MIAA Mid-Season Check-Up

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Central Catholic, 13-1, Division I
Globe:  #1, Herald:  #1
They’re undefeated against in-state competition as their only loss came to Kenny Boynton and American Heritage School at the Hoophall Classic.  Carson Desrosiers can control the game defensively like no one else in the state while Billy Marsden has proven himself to be a big-game offensive player.  Add in a nice supporting cast and these guys are clearly the favorites in division I. 

Brockton High School, 13-0, Division I
Globe:  #2, Herald:  #2
They answered a lot of questions with a commanding win over Newton North on Sunday night.  Louis Montes is the team’s biggest star, but this group gets their strength from their depth as Shawn Yard, Jarrod DeVaughn, and Kyle Houston are all capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. 

Lynn English, 15-0, Division I
Globe:  #3, Herald:  #3
There is something to be said for beating all of the teams on your schedule and that’s exactly what Lynn English has done.  Their critics will cite their lack of star power and strength of schedule, but this team has great cohesiveness that allows them to be better than the sum of their parts. 

Lexington High School, 14-1, Division I
Globe:  #4, Herald:  Honorable Mention
Danny OKeefe and Lance Greene form the foundation for a team that has fallen only to Watertown this year.  They are a very disciplined team who runs their half-court offense well and works on the defensive end. 

Durfee High School, 12-1, Division I
Globe:  #5, Herald:  #4
Their only loss on the season came at the hands of Brockton.  Otherwise, they have played great basketball while also showing they can win close games down the stretch (Cambridge 64-62, Dartmouth 52-50, New Bedford 67-66).  Mike Rivera gives them one of the top guards in the state. 

Everett High School, 17-2, Division I
Globe:  #8, Herald:  #5
They’re as dominant inside as any team in the state with seniors Jerome Cohen and Kyon Watkins, along with fabulous freshman Nerlens Noel.  They’ve won 9 in a row now after dropping decisions to Windsor (CT) and Lynn English earlier in the year. 

Watertown High School, 13-1, Division III
Globe:  #7, Herald:  #6
Their only loss of the season came to Belmont when Cory Stockmal went down with an ankle injury early.  With Cory and Kyle Stockmal both in the line-up, surrounded by a supporting cast that can make shots, Watertown is our favorite in division III. 

Wareham High School, 16-1, Division III
Globe:  #6, Herald:  Honorable Mention
They’re poised to be one of Watertown’s biggest threats in division III.  They’re strength of scheduled isn’t the greatest, but they do have impressive wins over New Bedford and East Boston.  Super sophomore Jules Tavares is a star in the making as well. 

Westford High School, 14-1, Division II
Globe:  #9, Herald:  Honorable Mention
Middlebury bound big man Peter Lynch anchors the interior for Westford as they hope to claim the division II title.  They had opened the season winning their first 13 games before falling last Tuesday at Bedford. 

Franklin High School, 15-1, Division II
Globe:  #10, Herald:  Honorable Mention
Ryan Franklin has been putting up numbers for Franklin and that’s a big reason behind their 15-1 start to the season.  Big tests are on the horizon with Stoughton and Catholic Memorial coming up in the next few weeks. 

Other Contenders in Division I

•  Newton North (14-2):  Two recent losses set Greg Kelly n’company back
•  Lowell (13-3):  Nate Simpson and Jeremy Driscoll have them in contention
•  Malden (10-3):  Lots of talent with Gjikondi, Nally, Suida, and Armstrong
•  Boston College HS (10-5):  Colin Halprin has gotten help from soph Bryan Hurley
•  Fitchburg (13-1):  Unbeaten until falling to St. John’s last weekend
•  East Longmeadow (10-3):  Coach Bergeron has the team executing
•  St. John’s (11-4):  Matt Labove leads last year’s runner-up

Other Contenders in Division II

•  Duxbury (15-1):  Friday’s re-match with Scituate will be a big test
•  Stoughton (13-1):  Dartaye Ruffin is a star, Evan Taylor leads supporting cast
•  Bishop Feehan (12-2):  Perfect on the year other than two losses to Durfee
•  Catholic Memorial (11-3):  Allen Harris is averaging nearly 25 points/game
•  Tantasqua (12-1):  Last year’s runner-up wants another shot
•  O’Bryant (11-3):  Ike Azotam has been dominant in the paint

Other Contenders in Division III

•  Scituate (12-2):  Re-peat looks good with Rodney Beldo and Andrew McCarthy
•  Medfield (14-1):  Drew Donnelly leads way for definite contenders
•  Bishop Fenwick (12-1):  Mike Clifford is fully healed and proving it
•  Sutton (9-2):  They were undefeated before losing 2 of 3 last week
•  Sabis (13-1):  Andre King n’company are tops in western Mass
•  North Reading (11-2):  Kevin Lentini leads the way for surging North Reading

Contenders in Division IV

•  Cathedral (10-1):  Surprise leaders atop division four
•  Georgetown (12-2):  Sophomore Jaymie Spears is explosive scorer in backcourt
•  North Cambridge Catholic (8-4):  They’ve been up and down but they’ll be there in the end