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30 Fall River area boys basketball players to watch in the state tournament

Steven Sanchez, The Herald News
·4 min read

FALL RIVER — The high school boys basketball playoff round begins Monday with 217 teams competing across the state of Massachusetts.

Four Greater Fall River teams — Atlantis Charter, Case, Durfee and Somerset Berkley — each punched their ticket to the state tournament. The Cardinals kicked things off with a home game against Northeast Metro Regional Vocational Tech. on Monday at 6:30 p.m..

The Tritons travel to Avon on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a Division 5 preliminary contest. The Hilltoppers will host Revere on Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader at 7:30 p.m. in a Division 1 matchup. The Raiders await the winner of either Burncoat or East Longmeadow in the Division 2 Round of 32 game.

Here's a look at 30 players to watch this postseason from the Greater Fall River area:

Atlantis Charter School's Mickey Pimentel collides with Falmouth's Gus M'Guire during a recent game at Atlantis Charter High School.
Atlantis Charter School's Mickey Pimentel collides with Falmouth's Gus M'Guire during a recent game at Atlantis Charter High School.

Atlantis Charter Tritons

Head Coach: Bob Ferris

Record: 11-7

League: Independent

Last season: 10-9; preliminary

The Tritons punched their ticket to the big dance for the second season in a row. Now Atlantis Charter would like to take their game deeper in the postseason, beginning with Avon on Tuesday. Head coach Bob Ferris' group ended the season strong by winning its final five games. Leading the way for the Tritons' is leading scorer Mickey Pimentel. Other top scorers for Atlantis Charter are guard DJ Adediran and Marvin Antoine. Nate Benevides can also fill up the scoring sheet. Kody Caton, Izzy Ponte, Dbouby Antoine and Genald George are key members in the Tritons' lineup.

Case's Landon Cayton throws up a layup against West Bridgewater's Thomas Stapleton during a recent game at Joseph Case High School Jan. 17 2024.
Case's Landon Cayton throws up a layup against West Bridgewater's Thomas Stapleton during a recent game at Joseph Case High School Jan. 17 2024.

Case Cardinals

Head Coach: Dan Wenzel

Record: 11-9

League: South Coast Conference

Last season: 4-16

The Cardinals punched their ticket to the postseason after a four-year hiatus. Now Case is ready to make to noise, starting with a home game against Smith Vocational Tech. on Monday. Head coach Dan Wenzel's crew is a close-knit unit that has basketball background together since the fourth grade. Leading the way for Case is leading scorer, South Coast Conference second leading scorer (20.4) and 1,000-point scorer Landon Cayton. Point guard Cayden Gonsalves (13-7) can also fill it up from deep and underneath the basket. Aiden Parent is another deadly, 3-point shooter (50 made) who can score with the best of them. Chris Gaboriault provides plenty of energy on the defensive end and is very vocal. Jack Orton is solid on the defensive end and draws the assignment of the opposition's big man. Cam Pavia is a hard worker on the both ends of the glass while Tyler Costa provides instant offense off the bench.

Durfee's Jeyden Espinal goes up strong against a Braintree defender during a recent non-league contest at B.M.C. Durfee High School Feb. 16, 2024.
Durfee's Jeyden Espinal goes up strong against a Braintree defender during a recent non-league contest at B.M.C. Durfee High School Feb. 16, 2024.

Durfee Hilltoppers

Head Coach: Joe DaCruz

Record: 13-7

League: Southeast Conference

Last season: 12-9; preliminary round

The Southeast Conference champion Hilltoppers are peaking at the right time, winning four straight and six out of their last seven games. Head coach Joe DaCruz has plenty of offensive weapons and athletes who can play on the defensive end. One of his main weapons are senior guard Jeyden Espinal and sophomore 1,000-point scorer Jahmier Stephenson. Avonte Lamore has been a big lift in the starting lineup who can score and defend. Davontae Stewart and Ben Sherry bring stability on offense and on the glass for Durfee. Eric Lucas can score in bunches while William Daiz Rivera and Alvin Gaston bring a spark off the bench.

Somerset Berkley's Brendan McDonald drives to the basket against Durfee's Eric Lucas during a recent game at Somerset Berkley Regional High School Jan. 26 2023.
Somerset Berkley's Brendan McDonald drives to the basket against Durfee's Eric Lucas during a recent game at Somerset Berkley Regional High School Jan. 26 2023.

Somerset Berkley Raiders

Head Coach: Bob Slater

Record: 18-2

League: South Coast Conference

Last season: 11-10; preliminary

The Raiders had a season to remember this winter, finishing with an area-best 18-2 mark. Longtime SBR head coach Bob Slater has his group fine tuned and ready to go this postseason. Junior point guard and team's leading scorer Brendan McDonald (15.9) is threat inside and outside on offense (46 3-pointers). Senior captain Mason Medeiros is the glue the holds the team together. Junior center Finn Bjork averages a double-double each night (15.2 points, 12.8 rebounds). Sophomore guard Dom Taylor is among the league leaders in 3-pointers made (45). Max Finlaw is tough on defense and is a threat to score. Colten Pacheco is a great sixth man off the bench while Jacob Louro can score and rebound.

Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Chezsports. 

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Herald News boys basketball players to watch in state tournament