Week 2 arrived with a mini-snowstorm and left with a trail of floor burns, busted leads, and at least one parent Googling “youth basketball cardiac events.” The 6th Grade Boys (Red) built a 27–21 third-quarter lead against Medfield, only to watch it evaporate in a brutal 40–36 collapse—proving that six points with eight minutes left is basically a coin flip in this league. The 8th Grade Boys (White) flipped the script, white-knuckling their way to a 25–24 survival against Wellesley. Meanwhile, the 4th Grade Girls (White) lost an 11–10 defensive slugfest that had more steals than points. Not all the drama was heartbreak: Owen “Juice” Jacquet buried a deep three to ignite the home crowd, Rebecca Lindros broke ankles with an Allen Iverson-style crossover, and four unknown 5th Grade Girls were spotted practicing at Miller playground in 27-degree weather—Assistant Coach Amy Levasseur declined to comment on whether her car headlights were involved. Six wins, plenty of what-ifs, and enough hustle to wear through a dozen pairs of kneepads. Holliston basketball doesn’t do boring—it feels like the coaches are building something special across every grade level!
BOYS
4th Grade Boys
Coach: Lohan
The Holliston fourth-grade boys basketball team faced a tough challenge on Sunday, falling at home to a strong Brookline squad, 39–14, in a game played with effort and determination from start to finish.
Despite a difficult shooting afternoon, Holliston showed heart and resilience throughout the game. Josh Lawendi led the offense with 8 points, consistently attacking the basket and driving hard to the hoop against a tight Brookline defense. Jake Wagner delivered a well-rounded performance, contributing 4 points while also making smart passes and numerous hustle plays on both ends of the floor. Drew Sawicki anchored the defensive effort, recording three outstanding steals and applying constant pressure that helped disrupt Brookline’s offense. Graham Callahan brought great energy and effort, getting off several quality shot attempts that just wouldn’t fall. Even as the score grew, the Holliston players never backed down, continuing to run the floor through the final whistle.
While the result didn’t go their way, the team’s perseverance remained strong. Holliston will look to build on that effort and bounce back when they take on Southborough this Sunday.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Southborough
4th Grade Boys (Red) – Team Javier
Coach: Javier
The 4th Grade Boys (Red) hosted a Hopkinton-Kessel team that overwhelmed them in the middle quarters on the way to a 41–20 loss. The game started with a tight defensive battle in the first quarter. The home team ended the first quarter trailing 4–2 with the only Holliston points coming on a strong shot from Coulton Mayo. In the second quarter, Hopkinton took advantage of aggressive rebounding and drives to the basket to take a commanding 17–4 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, the 4th Grade Boys continued to play hard and slowed down the Hopkinton offense, but struggled to get their offensive game on track. In the fourth quarter, the entire team earned Tommy Points by putting up 12 points on the board and ratcheting up the intensity. Cristian Robinson and Elliot Duemig were particularly aggressive on offense, with Elliot sinking the only 2 free throws of the game for Holliston. Xander Gratton and Calder Guellnitz came up with big rebounds and turnovers in a competitive fourth quarter. Ronan Brannigan, Cristian Robinson, and Caleb Javier each scored 4 points to lead the team.
The next game will be against Dedham-King on the road on December 21st at Avery Elementary School.
Next Game: Saturday at Dedham (away)
4th Grade Boys (Red) – Team Higgins
Coach: Higgens
The Holliston Red Claws (4th Grade Boys) traveled to a packed gym in Hopkinton facing long odds after a few last-minute roster scratches, but the team came in motivated following a tough Week 1 loss. With hustle and determination, the Red Claws kept the game nail-bitingly close throughout the first half. Their hard work in practice clearly paid off, especially with improved floor spacing on offense and strong man-to-man defense.
The second half was just as exciting, as the Red Claws battled to within two scores of the lead with about eight minutes remaining. Finn Malvey and David DellaRocca led the team in scoring, while the entire squad worked together to out-rebound the Hillers on most trips up and down the floor.
Although Holliston came up short in a 30–21 loss, the Red Claws left the court with plenty to be proud of. Their growth, effort, and teamwork were on full display, and the team is excited to continue its opening four-game road trip in Needham next weekend.
Next Game: Sunday at Needham (away)
5th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Peterson
The Holliston 5th Grade Boys (White) traveled to Northboro on Sunday, 12/14, for their first road game of the season and came away with a hard-fought, narrow 32–30 loss. Holliston competed with intensity from the opening tip, matching Northboro’s energy and execution throughout a tightly contested game that featured multiple lead changes.
