2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards 2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards HockomockSports Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports HockomockSports Your source for comprehensive coverage of the Hockomock League. We provide recaps, features, standings, schedules and much more.
HockomockSports Your source for comprehensive coverage of the Hockomock League. We provide recaps, features, standings, schedules and much more. Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton
HockomockSports Your source for comprehensive coverage of the Hockomock League. We provide recaps, features, standings, schedules and much more.
HockomockSports Your source for comprehensive coverage of the Hockomock League. We provide recaps, features, standings, schedules and much more. TheSunChronicle.com ESPNBoston.com

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

Franklin junior center Ali Brigham has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Girls Basketball Player of the Year, the eighth recipient in the site’s history and the first player from Franklin to earn this honor. Brigham, a three-year starter, led the Panthers to their first Kelley-Rex division crown since 2013 and the program’s first-ever sectional title.

“Ali had one of the most dominant seasons we’ve seen,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She was in complete control on both ends of the floor, scoring points, grabbing rebounds, and guarding the rim. Everyone in the gym knew where the ball was going but were still unable to stop her once she got it. It’s scary to think (for opponents anyway) that she’s got one more year to go and she’s still developing new parts to her game.”

Brigham averaged 25.6 points per game and reached the 1,000-point mark for her career as a junior. She also pulled down more than 17 rebounds and blocked more than six shots per night. Another season like this one and the George Washington University-commit would become the program’s all-time leading scorer. Brigham was also chosen as the Hockomock League MVP by the coaches and was a finalist for the Gatorade Player of the Year.

“Ali is a one of a kind player who nightly faced double teams and found a way to be prolific while also playing team basketball,” said Franklin coach John Leighton.

In the postseason, Brigham took her game to another level, recording double-doubles in every game of the playoffs. She scored 33 points and grabbed 15 boards in the comeback against Westford Academy, had 22 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks against Concord-Carlisle, 28 points, 14 rebounds, and seven blocks in the Central final against Wachusett, and 26 points and 25 rebounds against Springfield Central in the state semifinal.

“Ali was a dominant player who has gotten stronger and more polished in the post,” said Mansfield coach Mike Redding. “We built our whole defensive plan around denying her the ball because once she gets it she’s unstoppable in the paint and she’s as equally impressive on defense protecting the basket.”

Brigham is the first Franklin player and the first junior to be named Player of the Year in girls basketball. She is also the third player to win the Underclassman of the Year and the Player of the Year, following Foxboro’s Kat Tamulionis (2015) and Ashley Sampson (2018).

Honorable Mentions: Katelyn Mollica (Foxboro)

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards


Caroline PeperCaroline Peper – Oliver Ames – Guard
Oliver Ames freshman guard Caroline Peper became the first rookie to be named to the first team after a strong first season in the Hock. Peper was the third-leading scorer in the league this winter, averaging 15.6 points per game and shooting a remarkable 46 percent from beyond the arc. She also made 88 percent of her shots at the line to give the Tigers a boost on the offensive end and help them make a run to the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook said, “Caroline stepped in as a freshman and performed at the highest level. She truly loves the game and there will be very high expectations for her in the coming seasons. She handled the pressure of the bright lights and we have great hope that will continue in the future.”
 


Katelyn MollicaKatelyn Mollica – Foxboro – Guard
Foxboro sophomore Katelyn Mollica more than lived up to the hype that was built after her successful freshman season, helping the Warriors retain their Davenport division title for the third straight year and enter the playoffs as the top seed in Div. 2 South. Mollica averaged 18 points per game this winter and is within 300 points of the 1,000-point mark for her career. She knocked down 73 threes this season, averaging 43 percent from beyond the arc, as well as 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Foxboro coach Lisa Downs said, “Katelyn is one of the hardest working, most determined player I have ever had the opportunity to coach. It is seldom that such a young player is capable of stepping onto a court and making such an impact.”
 


