Top Five High School Athletes from the first week of 2024
The new year marks an unofficial second beginning for the winter sports season. Everyone is in the swing. Holiday breaks and tournaments are over. It's time for league play and jockeying for power rankings position.
But who were the best of the first week of 2024? Here's our Fantastic Five (plus a few):
ELENA DAVIES, Hopkinton girls basketball
The senior captain carried the Hillers with 18 points, seven rebounds and four steals in a 44-28 win over Holliston on Wednesday. Hopkinton (4-2, 2-2 TVL) has won its past three games.
PRANIKA KATTA/CAITLYNREITSMA/SOPHIE ROBINSON, Westborough girls swimming
The Rangers three event winners kept them undefeated Wednesday. Robinson won the 100 free, Caitlyn Reitsma captured the 50 free and Pranika Katta touched first in the 500 free for Westborough (4-0, 2-0).
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JAZMIN HANCOCK/GABBY DERGHAM, Tri-County girls basketball
The Cougars’ dynamic duo did it all in a 30-27 victory over Cape Cod Tech on Thursday. Hancock, a sophomore, led Tri-County (5-2) with 19 points. Dergham (senior) locked down the defensive end with 11 rebounds and seven steals.
ZAK ROBINSON, Holliston wrestling
The Panthers’ senior made a statement taking out defending South champion and state placer Matt Garcia 13-1 in their 138-pound bout Wednesday. Holliston 8-1 (2-1 TVL) won the match 61-13.
JEFF TAVARES, Natick hockey
The Redhawks senior netminder did everything he could with 33 saves in a 4-2 loss against perennial power BC High on Wednesday. Natick trialed 3-0 before Lou Zadra and Alex Peck scored to narrow the gap.
OTHER SCORES:
Boys basketball
MEDWAY 53, Bellingham 41: Senior Brendan McNamara paced the Mustangs with 12 points to help keep them unbeaten in TVL play (4-2, 4-0). Jack Gould also scored nine for Medway on Thursday.
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ASSABET 60, Main South 41: Arron Pridgeon had 12 points, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 rebounds as the host Aztecs (1-4, 1-0 Colonial) topped the Cougars (1-4, 1-2) on Wednesday. Assabet's Alexander Katsiaounis scored 15 points, and teammate Tucker Patrick netted 12 off the bench.
BLUE HILLS 78, Keefe Tech 50: Logan Greenlaw netted 14 points and Eidan Toppa 12 for the Broncos (4-1) in a road loss.
HUDSON 53, Bay Path 39: Jake Attaway scored 16 points, and Jackson O'Brien netted 12 of his 16 in the second half to help the visiting Hawks (4-4) edge the Minutemen (1-4) on Wednesday. Garrett Giorgio chipped in 10 points for Hudson. Greg Downie led Bay Path with 16 points.
LINCOLN-SUDBURY, Lowell Catholic 57: Ryan Dooley led the Warriors (6-1) with 18 points in their third straight win on Wednesday.
NIPMUC 59, Douglas 49: Logan DeMarzo had 20 points, while Brayden Kelly added 17 as the visiting Warriors (5-1, 1-0 Dual Valley Conference) defeated the Tigers (2-4, 0-1) to give Nipmuc coach Jason Gosselin bragging rights in the first meeting against his brother, Douglas coach Chad Gosselin, on Wednesday. Adam Dunphy (15 points), Isaac Gosselin (12) and Colton Howard (11) led the Tigers.
SUTTON 50, Hopedale 46: Cam Benedict scored 16 points, Brennan Benedict netted 14 and Charles Marchand 10 as the visiting Sammies (3-3) edged the Blue Raiders (3-3) in overtime on Wednesday. Hopedale's Patrick Madden and Robbie Manning each scored 14 points.
HOPKINTON 81, Holliston 47: Aidan Daly poured in 28 points for the Panthers on Tuesday.
