As Holliston basketball takes a well-earned holiday break, there’s plenty to celebrate heading into 2026. Coach McDonough’s 7th Grade Boys and Coach King’s 6th Grade Girls both enter the new year undefeated at 3-0! Coach Gum’s 6th Grade Boys picked up their first victory of the season, and Coach Flannery’s 5th Grade Boys picked up a big road win at Westwood. As for Holliston’s girls teams, Coach King’s 4th Grade Girls earned their second win and Mia Fosberg scored her first career MetroWest points for Coach Cooper’s 5th Grade team. Across 16 games this past weekend, teams showed growth, grit, and the kind of teamwork that coaches love to see. Five wins, two undefeated squads, and a lot of momentum heading into January.
GIRLS
4th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Marien
In their third game of the season, the Holliston 4th Grade Girls (White) hit the road to face a tough Seekonk team and continued to show steady progress, falling 28–16 in a game that was tight into the fourth quarter. After an early deficit, Holliston battled back to tie the game by halftime and kept things even until Seekonk put together a late run to pull away.
On offense, Lyla Wisner powered the scoring with 8 points, attacking the basket with confidence and knocking down four field goals. Laiana Girgis provided an important boost with 4 points of her own, while Iris Smith and Cassidy Cicciarella each added 2 points. For the third straight week, Holliston increased its scoring output and cut down on turnovers, a testament to the team’s growing comfort and confidence with the ball.
Wisner also stuffed the stat sheet with 4 rebounds, 6 steals, and an assist, constantly disrupting Seekonk’s guards, while Riley Marien added an assist of her own. Smith and Cicciarella each grabbed 5 rebounds to help on the glass, while Girgis, Marien, Amal Hadad, and Ava Snyder all chipped in with 3 boards. Kailey Esposito pulled down an important offensive rebound in traffic and chipped in with a steal and solid defense.
Holliston’s effort, resilience, and improving execution on both ends continue to stand out as they head into the holiday break. Their next game is in the new year, Sunday, January 4, at home against Newton.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at home vs. Newton
4th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: King
The 4th Grade Girls had a great win over Milton this past weekend, coming away with a 15–11 victory and improving to 2-1. While it wasn’t a high-scoring game, it was exciting to see the girls play with great intensity, hustle, and teamwork. Help defense was a standout, with the team aggressively pursuing rebounds and working hard on both ends of the floor. Celina Lahaini was dominant on the boards, showing impressive aggression and enthusiasm, while Hannah Kane and Rose Weinberg contributed with excellent help defense. Kate Robertson and Evelyn Dellicker continued to create jump ball opportunities, going after loose balls with determination.
Maya Bernstein had a number of standout plays on both offense and defense and demonstrated great leadership by directing her teammates to open spaces. She also added a free throw to the team’s total. Scoring was fairly balanced, with Sloane Miller contributing 5 points while playing solid defense, Dev King chipping in 4 points and playing strong defense, and both Avery Jacquet and Adriana Dello-Iacono scoring a bucket each while maintaining consistent effort on both ends.
What made this win even more special was the way the team supported one another on the court and from the bench. Teammates cheered for every hustle play and encouraged each other after every possession, showing strong camaraderie and engagement throughout the game. It was truly a team victory.
As the girls head into the holiday break, they look forward to their next game on January 4th at North Quincy. Best of luck to all teams, and happy holidays!
Next Game: Saturday, January 4th at North Quincy (away)
5th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Ennis
The fifth-grade White team traveled to Wayland on Sunday. The first half was a back-and-forth game. The White team demonstrated strong defense, making numerous steals and plenty of defensive rebounds. Leading the team in rebounds was Alaina with 14, also contributing 4 points. Brighton had 2 points and 6 rebounds.
Holliston trailed 16–10 at halftime. However, the White team quickly rallied in the third quarter. Anna Maria scored 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, including two quick steals to close the gap to 16–14, but that was as close as the ladies would come.
