Sherry and Lampe boost Brooks hoop
P.J. Sherry of Danvers and Dean Lampe of Hamilton have had an instant impact on the Brooks School boys' basketball team. After going 3-19 last season, North Andover-based Brooks jumped out to a 13-1 start (10-0 in the Independent School League) this season. The team's turnaround is due in large part to the additions of Sherry and Lampe, who transferred to Brooks from Danvers High and Hamilton-Wenham, respectively. Sherry averaged 16.9 points per game for Danvers last season and Lampe averaged 12 points per game for Hamilton-Wenham. The two guards topped the list of four Brooks players who are averaging double figures, each pumping in around 14 points per game. Brooks coach John McVeigh said the duo has made an impact not only with their points, but with their work ethics.
"Coming in I knew they could both score, but they've both worked hard to become more complete players," said McVeigh, who described Sherry and Lampe as gym rats. "I knew P.J. was a shooter. The pleasant surprise is he has become a more complete player. He is defending and passing the ball more. I think Dean has enormous potential. I think he is just starting to understand how good a player he can be."
Sherry and Lampe, who are repeating their sophomore years at Brooks, are part of a five-guard starting lineup for McVeigh that also features sophomore Corey Forgetta of Haverhill. McVeigh called Forgetta the team's most improved player. McVeigh said Forgetta, who is averaging 8 points per game, guards the opposing team's top player and contributes with hustle plays. "He is the glue of our team," said McVeigh. Brooks already has secured its first winning season in five years and with a strong finish could be selected to play in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council Class C tournament.
Classical drops football coach
Lynn Classical has decided to open its football job to applicants just one year after tapping Clark Crowley to succeed Matt Durgin. Durgin departed Classical last March to take the reins at Malden Catholic. Crowley led Classical to a 2-8 mark last fall, capping the season with a disappointing 28-8 loss to rival Lynn English in what was billed as the last game at Manning Bowl. Lynn Classical athletic director Dick Ruth said the decision wasn't about wins and losses. "What I told Clark is that I was dissatisfied with the overall administration of the program," said Ruth. "Wins and losses had positively nothing to do with it." Ruth said Classical could name a coach by late March.
Masconomet made it a clean sweep at the Cape Ann League Indoor Track and Field Championships last Tuesday, walking away from the Reggie Lewis Center with both the boys' and girls' CAL crowns. Senior Sarah Mills of Middleton led the way for the Masco girls, setting a meet record in the 55-meter hurdles (8.4 seconds) and finishing second in the high jump. Senior Kasey Currier, also of Middleton, captured the mile title for Masco, which also notched first place finishes in the 4x200 and 4x800-meter relays. On the boys' side, the Chieftains benefited from 1-2 finishes in both the 600 meters and the 2 mile. Paul Tusini of Boxford (first) and Graham Hayes of Topsfield (second) turned the trick in the 600, and Dan Haley of Middleton (first) and Ben Flanagan of Boxford (second) did the honors in the 2 mile.
Davis going out in high style
Harley Davis of Newburyport is making his final season playing basketball for Keene State College his best. The senior small forward and team captain was averaging career highs in both points (8.6) and rebounds (7.0) for Keene State after 21 games. He scored the winning basket with two seconds remaining in Keene State's 56-54 victory over Eastern Connecticut State on Feb. 3, continuing a strong stretch of play. Davis, a former CAL player of the year, had 13 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in a win over the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth on Jan. 22. And against Tufts on Feb. 1, he had his best all-around game of the season, racking up 13 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.
Here and there
Bishop Fenwick defensive stalwart Meghan Hoey has decided to continue her soccer career at Northeastern University next fall. The defender from Lynnfield helped lead Bishop Fenwick to an 18-2-2 mark, the Catholic Central League Division 1 title, and a spot in the Division 2 North final. Hoey spearheaded a Crusaders defense that allowed just eight goals last season.
Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.
