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Durfee boys, girls basketball teams clinch playoff berth: Top performers Feb. 5-11

steven sanchez, the herald news
·9 min read

ATTLEBORO — It was Super Sunday for the Durfee boys and girls basketball teams.

The Hilltopper boys clinched a berth in the upcoming state tournament after beating Attleboro on the road, 76-59.

Jahmier Stephenson led the way for Durfee (10-7) with a team-high 23 points. Jeyden Espinal finished with 21 points and Avonte Lamore chipped in with 14 points.

Durfee's Jahmeir Stephenson and Taunton's 23 during the final of the Skip Karam holiday tournament at B.M.C. Durfee High School on Dec. 28, 2023.
Durfee's Jahmeir Stephenson and Taunton's 23 during the final of the Skip Karam holiday tournament at B.M.C. Durfee High School on Dec. 28, 2023.

Girls Basketball

Durfee 41, Attleboro 37

The Hilltoppers punched their ticket to the postseason after beating Attleboro at home on Sunday. Julia Hargraves led Durfee (10-8) with a team-high 12 points. Maggie O’Connell had 11 points and Avery Layne ended with 10 points. Maddie Hargraves (four) and Julianna Sousa (four) also hit the scoring sheet.

Saturday

Hockey

Somerset Berkley 2, Old Rochester 0

Nate Melo contributed a goal and an assist to help lead the Raiders to a shutout win over Old Rochester. Jack Rothwell also scored a goal for SBR (11-2-1). Mason Sullivan had an assist while Brandon Silva stopped 16 shots on net.

Wrestling

The Somerset Berkley/Case wrestling team had six place finishers and finished eighth overall at the Division 2 South Sectionals. James Phenix (150), Owen Pavao (190), Alex Javier (126) and Adrian Borges (106) all qualified for state next week.

Indoor Track

Durfee

Aidan Lanciault won the 300 dash (36.07) and Curtis Mowatt finished in second place in the long jump (20’ 10.5”) for the Hilltoppers during the MIAA Qualifier meet. Thysh Garcia-Martinez had a personal-best, finishing eighth in the 55 meter finals (7.75). Jasmine DoSouto qualified for the Division 1 State Championship Meet with a second place finish in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 32’3.5”. Adunoluwa Obalnawu also had a personal-best mark in the shot put, throwing 30’4.5”.

Diman

The Bengals competed in the MIAA Qualifier meet on Saturday. Cashton Richard placed 11th in the 55 hurdles (8.86). The 4x400 team of Maxwell DesRoches, Macauley Crossman, Phoenix Bennett, and Cashton Richard placed fourth overall (3:55). Asafe Penha placed 21st in the 55 (6.96) while Phoenix Bennett finished 44th in the 55 (7.06)Liam Goff took 35th place in the 1000 (2:57).

Case

Hannah Santos placed first in both the high jump and the 55 hurdles at the South Coast Conference championships at Greater New Bedford Voactional Technical School. Santos advances to the state.

Diman

The Diman girls track and field team fared well at the MIAA Qualifier meet on Saturday. Inez Medeiros placed fourth overall in the 55 (7.67). The 4x800 team of Nicole Mota, Alexah Pedder, Lylah Thibeault and Isabelle Chekares took eighth (11:22). Pedder also finished ninth overall in the 1000 (3:23). Danica Felizberto placed 16th in the high jump (4'6") while Chekares took 32nd in the 600 (1:52). Katie Miranda placed 23rd in shot put (27'11") and Hannah King ended 25th in shot put (27'9).

Friday

Girls Basketball

Maggie O'Connell netted a game-high 23 points for the Hilltoppers in their win over New Bedford. Julia Hargraves added 13 points while Maddie Hargraves chipped in with eight points. Other scorers include Jadah Johnson Scott (six) and Julianna Sousa (six) for Durfee (9-8).

Durfee's Maggie O'Connell takes a shot up close.
Durfee's Maggie O'Connell takes a shot up close.