Wayland responded with increased defensive intensity, leading to turnovers that resulted in easy transition baskets and a run to end the quarter. Despite their hard work, determination, and effort, the girls were unable to secure a victory, ultimately losing 35–18.
The ladies will take a break and return next year to start the second half of the season with a home game against Dover-Sherborn.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at home vs. Dover-Sherborn
5th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The 5th Grade Girls Red team traveled to Canton for an early morning tip-off with once again a small roster due to injuries. Although the team lost 32–14, Lilah Rowe (2 points) and Alice Dalbec were defensive stalwarts, combining for 11 steals and creating 10 fast-break opportunities. Rowe was in on many defensive tie-ups and Dalbec used her quick feet to stay in front of defenders. The reporter witnessed multiple floor slaps from both players grunting, “I love Defense.”
Addie Cicciarella got the team on the board early in the first quarter with a soft touch bank shot. Cicciarella also added 4 assists on the day. Mia Fosberg scored her first career MetroWest points in the third quarter of action, which helped spark a Holliston 6-point run, forcing Canton into a timeout. Fosberg ended the day with 2 points, 3 steals, and 4 rebounds.
Jaxy Mix had a strong all-around game, leading the team in minutes with the short bench, and Catherine Levasseur finished with 8 points. The team will be off until after the New Year for a much-needed break for a few players to get back from injuries. The next game in 2026 is on the road vs. Needham.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at Needham (away)
6th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Wing
The 6th Grade Girls (White) travel team, unfortunately, experienced their third frustrating loss against Milford. Holliston started strong with solid defense, but the game quickly got away from our girls and we struggled to recover.
Signe Strand, Maddie Joe Charette, Izzy Bartels, Olivia Darling, Amelia Parker, Olivia Wing, Nora Corcoran, Julia O’Shaughnessy, and Willa Drummey all did their best on the floor and gave it their all. Willa Drummey played aggressive, hard defense. She hustled and got ahead of offenders to be able to set up defense that blocked shots and prevented passes.
Nora Corcoran’s height helped us under the hoop as she grabbed rebounds and blocked shots. On the offensive end, Izzy Bartels had strong communication throughout the game and was constantly moving on the floor to get open for passes.
Even though the girls have had a rough start to the season, we will continue to work hard at practice to hopefully pull out of our losing streak. Join us after the holiday break and cheer on the girls when they face Northboro at home on Sunday morning at 10:30 am.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at home vs. Northboro (10:30 AM)
6th Grade Girls (Red) – Team King
Coach: King
Great job to the girls on Sunday with a 27–10 victory over Ashland, improving to 3-0 heading into the holiday break. While the win is certainly exciting, what stands out most is the effort, teamwork, and positivity the girls bring to the court every day. They come to practice eager and excited to learn, and that enthusiasm has been contagious throughout the season.
Josie Brower led the team with 9 points, finishing several fast breaks with poise, while Winnie McHugh worked hard in the post, creating multiple offensive opportunities and grabbing numerous rebounds. Katelyn Klein added 6 points and was instrumental in pushing the pace, making some outstanding transition passes. Olive Bennett chipped in a bucket and demonstrated her defensive prowess with several key anticipation steals, and Richa Yedugani played great defense while adding two important baskets. Brooke McGrath had a solid overall game and led the charge on defense, while Lennon King ran the offense effectively, contributing two lefty layups and playing strong on-ball defense.
Looking ahead, the schedule is set to become even more competitive after the New Year, which will provide the girls with excellent opportunities for growth. Despite the long layoff, they will continue working on their game as they prepare for their next matchup against Westborough on January 4th. There is so much to be proud of—not just the wins, but the dedication, teamwork, and support they show one another on and off the court. Good luck to all teams, and Happy Holidays!
