BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES March 24

1966 Bob Brooks of Saint Raphael Academy, a versatile 6-foot-3, 190-pounder who led the Blackstone Valley in scoring for the second consecutive campaign and is a two-time hoop All-Stater, is the only repeater and unanimous selection on the Pawtucket Times All-Valley schoolboy basketball First Team. Sacred Heart Academy has two picks in brothers, Jim and Paul Such. Jimmy (5-11, 152) averaged 15.7 points and was a tremendous all-around leader, while Paul (5-10, 140) scored at a 14.7 pace. Central Falls’ John Wilson (6-2, 154) was edged out of the scoring crown by Brooks (19.90-19.89) and Ron Hoyt (5-10, 150) of Tolman was an excellent passer with a 17.6 mark.

1986Mike Cordeiro tallied the first and last goals while brother, Brian, was named as the Suburban Division schoolboy hockey tournament MVP in leading Shea to a game-three 4-1 victory over North Smithfield for the state crown. Bob Testa and Chris Lemay had the other tallies for Raider coach Joe Augustine, while Herb Angell, with an assist from Jim Maguire, scored for the Northmen. Kit Miller had 22 saves for Shea and Tom Bourque 17 for NS.

1996Saint Raphael Academy had three players named to the Blackstone Valley Schoolboy Basketball First Team headed by scoring champ guard Jason Bennett (22.3 ppg). Bennett was easily the best long-ranger bomber in Rhode Island, Luis Galagarza, a jack-of-all-trades and master of everything, averaged 17.3 points per game and freshman guard Robert Griffin scored at a 16.6 clip for SRA. Completing the starting five were Mike Balmforth of Tolman, the Tigers’ “quarterback” who finished eighth in scoring (18.2), and Cumberland’s point-machine, Krys Jackson, who ranked third in the area with 20.2 ppg.