Boys' basketball
The Super team
Jeff Adrien, Brookline
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Adrien put together a year to remember for the Warriors. Out of a league that produced three Super-team players, the 6-6 all-purpose forward garnered Bay State Conference MVP honors, which is no small feat. Bringing a 27.2 ppg scoring average to the table during the regular season, Adrien dominated the Comcast Tournament at BC High in mid-February, hanging a total of 51 points on then top-10 squads Charlestown and Central Catholic to win tourney MVP honors. Finally, he sparked the Warriors on a state tournament run that brought them their second EMass championship in three years and a berth in the Division 1 state title game. | |
Tim Clifford, Walpole
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With all of Walpole's accolades this past season, the one that may be the most impressive is this: the Rebels can call themselves Bay State Conference champions. In a league which featured no less than three top 10 squads through most of the season, Clifford made sure Walpole stayed on top. The 6-10 center averaged 20.4 points per game to propel the Rebels through the tournament, to an unblemished 25-0 record, and the Division 2 state championship. A basketball scholarship awaits him at Holy Cross, following a career which saw him earn his third selection as a Bay State All-Star this season. An honor student, Clifford has seen the Rebels go from 1-19 as a freshman to undisputed state champs in four short years. | |
Chris Vetrano, Andover
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The only repeat member of this year's super team, it was impossible to keep the 5-10 dynamo off the squad after he finished with 2,090 career points. He hit the 2,000-point milestone at the expense of Merrimack Valley Conference rival Central Catholic. Vetrano's 23.3 points and 6 assists per game led the Golden Warriors to a pair of regular season wins over Central, which gave his squad the MVC Large title and garnered him his third conference MVP award. The honor roll student also plays in the offseason for the Boston Amateur Basketball Club, and will attend the University of New Hampshire on a full-scholarship. | |
Marquis Victor, Central Catholic
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Despite having a talent-laden roster, the Raiders would have been lost without Victor. The 6-2 guard was in classic form in the clutch during tournament time, leading Central to the Division 1 EMass title game against Brookline. The Warriors could only be thankful the ball didn't find its way into Victor's hands in the final moments as the Raiders fell 3 points short. Victor has an EMass title and a 10-3 tournament record on his resume. He finished the season scoring 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. The 3-time MVC all-star carries a 3.1 grade point average, and will attend Assumption College on a full basketball scholarship. | |
Matt Wolff, Walpole
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Perhaps the most fitting comment on the Bay State Herget MVP came from his coach following the Rebels' 64-49 win over Groton-Dunstable in the Division 2 State title game. ``People tell me that Jeff Adrien is the best player in the state,'' said Walpole coach John Johanesson. ``But I wouldn't trade Matt Wolff for anyone. He glues this team together.'' This came after Wolff and his 19 ppg average led the Rebels to a 25-0 record and the No. 1 spot in the final Globe Top 20. The 6-5 senior guard isn't stopping there, as he plans to attend Boston University next season to play under his father, Terrier head coach Dennis Wolff. | |
Coaches of the Year
Jerry Morelli, BC High
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Morelli had the Eagles soaring this past season, guiding them to a 19-5 overall record, while capturing his 300th career victory in a 70-60 win over St. John's Prep midway through the year. BC High won its fourth consecutive Catholic Conference title and its sixth in eight years. Behind the efforts of senior Bryan Wholey, who dropped in 22 in their semifinal win over Bridgewater-Raynham, the Eagles advanced as far as the Division 1 South sectional final with wins over North Quincy, New Bedford, and Bridgewater-Raynham. They fell to eventual EMass champion Brookline, 58-48. Morelli has captured Catholic Conference Coach of the Year honors four years running. A graduate of Stonehill College and BC High, Morelli holds a 304-169 record in eight years as the Eagle head man. While in school he participated in football, baseball, as well as basketball. His hobbies include playing golf, listening to music, and relaxing on the beach. | |
John Douglas, Stoughton
