Coppens steps up for Brandeis

The Brandeis men's basketball team is off to its best start in 50 years, ranking second nationally in Division 3. No one's played a more pivotal role for the Judges than senior guard Joe Coppens (inset) of Rockland.

The 6-foot-3-inch Coppens averaged 27 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals earlier this month to power Brandeis (12-2) to a pair of wins, earning University Athletic Association player of the week honors.

A 2004 Rockland High graduate, Coppens shot 64 percent from the field, made all 12 free throws, and converted 10 of 17 3-pointers during the week. Coppens scored a career-high 37 points in a 96-94 victory against Elms College on Jan. 7 and became the fifth player in school history to drain 100 career field goals. Against New York University on Jan. 12, he collected a team-high 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals in the 66-56 win.

"Losing our best player" - preseason All-American Steve DeLuca - "to an injury at the beginning of the season, we were looking for someone to step up and take control of the team," said Brandeis coach Brian Meehan. "Joe has had that kind of a season. He is our best defender, our best shooter, and he has emerged as a leader."

Overall, Coppens is averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds per game; he leads Brandeis with 17 steals.

Brandeis suffered its second loss of the season Sunday, falling to top-ranked University of Rochester, 74-68. The Judges host Washington University todayat noon.

The second annual mini-golf classic hosted by the Sharon High School athletic department,will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the school's gym. Sharon athletic director Bob Sondheim said he is looking for additional foursomes to sign up by tomorrow's deadline. The minimum entry fee into the event is $100 to play 18 holes. Trophies will be awarded to the top team, while prizes for the highest team contribution and original golf wear will be presented.

A new event called "Ten for Ten" will be added. The event will award a chance for a qualifying golfer who sinks the longest putt of the day a chance to sink a 50-foot putt for $10,000. There is an entry fee of $10 for adults and $5 for students 14 and older, unless accompanied by an adult.

The Sharon Boosters will provide food. Money raised for the event will to the athletic program.

Sharon's Derek Cohen, a senior with the Trinity College wrestling program, will finish his career knowing he was member of the squad that ended a 32-match dual meet losing streak. The Bantams defeated MIT recently, 33-13, to record their first win of the season. A tricaptain, Cohen has compiled an 8-4 record competing at 149 pounds this season. He won the 149-pound bracket of the Ted Reece Invitational Tournament at Southern Maine University in December.

The Randolph-based Mohawks Youth Hockey Association's Mite C hockey team recently captured the 34th annual Snowflake Tournament in Holbrook.

The team defeated Braintree-Walsh, 8-6, in the championship game. Against Tri-County, the Mites erased a 3-0 first-period deficit and rallied for a 6-5 win. The team includes players from Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Sharon, and Stoughton.

The Stoughton Fire and Police departments will put their hockey skills on display in an annual event that benefits the Friends of Stoughton Hockey. The town's annual Guns 'N' Hoses Benefit Hockey Game will be Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m. at the Canton Sportsplex. For information, contact Buddy O'Neil with the Stoughton Fire Department at sfd0273@msn.com.

Bentley sophomore Dan Darcy of Sharon won the invitational 800 meters last week in the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational at Harvard. He posted a time of 1:54.06, a personal best by 0.02 seconds, defeating West Valley Track Club's Alex Mason by .15 second. Garrett Stephen of Braintree was 10th of 35 in the 400 with a time of 54.42.