Macchi, Franklin on roll
He scores 22 in rout of Stoughton
Christmas may be four days away, but Franklin coach Dean O'Connor and his Panthers already have unwrapped their present: reigning Hockomock League MVP Jeff Macchi.
The senior captain scored 22 points and had six assists to lead host Franklin to a 79-48 win last night over defending league champion Stoughton.
The Panthers jumped to a 12-2 lead on a mixture of layups and open 3-pointers. Franklin kept constant ball pressure on the younger Black Knights, stretching its lead to 20-4 midway through the first half en route to a 37-25 edge at the break.
''We try to play an up-tempo game," said O'Connor.
Stoughton freshman Evan Taylor kept the Knights in the game with 11 first-half points.
In the second half Macchi again dictated the pace of the game, scoring, keeping balls alive, and setting up teammates Peter Beksha and Joe Dicruttalo for easy buckets. Macchi finished 5 for 5 from beyond the arc.
The Panthers forced 22 Stoughton turnovers and scored a flurry of fast-break and uncontested baskets. Franklin also knocked down eight 3-pointers.
Dicruttalo and Beksha finished with 10 points apiece and Darren Drew netted 9 off the bench for the 3-0 Panthers.
Stoughton was led by Taylor (14 points) and Anthony Lacivita (7).
Boston City -- Senior guard Bryan Brocker's game-high 33 points led visiting Madison Park (2-0) past South Boston, 87-60 . . . Juniors Lance Greene (21 points, 12 rebounds) and Paul Decklens (19 points, 11 assists) propelled host Charlestown (2-0) over Brighton, 85-50.
Cape Ann -- Senior captain Sam Laorenza's 27 points made North Andover (3-0) a winner over host Lynnfield, 78-45.
Catholic Central -- Senior guard Jesse Powers's five 3-pointers in the second half proved the difference as St. Clement's (2-1) got past Savio Prep, 58-55. Heman Honore added 27 points . . . Senior Brian Benson netted 41 points, including 12 3-pointers, as Pope John (2-0) squashed Austin Prep, 71-51.
Commonwealth -- Minuteman Tech (4-0) remained perfect by trouncing Tyngsboro (1-1), 63-37. Senior captain Jimmy Young scored 21 points.
Dual County -- Senior Dan Ollquist (16 points) hit four 3-pointers as visiting Westford (1-1) defeated Lincoln-Sudbury, 68-51.
South Shore -- Senior Henry O'Loughlin (25 points) logged his third straight 20-point performance as Hull (2-1) beat Abington, 63-52.
Tri-Valley -- Junior guard Scott Picard (25 points, 14 assists) helped Ashland overcome a 15-point second-half deficit to defeat Hopkinton, 62-61.
Girls' basketball
Boston City North -- Brittany Ellis (23 points, 15 rebounds) pushed Brighton over Charlestown, 55-51, and into first place.
Dual County -- Host Wayland (1-2) notched its first win in a 61-48 victory over Concord-Carlisle. Senior captain Emma Santangelo netted 22 points.
Hockomock -- Junior captain Melissa Kuhn made a jumper with 30 seconds remaining to send Stoughton (3-1) past visiting Franklin, 40-39.
Mayflower -- Diman Voke (2-1) edged host Old Colony (2-2), 44-42, at the buzzer as junior Melissa Barbosa led the way with 26 points.
Hockey
Catholic Central -- Tenth-ranked Austin Prep began its season in dominating fashion, dispatching Matignon, 7-0, last night at Merrimack College in North Andover. Senior John Jamieson scored four goals, three shorthanded, to lead the Cougars.
Swimming
Northeast -- Senior Mukunda Manoogian broke a Lynn city record with a 191.85 score in diving as Lynn Classical (2-0) defeated Lynn English (0-2), 96-66.
Globe correspondent Jesse Gerner contributed to this report. 