The Panthers played strong team defense and moved the ball well on offense, keeping the score close all afternoon. Holliston held Northboro in check for long stretches and had opportunities late to pull out the win, but a few key baskets down the stretch proved to be the difference.
JT Barry paced Holliston with 10 points, consistently pushing the offense and finishing strong at the basket. Benjamin Leach delivered an outstanding all-around performance with 8 points and showcased excellent court vision with several beautiful passes that created scoring opportunities for his teammates. Charlie Ogoreuc battled through a sore groin and still contributed 6 hard-earned points, demonstrating toughness and determination. Finn Rogers and Henry Paine anchored the defensive effort with excellent, intelligent positioning, applying steady pressure and making smart reads that disrupted Northboro’s offense throughout the game.
Despite the tough result, the Panthers showed clear progress and resilience, demonstrating their ability to compete in close games against strong opponents. The team will look to build on this performance in practice and carry the momentum forward into their next matchup.
5th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Doss
Holliston continued its undefeated start to the season with a 37–25 win over Ashland on Sunday morning on their home court, earning a strong victory in a rematch from their preseason tournament. Although Holliston won that earlier meeting, Ashland had outscored them in the second half and opened the regular season with a win, making it clear Holliston would need a full effort to maintain its perfect record.
Holliston jumped out to an early lead and maintained control throughout the game. Defensive pressure set the tone, producing multiple steals, blocks, and fast-break opportunities that kept Ashland from finding any rhythm. That effort was the highlight for Coach Isaac, who was especially proud of the team’s defense and how it fueled their transition offense.
Tommy Baker led all scorers with 15 points, including 8 in the first quarter to establish momentum. He attacked the basket aggressively, converted in transition, and added key points at the free-throw line. Declan Langlois followed with 12 points, scoring in every quarter while applying constant on-ball pressure that resulted in multiple steals. Aiden Doss contributed 5 points, along with a steal and several timely blocks, while Drew Johnson added 3 points.
Holliston also received key contributions beyond the scoring column. Keagan Shaw showed toughness after taking a blow to the face, returning to create multiple steals and fast-break chances. Jack Kasper provided steady leadership, creating turnovers with his defensive pressure and remaining composed on inbound plays. Alexander Navarro and Robert Chung both came up with steals, added strong rebounding, and helped anchor the defensive effort.
While pleased with the win, Coach Isaac noted areas for growth, including improving ball movement and getting more players involved offensively. Holliston did record a few excellent assists and will look to build on that progress. Reducing fouls will also be a focus, as nearly half of Ashland’s points came from the free-throw line, as the team continues to sharpen its game moving forward.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Easton (1:30)
5th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Flannery
The 5th Grade Boys (Red) squad played host to the Hopkinton-Levine team this past Sunday afternoon at Adams Middle School. Even with the morning’s snowfall, it was tough sledding for the Holliston boys, falling 47–15. Despite the final score, the team played with great attitudes and never once gave up. In fact, this reporter heard players requesting to get back into the game in the final minutes just so they could get extra practice. It was awesome to witness considering most of the time players are heading for an early exit in those types of games!
Hopkinton had a massive size advantage and used it effectively on defense, but the Holliston crew managed to find occasional seams to score. Max Page highlighted that with several impressive drives to the hoop for buckets. Max led all Holliston players with 7 points and was active all game long. Keegan Flannery chipped in with 4 points, including knocking down a pair of free throws—bringing his season percentage up to 75%, which puts him amongst the Division 6 league leaders.
“Big Man” Cam Chiantera worked hard all game setting screens and battling the Hopkinton giants for boards. Cam finished with 2 points and for the first time this season did not spill a pint of blood or almost break a finger. Great job, Cam! Jayce Sweet knocked down a “Sweeter than Yoo-hoo” jumper from just inside the 3-point arc for his 2 points. Jayce is quickly becoming lethal from that spot. Cole Butler Reichheld got his first game action of the season and contributed valuable minutes at the point guard position. His decision making helped lead to several buckets for the team. Jameson Drake and Reid Polack brought their usual tenacity to the court and made Hopkinton work hard for every bucket. Their combination Dennis Rodman/Tasmanian Devil playing style is just what this team needs! The team will lick their wounds and regroup this week at practice.