Westport 58, Avon 22

The Wildcats clinched the Mayflower Athletic Conference Comprehensive championship after beating Avon. Meghan Molloy led Westport with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Korynne Holden had 12 points, including her 1,000th career point. She also added three rebounds, four assists and three steals. Skylar Rezendes chipped in with 11 points, 12 rebounds and two assists. Other scorers include Jenna Egbe (nine), Julia George (six), Sarah Perry (three) and Molly Costa (three).

Case 44, West Bridgewater 28

Liberty Gazaille had a game-high 20 points to help lead the Cardinals past West Bridgewater. Emma Plante had nine points and Lily Picard finished with seven points and 12 rebounds. Avery Plante netted a crowd-pleasing, three-pointer off the bench for Case (12-5; 7-4 in SCC).

Old Rochester 45, Somerset Berkley 40

Makenzie Pires had a team-high 15 points for the Raiders in Old Rochester's home win. Mia Gentile added 11 points for SBR (9-9).

Southeastern 37, Diman 32

Evey Fernandes and Cindy Bui each scored a team-high nine points for the Bengals in Southeastern's win. Lizzy Kinnane finished with eight points for Diman (6-8; 3-4 in Mayflower).

Boys Basketball

New Bedford 68, Durfee 62

Jah Stephenson poured in a team-high 29 points for the Hilltoppers in New Bedford's home win. Avonte Lamore finished with 15 points for Durfee (9-7).

Old Rochester 71, Somerset Berkley 51

Colten Pacheco netted a team-high 15 points for the Raiders in Old Rochester's road win. Dom Taylor had 12 points and Mason Medeiros finished with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals. Finn Bjork chipped in with three points and 13 rebounds for SBR (13-2).

West Bridgewater 55, Case 49

Landon Cayton scored a team-high 24 points for the Cardinals (10-7) in a tough loss against West Bridgewater.

Upper Cape 52, Diman 44

Anthony DeJesus had a team-high 19 points for the Bengals in Upper Cape's home win. Sy'Air Neal finished with 15 points for Diman (5-12).

Wednesday

Girls Basketball

Skylar Rezendes led the way for the Wildcats (13-1) with a game-high 20 points, plus 11 rebounds, three assists and five blocks. Sarah Perry finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Korynne Holden chipped in with 14 points, five assists, nine steals and two blocks. Jenna Egbe added eight points in the win.

Westport's Skylar Rezendes battles with Case's Kambree Nell during the season opener at Joseph Case High School on Dec. 11, 2023
Westport's Skylar Rezendes battles with Case's Kambree Nell during the season opener at Joseph Case High School on Dec. 11, 2023

Tri-County 33, Diman 31, OT

The Bengals lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Tri-County. Lizzy Kinnane led Diman (6-7) in scoring with 11 points. Cindy Bui had eight points and Courtney Boise added five points.

Boys Basketball

Diman 68, Tri-County 48

Sy'Air Neal had a game-high 25 points to lead the Bengals over Tri-County on Senior Night. Anthony DeJesus had 17 points and Aiden Bigelow finished with 13 points for Diman (5-11; 2-3 in Mayflower).

Hockey

Diman/Durfee/Westport 7, Bridgewater-Raynham 6

Jacob Almeida, Matt Almeida, Landen Freitas, and Bryce Medeiros each collected goals to lead the Bengals over Bridgewater-Raynham. Evan Camara, Jesse Costa, Jacoby Brouliard, and Ryan Sandford all had assists in the game for Diman (13-3-1; 9-1 in Mayflower).

Tuesday

Boys Basketball

The Hilltoppers clinched at least a share of the Southeast Conference title after beating league opponent Dartmouth. Jeyden Espinal led the way for the Hilltoppers (9-6) with a team-high 27 points. Davontae Stewart chipped in with 15 points while Jahmier Stephenson finished with 12 points. Avonte Lamore added nine points.

Durfee's Jeyden Espinal passes during the final of the Skip Karam holiday tournament at B.M.C. Durfee High School on Dec. 28, 2023.
Durfee's Jeyden Espinal passes during the final of the Skip Karam holiday tournament at B.M.C. Durfee High School on Dec. 28, 2023.

Somerset Berkley 82, Apponequet 69

Brendan McDonald scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Raiders past Apponequet on the road. Finn Bjork chipped in with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Mason Medeiros added 17 points and Dom Taylor had 13 points for SBR (13-1; 9-1 in SCC).