Faye VeilleuxFaye Veilleux – King Philip – Forward
King Philip junior forward Faye Veilleux stayed largely healthy this winter and had a breakout season for the Warriors, helping KP make a return to the postseason. Veilleux played in 21 games this season for the Warriors, scoring 12.5 points per game and grabbing 6.4 rebounds while showing off her ability to score in the paint and knock down jumpers off the dribble. She also shot 72 percent from the line. King Philip coach Amy Siggens said, “Faye has evolved this year as a complete player by making things happen on both ends of the floor. She can score at the basket, in transition, outside shooting and from the line. She is an emerging leader who puts the team on her shoulders and unselfishly has helped our team win throughout the entire year.”
 


Maggie DanehyMaggie Danehy – Mansfield – Forward
Mansfield senior forward Maggie Danehy closed out her successful career with the Hornets with her best season statistically. She averaged a double-double, leading Mansfield with 11.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, and helped the Hornets win 17 games and reach another Div. 1 South quarterfinal. She was also the team leader in blocks and made more than 40 percent of her shots from the field. A three-time league champion, Danehy finished fourth in career rebounds at Mansfield and 11th in career points. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “Maggie had a great career for us and improved so much every year. She plays with so much energy and seems to find every rebound as it comes off the board. Just a great leader for our team, on and off the court.”
 


Ali BrighamAli Brigham – Franklin – Center
Franklin junior center Ali Brigham continued her remarkable three-year varsity career by helping the Panthers win a league title for the first time since 2013 and claim the program’s first-ever sectional title. Brigham averaged 25.6 points per game this season, reaching the 1,000-point mark for her career. She also averaged 17 rebounds and nearly seven blocks per game, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor all winter, and was named the Hockomock League MVP by the coaches and a finalist for Gatorade Player of the Year. Franklin coach John Leighton said, “Ali is a one of a kind player who nightly faced double teams and found a way to be prolific while also playing team basketball.”
 


2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards


Aliyah WrightAliyah Wright – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton junior guard Aliyah Wright has another strong season on both ends of the court for the Black Knights. She led Stoughton in scoring with 12 points per game and recorded five double-doubles this winter. Wright was also the team leader with 36 steals and 29 blocks, using her size to cause problems for opposing guards on the defensive end of the floor. She was selected as a league all-star by the coaches for a second straight season. Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele-Jordan said, “Aliyah put a lot of time an effort in her game heading into the season and stepped up this season rebounding wise for us. The sky is the limit for her next season as a Senior and I am excited to her explode on offense while being a steady defender for us.”
 


Sydney MulkernSydney Mulkern – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield senior guard Sydney Mulkern was the top perimeter scorer for the Hornets this season, helping them finish with 17 wins and in second place in the Kelley-Rex division. Mulkern scored 9.8 points per game this season, despite battling injuries and illnesses at various points over the course of the winter. She knocked down a team-high 36 three-pointers and shot 36 percent from beyond the arc. Mulkern added 41 assists and 37 steals. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “Over the last two years Syd became our go-to 3-pt shooter who always seemed to hit the big 3-pt shot to get our offense going or spark a comeback. From freshmen and sophomore years to junior and senior years, she was our most improved player.”
 


Shannon O'ConnorShannon O’Connor – King Philip – Guard
King Philip senior Shannon O’Connor bounced back from an injury that cut short her junior year and returned as one of the most versatile combo guards in the league. She scored 11.6 points and grabbed 6.8 rebounds per game to help the Warriors get back into the postseason. O’Connor shot 41 percent from the floor, 28 percent from three-point range, and 83 percent from the line and was a leader for a relatively young KP squad. King Philip coach Amy Siggens said, “She is a smart player who can make things happen on all ends of the floor, however, her presence on the boards was a major factor this year. She battled defensively with some of the best in this league and stepped up to any challenge we asked her to take on.”
 


