“Clutch Shots, Comeback Kids, and a Perfect Twelve”
The final week of the regular season delivered everything — buzzer-beating drama, gritty comebacks, and a milestone to remember. Coach McDonough’s 7th Grade Boys (Red) capped a flawless 12–0 season with an eight-player scoring explosion, earning a D4 playoff berth against Chelsea. Coach King’s 6th Grade Girls (Black) authored their own signature moment when Katelyn Klein drained two free throws with under a minute left to edge Hopkinton 26–25, then followed up with a convincing win over Bellingham to finish 8–3. Coach Cooper’s 7th Grade Girls (Red) saved their best for last, outscoring Milton 16–0 in the fourth quarter behind Emma Whitehead, Ellie Brown, and Ailla Howden. Meanwhile, Declan Brannigan’s 19-point, three-three-pointer eruption gave Coach Javier’s 4th Grade Boys (Red) a second-half surge that had families on their feet. The playoffs are here — and Holliston is ready.
GIRLS:
4th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: King
The Holliston 4th Grade Girls (Red) wrapped up their regular season at .500, finishing with a 6–6 record. In Sunday’s matchup against an aggressive Southborough team, the Panthers came up short, but the game was defined by their poise, sportsmanship, and composure.
Strong point guard play from Natalie Negri (2 points) and Dev King (4 points) helped Holliston create scoring opportunities throughout the game. While made shots were tough to come by, the backcourt duo set the tone with their defensive intensity, working tirelessly to pressure and contain Southborough’s ball handlers. Avery Jacquet added 2 points and delivered several excellent passes, while Maya Bernstein and Adriana Dello-Iacono worked hard to get open offensively and played tough, disciplined defense.
In the paint, Hannah Kane provided outstanding help defense, disrupting multiple shots and protecting the lane. Rose Weinburg, Sloane Miller, and Celina Lahiani were relentless on the boards, battling for rebounds on both ends of the floor. Evelyn Dellicker and Kate Robertson sprinted the court with determination, looking to make an impact on every possession and demonstrating what it means to be great teammates.
Although a few defensive lapses proved costly, the team’s growth over the course of the season has been tremendous. The coaches are incredibly proud of this group and excited to see them continue their hard work in the playoffs.
Next up: the winner of Ashland/Milford on Saturday at 4:45PM in Ashland. Good luck to all teams competing!
4th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Marien
The Holliston 4th grade girls (White) closed the regular season with a spirited comeback effort, trimming an early 12-point deficit all the way down to two late in the fourth quarter before falling to Westwood, 23–19. The Panthers adjusted to Westwood’s defensive pressure as the game went on and kept fighting to the final horn.
Offensively, Holliston got a big boost from Cassidy Cicciarella (7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals), who led the team in scoring and helped keep the offense afloat during the rally. Ava Snyder (2 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) dominated the glass and created extra possessions that fueled the comeback. Late in the fourth, Riley Marien (2 points) hit a key jumper to cut the margin to two and bring the game within striking distance.
Holliston’s scoring balance continued with contributions from several players, including Iris Smith (2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal), Liliana Brown (2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Lyla Wisner (2 points, 4 steals, 2 blocks), and Laiana Girgis (2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block, 2-for-2 free throws). Kailey Esposito (1 rebound, 1 steal) added another effort play in the second half, while Amal Hadad (1 rebound) and Molly Nechev (1 assist) helped steady the rotation.
The overall growth was evident again. The Panthers stayed true to their defensive effort, won more possessions on the boards, and continued to lean on ball movement to create opportunities.
Holliston now turns the page to the postseason, opening tournament play this Friday against Somerville at a neutral site in Westborough.
5th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Ennis
Holliston 5th girls (White) team traveled over to Newton for Sunday’s matchup.
It was a defensive battle to start off the game with a 3-2 lead after the first quarter. Anna Maria DellaRocca got the scoring going putting up 2 of her 8 points and 4 steals. Alaina had 3 points 10 rebounds and 4 steals. The second quarter was unlike the first more of an offensive game 13-8 lead after the first half. Brighton Swenson had 2 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
In the third quarter the ladies traded baskets with Newton with Harper Sochanek 2 points 2 rebounds and Lily Ennis with 2 points and 7 rebounds.
