Magic makes a run in last AAU tourney
The Stoughton-based Bay State Magic 17-and-under basketball team wrapped up its season in classy fashion, finishing 10th out of 132 teams at the AAU National Championships held in Orlando, Fla., the last week of July.
Kalon Jenkins, who has coached this batch of players for the past six years as they grew through the age brackets, called their final run ''inspiring."
''It's difficult to believe it is over," he said. ''I am going to miss these young men. Everyone is so special, and together they accomplished so much."
The team disbanded after the national tournament; next summer, most expect to be committed to college programs after playing their senior year of high school basketball.
Jenkins said he will continue coaching, taking charge of a new 13-and-under team and beginning the process again.
After earning a berth at last month's nationals by winning the state AAU title (their third straight), the Magic coasted through the first round in Florida, winning all three games to advance to the double-elimination championship round.
Facing the country's top teams, the Magic beat the Memphis (Tenn.) Yomca, 69-61, and the New Hampshire Playerz, 74-72, before losing to the Louisiana Stars, 72-57.
The Bay State squad came back by beating a Florida team, the Jax Lee Bulls, 69-63, and the Arkansas Wings, 48-47, before being eliminated by the Alabama Ice, 72-64. Their 7-2 record in the tournament earned the Magic 10th place.
''While no one player is our so-called star, every kid stepped up and gave us something over the past three weeks, which is critical since we played 20 games in 19 days," said Jenkins.
Players from the area on the squad included Winston Tuggle of Canton, Bobby Montrond and Jimmy Chaudry of Brockton, Barry Sheehan and Kinard Dozier of Dedham, and Sam Herrick and Pat Magnarelli of Duxbury.
Along with the Magic's three consecutive state age-group championships, the basketball squad qualified for five consecutive AAU national championships. It wrapped up its final season as a unit with a 41-7 record.
Bridgewater State relying on veterans
Several local soccer players played key roles in Bridgewater State College's drive to its first NCAA Division 3 tournament berth in 15 years last fall, and coach Brendan Adams has many of them returning for this season.
A pair of seniors, Mike Quinn of Weymouth and Topher Paone of Easton, who were named to the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All-Star team last season are back in the starting lineup. They will be reunited with junior goaltender John Naughton of Braintree, and senior defenders Mike Brammer of Norton and Matt Bernstein of Stoughton. Naughton is closing in on BSC's all-time goaltending records. He is among career leaders in goals-against average (1.08), saves (211), wins (21), and shutouts (17).
Senior Ian Duggan of Plympton needs to step up and help out at midfield, a position hit hard by graduation, according to Adams. Midfielder Jonathan Nutting of Rockland and defender Ryan Morrison of Weymouth are a pair of freshmen who could make an impact, he said.
Local players bid for HC playing time
The Holy Cross football team opened its training camp with four local players vying for playing time. The Crusaders, after a 3-8 record last season, begin this fall's campaign at home, facing Sacred Heart University on Sept. 9 at Fitton Field in Worcester.
Sophomore linebacker Mark Kelliher of Whitman, sophomore quarterback Brian McSharry of Abington, freshman wide receiver Brett McDermott of Mansfield, and freshman offensive lineman Chris Poole of Scituate are hoping to break into the starting lineup.
Kelliher, who saw action in six games as a freshman, should play more this year and could find a spot in the Crusaders' starting lineup because only one starter returns. He had five tackles, including one for a loss last year.
McSharry is hoping to back up senior John O'Neil, a three-year starter, at quarterback. Last year McSharry played two games and connected on 14 of 25 passes. His father, John McSharry, was an outstanding basketball player at Bridgewater State College, where he has been inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.
McDermott may have a difficult time breaking into the Crusaders' receiving corps, with their top four pass catchers back this fall. And Poole will have his work cut out for him as well, since four of last fall's five starting offensive linemen are returning this year.
Milton loses Flynn to Northeastern
Brendan Flynn, who coached Milton High School's hockey team for the last two years, is moving on. He has been hired by Northeastern University men's hockey head coach Greg Cronin as an assistant for the upcoming season.
After a successful collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell (class of 1991), Flynn played in Italy, Austria, and Scotland, as well as stints in North American minor leagues.
He joined Milton as an assistant coach in 2001, and was an assistant at Thayer Academy in Braintree the following year.
The collegiate hockey season is not that far off: Northeastern University opens its season Oct. 14 at North Dakota.
