Introducing the 17 girls basketball players nominated for the 2024 Dave Cowens Award
Seventeen female athletes have been nominated for the prestigious Dave Cowens Achievement Award, which is presented each year to the top senior male and female high school basketball players in the area.
The annual ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 15 at GNB Voc-Tech.
Here’s a look at the 17 female nominees:
Ava Dixon, Apponequet
A four-year varsity player and senior captain, Dixon was known for always putting her team first. She was a part of three postseason trips on a team that won back-to-back South Coast Conference championships and reached the Sweet 16. In the classroom, Dixon has a GPA of 3.5. She is a dedicated and passionate individual who consistently strives for excellence in all her endeavors. Her involvement in student government and council has been exemplary, demonstrating her strong leadership skills and commitment to making positive changes within Apponequet’s campus community. Dixon’s volunteer work at the Dartmouth Animal Shelter showcases her compassionate nature and desire to make a difference in the lives of those around her. In the fall, she will be attending Bridgewater State University.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Introducing the 18 players nominated for the 2024 Dave Cowens Award
Kristyn Mello, Bishop Stang
In one season with Bishop Stang, Mello left her mark with great sportsmanship, showcasing exceptional hard work and leadership abilities. Mello’s passion for basketball radiated through her every move, inspiring her teammates to push themselves to new heights. Her impact both on and off the court was undeniable, making her a deserving candidate for this nomination.
Elena Timo, Bourne
Timo was a five-year program player and three-year varsity player starting consistently her junior and senior years. As a senior captain, she was named to the South Coast Conference All-Star team and was awarded the SCC Sportsmanship Award. Timo led her team to three playoff appearances and helped them win the SCC Gold Division twice. She has always led with a team-first attitude which allowed her team to adjust to whatever style was needed. As a senior on a young team, she would do whatever was necessary to become a positive example to lead them. Her leadership and experience will be sorely missed. Off the basketball court, Timo was a four-year varsity player and captain for Bourne’s volleyball team, where she was named to the SCC and Boston Herald all-star teams. She carries a 4.2 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Student Council, Yearbook and Environmental clubs. Next year she will be attending Wheaton College and will play volleyball there.
Amanda Beatrice, Bristol Plymouth
A three-year member of the program, Beatrice’s impact went beyond her numbers. As a senior captain, she took on the role with pride and did not disappoint, being a floor general and a leader, role model, and go-to player off the court for her teammates and first-year head coach. She adapted to a new system with ease and embraced the culture change that the program underwent this year. Beatrice is an active member of the community, in particular volunteering for the Special Olympics. She holds a 3.98 GPA, ranking in the top 20 in her graduating class, and desires to be a coach in the future. Beatrice will be heading to Bridgewater State University next year to study education.
Hailey Martins, Dartmouth
As a two-year starter and senior captain, Martins earned Southeast Conference All-Star honorable mention her senior year as she helped her team to a 17-3 regular season record and No. 4 seed in Div. 2. As the lone senior, she was an excellent team captain, leading by example and being a role model to the younger players. Martins accepted the role of an excellent defender and rebounder, averaging about 6 rebounds a game over the last two seasons. The standout soccer player also holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society as well as recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship.
Elizabeth Kinnane, Diman
Kinnane excelled on and off the athletic fields and court at Diman. She is ranked third in her class, achieving High Honors in all of her four years. A member of the Advanced Manufacturing shop, she was voted the winner of the prestigious Massachusetts Outstanding Vocational Student of the year. Kinnane volunteers her time in numerous school events in her role as president of the student government. She also engages with the community volunteering for the Fall River Health outreach. In her main sport of soccer, Kinnane was a three-time MVP, All-Star, and captain. On the hardwood, she was a utility knife using her skills and smarts to play all five positions on the court. Kinnane contributed on both ends of the court facilitating the offense and playing outstanding defense. She averaged 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. The two-year captain and two-time All-Star helped the basketball team win two MAC Large championships. In the fall she plans to attend Mass Maritime where she hopes to pursue a career in the Coast Guard.
