Mass Elite Takes 7th Grade Title at Middlesex Magic Fall Classic
Mass Elite's 7th grade team started their fall season by picking up right where they left off this summer, scoring a dominant win at last weekend’s Middlesex Magic Fall Classic.
Head coach Eric Polli reported final scores of 95-17, 69-46, and 78-36 as his program’s top seventh grade program went on to the title. Michael Demartinis and Ryan Veguilla were the top scorers for the weekend while Demartinis was also the team’s leading rebounder.
The squad features a collection of talent located from throughout the Middlesex, North Shore, and Merrimack Valley regions. Last spring, they finished with an overall record of 41-6 in tournament play, including a gold medal at the Massachusetts AAU State Championships which granted them entry into July’s National AAU Division II Championships held in Virginia.
Polli commented that he was equally proud of his team’s on-court success from last season as he was their work in the classroom.
Looking individually at some of the team’s players, the squad is led by a strong collection of players in both the frontcourt and backcourt.
Michael Demartinis (Burlington, MA) often plays the 4/5 positions for the team and is said to be a leader on and off the court. He dribbles well for a big man, has strong moves around the basket, and can post up on the low block.
Cooper Penniman (Lexington, MA) is an extremely versatile player who can play the guard position just as well as he can the 4/5. A nice outside shooter, Cooper’s greatest strengths come from his standout defense and ability to get a lot of offensive rebounds.
Cross Meehan (Wakefield, MA) is said to be one of the hardest workers and most improved players in the entire Mass Elite program, which allowed him to work his way up from a B level team to the current program A.
Andre Braga (Winchester, MA) is a tough inside player who can defend a wide range of low post players. Andre finishes well under the basket and is a very physical and intense player.
Ryan Veguilla (Middleton, MA) is a good shooter and penetrator. Ryan is a floor general who has a knack for finding the open man and is the longest tenured player on the team.
Matt Wallace (Billerica, MA) is very tall for his age, already standing over 6'1". He solidifies the center position for the team with his strong build and endless aggression.
Matt D’Amato (Peabody, MA) is a fantastic outside shooter with some nice handles. He plays on the 7th grade Peabody travel team during the Winter where is one of the Cape-Ann League’s standout players.
New to the team this fall are Kyle Cortese (Billerica, MA), Thomas Dulski (Manchester, MA), Matt Fouter (Lexington, MA) and Alex Frawley (Billerica, MA), all of whom are good additions and “gym rats” according to Coach Polli.
Following their win at the Middlesex Magic Fall Classic, Mass Elite will also play in tournaments hosted by BasketBull and the Rhode Island Hawks.
Ryan Veguilla