Julia FeidJulia Feid – North Attleboro – Forward
North Attleboro senior Julia Feid was a three-year starter for the Rocketeers and saved her best statistical season for last. Feid led North with 13.5 points per game and also chipped in with six rebounds per night, helping out the Rocketeers on both ends of the court. Despite playing against bigger opponents in the paint, Feid led the team with 14 blocks. North Attleboro coach Derek Herber said, “Julia was our focal point for our offense for the past two seasons and has developed into an inside-outside threat for us. She also was the team’s emotional leader who made the players around her better.”
 


Kiara CerrutiKiara Cerruti – Canton – Forward
Canton freshman Kiara Cerruti had an outstanding rookie campaign for the Bulldogs, as the freshmen class lived up to the preseason hype and helped Canton make a second straight playoff appearance. Cerruti, who could play as a guard or a forward, led the team with 12.8 points per game, as well as 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 every night. Despite being just a freshman, she was one of the top scorers in the league this year. Canton coach Jim Choquette said, “Kiara finished one of the most impressive freshmen campaigns in Canton history. A top-five scorer in the league, a league all-star and led us in most statistical categories. Her willingness to adapt, improve and grow as a player really sets her apart.”

 


2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards


Sydnee HyacintheSydnee Hyacinthe – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton sophomore Sydnee Hyacinthe followed up an impressive rookie campaign with a strong season as the point guard for the Black Knights. She finished second on the team with 11 points per game and also dished out a team-high 64 assists in her first year as the team’s primary ball-handler. Hyacinthe was named an honorable mention all-star by the league’s coaches and helped the Black Knights win four their last seven games, giving Stoughton momentum heading into next winter. Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele Jordan said, “Syd is the quiet before a major storm. She has been steady for us and really came into her own offensively. Sydnee will have a big junior year.”
 


Liv McCallLiv McCall – Attleboro – Guard
Attleboro junior guard Liv McCall had a big season for the Bombardiers as their primary ball-handler and scorer. She averaged 10.4 points and three assists per game and was able to stretch defenses with 42 three-pointers on 35 percent shooting from long-range. She also came up big against good teams, as evidenced by her career-high 18 in the upset of Franklin and 15 points against cross-town rival Bishop Feehan. Attleboro coach Marty Crowley said, “Liv had a great season for us. The bigger the game (opponent-wise) the better she played. She has the ability to elevate her game and it paid great dividends.”
 


Bea BondhusBea Bondhus – Franklin – Guard
Franklin senior Bea Bondhus wrapped up her career by helping the Panthers bring home a Kelley-Rex division title for the first time since 2013 and clinch the program’s first-ever sectional crown. Bondhus was one of the most consistent shooters and guards in the league this season, averaging right around 10 points per game and making 56 threes overall. She shot 33 percent from beyond the arc and 81 percent from the line, and always seemed to come through in the clutch, including a strong fourth quarter in Franklin’s come from behind win against Westford Academy. Franklin coach John Leighton said of the Springfield College-commit, “A consummate leader, Bea helped to turn this program around and lead us to new heights.”
 


Emma EberhardtEmma Eberhardt – Sharon – Forward
Sharon senior forward Emma Eberhardt closed out her four-year career with the Eagles by winning the team’s MVP honor for the second season in a row. A four-time Hockomock League all-star selection by the coaches, the Lehigh University lacrosse commit led the team with 11.5 points per game, as well as setting team highs with 64 assists and 63 steals. She nearly led the Eagles to a state tournament spot, missing out on the playoffs by a single game. Sharon coach Sandy Lombardi said, “Emma is a versatile player and a difference-maker when she is on the court. She was a great role model for our younger players and a player that will be impossible to replace.”
 


Chelsea GibbonsChelsea Gibbons – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro senior forward Chelsea Gibbons stepped up this season to be the team’s second-leading scorer and help the Warriors overcome the loss of three starters to win a third straight league title. Gibbons scored 9.8 points per game this year, including 13 games in double figures, and grabbed 6.1 rebounds per night. She was also one of the top shooters in the league, knocking down 37 threes. Foxboro coach Lisa Downs said, “Chelsea filled a huge offensive role this season without which we wouldn’t have been capable of achieving the success which we had. From day one this year, her confidence grew and you could definitely see the ‘senior’ in her every day. She is a great example of what hard work in the offseason can do.”
 


