If Week 1 is any indication, Holliston Panthers basketball is not for the faint of heart. Forget your morning coffee—these kids delivered enough last-second drama to keep any parent’s blood pressure elevated through the holidays. Anna Marie stole the ball and scored with seconds left to seal a 21–20 thriller for the 5th Grade Girls (White). Tommy Baker drained a buzzer-beating three to cap a 42–20 rout for the 5th Grade Boys (Black)—and in the cruelest twist of the weekend, the 6th Grade Boys (Red) watched a half-court heave fall just short in a 33–31 heartbreaker. Six wins, a handful of heartbreaks, and enough hustle plays to fill a highlight reel—welcome to MetroWest basketball, Holliston style.
GIRLS
4th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Marien
The Holliston 4th Grade Girls tipped off their MetroWest season with a hard-fought game against a tough Westwood squad, ultimately falling 26–9 after holding an early lead. The team showed lots of promise for the months ahead. The girls battled on both ends of the floor in their first outing together, hustling for loose balls and never backing down from Westwood’s tough defense.
Offensively, Holliston was led by Liliana Brown (4 points) and Cassidy Cicciarella (4 points), while Iris Smith added a point from the free throw line. Smith also helped control the glass with 5 rebounds, while Cicciarella chipped in 4 boards and an assist.
On the defensive end, the Panthers showed their identity, racking up 19 team steals and 19 rebounds. Lyla Wisner pulled down a team-high 6 rebounds, added 4 steals, and a blocked shot. Brown and Cicciarella each added 2 and 4 steals respectively, while Kailey Esposito (3 steals and a block), Molly Nechev (3 steals), Iris Smith (2 steals), and Riley Marien (1 steal) all turned up the pressure on Westwood’s ball handlers. Amal Hadad and Marien also moved the ball well, each recording an assist.
Despite the final score, the effort, energy, and defensive intensity were clear positives in the team’s first game. With a full game of experience now under their belts and a foundation built on hustle and defense, this 4th Grade Holliston squad is excited to get back in the gym.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Dedham
4th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: King
The Holliston 4th grade girls (Red) earned a strong win over Medfield this weekend, fueled by hard work, relentless defense, and impressive rebounding across the roster. Sloane Miller led the defensive charge with an outstanding effort and added 6 points. Ball-handling duties were shared with determination by Natalie Negri, Adriana Dello-Iacono, and Dev King (4 pts), who all pushed the pace, delivered sharp passes to set up teammates, and played stifling defense. Rose Weinberg sparked the Panthers early with tough defense and 2 points, and Avery Jacquet continued to show how effective triple-threat positioning can be with several strong offensive moments. Maya Bernstein showcased her athleticism on both ends of the court, and Evelyn Dellicker battled for key jump balls. In the post, Hannah Kane, Celina Lahiani, and Kate Robertson were fierce competitors, showing emerging strength as rebounders. The team is excited to keep growing and building chemistry. Next up: a bright-and-early trip to the Dana Barros Center in Stoughton to face Canton next Sunday. Good luck to all Holliston teams this week!
5th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Ennis
The Holliston 5th Grade Girls (White) team embarked on their inaugural game this past Sunday, traveling to take on the Weston team.
The Panthers took an early lead, securing a 3–0 advantage after the first quarter. Harper Sochanek contributed significantly with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Brighton Swenson added 3 points and 6 rebounds.
In the second quarter, the Holliston team demonstrated their improved play, extending their lead to an impressive 11–6 halftime margin. Their outstanding defense limited Weston to single possessions, while their rebounding effort was equally impressive. Lily Ennis grabbed 9 rebounds and provided an assist, while Alania Chaufty scored 4 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Sarah Cullen pulled down 3 rebounds and Charlotte Donohue had 2 rebounds.
The Holliston team’s defense had made significant strides since their preseason games.
The third quarter began with Weston intensifying their offensive game. Despite the Weston team’s surge, the Holliston ladies weathered the storm, trading baskets. As the fourth quarter approached, Weston held a 1-point lead with under a minute left. Anna Marie responded with a remarkable performance—stealing the ball and going in for a game-leading basket with only a few seconds left—scoring 8 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.