Next Game: Saturday at Westwood (away)
6th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: Gum
A shorthanded Holliston 6th Grade Boys (Red) team continued their MetroWest League season on the road this past Sunday in Medfield and dropped an absolute heartbreaker. The boys came out pressing and trapping all game, not giving their opponent any breathing room. Grady Gum led the way with 9 first-half points (13 total) including the team’s first three-pointer of the season.
Darian Harris once again caused havoc all game, diving on the floor for loose balls and made a monster block out of nowhere to stop a breakaway. Darian ended the day with 3 steals, 2 points, and 3 rebounds. Hard defense and good shot selection had the boys enter halftime up 18–16. In the third quarter, the boys extended their lead by playing excellent defense and swinging the ball for open looks. Both George Taylor and Grady (4 second-half points) got open looks and drained 17-footers. Tyler Crean drove to the basket all day, scoring 3 third-quarter points and getting to the free-throw line twice. The boys ended the third quarter with a 27–21 lead.
The fourth quarter saw the momentum switch to Medfield, where they scored 6 points in around a minute and erased the lead. Offensively, the boys had a good fourth quarter; however, the team from Medfield could not miss, and Holliston ended up dropping a heartbreaker, 40–36. In addition to the defense, another bright spot was seeing all active players score yet again. Andrew Lavasseur, Ayen Hemaratne, Darian Harris, George Taylor, and Max Cohen all had 2 points; Yamori Richardson and Tyler Crean added 7; and scoring was led by Grady Gum with 13. The boys look for their first win of the season when they take to the court at the Robert Adams Jungle on Sunday, December 21st at 4:10pm vs. Southboro.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Southboro (4:10)
7th Grade Boys (Red)
Coach: McDonough
With sustained effort and energy on both sides of the floor, the 10-deep Panthers improved to 2-0 on the young season at home against Hopkinton. Coach McDonough’s signature press added a secret ingredient with the return of speedy ballhawk Teddy “Teddy Miller” Miller, who helped force a string of early turnovers. The Panthers converted these turnovers into fast breaks, with 7 players contributing to a 14–6 first-quarter lead.
When the Holliston offense was bogged down for a brief stretch in the second quarter, versatile swingman Owen “Juice” Jacquet punctuated a solo 7-point run with a deep 3-pointer that fired up the RAMS home crowd and expanded the Panthers’ lead to 23–11 at the break.
In the second half, Holliston stayed disciplined and kept the defensive pressure high to maintain their advantage, generating 14 team steals and limiting the Hillers to 10 points after the break.
Guard Ryan Baker paced the balanced Panthers offense with 10 points, going 6-for-8 (75%) from the charity stripe. The bigs anchored the paint and went to work on both ends of the floor, led by George Floeckher (7 points, 10 rebounds), Ty Looney (4 points, 9 rebounds), and Cole Dennison (2 points, 6 rebounds).
Next Game: Saturday at high noon at Dedham (away)
7th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Sgarano
The Holliston 7th Grade Boys (White) lost a tough game against Mansfield on Sunday night, 55–12, at Mass Premier. Holliston faced relentless pressure from Mansfield all game and struggled to get into their offense. Mansfield got out to an early lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
David Blackerby had 4 points and 6 rebounds. Cooper Lisi scored 4 points and had 2 steals. Ryllan Kelley added 3 points. Joe Sgarano and Owen Callahan each had 2 steals. Holliston returns home on Sunday night for a game against Westwood.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Westwood
8th Grade Boys (White)
Coach: Kanavich
The 8th Grade Boys (White) team held on to win 25–24 against Wellesley this past Sunday night, improving to 1-4 on the season. Leading the team in scoring was Brody Stanley with 10 points, followed by Patrick Coletti (6), Logan Kanavich (3), Leo DeFazio (2), Luke Bartels (2), and Sam Ginnings (2). Leading the team in rebounding was Patrick Coletti with 10, followed by Sam Ginnings (7) and Daniel Levens (7). Lincoln Daniels, Luke Bartels, and Brody Stanley also grabbed 3 rebounds apiece. The team returns to action Sunday to square off against Weston.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Weston
8th Grade Boys (Black)
Coach: Keller
Six members of the Holliston 8th Grade Boys (Black) team traveled to Dover-Sherborn Middle School for their second game of the season. Although once again starting slow—with just 4 points in the first quarter—Holliston showed tremendous improvement on the boards, outrebounding Dover-Sherborn 37 to 7, led by Dylan Dimmick’s 16 rebounds and Stone Secaur’s 10. Despite their success on the glass, Holliston’s shots didn’t drop whereas Dover-Sherborn’s did, turning a 4-point lead at halftime into an 8-point defeat.