2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards
Foxboro sophomore guard Katelyn Mollica has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Girls Basketball Underclassman of the Year; the seventh season this award has been given out to the top freshman or sophomore in the league. Mollica was on the All-Underclassmen Team as a freshman and is the third Foxboro player to earn this honor.

Mollica put together a remarkable season for a second-year player, helping Foxboro turn what some expected to be a rebuilding year into another league championship one. She averaged 18 points per game and is now within 300 points of 1,000 for her career. Her scoring lifted the Warriors to a third straight Davenport division title and the top seed in Div. 2 South.

“There were high expectations for Katelyn after an impressive rookie season, but it’s safe to say she exceeded them,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She was one of the league’s most dynamic scorers and arguably its best perimeter shooter. Even losing three starters from a state championship team, Foxboro didn’t miss a beat this year and Katelyn’s production every night was one of the main reasons why.”

Mollica knocked down 73 threes this season, shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc. Overall, she made 50 percent of her shots from the floor and 90 percent from the line, while grabbing 3.1 rebounds and dishing out 2.7 assists per game.

Foxboro coach Lisa Downs said, “The amount of pressure that I put on her pales with the amount of pressure that she puts on herself to perform every day – she actually thrives on this and that makes her a unique player. She took the reins of the team this year (after the absence of last year’s graduated players) and quickly became one of the league’s best players and natural shooters.”

This is the third time that a Foxboro sophomore has been named Underclassman of the Year. Kat Tamulionis earned that honor in 2013 and Ashley Sampson received the award in 2016. Both players were sophomores when they won Underclassman of the Year and both went on to be named Player of the Year two seasons later.

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

Sydnee Hyacinthe, Stoughton – Hyacinthe scored 11 points per game and dished out a team-high 64 assists for the Black Knights in a strong sophomore season for the point guard. She became a stalwart for Stoughton on the offensive end of the floor. Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele Jordan said, “She has been steady for us and really came into her own offensively. Sydnee will have a big junior year.”

Katelyn Mollica, Foxboro – Mollica, the 2019 Underclassman of the Year (see above), was a consistently strong player for the Warriors all season, averaging 18 points per game and shooting more than 40 percent from three-point range for the Davenport division champions. Foxboro coach Lisa Downs said, “It is seldom that such a young player is capable of stepping onto a court and making such an impact.”

Amanda Kaiser, North Attleboro – Kaiser, a sophomore guard, averaged 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for North this season. Known for her shooting (team-high 48 threes), Kaiser also emerged as a defensive stalwart with 98 steals and deflections. North coach Derek Herber said, “Amanda was asked to defend the best perimeter players in every game and she was up to the task.”

Caroline Peper, Oliver Ames – Peper averaged nearly 16 points per game as a freshman and shot 46 percent from the three-point line and 88 percent at the line to lead Oliver Ames on a run to the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. OA coach Laney Clement-Holbrook said, “She handled the pressure of the bright lights and we have great hope that will continue in the future.”

Kiara Cerruti, Canton – Cerruti led the Bulldogs in scoring this season, averaging nearly 13 points and more than six rebounds per game, helping Canton make it back-to-back postseason appearances. As part of a heralded freshman class, Cerruti was a standout right from her varsity debut. Canton coach Jim Choquette said, “Her willingness to adapt, improve and grow as a player really sets her apart.”


2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards
Franklin sophomore guard Erin Quaile has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. Quaile is the sixth player to receive this honor in the seven years that it has been given out and the first underclassman to win it.

Quaile was a dominant presence on the defensive end, shutting down some of the top guards in the Hockomock League and chasing players off the three-point line. She finished the season with 52 steals, 87 assists, and 70 defensive rebounds from her point guard position. Quaile’s ability to shut down opposing guards helped the Panthers win the league title, the Div. 1 Central title, and hold opponents to the third-lowest points per game in the league.