The Holliston team’s defense held strong, forcing Weston to make a final defensive stop to secure the victory, 21–20.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Dover-Sherborn
5th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The season home opener for the 5th Grade Girls (Red) team did not disappoint in front of a raucous crowd at the famed Adams Gymnasium. Despite playing with only 6 players, Holliston won the home opener 20–16 over Medway. Jaxlynn Mix, Mia Fosberg, and Alice Dalbec all made their MetroWest basketball debuts, contributing on all ends of the court. Mix deposited her first career basket at the 5:22 mark in the 3rd quarter on a layup from a Catherine Levasseur pass. Fosberg and Dalbec had a combined 7 steals and were stubborn defenders to the Medway offense all day. It was a tight game entering the 4th quarter with Holliston up 16–14, but Catherine Levasseur and Regan Taylor each notched a 4th quarter bucket to seal the game. Levasseur led all scorers with 14 points while Taylor added 4 points and 6 rebounds. Madeline Cooper paced the offense on the day with 5 assists and received a Tommy Point after diving for multiple loose balls and ending the game with a wicked floor burn.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Walpole
6th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Wing
Even though the first career MetroWest basketball game for this year’s 6th Grade Girls (White) travel team resulted in a frustrating loss, all the girls played hard and strong. Despite only having 2 substitutes and fighting exhaustion, the team never gave up.
Lady luck seemed to be in favor of Dover-Sherborn as their shots were falling and Holliston, despite having many beautiful attempts, struggled to lock down successful baskets. However, most of the girls were able to put 2–4 points on the board.
Julia O’Shaughnessy shined in the first quarter as she muscled her way into the paint and put in a sweet 2-pointer. Two of Olivia Wing’s perfect screens led to Olivia Darling sinking 2 awesome jump shots. Olivia Wing also had a successful “nothing but net” basket and added an additional point to the score with one of her foul shots.
Willa Drummey played aggressive defense, often beating offenders to the hoop, and made 2 impressive, contested shots. Izzy Bartels, despite not feeling 100%, played determined and smart basketball throughout the game. She was also able to get a shot up that put another 2 points on the board.
Nora Corcoran did well under the hoop, grabbing rebounds and blocking shots. Offensively, she attempted numerous shots that just would not fall. However, one of her shots resulted in a foul and she sunk 1 of her foul shots. Maddie Joe Charette, even though new to travel basketball this year, progressively improved her rebounding throughout the game and stayed positive the entire game.
The game didn’t end in Holliston’s favor, but we now know what we need to work on as a team and will be sure to bring it full force next game.
Next Game: Sunday at Needham (away)
6th Grade Girls (Team King)
Coach: King
The Holliston 6th Grade Girls Travel Team (Team King) earned a gritty, hard-fought win (27–20) over a tough and athletic Somerville squad, overcoming difficult defensive matchups and a significant height disadvantage. The Panthers showed impressive defensive intensity and composure throughout the fast-paced, physical battle. Winnie McHugh, Josie Brower, and Millie Guellnitz deserve major credit for their tough interior defense against Somerville’s strong post presence. Josie Brower led the way offensively with 9 points—including a clutch three-pointer that shifted momentum—while also pulling down key rebounds. Katelyn Klein contributed 3 points, attacked the hoop fearlessly to draw fouls, got some big boards, and displayed excellent all-around play, later sealing the game with poised ball-handling under pressure. Katelyn’s value in the game wasn’t just shown in a stats line but also in her strong, confident, and fearless presence. Olive Bennett added 5 points and demonstrated outstanding composure, while Lennon King chipped in 4 points, delivering standout on-ball defense, moving the ball offensively, and securing big rebounds. Brooke McGrath provided smart help defense, knocked down a crucial shot late to help lock in the victory, and grabbed a few weak-side rebounds despite a size disadvantage. Richa Yedugani brought physicality and hustle, diving for loose balls and providing steady defensive support. Millie Guellnitz added 2 points and consistently disrupted Somerville’s offense with strong on-ball pressure, timely help defense, and momentum-shifting rebounds. It was a solid team win with plenty of positives and still more to build on.
