Tangar on all-defensive team

Myrna Tangar (inset) did not earn her starting spot on the women's basketball team at the University of Massachusetts at Boston because of her ability to score. Her prowess as a defender and a rebounder, however, earned the senior from Randolph a place on the Little East Conference's all-defensive team.

Starting all 26 games for the Beacons, the 5-foot-7 guard averaged a conference-leading 10.1 rebounds a game. She was also fifth in the league in steals at 2.08 and averaged 5.4 points a game.

On Jan. 26, Tangar collected a career-high 17 rebounds in a 69-57 loss to Rhode Island College. She also had a streak of 17 straight games in which she recorded at least one steal.

Tangar, who transferred from Adelphi a year ago, is the first Beacons player to be honored on the all-defensive team.

Hingham High wrestling coach Keith Durham could not have been more pleased with his squad's season, even though it ended short of a state title.

Hingham compiled a 17-6 record and finished third at the Division 3 South sectional dual team tournament. Also, Durham recorded his 200th career win, two wrestlers earned sectional titles, and assistant coach Paul Canniff was voted outstanding assistant coach of the year by the Massachusetts Wrestling Coaches Association.

"It was a great year for us individually and collectively as a team," said Durham, who was inducted into the coaches association hall of fame this season.

Durham just completed his eighth season after previous stints at Belmont (1978-1984) and Catholic Memorial (1986-1999).

At Hingham, Durham said he joined an established program that has benefited from a youth program run by Stephen Kahn. The Hingham varsity and junior-varsity program has grown to 31 wrestlers, three of whom were girls who held their own throughout the season, Durham said.

Seniors Chris Constantine, at 189 pounds, and Neal Nelson, at 112 pounds, each secured a sectional title and finished with 100 career victories.

The wrestlers also were able to develop a relationship with Canniff, who has been with the program for seven years. Canniff is a math teacher at Hingham and a 1997 Weymouth graduate.

Canniff said he has learned from working with Durham over the years and also is sure to remind the Hingham wrestlers of what can be achieved at their level.

"For a huge percentage of the kids, this will be the only time they're going to wrestle competitively in their lives, so they need to make the most of what they get," Canniff said. "They don't want to look back on their careers and wish they could have done more."

The Marshfield High football team is planning a trip to California in September to play Beverly Hills High. The Rams are in the process of raising funds to help defray costs, estimated at $1,300 a person.

Coach Lou Silva said 115 football players and cheerleaders have signed up for the trip. Including coaches and parents, the travel party will total 200.

The team is hoping corporate sponsors and private donors can help those athletes who may have trouble making up the difference in cost.

In 2006, Beverly Hills traveled to Marshfield and beat the Rams, 31-20. The trip was well received and Silva said he was interested in taking his team to California for a rematch. Silva said he has been in touch with Beverly Hills coach Carter Paysinger to discuss the logistics.

The Rams will play junior-varsity and varsity games, and visit universities in the area.

"It's not just the football game," Silva said. "It's a chance for them to see the kids in California are just like them. Some of these kids might not have the chance to go cross-country like this as a group. It's a once-in-a-lifetime shot."

Silva said he anticipates that a golf tournament and other fund-raisers will be held throughout the spring and summer.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.