DEDHAM 58, Dover-Sherborn 43: Theo Allan scored eight points for the Raiders (4-2, 2-2) on Tuesday.
NATICK 67, Wachusett 37: The Redhawks (3-1) buried three 3-pointers during a game-opening 13-0 run in a romp over the Mountaineers (1-5) in Holden on Tuesday. Wachusett's Dillon Harper drained three treys for nine points, while teammates Miles Paredes (6) and Tommy Rovezzi (5) each established scoring career highs.
NORTON 55, Millis 53: Freshman Jack Carter contributed 17 points and eight rebounds in a loss Tuesday. The Lancers ended a two-game winning streak for Millis (3-3, 1-3 TVL).
WESTBOROUGH 78, Algonquin 70: Nicholas Bellofatto poured in 26 points, and Justin McCafferty scored 22 to pace the host Rangers (5-1) on Tuesday. Alec Desrosiers added 13 points for Westborough. Thomas Boudreau netted 25 points for the Titans (2-5), and teammate Patrick Biamou chipped in 13.
Girls basketball
BLACKSTONE VALLEY TECH 50, Abby Kelley Foster 14: Skyla Jack had 15 points and four steals, Mara Keane added 8 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, and Pyper Bourre chipped in 4 points, 3 assists and 3 steals as the host Beavers cruised past the Bears on Wednesday.
MAYNARD 47, Advanced Math and Science 41: Riley Whittier scored a game-high 17 points, and Jill Benoit added 10, but the host Eagles (4-2) fell to the Tigers (4-2) on Wednesday. Neviah Duplessis and Nina Chiodo each netted nine points for Maynard.
MEDWAY 40, Bellingham 21: Junior Vicky Bullard scored 12 points to help the Mustangs (5-1, 3-1 TVL) win their second game in a row Wednesday. Sophomore Anna Freeman contributed 10 points.
NIPMUC 42, Douglas 24: Sophomore Molly Dishington’s 15 points paced the Warriors in their DVL opener Wednesday. Senior Meg McCobb nearly notched a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds for Nipmuc (2-2, 1-0 DVL).
SUTTON 41, Hopedale 29: Ava Carroll had 19 points and 11 rebounds to power the host Suzies (6-0, 1-0 Dual Valley) past the Blue Raiders (1-5, 0-1). Phoebe Carroll netted 11 points for Hopedale.
ALGONQUIN 56, Westborough 41: Sophie Hjerpe collected 14 points and 10 rebounds as the host Titans (4-3) defeated the Rangers (2-4) on Tuesday. Teammate Ashley Dameri had 15 points, Brooke Adams netted 12 points, and Lily Morse added 11. Annabelle Semeter (15 points) and Kate Sims (11) paced Westborough.
DOVER-SHERBORN 53, Dedham 25: Erica Hills posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds Tuesday. Seniors Avery O’Connell (12) and Drew Hussar (11) also scored in double figures for the Raiders (5-1, 3-1 TVL) in their fourth straight win.
MARLBOROUGH 49, Nashoba 46: Meghan Deneen kept the Panthers undefeated (6-0) with 23 points on Tuesday in a win over the host Wolves (3-4). Teammate Isabella Miele chipped in 16.
NORTON 55 Millis 48: Lindsey Gattan poured in 20 points for Millis (5-2, 2-2 TVL) on Tuesday. Ella Maher added 14.
SOUTH 66, Franklin 36: Niama Bleau had 15 of her team-high 17 points in the first half as the visiting Colonels (6-1) surged to a 44-17 halftime lead en route to a win over the Panthers on Tuesday. Lydia Charlonne added 14 points and sank four of the team's 10 3-pointers, while teammate Jaiyla Colon also scored 14.