Ladies had a chance to tie up the game with 2 seconds left. An inbound opportunity presented itself to the girls with 2 seconds left on the clock. The ladies had the inbound play the pass was made the shot went up unfortunately the shot game up a little short. The ladies played their toughest game battle all game long unfortunately came up a little short with a 20-17 loss. Ladies played a tremendous game overall.
5th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The 5th Grade Girls Holliston Red team closed out the season with a statement win over Norwood, 26-20. The team finishes the regular season with a 6-6 record as they head into the post season looking to make a deep run. Holliston was led by Catherine Levasseur who finished with 18 points. Reagan Taylor, Lilah Rowe, and Madeline Cooper, and Sadie Adamson each scored 2 points.
The team had a combined 16 steals on the day, 4 by Mia Fosberg and 3 by Alice Dalbec accounting for 7 of the 16. Jaxy Mix led the game with 4 assists, and Addie Cicciarella had 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals of her own.
The team’s defense first attitude has sparked an intensity that is slowly chasing other teams out of the gym. Communication and pure grit as accounted for the Panthers defensive dominance. Coach Cooper and LeVasseur believe this team is primed and ready to go for the playoffs.
6th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Wing
The 6th grade girls (white) travel team had their final game of the season away vs. Westwood. The game ended in a discouraging loss, but the Panthers had an amazing turn around in the second half of the game.
Even though upset and disappointed with the final outcome of the game, Holliston hustled, played aggressively and didn’t give up. The second half was quite the comeback and the girls should be proud of themselves and the hard work they put into that second half.
Julia O’Shaughnessy’s determination led to her getting to the free throw line and sinking of of her 2 shots. Willa Drummey’s speed and aggressiveness landed her 4 points this game. Izzy Bartels and Signe Strand also played hard and put up multiple points. Amelia Parker even hit a three pointer! Olivia Darling was back at it will her killer screens and Olivia Wing had some dynamite, key passes that led to teammates’ successful shots. Maddie Joe Charette fought hard for several jump balls and Nora Corcoran had multiple prime rebounds throughout the game.
The girls may have felt defeated and upset with the loss, but they should celebrate their determination and “never give up” attitude they put forth in that second half. It’s been a tough season for these players, but the hard work and consistent effort these girls have put into their team has definitely paid off in these last several games.
The Panthers will be sure to bring the fire and grit to their first playoff game which is TBD.
6th Grade Girls (Black)
Coach: King
The Holliston girls capped off their regular season in impressive fashion, earning two home victories to finish 8–3 overall.
On Saturday, the team battled Hopkinton in a heated rematch and came away with a thrilling 26–25 win. Trailing by one with under a minute remaining, the girls stayed composed, secured possession, and drew the foul they needed. Katelyn Klein stepped to the line and calmly knocked down two clutch free throws to seal the victory. Katelyn was outstanding on both ends of the floor, recording multiple blocks, delivering several key assists, and leading with poise in crunch time. Winnie McHugh was dominant in the post, scoring 11 points and consistently drawing fouls to get to the free throw line. Richa Yedugani and Lennon King each added 6 points while sharing point guard responsibilities, moving the ball selflessly, and applying strong defensive pressure. Millie Guellnitz anchored the defense inside and out, alongside Brooke McGrath (1 point), Olive Bennett, and Izzy Bartels. The win was especially meaningful after a tough four-point loss to Hopkinton earlier in the season.
The girls carried that momentum into Sunday’s matchup against Bellingham, earning another strong team win to close out the regular season. With relentless rebounding, disciplined team defense, and crisp ball movement, Holliston played with confidence and cohesion. Winnie McHugh delivered another standout performance with 15 points and double-digit rebounds. Richa Yedugani scored 6 points, again sharing point guard duties with Lennon King, who added 4. Katelyn Klein and Olive Bennett each contributed 4 points, and the team executed several effective pick-and-rolls while running the offense efficiently. Millie Guellnitz attacked the basket aggressively and continued her excellent interior defense, while Brooke McGrath remained steady and disciplined on both ends of the court.
The girls head to Quincy on Friday night for a 7:00PM playoff matchup against Wellesley. Good luck to all teams competing in the playoffs!