Maggie O’Connell, Durfee
O’Connell was a four-year starter and two-time Southeast Conference All-Star for Durfee. As a senior captain, she was the most consistent scoring threat for the Hilltoppers this year, averaging 11 points per game, 5 rebounds per game and 2.5 steals per game. Her season high came on Senior Night against New Bedford, where she scored 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. In the classroom, O’Connell has a 4.75 GPA and ranks amongst the Top 10 in the senior class. She is the recipient of the Harvard Book Award and is a member of the National Honor Society, where she serves as the Treasurer. O’Connell is also very active in the school community where she is a founding member of the school’s Kyle Cares Club — a national organization that supports mental health. She is also a member of the Ski Club, the Sixth Man Club, the History Abroad Club, the Portuguese Immersion Program, as well as the newly founded Pickleball Club. At Durfee, O’Connell serves as the President of the Athletic Advisory Committee and is the schools representative as an MIAA Student Ambassador. In addition, she volunteers on Saturday mornings each season assisting with the school systems elementary and middle school athletic programs. Outside of school, she has volunteered at a local soup kitchen, sings in her church choir and teaches tennis to kids in the summer on Martha's Vineyard. In addition to basketball O’Connell has run spring track for two seasons, where she was undefeated in the mile and two-mile and was an SEC All-Star. She has also been a two-year member of the tennis team, where she serves as captain and was named an SEC All-Star. Last, but certainly not least, Maggie was a five-year member of the cross country team, where she served as team captain. She was an SEC All-Star all five years, team MVP for four years, a two-time SEC All-Star and was named Herald News Runner of the Year. She will run Division I cross country at Seton Hall University.
Casalice Dias, GNB Voc-Tech
Throughout her senior year, Dias, a team captain, consistently exhibited remarkable leadership qualities, always serving as an example of excellence for her teammates. In 20 games, she showcased her versatility and skill by always doing the challenging parts of the game to help her teammates and the entire program be successful. It is because of her strong work ethic, commitment to being her best, reliability, and discipline that allowed Dias to tally an impressive 92 rebounds and 48 steals on the season. Her contributions were not merely statistical; they were the embodiment of hard work, determination, and dedication to her craft. As a participant in our school's co-op program, she has seamlessly balanced her athletic pursuits with her academic responsibilities and career goals. Her employment at Armatherm Inc. through this program underscores her work ethic and ability to excel in diverse environments.
Liberty Gazaille, Joseph Case
A five-year member of Case’s basketball program and a four-year varsity player, Gazaille had an impressive career while maintaining a 3.58 GPA and being ranked 33rd in her class. She ended her senior season as the fourth leading scorer in the South Coast Conference with 14.4 points per game, fifth in assists with 2.5 per game, fourth in steals with 3.8 per game and seventh in rebounds with 6.5 per game. She finished her career with 804 points, which ranks sixth all-time in girls basketball history at Case. She also helped run the Cardinal Basketball Clinics each summer, organizing summer league teams, and being an active member of the National Honor Society all while working part time in the restaurant industry. The two-year captain is a four-time SCC All-Star. She plans to study kinesiology in college but is undecided on which school.
Amanda Cardin, Middleboro
Cardin was a leader on and off the court as a senior captain. Her determination and willingness to do anything to help the team succeed was both inspiring and exciting to watch. She averaged 1.3 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game during her senior season but her leadership was a key to the Sachem’s success this season. Cardin was also a four-year member of the girls soccer team. In the spring, she is a member of the Unified Track and Field team. Along with excelling in multiple sports, she also excels in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society for the past two years along with RHO Kappa Honors Society and World Language Honors Society. She is a proud member of MHS Student Council and has been a member for the last four years. Cardin hasn't yet committed but is planning on attending the University of Connecticut to study pharmacy.
Lexi Thompson, New Bedford
Whether it be her ability to get to the rim and score, create turnovers with her tenacious defense, or watch her set up her teammates for easy baskets, Thompson did it with confidence and ease. She was truly one of the most competitive girls to put on the Whaler red and white in quite some time. As a four-year starter and two-year captain, Thompson was an integral part of New Bedford’s success during her career, helping the Whalers to 35 wins, including New Bedford’s first playoff win in 12 years. As a senior, Thompson took over the reins as the team’s leader and she delivered with a team-high 334 points, 79 steals, 93 assists and 135 rebounds despite missing two games with an injury. These stats led her to finish amongst the top five of every major statistical category in a very competitive Southeast Conference. She finished her high school career with 805 points, 203 steals, 250 assists and 408 rebounds, placing her first in each category for New Bedford since 2014. The SEC All-Star was named the MVP of last year’s Rick Jalbert All-Star game at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club. Thompson also excelled academically. As a member of the Academy of Honors Program, she has maintained a 3.3 GPA and currently ranks 45th in a class of over 600 students. She is also a member of the girls lacrosse team and has volunteered her time with Unified basketball and served as a youth coach during the Future of New Bedford Basketball program.
Izzy Hougasian, Old Colony
Hougasian helped Old Colony win back-to-back league championships during her sophomore and junior years. During her two-year playing career, she scored 448 points (11.5 PPG) and 39 3-pointers. She also had 94 assists, 331 rebounds and 90 steals. Hougasian had her freshman year canceled because of COVID and lost her senior season due to injury when she went down on the first play of the first game. At that point, she took her role as captain to a different level. She continued to show up every day and lead her team. The team was always put first during her time at Old Colony. Hougasian is a two-time MAC All-Star and Standard-Times All-Star. She was also awarded the teams’ MIAA Sportsmanship Award during her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Hougasian is a member of the National Honor Society. She is the Shop Rep in her Health Careers Shop. She has received highest honors all four years of high school. She was a recipient of the Abigail Adams Scholarship and is currently ranked No. 10 in her class. Hougasian is planning on attending UMass Dartmouth for nursing in the fall.
