Holliston basketball returned from the holiday break with six wins and two teams still undefeated. Coach McDonough’s 7th Grade Boys improved to 4-0 with a gritty 22–14 win over Dover-Sherborn (D-S), locking down on defense and holding D-S scoreless in two quarters. Coach King’s 6th Grade Girls also stayed perfect at 4-0, knocking off a previously undefeated Westborough team 42–30 in a battle of unbeatens. Coach Keller’s 8th Grade Boys earned their first win of the season, edging a previously undefeated Medway squad 20–19 behind Nolan Burke’s 6 steals and 11 points. Coach Kanavich’s 8th Grade Boys won a nail-biter over Watertown, 30–28, while Coach Taylor’s 6th Grade Boys rolled past Medway 52–38, and Coach Cooper’s 5th Grade Girls gutted out a 28–21 road win at Needham with just six players. A few teams came heartbreakingly close—Coach Peterson’s 5th Grade Boys lost by a single point, 41–40, and Coach Cooper’s 7th Grade Girls saw a potential game-winner rim out with 7 seconds left. Six wins, two undefeated squads, and plenty of momentum as the season rolls on.

BOYS

4th Grade Boys (White)

Coach: Lohan

Holliston’s 4th Grade Boys (White) dropped a 52–37 decision to Westwood on Sunday in a hard-fought matchup that was much closer than the final score suggests. The game featured strong energy and momentum swings, remaining back and forth through the first three quarters as both teams traded baskets and defensive stops.

Joshua Lawendi led Holliston offensively with an impressive 17 points, consistently attacking the hoop. Declan Lohan added 8 points and anchored the defense, applying steady pressure and making key stops throughout the game. Liam Schwartz turned in one of his strongest all-around performances of the season, hustling for loose balls, setting solid picks, cutting hard to the basket, and playing excellent defense that helped spark teammates. Ben Nauss also contributed in important ways, showing great hustle and delivering a couple of crisp passes.

Despite Westwood pulling away in the fourth quarter, Holliston showed resilience, teamwork, and growth against a tough opponent. The team will look to build on the positives from this performance when it travels to Hopkinton for its next game on Sunday.

Next Game: Sunday at Hopkinton (away)

4th Grade Boys (Red)

Coach: Javier

The 4th Grade Boys (Red) made their second trip to Southboro Trottier Middle School, this time to face the Southboro-Gold team. Unfortunately, they were unable to leave with a win, falling 31–19. With Coach Javier on the injured list with a bad case of the flu, Coach Brannigan stepped in to lead the boys to a great start, ending the first quarter with a 6–4 lead. Xander Gratton had a strong defensive quarter that included a steal. The team continued to keep things close and finished an exciting first half down 11–10. The highlight of the half was a buzzer-beating putback by Matthew McCarthy.

The second half was marked by Southboro-Gold finding its scoring touch while the 4th Grade Boys (Red) put up a number of good shots that unfortunately missed the mark. Elliot Duemig’s hustle was rewarded with a sweet running jumper. Caleb Javier worked the boards and had a nice euro-step layup in the fourth quarter. Cristian Robinson continued to be an active menace on defense while Ronan Brannigan led the team with 6 points. The team will look to turn things around when they host Norwood-Blue back at Adams Middle School on Sunday, January 11 at 10:50am.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Norwood-Blue (10:50AM)

5th Grade Boys (White)

Coach: Peterson

The 5th Grade Boys (White) Panthers showed grit and growth on the road this past Saturday, battling Westwood in an exciting matchup that came down to the final minute. Despite a strong comeback effort, the Panthers fell just short, 41–40.

Holliston trailed by 10 early in the second quarter but refused to back down. The Panthers surged ahead in the third quarter, building a 10-point lead of their own behind aggressive defense and fast-paced offense. Westwood slowly chipped away, however, and edged ahead in the final minute to seal the win.

