Finalists ready to state case
What started the first day of December ends today in Worcester with six state basketball championship games. The MIAA will crown three boys' and three girls' champions. Play gets underway at 10:45 a.m. A look at the matchups:
Junior guard Ryan Woumn is leading English with 22.2 points per game in the tournament, and senior guards Jeremy Suburvi and Justin Young and senior forward Charlie Rucker also contribute offensively. Junior point guard David White controls the tempo for St. John's, while Richard Rodgers (6-4) and Chad LaBove (6-6), Matt's brother, will attack the boards.
Division 2: Milton (21-4) vs. Hoosac Valley (21-3) - 4 p.m. Milton's strength is its speed, with Bay State Herget MVP Marcus McDermott leading the offense. The Wildcats have received a huge postseason spark from freshman guard Rene Castro, who joined the varsity with five games left in the regular season and hit the winning jumper in the 70-69 victory over Woburn in the Eastern Mass. final.
Hoosac Valley junior forward Robbie Burke is averaging 23.3 points in the postseason, and guard Dalton Larabee serves as the defensive stopper. Sophomore point guard Nick Aitken can be deadly from long range for the Hurricanes.
Division 3: Watertown (21-4) vs. Sabis (23-1) - 12:30 p.m. Watertown defeated Sabis, 62-47, Jan. 17 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield. In that game, the Raiders were without senior forward Cory Stockmal and senior guard Benyam Kerman because of injuries. Watertown also defeated Sabis in the 2007 state title game.
Stockmal and his twin brother, Kyle, lead the way offensively, and sophomore guard Marco Coppola is a threat from long distance. Junior guard Andre King scored 24 points per game this season for Sabis, and freshman guard Kamali Bey chipped in 20.
Mary Barbale, Rachael Montville, and Megan Boutilette give the Rams some firepower offensively, but the team has thrived on its defense this season.
Division 2: Notre Dame of Hingham (20-5) vs. Millbury (24-1) - 2:15 p.m. Notre Dame is an experienced group, with five senior starters in guards Kelsey Reilly, Jessica Aruda, and Samantha Whitham, and forwards Nellie Kennedy and Margaret Riordan. The Cougars are especially strong on the defensive end.
Senior Cailin Bullett does it all for the Woolies, who are deep and talented. Senior center Kristen Orrell protects the paint for Millbury.
Division 3: Swampscott (22-2) vs. Quaboag (24-0) - 10:45 a.m. Seniors Tara Nimkar and Allie Beaulieu, co-MVPs of the Northeastern Conference, lead the Big Blue; both have scored more than 1,000 career points. Senior guard Marissa Gambale directs the offense.
Quaboag returns to the state title game for the second straight season as the only undefeated team remaining in Massachusetts. Samantha McCann and Meaghan O'Keefe control the paint for the Cougars, and Olivia Jankins can light it up from the perimeter.
