourt."

At Norwell High School, Mohan led the Clippers to a 22-2 record his senior year and an appearance in the Division 3 South sectional final. South Shore League coaches selected Mohan as its MVP.

From Nobles to Yale, it's all in the family

Former Noble and Greenough hockey standouts Nina and Carry Resor of Westwood are playing on the blue line for Yale University this season.

It seems there is always a Resor in the Yale lineup.

Before the sisters, there was cousin Jane, who played and graduated in 2001. Another cousin, Helen, is on the Yale roster, but she is taking this year off to play for the US National Women's team.

All four played at Noble & Greenough for Tom Resor, Nina and Carry's father. He was a former standout at Williams College.

At Yale, Nina is a senior and Carry is a freshman. Nina, who is also an ECAC Academic All-Star, last year played in 25 games and missed seven due to injury. Yet she still scored two goals and had three assists for the season. As a sophomore, she won the Coaches' Award for her grit and determination.

Before Yale, Carry Resor led Noble and Greenough to two titles as she earned Independent School League All-Star honors in hockey as well as field hockey and lacrosse.

Scholarships for top local tennis players

Braintree High School seniors Cindy Lau and Liz Tarpey, both 17, and Hingham High School sophomore Stephanie Miller, 16, each received $400 scholarships from the South Shore Tennis Initiative.

The scholarships help defray the costs associated with learning and improving tennis skills, according to Weymouth Club tennis director Paul D'Amico. The scholarships are based on financial need, academic standing, and community service.

Lau and Tarpey are captains of the Braintree High tennis team and intend to apply their scholarship toward lessons at the Weymouth Club. Besides playing tennis for the Wamps, Tarpey runs cross country and is a distance runner for the indoor track team.