Amber Engel, Old Rochester
A three-sport athlete and four-year varsity basketball player, Engel served as a tri-captain her senior year in which she averaged 8.4 points per game. She finished her career with 342 points. She is truly a student-athlete as she is a National Honor Society member and has maintained a 4.1 GPA while playing a sport in each of the three athletic seasons. Her development and improvement over her four-year basketball career fueled ORR’s growth as a team and helped the Bulldogs get back into the state tournament this season. Over the past few years, she has volunteered at Pearle Vision in Dartmouth with the goal of becoming an optometrist. Engel has aspirations to attend a four-year college and then obtain a graduate degree to help her pursue a career as an optometrist or veterinarian.
Mia Gentile, Somerset Berkley
Ranked 18th in her class with a GPA of 4.4, Gentile is the epitome of a scholar athlete. On the court, she has amassed 754 points in three years of varsity basketball and in her senior season, she scored 359 points (18 PPG) with 61 3-pointers and 68 steals. She is a two-time South Coast Conference All-Star. She also played soccer and ran track all four years at Somerset Berkley. Gentile is a member of various clubs and activities, including National Honor Society Vice President, Class Secretary all four years. She is an MIAA Student Ambassador and member of the Anti-Bullying Coalition (The ABC), Raiders Reaching Out, Big Buddy, Peer Leadership/Girl Up groups. She has also worked at the Ice Cream Barn, Somerset Recreation Department Camp Counselor, Counselor/Coach Take Charge Basketball Camp, and this past season was a Coach for the boys in the Somerset Recreation Basketball League. She will be attending Endicott College to continue her basketball career.
Cali Melo, Taunton
Melo’s accomplishments both on and off the court are truly remarkable. She was a four-year varsity player and three-year starting point guard. As a three-time Hockomock League All-Star in basketball, she has consistently showcased her exceptional talent and skill. She averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals per game over her junior and senior campaigns. This remarkable achievement demonstrates her exceptional skill, versatility, and dedication to her team's success. She’s a two-year captain for both basketball and lacrosse. Moreover, her prowess extends beyond basketball, as she has earned three-time All-Star titles in lacrosse for the Hockomock League. Melo also was a three-year starter on Taunton’s soccer team. In the classroom, she has a 5.03 GPA and membership in the National Honor Society. She is ranked fifth out of 550 seniors. Melo volunteers her time in basketball clinics, sharing her passion and expertise with younger athletes and giving back to the sport she loves. Next year she will play basketball and lacrosse at Nichols College while majoring in finance and accounting.
Keira Pierre, Wareham
Pierre played a major role in Wareham’s turnover by averaging 7 points her senior year. Not only was she one of the main reasons why the Wareham girls basketball program survived the last two seasons, she helped provide a seamless transition for a new coaching staff. Her positivity, her lead-by-example attitude and humble confidence made it easy to see why others gravitate towards her. Pierre is a member of the National Honor Society, DECA, and also is a Community Youth Empowerment intern. She is also participating in the dual enrollment program at Bridgewater State University and currently holds a 4.0 GPA. Pierre is also a member of both the volleyball and tennis teams. She hopes to attend Sacred Heart University and study sports management in the fall.
Korynne Holden, Westport
Holden helped lead the Wildcats to a 19-1 regular season and No. 5 seed in the playoffs her senior year. She surpassed 1,000 career points and ended the regular season with 1,075 points. During her senior year, she had 269 points, 83 rebounds, 102 assists and 119 steals. She is a three-time Mayflower Athletic Conference All-Star, the MVP of the Mayflower Conference her senior year and has been named a Boston Globe D5 Player to watch. Holden was awarded the Coach’s Award her sophomore and junior years, and MVP of the Wildcats her senior year. Equally impressive are her athletic accomplishments as a soccer player. The two-year captain was the Mayflower MVP and a Boston Herald All Scholastic. Holden maintains a 4.5 GPA and is ranked fifth in her graduating class. She was awarded the Clarkson University High School Achievement Award and is a member of the International Exchange Club and the Medical Club. Off the court, she has organized and volunteered at clinics for younger basketball players and was a coach of the Start Em Young Program for third and fourth graders. After high school, she is looking to pursue an education in biology or animal science.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2024 Dave Cowens Award nominees for Girls Basketball