Next Game: Saturday, January 4th vs. Westborough
7th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The Holliston 7th Grade Girls Red team lost to North Attleboro in an afternoon affair at the famed Adams Gymnasium in Holliston, 37–21. The team showed grit the entire game, never backing down from a much taller North team. Ellie Brown paced the Panthers all game long with a game-high 6 points and added 4 assists. A Brown jump shot in the third quarter sparked an 8–2 run for the Panthers. Ryckie Reichheld added 4 points to go along with 6 rebounds. Brianna Cooper notched 3 points, while Emma Sochanek and Gwen Rosen also joined the scoring fun with 2 points each.
Molly Starr hit a huge 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to keep the Panthers’ hopes alive, but in the end it was North Attleboro’s day. Sam Baweja had a strong rebound and put-back that rimmed out to also keep the pressure on in the fourth quarter.
It was another well-balanced offensive attack for Holliston—for the second week in a row, 7 or more players scored in the game. Assistant Coach Sean Hanlon’s ball-sharing offense has really come to life for the Panthers. The 7th Grade team will be back at it against Hopkinton after the New Year.
Next Game: Hopkinton
BOYS
4th Grade Boys
Coach: Lyskowski
Coach Lyskowski’s team played their best game of the season against an undefeated Northboro team, losing 48–26 but finishing strong with a 12-point fourth quarter.
Point guards Jake Looney (8 points, 7 rebounds) and Jesiah Varghese (8 points, 6 rebounds) led the offense and navigated swarming full-court pressure to keep the ball moving quickly. Versatile guard Sam Wagner added 4 points and played tenacious on-ball defense. Big men Trevor Lyskowski, Landon “The Hammer” Maillet, and Jevrial Perez grabbed countless rebounds to generate second-chance opportunities on the offensive end. And Cooper Garran, Matthias Mourao, and Liam O’Leary played smart basketball and solid defense throughout.
Despite the final score, Coach Lyskowski and his team felt they had clearly turned a corner in the second half of this one, and look forward to getting back on the court after the holiday break.
Next Game: Saturday, January 4 at Ashland (away)
5th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Peterson
The Holliston Fifth Grade Boys (White) were back on their home floor Saturday afternoon, taking on Framingham in a hard-fought league contest. A slow start proved costly, however, as Framingham built a 20–6 halftime lead and went on to post a 34–20 victory despite a much-improved second half by the Panthers.
Holliston showed good jump from the opening tip, moving the ball well and spacing the floor effectively on offense. Framingham, though, made the most of its chances in the first half, converting scoring opportunities and controlling the tempo to take a commanding edge into the locker room.
The Panthers came out for the second half with renewed purpose, tightening things up defensively and applying pressure that disrupted Framingham’s rhythm. The result was a balanced final half in which the teams played evenly, a clear sign of Holliston’s progress. Leading the charge was JT Barry, who attacked the basket aggressively and poured in 11 points after intermission. Barry finished with a game-high 13 points.
Holliston received solid contributions across the board. Oskar Peterson turned in a strong all-around effort, scoring 2 points while battling on the boards and delivering steady defense. Charlie Ogoreuc added 4 points and showed toughness throughout a physical contest. Youssef Lahaini continued to show growth as a floor leader, moving the ball effectively and creating chances for teammates. Leo Patka anchored the defense with disciplined play and set timely, well-executed screens. David Girgis, appearing in his first game action, made his presence felt with hustle and attention to detail, providing a spark that went beyond the stat sheet.
Though the Panthers came up short on the scoreboard, their second-half response told the real story. By matching Framingham point for point over the final stretch, Holliston showed poise, resilience, and a growing commitment to team basketball. The Panthers will look to build on that effort when they head to Westwood for a road game on January 4th, with tip-off scheduled for 3:00 PM.
Next Game: Saturday, January 4th at Westwood (away)
5th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Doss
It was a gritty, hard-nosed battle on the home floor at Adams Middle School as Holliston hosted Easton White in a game that lived up to its defensive billing. Shots were hard to come by on both sides, and every possession mattered. In the end, Easton White edged Holliston 22–17, handing Holliston its first loss of the season and moving both teams to 2-1.
From the opening tip, this one was a grind. Although Holliston played tough defense all night, some mental mistakes and cold shooting made points tough to find. Games like this are part of the journey for every strong team, and this one provided plenty of teaching moments.