7th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The 7th Grade Girls (Red) team looked too close out the regular season with a cementing win, and they did just that, beating Milton on the road, 28-24. A team effort that saw 12 team assists leading to 7 different players in the points column, Holliston’s pass first mentality took team over the hump in the 4th quarter, scoring 16 unanswered points in the quarter. The game was hotly contested on both ends of the court in the first half, but Aarya Sharma brought the house down with massive block in the second quarter to give the Panthers the boost it needed going into half time. Sharma, who had 7 blocks on the day, controlled both ends of the paint in dominating fashion.
After scoring 2 points in the 3rd quarter on a Molly Starr signature fade-away jump shot, Holliston entered the 4th down 4 points, 16 to 12. In a flurry like Milton has never seen, Emma Sochanek got things going 22 seconds into the quarter with a 14-foot jump shot. 15 seconds later, Charley Marcuard delivered on a fast break layup, quickly followed by Ruby Smith rebound and put back. The quick 6 points in the first minute of the 4th quarter gave Holliston a 2-point lead. After Milton took the lead back, Emma Whitehead, Ellie Brown, and Ailla Howden decided to take the game into their own hands, combining for 12 points and never looking back. Howden totaled 4 points on the day to go along with 6 rebounds and 4 steals, while Ellie brown led the game with 6 assists and 4 points. Emma Whitehead caught fire in the 4th knocking down 2 jump shots to seal her game leading 6 points.
The Panthers look to ride the winning wave into the playoffs with a first-round matchup vs Somerville on Sunday. The 7th Grade Girls Red team finished the regular season with a 3-9 record but won 2 of their last 3 games. If the team stays with their pass first mentality, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
BOYS:
4th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Javier
The 4th Grade Boys (Red) closed out their regular season with a 50-29 loss on the road to Westwood (Green). Westwood delivered the most first-half points all season against Holliston 4th grade, scoring 28 first-half points on the way to a season-high 50 points given up by Holliston. This season’s best version of 4th Grade Boys (Red) basketball is epitomized by high defensive energy, strong rebounding, sharing the ball and the willingness to take shots without fear. In this game, the defense was not at its best although there were bright spots. Holliston was able to put pressure on the ball with Coulton Mayo (2pts 2reb 3 stl) and Ronan Brannigan (2pts 4reb 2stl) forcing several 1st half turnovers. Calder Guellnitz (2pts 7reb 1 stl) was aggressive on the boards. However, the team went into the 2nd half down by 20 points. Once again the 4th Grade Boys (Red) chose the second half to remind their family members and themselves that they were more than capable of competing basket-for-basket with any team. Holliston would proceed to outscore Westwood 14-11 in the 3rd quarter. They were led by the scorching-hot shooting of Declan Brannigan who had 10 of his game-high 19pts (also season high for the team) in that 3rd quarter including 2 of his game-high 3 three-pointers. Holliston stepped up all phases of their game to match Westwood-Green in the second-half and demonstrated a level of resilience and toughness developed throughout the season. The 4th Grade Boys (Red) will await the winner of King Philip (Gold) vs Bellingham (Josh) and play its first ever playoff game on Sunday, March 8th at 5PM at the Hopkinton Brown Gym on Hayden Rowe.
5th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Doss
February 7th vs. North Attleboro
Holliston Turns Snow Day into Statement Win
What started as a snowstorm make-up game turned into one of the most complete performances of the season for Holliston, as they rolled past North Attleboro 39–19 on the road.
The first half was a grind. Shots weren’t falling, defenses were tight, and the game was locked at 10–10 heading into the break. But instead of getting frustrated, Holliston stayed composed, trusted their work, and came out of halftime looking like a different team.
The turning point came in the third quarter. Holliston exploded on both ends of the floor, outscoring North Attleboro 19–2 to take a commanding 29–12 lead. The ball was popping, the defense was swarming, and the energy never dipped. By the time the final buzzer sounded, this was easily the best stretch of basketball the team has played all season.
Keegan Shaw earned Player of the Week honors with a monster all-around game. He poured in 6 points (a season high), ripped down 10 rebounds to lead the team, added 3 steals and a block, and brought nonstop energy. Keegan’s enthusiasm is contagious — you can always hear him cheering, calling out screens (even from the bench), and lifting his teammates.