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To last 31 years as a head coach, you have to be doing something right. In this his 25th year as the Stoughton boys' head coach (he coached the girls for four and did a stint of two years at Sacred Heart in Weymouth), Douglas brought home the best record of his illustrious coaching career at 22-2. The impressive record gave his squad a share of the Hockomock League title. Behind cocaptians Roland Millien and Eric Gomes, the Black Knights had an amazing run in the state tournament, beating up on Dartmouth, Catholic Memorial, and O'Bryant. Unfortunately for Douglas and the Knights, they ran into the juggernaut that was Walpole High, finally falling in the Division 2 South Sectional final. His career record is 343-287. A graduate of Boston State (currently known as UMass-Boston) in 1971, he played basketball in both high school and college. ``This was a special year by a special team,'' said Douglas. | |
Bob Fisher, Rockland
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For 23 years, Fisher has patrolled the sideline for Rockland, and for each game and practice during that span defense has been the staple of his boys' basketball program. He was even the first captain of the Bentley College basketball program, a school which he graduated from in 1965. This season, he called upon his years of basketball experience and knowledge, guiding the Bulldogs to a 63-60 win over New Leadership in the Division 3 state title game at the FleetCenter. ``This team had a wonderful work ethic and a relentless defensive pursuit. They played over and above their abilities, and did it as a team, without any individualism.'' said Fisher. Fisher has won the Patriot League coach of the year numerous times and owns an impressive 422-105 career record. In the offseason he enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and traveling. | |
Leo DeSimone, Minuteman
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A state title is impressive enough to garner a Coach of the Year nod in and of itself. But to bring home the crown while dealing with a tragedy during the season, it's that much more meaningful. On Feb. 15, Orlando Castillo, a popular student at Minuteman, died in a car accident and the team dedicated the rest of the season to him. ``I really believe Orlando was the one who carried the team,'' said DeSimone following his team's 62-47 win over Cathedral at the FleetCenter. Along with coach Steve Evans, DeSimone and his staff topped 100 career wins during the tournament, the victory coming in an emotional 60-53 win over Ipswich in the North Sectional final, a spot where the Mustangs lost one year ago. The title marked the culmination of a gigantic turn around for Minuteman, one which began when DeSimone took over in 1997 to guide a team which went 2-18 the previous year. | |
The All-Scholastics
Jack Barrett, Andover
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Somewhat overshadowed by Vetrano's 2,000-point performance, Barrett was just as important to his team's success as his more ballyhooed teammate. At 6-0, the speedy guard embodied an Andover team that had more grit than size, taking down some of the top squads in the state during the course of the season. In one of his best performances of the year, Barrett dropped 17 points in the second half of a mid-season win over rival Central Catholic. The three-time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star topped 1,100 career points, and averaged 18.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. The honor roll student is undecided on his college plans. | |
Joe Coppens, Rockland
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After being hampered offensively through most of the post-season by a wrist injury, the Bulldogs' star showed exactly why he was feared during the regular season when his team reached the FleetCenter. Coppens dropped 19 of his final 30 points in the first half of the state title game, propelling his school to a 63-60 win over charter school New Leadership for the Division 3 crown. During the regular season, the 6-4 shooting guard averaged 23.5 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. He was named the Patriot League co-Player of the Year and owns a 61-9 career record. He is also a Patriot League All-Star at quarterback for the Bulldogs. | |
Tom Cuddihy, Scituate
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One thing comes to mind when Cuddihy's name is mentioned: scoring. And lots of it. The 5-11 guard led EMass in the category last season, scoring more than 30 ppg. This year his 29.3 average finished second to North Shore star Jesus McKinney's 30.3. Named Patriot League co-Player of the Year along with fellow All-Scholastic Joe Coppens, the 5-11 guard finished his career with 1,879 total points, barely missing the legendary 2,000 mark. Also a league all-star in track, Cuddihy plays AAU basketball for the Coastal Pops in the offseason. He enjoys bowling and horseback riding, and is undecided about his college plans as of yet. | |