Next Game: Saturday at home vs. Millis
7th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The Holliston 7th Grade Girls (Red) took the court this weekend against Foxboro to open the season. Foxboro started the game hot and never looked back, beating the Panthers 39–24. Holliston had many bright spots which included 7 different scorers. The balanced offensive attack was led by Ellie Brown and Emma Whitehead calling the offense and each notching a basket. Rebecca Lindros played the strongest game of her young career, leading the game in scoring with 6 points and 9 rebounds. Lindros will be a player to watch this season. Ailla Howden chipped in 5 points and 4 rebounds, and Aarya Sharma added 4 points of her own to go along with 5 rebounds. Molly Starr had her signature steal and score in the 3rd quarter, and Emma Sochanek swished a 10-foot jump shot with 2 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. Ruby Smith, Charley Marcuard, and Brooke Sawicki were each very active on the defensive end, combining for 8 steals.
Next Game: Dover-Sherborn (away)
8th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: McAdams
The Holliston 8th grade girls (Red) gave fans a thrilling show Sunday morning, battling Arlington down to the final buzzer before falling 32–30 in a heart-stopping contest.
The star of the game was Ella Bennett, who lit up the scoreboard with 18 points and showed her defensive spark with 6 steals. Bennett’s hustle kept the Panthers within striking distance all game long, and her fast breaks had the crowd on their feet.
Addy McAdams was a force on the boards, pulling down 7 rebounds to go with 4 points and 2 assists. Her gritty play in the paint helped Holliston stay competitive against Arlington’s taller lineup.
Gwen Miranda matched that energy, grabbing 8 rebounds and adding 4 points, proving that the Panthers’ frontcourt can battle with the best. Mia Malvey battled all game, leading the team with 8 steals and numerous defensive stops. Louisa Bigelow chipped in with 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, showing her versatility and teamwork in key moments.
Despite the Panthers’ effort, Arlington managed to edge ahead in the final minutes. Holliston had a chance to tie it up, but Arlington dribbled the clock out, leaving the scoreboard frozen at 32–30.
Next Game: This weekend at Milford (away)
BOYS
4th Grade Boys
Coach: Lohan
The Holliston 4th grade boys team opened their regular season in impressive fashion n Sunday, earning a hard-fought 34–30 road win over Southborough. Holliston showcased a balanced offensive effort, with six different players finding the scoring column and the team’s trademark defense setting the tone from start to finish.
Josh Lawendi led Holliston with a standout performance, scoring 13 points. His three three-pointers in the second quarter ignited the Panthers’ offense and helped build a 10-point halftime lead. While Southborough battled back in the second half, Holliston’s composure and defensive intensity ensured the Panthers never surrendered the advantage.
Jake Wagner and Patrick Donahue were instrumental on the defensive end, applying consistent pressure and disrupting Southborough’s rhythm throughout the game. Their efforts anchored a Holliston defense that made key stops in critical moments.
Late in the fourth quarter, Liam Schwartz delivered a big basket to steady Holliston as Southborough made one final push. Declan Lohan added 8 points—going 4 for 6 from the free-throw line—and knocked down a clutch free throw with 30 seconds remaining to extend the lead to two possessions.
It was a strong team win to kick off the season, marked by unselfish play, steady defense, and timely scoring.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Brookline
4th Team Boys (Red)
Coach: Javier
It was a tough start to the season for the 4th grade boys team, losing to Southboro-Black 36-20. After a tight defensive half that saw Team Javier (Red) down 16-11, the home Team Southboro black pulled away in the second half with an array of tough shots and fast-break layups. The offense was paced by the twin point guard tandem of Declan (5pts) and Ronan Brannigan (7pts). After hitting a game winning shot in the Tournament game against Hopedale, Caleb Javier was held scoreless but led the team with 8 rebounds. Special note to the defensive hustle of Cristian Robinson and Harrison Howden who spearheaded the defensive pressure at the end of the game. Team Javier (Red) will look to bounce back as they host Hopkinton (Kessel) at Adams Middle School on Saturday, December 14th.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Hopkinton
5th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Peterson
The Holliston 5th grade boys (White) opened their regular season at home against the first of four Hopkinton opponents they’ll face this year, falling to the Levine team, 15–55. The Panthers stayed within striking distance for much of the first half, but Hopkinton continued to convert a frustrating number of difficult shots, steadily extending their lead as the game went on. Despite the final score, Holliston showed several promising signs for the season ahead, including strong defensive stretches where every opposing player was well covered.