Offensively, this was a true team effort. Every player on the roster had shot attempts, the ball moved unselfishly, and everyone stayed engaged. Aiden Doss led the scoring with 12 points, Tommy Baker added 11, and Declan Langlois chipped in 8, but the story of the night was how connected the group looked.
From patience in the first half to dominance in the second, Holliston turned a rescheduled game into a statement win.
March 1st vs. Ashland
HOLLSTON — If you could design the perfect tune up heading into the postseason, it would look a lot like Holliston’s finale at Adams Middle School. In their last regular season game before next week’s tournament, Holliston welcomed Ashland and turned a slow start into their best all around performance of the year, rolling to a 46 to 21 win to finish the season with a winning record of 6 and 4.
Holliston trailed 10 to 5 after a quiet first quarter, but the response was exactly what the coaching staff hoped to see. The team settled in, executed with purpose, and played with the kind of energy that spreads from the floor to the bench and back again. The second quarter flipped the game on its head as Holliston surged to a 21 to 12 halftime lead, then extended it to 31 to 17 after three with relentless defense, smart spacing, and great teamwork. The fourth quarter was the icing on the cake, with Holliston staying locked in to finish strong and cap it at 46 to 21.
The coaching staff was especially proud of the execution and focus. Players were in the right spots, talking on defense, boxing out, sharing the ball, and cheering for each other all game long. It was easily the most fun game of the season, because everyone contributed and everyone was invested.
The best part was that every single player scored. Aiden Doss led the way with 14 points, plus 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 steals. Tommy Baker added 12 points, while Declan Langlois chipped in 8 points and 6 rebounds. Alex Navarro earned Player of the Week with his first bucket of the year, hustle plays everywhere, strong box outs on both ends, a key rebound, and steady defense that helped spark the win.
5th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Peterson
The Holliston Panthers capped their regular season on a high note Sunday morning, traveling to Milton and coming away with a 30–23 victory. In the final game of the regular season, the Panthers led from start to finish, relying on a formula their coaches have emphasized all year: defense and rebounding.
That message has been clear in recent weeks — control the glass and lock down defensively. On Sunday, it paid off. Holliston limited Milton to just 23 points, a testament to their disciplined half-court defense and relentless ball pressure. Even more telling was the Panthers’ dominance on the boards, finishing the game with 40 total rebounds.
JT Barry led the scoring effort with 14 points and added four rebounds, providing a steady offensive presence throughout the afternoon. Charlie Ogoreuc delivered a well-rounded performance with six points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
Oskar Peterson anchored the rebounding effort with 12 boards to go along with four points, while Henry Paine contributed four points and eight rebounds, helping Holliston consistently win second-chance opportunities.
The Panthers also received key contributions up and down the roster. Youssef Lahiani returned from a three-game absence and made his presence felt with four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Leo Patka grabbed three rebounds and provided his usual active screening presence to create space offensively. Finn Rogers sparked the team with a first-half bucket that helped generate momentum.
Defensively, David Girgis and Benjamin Leach applied strong on-ball pressure, playing a major role in disrupting Milton’s rhythm and keeping the home team’s scoring in check.
Holliston closes the regular season with a 3–3 record over its final six games, showing resilience down the stretch. With Sunday’s win in Milton, the Panthers carry positive momentum into the postseason, where they will begin their playoff run Saturday against an opponent yet to be determined.
5th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Flannery
The Holliston 5th Grade Boys Red squad capped off a successful regular season with a thrilling 27-18 win against a determined Southboro squad Sunday morning at Adams, Final score 27-18. For this group of five second year players and 3 new players to the Metrowest league, the 5th grade season was an immense success. After a rough introduction to Metrowest play as 4th graders (the Holliston 4th Grade boys teams went a combined 1-25 last season), this group of players have shown immense improvement in all facets of the game. They should be proud of their efforts and the work they’ve put in at practice, and on their own, to finish the regular season with a strong 7-4 record.