Case 50, Seekonk 48

Aiden Parent had a game-high 26 points, including seven 3-pointers in the Cardinals' win over league opponent Seekonk. Landon Cayton poured in 14 points for Case (10-6, 5-5 in SCC) who clinched a playoff berth.

Girls Basketball

Case 50, Seekonk 37

Emma Plante netted a team-high 18 points to help lead the Cardinals past Seekonk. Liberty Gazaille had 12 points and 13 steals. Lily Picard finished with eight points for Case (11-5; 6-4 in SCC).

Dartmouth 62, Durfee 37

Maggie O'Connell and Julia Hargraves each scored in double figures for the Hilltoppers in Dartmouth's win. Avery Layne ended with six points for Durfee (8-8).

Apponequet 74, Somerset Berkley 40

Karlie Cosme had a double-double with a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Raiders in Apponequet's win. Mia Gentile finished with 10 points for SBR (9-8).

Boys Indoor Track

The Hilltoppers boys indoor track and field team placed fourth during the Southeast Conference league meet. Aidan Lanciault broke the 300-dash record, earning first place with a time of 36.07. He also qualified for the Division 1 meet in the high jump (5'10"). Curtis Mowatt broke the school record in the 55 dash (6.74). Owen Moniz placed third in the 1000 with a personal-best time of 2:44.85. The 4x400 relay team of Lanciault, Moniz, Mowatt and Kayden Kheav took second and qualified for the Division 1 meet. Jose Chicas (2-mile) and Copper Long (shot put) also performed well.

Girls Indoor Track

The Hilltoppers girls track and field took fourth place during the Southeast Conference league meet. Jasmine DoSouto attained a personal-best mark in the shot put (31'2") and placed second. Lily Cook finished fourth in the shot put with a personal-best toss of 30'6". Adunoluwa Olubanwo took fifth in the shot put and Thysh Garcia placed fourth in the 55 dash. Aaliyah Alexandre took home fourth place in the hurdles (10.41). Other personal records were by Jennyann Rohena (600), Kiara Rose-Fermino (300), Lauren Barnett (55 dash), Katherine Santiago and Ashantae McFarlane (55 hurdles). Gianna Gordan also threw well in the shot put.

Monday

Boys Basketball

Cayden Gonsalves netted a game-high 20 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists in the Cardinals' 70-30 win over Diman. Landon Cayton contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Cam Paiva ended with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals for Case (9-6, 4-5 in SCC).

The Cardinals had a 29-21 lead at halftime and held Diman to just nine second half points.

Case's Cayden Gonsalves and West Bridgewater's Benjamin Stapleton during a non-league contest at Joseph Case High School on Jan. 17, 2024.
Case's Cayden Gonsalves and West Bridgewater's Benjamin Stapleton during a non-league contest at Joseph Case High School on Jan. 17, 2024.

Atlantis Charter 68, Old Colony 63

DJ Adediran poured in a team-high 19 points to help the Tritons beat Old Colony at home. Mickey Pimentel chipped in with 18 points and Kody Caton finished in double figures with 12. Other scorers for Atlantis Charter (8-7) include Marv Antoine (six), Nate Benivedes (six), Izzy Ponte (three), Dbouby Antoine (two) and Genald George (two).

Girls Basketball

Westport 58, Bishop Stang 17

Skylar Rezendes scored a game-high 14 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, four assists and three steals in the Wildcats' win over Bishop Stang. Korynne Holden had 13 points, eight steals, five assists and two rebounds. Sarah Perry chipped in 11 points, 12 rebounds, nine blocks, three assists and three steals. Julia George finished with 11 points, nine assists and five steals. Molly Costa (five) and Meghan Molloy (four) also hit the score sheet for Westport (12-1).

Somerset Berkley 63, New Bedford 54

Mia Gentile netted a team-high 21 points to help lead the Raiders over non-league opponent New Bedford. Makenzie Pires added 18 points and Karlie Cosme finished with a double, double — 16 points and 16 rebounds for SBR (9-7; 6-3 in SCC).

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

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: A look at scores and results from Greater Fall River high schools