Dylan Dimmick led the way with 8 points, followed by Nolan Burke with 6. Nick Gorham added a 3-pointer while Stone Secaur and Nick Cardoso each added a bucket. Holliston hosts their first home game this Saturday, December 20 against Sharon.
Next Game: Saturday, December 20 at home vs. Sharon
GIRLS
4th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Marien
The Holliston 4th Grade Girls (White) followed up their opener with a nail-biter against Dedham. After leading for most of the game, they came up just short in an 11–10 defensive battle that showed big strides on both ends of the floor.
Holliston’s offense was paced by Lyla Wisner, who led the team with 6 points, attacking the rim fearlessly and knocking down three field goals. Cassidy Cicciarella and Laiana Girgis each added a basket to round out the scoring. Even when shots didn’t fall, the Panthers moved the ball well and created good looks throughout the game. Riley Marien and Cicciarella did a great job sharing point guard duties, running the offense, and getting their teammates involved.
On the boards, Liliana Brown was a force inside, piling up 9 rebounds (including 5 on the offensive glass) and adding a block and a steal while battling Dedham’s bigs. Amal Hadad grabbed 4 rebounds, while Iris Smith, Wisner, Ava Snyder, and Cicciarella each chipped in 3 boards to help Holliston control the paint. Smith also handed out an assist, and Snyder added a block.
Defensively, Holliston hung its hat on hustle. Wisner led the charge with 8 steals and a block. Girgis added 4 steals, and Molly Nechev and Kailey Esposito also contributed key stops.
Holliston now looks ahead to its next challenge on the road this Sunday at Seekonk.
Next Game: Sunday at Seekonk (away)
4th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: King
The 4th Grade Girls (Team King) put forth a strong effort on an early morning road trip to the Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton to face Canton. Despite wintry conditions, the girls came ready to compete. While they created several good scoring opportunities, the shots just wouldn’t fall in a hard-fought 19–14 loss.
The Panthers were led by Sloane Miller, who scored 6 points and made her presence felt on both ends of the floor, taking charge offensively and defensively. Avery Jacquet helped spark the team early with strong offensive possessions, scoring 4 points and attacking the basket with confidence. Natalie Negri played a steady game at point guard, skillfully bringing the ball up the court, consistently getting to the hoop, and playing excellent defense against one of the stronger opponents they’ll face this season.
Celina Lahaini pulled down some key rebounds and consistently hit the floor for loose balls, while Maya Bernstein turned in a strong defensive performance highlighted by an outstanding block. Dev King also chipped in a couple of points, had some nice drives to the hoop, and played hard-nosed defense. Overall, the girls showed tremendous effort. While the result didn’t go their way, there were many positives to build on and plenty of opportunities for growth.
Back at it next week against Milton!
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Milton
5th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Ennis
On Sunday, the Holliston 5th Grade Girls had their home opener. It ended with a glorious win against Dover-Sherborn, 13–8.
The game was a nail-biter with a tied score of 2 when the 5th Grade Girls stepped up their game and went on a 9-point run, taking the lead in the second quarter. Holliston had a strong first half, leading 10–2 at halftime and never looked back, securing the victory. The first half was the best for the 5th Grade Girls, as they outscored Dover-Sherborn 10–2. Holliston had 20 rebounds in the half.
The defensive effort continues to improve week by week. The ladies were active on defense and created a number of jump balls and steals.
Alaina was the leading scorer for the White team with 8 points. Holliston controlled the paint, grabbing 35 rebounds as a team, with Alaina leading the team with 11 rebounds. Additionally, Lily E. contributed 3 points and 3 rebounds, and Charlotte E. added 2 points and 6 rebounds.
Holliston will travel to Wayland for their next game on Sunday.
Next Game: Sunday at Wayland (away)
5th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
Holliston 5th Grade Girls Red team hosted a tough Walpole group and took a matinee loss, 41-13 at the famed Adams Gymnasium in Holliston. Despite coming out of the gate slowly, which saw a 12-point deficit at the end of the first quarter, Coach Cooper’s squad came to life the rest of the game for a performance marked by energy, balance, and steady improvement across the last 3 quarters. Catherine Levasseur tallied 8 of her game high 11 points in the second quarter to keep Holliston in the game going to halftime. Jaxie Mix also scored Holliston’s two other points in the second quarter.