Boys ice hockey
ALGONQUIN 4, Auburn 3: Andrew Dunleavy scored at 1:49 of the third period to send the visiting Titans (3-3-1, 1-0-1 Quinn) past the Rockets (5-2, 3-1) at Horgan Rink on Wednesday. Johnny Meschisen, Ben Yosca and Luke Palma also scored for Algonquin, while Nicholas Robbins made 11 saves. Auburn's Aidan Caron scored twice, Nathan Dono had two assists, and Austin Dono also scored, while Ethan LaPlante made 20 stops.
HOPKINTON 4, Medfield 2: Sophomore James Hayward notched a goal and an assist for the Hillers (5-1-1, 3-0-1 TVL) on Wednesday.
HUDSON 6, Assabet 0: Jordan Sousa and Christian Stevens each scored twice, Owen Nanartowich had three assists, and Tim O'Malley added a goal and assist as the host Hawks (4-3, 4-1 Russell) topped the Aztecs (1-5-1, 1-4) at the New England Sports Center on Wednesday.
MARLBOROUGH 2, Hopedale/Milford 1: Oliver Harris scored both goals for the visiting Panthers (4-3) on Wednesday, while Roman Belli stopped 24 shots in the win in the win over the Blue Raiders (2-4-1) at Blackstone Valley IcePlex. C.J. Kivlehan scored in the third period for Hopedale/Milford.
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NASHOBA 4, Westborough 0: Charlie Mattocks made 29 saves to earn the shutout, while Brennan Kellerher, Matt Matranga, Nate Carter (assist) and Dillon Kelleher scored to send the Wolves past the Rangers at NorthStar Ice Sports on Wednesday.
Girls ice hockey
NEEDHAM 5, Wayland/Weston 0: Tilly Miles put forth a valiant effort in net for Wayland/Weston (1-3, 0-2) on Wednesday.
Boys swimming & diving
ALGONQUIN 90, Tyngsborough-Groton-Dunstable 42: Titans senior co-captain Branden Yan led the way winning the 200 free and 100 free Thursday. Axel Soderquist (50 free, 100 back) and Simon Linden (200 IM and 100 fly) also won both of their events. The Titans (5-0) placed first in all three relays.
WESTBOROUGH 112, Shrewsbury 57: Ari Jain captured the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly to even the Rangers record at 2-2 while keeping them unbeaten in the Mid-Wach (2-0) in a win at Holy Cross on Wednesday. Cole Crandall (200 IM), Finn Walker (50 free), Ben Honan (500 free) and Sam Franco (100 breaststroke) each claimed event wins for Westborough.
ADVANCED MATH AND SCIENCE 92, Tyngsborough/Groton-Dunstable 47: Victories from Alexander Bruno (200 individual medley), Casey Matijevic (50 freestyle), Landon Levins (100 butterfly) and Jagger Sanford (100 backstroke) paced the visiting Eagles (4-1) at Greater Lowell Regional on Tuesday. Joey Mullek won the 100 and 200 freestyles for the Tigers (0-4).
Girls swimming & diving
ALGONQUIN 93, TGD 55: Freshman Elizabeth Walsh led three Titans with multiple individual event wins with victories in the 200 free and 100 back Thursday. Sophomore Mina Chung took first in the 200 IM and 100 fly, while sophomore Katelyn Huynh touched first in the 100 free and 100 breast. Algonquin (3-2) was victorious in all three relays.
WESTBOROUGH 90, Shrewsbury 88: Shrewsbury's Maria Korneva won the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke to lead the Colonials (3-1, 3-1 Mid-Wach), but the Rangers (4-0, 2-0) earned a close win at Holy Cross on Wednesday in a battle of unbeaten teams.
ADVANCED MATH AND SCIENCE 83, Tyngsborough 48: Taryn Falla (200 individual medley, 100 freestyle) and Jada Guo (100 free, 100 backstroke) each won twice to lift the visiting Eagles (1-4) at Greater Lowell Regional on Tuesday. Isabel Albright prevailed in the 200 and 500 freestyles for the Tigers (0-4).
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Top five MetroWest high school athletes from the first week of 2024