Lew Finnegan, Lexington
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Finnegan was one of the main reasons Lexington had a strangle hold on the No. 1 ranking for most of the regular season. Along with teammate Mark MacDonald, Finnegan and the Minutemen dominated Middlesex League play with an unblemished 18-0 record, which earned them their fourth straight league crown. His 22.1 points, 7.5 assists, and 6 rebounds per game garnered him Co-Middlesex Player of the Year honors. An honor roll student, the 6-3 guard topped the 1,000 point mark for his career, and is planning to attend Cal-Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo, Calif. on a full scholarship in the fall. | |
Tony Lee, Charlestown
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Another in a long line of ourstanding Charlestown players, Lee was the oil that kept that Townies machine running with precision. The 6-0 senior averaged 16.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game during the year, and led the Townies to another Boston City League tournament title with an MVP performance. Lee will be remembered as one of the all-time winners at Charlestown as he was part of three Division 2 state championships in four years. The senior guard has been offered scholarships from Merrimack and Adelphi University. | |
Mark MacDonald, Lexington
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The other half of Lexington's tandem that led the Minutemen to their fourth consecutive Middlesex League title, MacDonald makes his second straight appearance on the All-Scholastic squad. The 6-8 forward dominated opponents with his 24.5 points and 13 rebounds per game averages. He's a three-time league all-star, and plays AAU ball for the Middlesex Magic in the offseason. With a 3.5 grade point average, MacDonald plans to attend Brown University to play basketball in the fall. In his spare time, the Middlesex League Co-MVP enjoys photography. | |
Roland Millien, Stoughton
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The 6-6 forward was nothing short of amazing for the Black Knights this year. He led a spirited charge through the state tournament, taking his squad to the Division 2 South finals, before finally succumbing to Walpole. Millien was a defensive wizard, averaging 5 blocks to go with his 23 points and 19 rebounds per game during the regular season. A three-time Hockomock League All-Star, the senior earned his second league MVP selection. He finishes his career with 1,207 points as well as 1,144 rebounds. A member of the Coastal Pops AAU squad during the offseason, Millien is still undecided on his plans for the fall. | |
Arch Mitchell, Framingham
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Though the Bay State Conference was loaded with talent this season, no one carried a higher-scoring average than Mitchell. The 6-2 guard gained some attention by dropping 27.2 points per game on a league which captured two EMass titles during the state tournament. Although his team fell short with an 8-8 record in the Bay State Carey (they had Brookline and Newton North to contend with), Mitchell shone by topping the 1,000-point mark and making his second conference all-star appearance. In his spare time, Mitchell enjoys playing golf and foosball. He undecided on his college plans. | |
John Mohan, Norwell
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An understudy to 2,000-point scorer Gerry Corcoran one season ago, Mohan carved out a legend of his own this year, leading the Clippers to a 22-2 record and an appearance in the Division 3 South sectional final. He carried a 25-point and 6-assist per game average en route to South Shore League MVP honors. He also holds the single-game school scoring record of 47 points. Mohan has more than 1,000 career points, and boasts a 79-15 record in his four years at Norwell. Also a standout running back for the Clippers, he plays AAU ball for the Coastal Pops in the offseason and plans to attend Wheaton College in Illinois in the fall. | |
Luis Perez, Lawrence
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Perez was a one-man wrecking crew for the Lancers, keeping them ranked in the Top 20 throughout the season. Known for ripping down rebounds in a crowd or stepping out to the 3-point line, Perez could do it all. In the Lancers' first round state tournament victory over Lowell, Perez registered his 1,000th career point in just his second varsity season. He scored 29 points in his final career game, a 72-60 loss to crosstown rival Central Catholic. The 6-4 forward carried a 26.4 scoring average during the regular season. He is undecided on college plans, but hopes to study business after graduation. | |