JT Barry (6 points), Charlie Ogoreuc (5 points), and Youssef Lahiani (4 points) played aggressively and accounted for Holliston’s scoring. Benjamin Leach and Henry Paine brought consistent hustle and solid defense throughout the game. Oskar Peterson contributed a strong effort on the boards along with a couple assists. Leo Patka worked hard to set screens and create driving lanes, while Finn Rogers, appearing in his first regular season travel game, quickly settled in and made a number of positive plays.
Next Game: Sunday, December 14 at Northboro (away)
5th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Doss
Holliston tipped off its season in impressive fashion at Adams Middle School, powering past Dedham 42–20 in a strong home opener that highlighted the team’s depth, energy, and resilience.
Tommy Baker led the way with a game-high 16 points, finishing the afternoon with a crowd-lifting three-pointer at the buzzer. Declan Langlois brought relentless intensity on both ends, scoring 12 points and attacking the rim with confidence. His sharp ball fakes repeatedly sent defenders off balance, and even after leaving the game briefly with a bloody lip, he returned ready to compete.
Aiden Doss added 6 points along with several key rebounds and smart passes that helped Holliston control the pace. In his first official basketball game, Drew Johnson made an immediate impact with 4 points, including a fast-break layup after a clean steal that drew cheers from the home crowd. Jack Kasper contributed 2 points and executed a perfectly timed give-and-go to set up one of Doss’s baskets.
Keegan Shaw played with nonstop hustle, diving on the floor, chasing loose balls, battling for rebounds, and got a nice bucket. Alex Navarro secured important boards and made a sharp inbound assist, helping Holliston maintain momentum. Robert Chung provided steady defensive minutes with strong rebounding and active hands all game long. Despite playing through an injured finger, Adam Hadad fought hard on the glass and continued to bring toughness inside.
From start to finish, Holliston controlled the tempo, shared the ball, and outworked Dedham in its season debut. With contributions from the full roster and an early glimpse of strong team chemistry, the Panthers opened their year with a commanding and promising 42–20 victory.
5th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Flannery
The Holliston 5th Grade Boys Red squad opened the 2025-26 season in triumphant fashion, earning a hard fought 33-28 victory over a determined Milton team. Trailing by 6 after the first quarter Holliston ramped up the defensive pressure to cut the deficit to only one point at Half-Time. Max Burian paced the Holliston offense with 12 points and aggressive play the entire night. Despite early foul trouble, Keegan Flannery managed to stay in the fight and chipped in 9 big points, including two 3 pointers. Cam “Ice in his Veins” Chiantera finished the game with 6 points, including 2 clutch free throws in the last 30 seconds to ice the game for Holliston. Defensive stalwarts Max Page and Reid Polack each had multiple steals to go along with 2 points each. Jayce Sweet lived up to his last name, knocking down a “Sweet” jumper to round out the scoring with 2 points. Jameson Drake provided tons of energy and rebounds the entire game. It was a wonderful team effort with everyone contributing to the win. This is a team that is rapidly improving and looks to have a bright future ahead of them. Next Sunday the squad hosts Tri-Valley League rival Hopkinton in what is sure to be a good old fashion barnburner.
