CCL squads battle-tested
St. Mary’s among leading contenders
DIV. 3-4 GIRLS HOOP
Most coaches love to talk about the quality of teams in their league.
Catholic Central League can just point to the results.
Archbishop Williams and Cathedral won state titles last season in Division 3 and 4, respectively, while Arlington Catholic advanced to the Div. 2 state championship contest. St. Mary’s coach Jeff Newhall said it is a nightly battle for survival in the CCL.
“Every team in the league is good enough to make the tournament and do well there,” Newhall said. “You try to play at least .500 in the league and then take care of business in the nonleague games.”
Newhall’s Spartans should be one of the favorites in Div. 3 North. They were 15-10 last season but should be improved as forward Olivia Nazaire and guard Gabby Torres return along with Pamela Gonzalez, a transfer from Revere.
Bishop Fenwick returns center Jennie Meagher and guard Fredi DeGuglielmo. The Crusaders are hoping Jaxson Nadeau (knee) can come back at some point, which could make them very dangerous at tournament time. Austin Prep is a darkhorse with forward Ellen Klucznik and guard Ava Carbone.
Amesbury put together one of the best seasons in school history, winning 23 games and a North sectional title. All-Scholastic forward Flannery O’Connor and guard Allison Napoli will lead the Indians. Manchester Essex will lean on forwards Bella Pomeroy and Ava Glass.
Archbishop Williams has won five straight Div. 3 South titles and nine of the past 11. The Bishops enter 2017-18 as the favorites to get back to the state semifinals as All-Scholastic guard Asiah Dingle, backcourt partner Shannon Kelley and forward Monica Spain are back.
The team with the potential to break through is Fontbonne. The Ducks won 20 games last season and return All-Scholastic forward Annabelle Larnard and guards Arienne Sauvignon-Howard and Clarissa Garzon.
A pair of South Shore League teams should have strong seasons. East Bridgewater returns guards Katie Smith and Kirsten Smith along with center Cassie Hall, while Rockland has guard Danielle O’Brien, forward Carolne Elie and center Erika Ochenduszko.
Apponequet and Bishop Stang are two more teams in Div. 3 South capable of making some noise.
Cathedral steamrolled through the postseason, winning the six games by an average of 30 points, on its way to the Div. 4 state title. The Panthers are primed for another run with guards Dejah Jenkins and Amani Boston along with forwards Mackenzie Daleba and Taliah Countrymon.
Coyle & Cassidy drops down to Div. 4 and should give Cathedral a run for its money. The Warriors will be led by guards Rachael Johnson and Kaylee Haynes along with forward Samantha Hourihan. Cohasset has guards Elle Hansen and Molly Greer back with forward Lauren Canning.
Falmouth Academy will rely on a lethal 1-2 punch of Kendall Currence and Jane Earley, while West Bridgewater has forward Casey Willis and guard Morgan Doherty back from a 17-win team. Westport took a major hit when Laura Mendell transferred to Dartmouth, leaving eighth-grader Laila Silver to help pick up the slack.
Nantucket, which defeated Falmouth Academy in the first week, along with Old Colony and Blue Hills could make some noise.
Defending Div. 4 North champion Fenway is the clear-cut favorite to repeat. Coach John Rice returns All-Scholastic guard Shania Tarver, backcourt partners Nattaly David and Dasiah Thornton, swingman Janayah Gulley and center Me’Ara Carter.
Mystic Valley has one of the premier scorers back in guard Menel Lamadzema as well as forward Talia Mamayek. Notre Dame will rely on center Sam Adamcyzk and guard Natalie Kelleher.
Matignon returns a pair of Catholic Central League All-Stars in guard Francesca Farrell and forward Lauren Lividoti. It also has a pair of transfers from Pope John, Katty Haidul and her sister Korie Haidul.
Lowell Catholic will be led by forwards Mary Tibbets and Mikayla Patterson as well as guard Maggie Penta. Pope John will look to guards Kylie Paulding and Sarita Chen.