Now onto the action from Sunday morning! Southboro entered the game winless on the season and came to Holliston determined to end that streak. They were active and aggressive on both ends of the court, and their size initially gave the Holliston crew trouble. Southboro held a huge rebounding advantage through most of the first half and Holliston was lucky to be tied 10-10 at half-time. Thankfully, the Holliston crew dug deep and started the second half strong. Keegan Flannery led the second half barrage with 9 points, including a nice “And-1” drive to the hoop to help ice the game in the 4th quarter. Keegan finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds. Max Page was also dynamite in the second half, scoring his 4 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds during that frame. Max Burian kept Holliston in the game in the first half with 6 big points. Max finished with 8 points total and 2 rebounds. Jayce Sweet knocked down one of his trademarked jumpers from just inside the arc to finish with 2 points and 1 rebound. Jameson Drake, Reid Polack and Cole Butler Reichheld all played strong games defensively and showed great improvement driving to the hoop.
Holliston is on a two-game win streak as they enter the Playoffs and they hope to continue their hot play and make a long postseason run. Opponent and time of their opening round game should be determined soon, but whoever this squad ends up playing it will be a battle!
6th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Lyskowski
The Panthers saved their best effort for the last game of the season against a scrappy Medfield team, winning 28-19. After a slow offensive start led to a 6-2 deficit after the first quarter, Holliston locked in on defense in the second. Strong defensive pressure from Trevor Lyskowski (5 fouls) and Sam Wagner (4) pestered Medfield’s ball handlers, holding Medfield scoreless in the second quarter. Holliston took an 11-6 lead into halftime.
In the second half, swingman Matheus Maurao took over the game, slashing to the hoop and knocking down jumpers on his way to a career-high 10 points. Speedster Liam O’Leary was a difference-maker, turning steals into layups and tallying a season high 7 points.
7th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Sgarano
The Holliston 7th Grade Boys Team (White) lost a tough game against Dedham on the road, 43-8, on Sunday afternoon. Holliston started the game cold from the field, which enabled Dedham to pull away in the second quarter.
Joe Sgarano led Holliston with 4 points. David Blackerby added a basket and 9 rebounds. Tommy Ogoreuc hit 2 free throws and had 3 rebounds. William Finneran had 7 rebounds, while Max Metivier had 4 rebounds.
Holliston will battle Weston in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday morning in Hopkinton.
7th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: McDonough
The Panthers welcomed back steady ball-handler Logan McDonough this past Sunday. McDonough splashed an early three-pointer to spark a 25-point first-quarter onslaught, with 8 Panthers contributing buckets in the initial frame.
Shooting guard Donovan “The Glove” Vail drained a deep corner three before halftime as the Panthers called off the press and cruised to their 12th straight victory.
When the dust settled, guard Ryan Baker led the scoring with 12 points, with Teddy Miller adding 7 points and 3 assists. Owen Jacquet (RAMS Student of the Month, February) and Ty Looney added 5 apiece, with George Floeckher grabbing 10 rebounds. Swingman Anderson “Varejao” Langlois added 4 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals, making himself a defensive menace throughout.
Holliston concluded the year undefeated with a perfect 12-0 record, earning a trip to the D4 playoffs and a first-round date against a D3 Chelsea team.
Congratulations to each of the Panthers on a tremendous season. Your team-first approach and consistency laid the groundwork for a bright future together.
Next game: Playoffs vs. Chelsea, Saturday at 12PM in Sudbury
8th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Keller
Game 1: Holliston 42, Parkway 9
Game 2: Holliston 28, Framingham 45
Game 3: Holliston 41, Westborough 44
On Wednesday night, in the first of three games to close out the regular season, each player contributed on the court and in the scorebook from opening tip to the final buzzer. Jackson Gannaway led all scorers with 16 points, Leo Wagner added 10 along with Nick Gorham’s 5, Nick Cardoso (4), Stone Secaur (3) and Noah Keller (2). In the first of two Saturday games, Holliston jumped out to a 9-2 lead. Eventually, Framingham pulled away, showing why they are one of the hottest teams in the league. In the nightcap, Holliston appeared to be on their way to closing out the regular season with a victory, however, a Westborough 3-pointer in the closing seconds forced overtime and Holliston failed to convert in the bonus frame, eventually falling by three.
Holliston will return to Gibbons Middle School, the site of that disappointing overtime loss, for their playoff game against Watertown on Sunday, March 8 at 7:15PM.