“Night-in, night-out Erin was out there hounding opponents and taking them out of their game,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Her speed, her quick hands, and her nonstop energy made it nearly impossible for teams to run their offense as usual. It was just fun to watch her play defense.”

Franklin coach John Leighton said, “Nightly, Erin covered the other team’s best guard and frustrated them for 32 straight minutes. Hard to believe she is only a sophomore!”

Quaile joins Tracey Pisani (2014) as the second player from Franklin to earn this honor. Along with Mansfield’s Jackie Carchedi (2015) and Ann Maher (2016 and 2017), she is the third Kelley-Rex division player to win this award in the last five years.

2019 HockomockSports Girls Basketball Awards

Aliyah Wright, Stoughton – Wright was once again a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end for the Black Knights. She led the team with 36 steals and 29 blocks and her size and athleticism allowed her to guard multiple positions on the perimeter and in the post. Stoughton coach Charmaine Steele Jordan said, “Aliyah put a lot of time an effort in her game heading into the season and stepped up this season.”

Erin Quaile, Franklin – Quaile, a sophomore guard, was capable of controlling a game without having to score because she was one of the most aggressive and solid perimeter defenders in the Hock. Quaile had 52 steals this winter and grabbed 70 defensive rebounds for the league and Central champion Panthers.

Mady Bendanillo, Mansfield – Bendanillo played in 99 games over her career and was one of the top perimeter defenders in program history, finishing tied for second with 202 steals (95 this year alone) and eighth in total rebounds with 436, not to mention fourth in assists. Mansfield coach Mike Redding said, “She plays with so much energy and she is so athletic, her hustle is just contagious and gets everyone going.”

Maggie Connolly, Canton – Connolly, a senior guard, was one of the top on-the-ball defenders in the league again this season, averaging 3.5 steals per game and also pulling down six ‘rebounds per night to help the Bulldogs make back-to-back playoff appearances. Canton coach Jim Choquette said, “Maggie was our leader on defense and set the tone and expectations for the rest of the team. Many games throughout the season she was responsible for guarding the other teams best guard/shooter and constantly delivered for us.”

Ali Brigham, Franklin – Brigham, the 2019 Player of the Year (see above) and Hockomock League MVP, controlled the paint for the Panthers, providing an imposing presence at the rim to deter opposing players from taking it to the basket. The George Washington University-commit finished with more than 17 rebounds and six blocks per game this year for the Central champions.


Coach of the Year – John Leighton, Franklin

John LeightonFranklin head coach John Leighton has been named the 2019 HockomockSports.com Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. Leighton guided the Panthers to their first Kelley-Rex division title since 2013, to the program’s first-ever sectional title, and was an overtime period away from reaching the state championship game.

Leighton helmed the Panthers to a near-perfect 15-1 record in the Hockomock League, including a season sweep of title contender Mansfield and a win against Davenport division champion Foxboro. Franklin battled back to beat Westford Academy in the opening round of the playoffs, after a switch of defenses in the second half, pulled away from Concord-Carlisle to reach a sectional final for the fourth time under Leighton, and then beat undefeated Wachusett with a buzzer-beater to become Div. 1 Central champ.

Franklin finished with an overall record of 21-4. The Panthers were the third best defensive team in the Hock (giving up just 0.6 points per game more than Foxboro and Mansfield) and the second-best offensive team at 57.1 points per game.

“The Panthers imposed their will on teams this season,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “The players were put into the best positions to succeed and John trusted his players to make the adjustments they needed during the game. Everyone knew that Franklin was going to be good this year, but he got them to ignore the hype, buy into the system, and put in the work every night to be Hock champs.”

This is the first time that Leighton had been named Coach of the Year and he is only the second Kelley-Rex coach to receive this honor, joining Mansfield’s Mike Redding (2017).

Honorable Mentions: Jim Choquette (Canton), Lisa Downs (Foxboro), Amy Siggens (King Philip)