The story of the night belonged to Tommy Baker. With under two minutes remaining, Tommy showed pure heart and hustle—diving for a loose ball, sliding off the court, climbing back through a pile of chairs, and regrouping just in time to step to the line. Calm under pressure, he knocked down a late free throw to keep Holliston’s comeback hopes alive, finishing with a team-high 8 points. Aiden Doss added 7 points, providing steady offense, while Drew Johnson chipped in 2.
The rest of the roster battled through to the final buzzer, showing resilience, effort, and togetherness in a hard-fought game. Even when shots weren’t falling and momentum was hard to come by, the team stayed engaged, competed on every possession, and continued to fight for each other until the final whistle.
Holliston will take this one as a learning experience—tightening up fundamentals, improving spacing, creating better passing lanes, and emphasizing assists and boxing out. The talent is there, and this team will regroup, adjust, and move forward together.
Next Game: Sunday, January 11th at Mass Premier Courts (2:50pm)
5th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Flannery
This past Sunday the 5th Grade Boys Red squad traveled to Westwood for their first road test of the season. Like the old wrestling tag team champions (minus the mohawks, face paint, and spiked shoulder pads, thankfully), the Holliston squad proved to be “Road Warriors,” leaving the gym with a 32–21 victory stunning the home crowd. Holliston started fast and never looked back—it was a rare wire-to-wire win.
Max Page had a great start to the game with 4 first-quarter points (6 total). He brought his usual great lockdown defense and hustle. Keegan Flannery paced the offense with 12 points and several great passes to open teammates. The lethal lefty had his mid-range jumper working all day. Cole Butler Reichheld entered the scorer’s sheet for the first time this season with 4 big points. It’s a sign of things to come for this first-year player! Max Burian brought his fast-paced energy to the game, contributing 9 huge points. When Max drives to the hoop, he’s a force few can stop!
Reid Polack showed lots of guts, battling through a cold, to give the team valuable minutes off the bench. Pound for pound, Reid is the team’s most physical and aggressive defender. Jayce Sweet and Cam Chiantera (1 point) showed lots of grit battling for rebounds and helping to lock down Westwood’s wing players defensively.
This group is off to a great start to the season, sitting on a winning record (2-1) as they enter the holiday break. They’ll look to continue their momentum into 2026 when they travel to Canton the first weekend in January.
Next Game: Saturday, January 4th at Canton (away)
6th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Donahue
Holliston 6th Grade Boys (Black) “Hornets” team traveled to Milton for their first away game of the season. In a well-matched and thrilling game, the Holliston boys came out with high energy and determination. Ronan Ojha continued his consistent form this season, leading the stats with 11 points, 8 boards, and 4 steals. Emerson Vail notched 7 points, 4 boards, and 1 steal alongside many ferocious offensive drives to the basket. Henry Cuneen had a breakout performance with 6 points, 6 boards, and 3 steals. Jack Donahue’s all-around performance earned him 4 points, 6 boards, and 4 steals. Smayan Alladi scored his first basket of the season alongside great presence in the paint, pulling down 4 rebounds. Neel Lele and Clay Duffy each added another basket while Quinn Duffy’s hustle throughout the game kept it a close encounter to the end.
Despite, hands down, their best performance of the season, and giving it everything until the final whistle, the team lost this battle by 1 point with a final score of Holliston 34 to Milton 35. The team will move on, with their heads held high, to play at home in the early New Year taking on Sharon.
Next Game: At home vs. Sharon
6th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Gum
The Holliston 6th Grade Boys (Red) team opened their MetroWest League home schedule this Sunday with a resounding win over Southboro, 58–23, at a booming Robert Adams Jungle. The boys continued their unrelenting pressing and trapping from the opening tip-off and caused a first-possession turnover which led to the first points of the game by Grady Gum. From this 2–0 lead the boys from Holliston never looked back as their press defense and shot making led them to a 30–14 halftime lead. Grady Gum led all first-half scorers with all 12 of his points in the first half. Grady also finished the game leading all rebounders with 7 and dishing out 3 assists. Andrew Levasseur helped get some early rebounds, finishing with 3 for the game and a steal.