In the second half, Holliston continued to play unselfishly. Reagan Taylor (7 rebounds) and Mia Foxberg (3 steal) brought energy on the defensive end while contributing with hustle plays, rebounds, and a strong defensive effort. Lilah Rowe (4 steals) and Addie Cicciarella (5 rebounds) led the team’s commitment to defense with forced turnovers and created scoring chances all game.
After the game, 4 unknown players were at the Miller playground basketball hoops in the 27-degree weather preparing for next week’s road matchup vs Canton. Assistant coach Amy Levasseur was spotted in the parking lot with her car lighting up the playground basketball court. The Holliston Reporter spoke with Levasseur later that night to inquire if she was indeed in the vehicle lighting up the courts, but she responded with “No Comment.”
Next Game: Sunday at Canton (away)
6th Grade Girls (White)
Coach: Wing
The 6th Grade Girls (White) travel team experienced another disappointing loss against Needham. Holliston had a rough start to the game with zero points in the first quarter, but the girls were able to pick up the pace in the second quarter and get some points on the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, Maddie Joe Charette and Signe Strand helped the team by adding a combined 5 points. Maddie Joe stepped up her rebounding skills this week, and due to her increased effort and aggressiveness, she was able to put up a shot that resulted in drawing a foul. She sunk 1 of 2 free throws. Two of Signe Strand’s shots drew fouls, and she made 3 of 4 free throws. She also had an impressive deep 2-pointer!
Amelia Parker carried the team in scoring in the second half with 2 made baskets and sunk 3 of 6 free throws. She was both offensively and defensively aggressive the entire game. Amelia hit the floor multiple times in attempts to grab loose balls and had several steals.
All the girls played hard, but Needham came to win, and in the end their speed and determination beat Holliston. We will continue to work to strengthen our weaknesses and learn how to gel together as a team to help prepare for our next home game, Saturday night vs. Milford.
Next Game: Saturday at home vs. Milford
6th Grade Girls (Red) – Team King
Coach: King
The 6th Grade Girls (Team King) earned a strong 33–9 win over a feisty Millis squad. The game was highlighted by excellent individual and team defense, along with a balanced offensive effort in which every player contributed.
Josie Brower led the way with 11 points, showcasing her speed and athleticism as she pushed the pace and converted multiple fast-break opportunities. She also delivered an outstanding defensive performance. Katelyn Klein added 6 points while demonstrating strong ball-handling, displaying great court vision, and playing a physical, all-around game. Richa Yedugani scored 6 points, using her speed and agility on both ends of the floor, creating offensive opportunities and finishing tough layups under pressure—using both hands.
Brooke McGrath chipped in 6 points with poised shooting, a fantastic post move, and relentless weak-side rebounding, proving that height doesn’t limit scoring or rebounding ability. Olive Bennett and Lennon King skillfully ran the offense as floor generals, dishing out numerous assists, scoring 2 points each, and playing outstanding defense. An awesome team effort with just six players this weekend. Next up: Ashland! Good luck to all teams this coming weekend!
Next Game: Saturday at Ashland (away)
7th Grade Girls (Red)
Coach: Cooper
The Holliston 7th Grade Girls (Red) team earned a well-deserved victory on the road, 27–11, over Dover-Sherborn with a complete team performance that showcased balanced scoring, defensive intensity, and unselfish play. Nine out of 10 players found themselves in the scoring column for the Panthers. Kendall Kanlon decided to play the most unselfish game by giving up multiple shot opportunities and finishing the game with 5 assists.
Offensively, the scoring was spread across the lineup right from the start. Emma Sochanek led all scorers with 6 points and got the team going early, knocking down key baskets in the first half to set the tone. Brianna Cooper provided a steady scoring presence, tallying 4 points and 4 assists, while Ruby Smith was a force on the boards, ending with 3 points and 6 rebounds. Using smart cuts and strong finishes, Molly Starr contributed the entire game, ending with 2 points.
Charley Marcuard scored 2 points to go along with 5 steals that created multiple fast-break opportunities. Arya Sharma added timely rebounds and a put-back basket in the second quarter, helping maintain momentum when the game tightened.
In the second half, Rebecca Lindros made a big impact, scoring in the third quarter on an Allen Iverson-style crossover. Sam Baweja added scoring late, capitalizing on opportunities and helping close out the game with a basket down the stretch. The defensive player of the game went to Ryckie Reichheld (2 points), who was relentless on the Dover-Sherborn guards.
This win was a true team success. Every player played their role, supported one another, and stayed focused from start to finish. The balanced scoring and collective energy made this performance a strong example of Holliston basketball at its best.
Next Game: Sunday at home vs. North Attleboro