6th Grade Boys
Coach: Lysk
The 6th Grade Boys basketball team started out their season this past Saturday against a challenging (and tall) Hopkinton team. Down a few players, the boys came out strong and improved as the game went on, only scoring 2 points in the first half but coming back with 10 in the second half. Matheus Mourao led the team in scoring with 5 points, including a monster three-pointer to start the team’s second half scoring run. Also contributing to the team’s score were Jake Looney, Trevor Lyskowski, Sam Wagner, and Liam O’Leary.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Milton
6th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Gum
The Holliston 6th Grade Boys (Red) team began their MetroWest League season this past Sunday in Westborough. The boys came out making some great offensive decisions. Good passes led to some good shots early on. Yamori Richardson took advantage of some wide-open early shots and scored 4 first quarter points (6 total) and the boys took a 10–6 lead after the first period. The second period saw the boys come out a little sluggish until the goggled ball of energy George Taylor came in and scored 4 quick points (6 total), got 2 steals, and 2 assists. Harrison Cirillo played tough, scoring 4 points (11 total) and pulled down 5 boards. Finally, Max Cohen showed some nifty passing in the second period, looking like a 6th grade John Stockton. Additional scoring by Andrew Lavasseur (4 points) in the 1st half had the boys enter the break tied 18–18. The third period was a lot like the second with the effort level feeding off Darian Harris. Darian kept his man in check defensively for the whole period. Ayen Hemaratne had a couple nice assists and Grady Gum (2 points) pulled down 4 rebounds and had 3 assists in the second half, which helped lead the boys to a 28–28 third quarter tie. The 4th quarter was a defensive slog. Both teams pressed and trapped the whole quarter, leading to the good guys only being able to get 3 points, led by a nice drive and layup by Tyler Crean (2 points). As the clock ran down, the boys had one final shot for the win as a missed foul shot was rebounded by Darian and advanced to half court for a final heave. Unfortunately, the shot fell short and the boys from Holliston dropped the opening game 33–31.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Medfield (away)
7th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: McDonough
Versatility, speed, and balance were the keys to victory in the team’s first league action against the Parkway School at Roxbury Latin. All 9 Panthers scored in this one, with high-energy defensive pressure creating fast breaks and patient ball movement generating open looks on offense.
After a back-and-forth first quarter gave the Panthers a 10–8 lead, Holliston turned up its defensive intensity and converted second-chance opportunities to take a 23–16 lead into halftime. After the break, a second-half surge sparked by Donovan Vail’s relentless pressure saw the Panthers outscore Parkway 16–10 on their way to a 39–26 win.
The offensive attack was paced by Ryan Baker (6 points), George Floeckher (6 points), and Donovan Vail (6 points). Ty Looney, Owen Jacquet, Declan Aldredge, and Cole Dennison added 4 points apiece, with Logan McDonough and Anderson Langlois rounding out the balanced effort.
Next Game: Saturday at home vs. Hopkinton
8th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Kanavich
The Holliston 8th Grade Boys (White) lost their regular season opener 29–50 to Blackstone on Sunday at home despite a fourth quarter rally. Leading the team in scoring were Luke Bartels (9 points), Kirill Stotski (6 points), Sam Ginnings (4 points), Brody Stanley (3 points), Logan Kanavich (3 points), Patrick Coletti (2 points), and Daniel Levens (2 points). Leading the team in rebounds was Sam Ginnings (8), followed by Patrick Coletti (4), Daniel Levens (3), Brody Stanley (2), Lincoln Daniels (2), Kirill Stotski (1), Leo DeFazio (1), Logan Kanavich (1), and Luke Bartels (1). The team’s “Savage Son/Money Maker” award was given to Sam Ginnings who made a notable impact in his debut game.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Wellesley
8th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Keller
The Holliston 8th Grade Boys (Black) team started their 2025–2026 season on the road, traveling to North Quincy High School. The team got off to a sluggish start, perhaps due in part to the very delayed start to the game, putting just 2 points on the board in the first quarter. Although Holliston fought hard to come back, the first quarter hole was too much to overcome on this long afternoon turned evening on the South Shore. All seven of Holliston’s players contributed throughout the game. Nolan Burke led the way with 9 points, Leo Wagner added 6 points, Nicholas Gorham 3 points, and Stone Secaur scored 4 points to go with his team-leading 6 rebounds.
Next Game: Sunday vs. Dover-Sherborn (away)