The only dark cloud on the first-half play was some early foul trouble by some key players on some questionable calls. (Please don’t fine me, MetroWest League!) The second half did not show any letdown as the boys quickly hit the 20-point differential and by rule needed to stop full-court pressing. However, exceptional half-court defense and transition offense led to Holliston continuing to increase their lead to 48–21 by the end of the third quarter. Dylan Maillet, coming off injured reserve, gave the boys an offensive spark, scoring 9 of his 13 points in the third. Ayen Hemaratne showed some nifty bounce passes and finished with 4 points. The defensive duo of Darian Harris (6 points, 6 rebounds) and George Taylor (2 points, 5 rebounds)—hereafter known as the Ministers of Defense—hounded players all over the court all game.
The fourth quarter was more of the same, continuing to play shutdown defense and balanced scoring. Tyler Crean imposed his will making tough drives all game and finishing at the rim. He had balanced scoring each quarter, scoring in each frame and finished with 12 points and 4 steals. Max Cohen led all fourth-quarter scorers, hitting 2 long shots and ended the game with 6 points and 3 assists. Yamori Richardson made a great move underneath the basket in the fourth quarter and ended with 4 points and 4 rebounds. The boys kick off their January schedule after the holiday break on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 12:15pm at Medway.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at Medway (away)
7th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Sgarano
The Holliston 7th Grade Boys (White) lost a tough game against Westwood on Sunday night, 44–13, at Adams Middle School. Westwood got off to a hot start, getting out to an 8–1 lead after the first quarter, and they did not look back.
Ryllan Kelley led Holliston with 6 points. Cooper Lisi and David Blackerby each had 6 rebounds. Jacob Snow had 3 points and 5 steals. Tommy Ogoreuc and William Finneran each had a basket.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4 at home vs. Foxboro
7th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: McDonough
The 7th Grade Red team headed to Dedham Middle School for a pre-holiday clash this past weekend, where their speed and athleticism continued to overwhelm their opponents. Although they were down big man Ty Looney, they cruised to a 52–14 win that featured a fairly balanced score sheet.
Holliston’s relentless defense allowed only 4 points in the first half before Dedham managed to drain three 3-pointers and win the third quarter, 9–8. Holliston responded by reverting back to their 2-3 zone and ended up shutting out their opponents in the fourth quarter, 18–0, to close out the game.
Teddy Miller quietly led the scoring with a very efficient 7 buckets for 14 points. Ryan Baker got into double digits with 10 points. George Floeckher had a solid game, contributing 8 points and assists as well as countless rebounds. Logan McDonough (6), Owen Jacquet (4), Cole Dennison (4), Donovan Vail (4), and Anderson Langlois (2) rounded out the scoring. SG Declan Aldredge also added 2 boards, 2 assists, and played tenacious D throughout. The team will take a break over the holiday and take their undefeated record back on the road the first week in January to face Coach McDonough’s hometown Dover-Sherborn team.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at Dover-Sherborn (away)
8th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Keller
Holliston’s 8th Grade Boys (Black) did not do itself any favors in the early going looking to secure its first win of the season, spotting Sharon a 9–4 lead after one quarter. A strong second frame allowed Holliston to pull within one at the half, only to relinquish that momentum in the third quarter. Down 5 headed into the fourth, Holliston tied it but could not overtake Sharon, eventually falling by three. Holliston continues to show its potential in streaks and will look to put together a complete game in its next outing against an undefeated Medway squad.
Jackson Gannaway led the way with 9 points, followed by Leo Wagner’s 6. Stone Secaur and Nolan Burke each added 3 while Noah Keller and Nick Gorham each had a bucket. Nick Gorham pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the team.
Next Game: Sunday, January 4th at home vs. Medway