Playing short-handed with just seven players, every Panther contributed to the hard-fought effort. David Girgis and Benjamin Leach showed great court vision with several excellent assists. Leo Patka continued his trademark hard work, setting strong screens and playing tough defense. Youssef Lahaini scored 4 points and made his presence felt on defense and the boards.

Oskar Peterson filled the stat sheet with an unofficial 14 rebounds, along with multiple blocks and steals, and added 2 points. Charlie Ogoreuc provided steady leadership at point guard and chipped in 11 points. JT Barry led the scoring with a fearless performance, pouring in 23 points with acrobatic drives to the basket.

Although the Panthers are still searching for their first win, the team continues to show clear improvement and tremendous heart. Holliston will look to turn that progress into a victory next Sunday, January 11, when they host Hopkinton at home.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Hopkinton

5th Grade Boys (Red)

Coach: Flannery

The Holliston 5th Grade Boys (Red) squad had a very uneven effort in their first game back from the holiday break. This reporter attributes it to too many sweets and candies during school vacation because the crash in energy was significant. After a solid first half, the boys couldn’t muster any offense in the second half, dropping a 46–26 decision to Canton. The first half was well played with Holliston only being down by 5 at the break.

Keegan Flannery led all scorers with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and a block. The Maxes balled out as usual. Max Burian had 11 big points including a 3-pointer, and Max Page led the team with 5 rebounds and 2 steals. The team will look to regroup this week at practice, cut down on sugar, and prepare for a Tri-Valley League matchup next weekend. The Norwood Mustangs ride into Adams this upcoming Sunday.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Norwood

6th Grade Boys

Coach: Lyskowski

The 6th Grade Boys Panthers weathered a tough loss against a strong Ashland team in Ashland, losing 42–8. Guards Jesiah Varghese (2 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Jake Looney (2 points, 7 rebounds) gave strong efforts throughout, with Varghese earning 4 trips to the line. Power forward Jevrial Perez nabbed a season-high 7 rebounds, while Liam O’Leary and Trevor Lyskowski added buckets for the Panthers to round out the scoring.

The squad wraps its 3-game road trip this Sunday against Millis.

Next Game: Sunday at Millis (away)

6th Grade Boys (Black)

Coach: Donahue

Holliston’s 6th Grade Boys (Black) “Hornets” hosted an undefeated Sharon team at home on Sunday. The boys faced this hard-pressing and aggressive team with grit and determination, adapting their play throughout the game to the tough and persistent defensive play by their opponents. Despite their opponent’s aggressive defense, the Holliston boys did a fantastic job moving the ball down court throughout the entire game.

Down 7–16 at halftime, the team rallied in the third to come within 2 points at one stage and ended that quarter only 4 points behind at 19–23. Neel Lele led the attack from the point position with his impressive ball-handling skills and aggressive offense, ending the game with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jack Donahue battled hard throughout the game, contributing an impressive 6 points, 7 boards, and 1 steal. Ronan Ojha fought hard on both ends, adding 4 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal. Emerson Vail pushed the pace throughout the game, contributing 3 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Henry Cuneen continued his hustle in the paint, pulling down 6 boards.

Despite a hard-fought game by the entire team, Sharon pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 35–21. The team will move on, after probably their toughest battle of the season, to play at home this weekend taking on neighboring Ashland.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Ashland

6th Grade Boys (Red)

Coach: Taylor

The Holliston 6th Grade Boys (Red) team hit the road, traveling to Medway after an extended holiday break. The boys jumped to an early lead with some tough press defense out of the gate, which led to 8 quick points. Darian Harris (4 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) was flying around the court causing chaos all game, as always. Ayen Hemaratne came out in the first quarter with 4 steals, finishing the game with 2 points and 5 steals total. The first half was highlighted by a pair of quarter-ending buzzer beaters—Harrison Cirillo (8 points, 4 rebounds) in the first quarter and George Taylor (2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) in the second. The boys took a comfortable lead into halftime, 24–12.

The second half was more of the same, with the intensity staying high and the offense heating up. Tyler Crean led all second-half scorers with 10 points and consistently got to the basket, making all his layups and catching the other team flat-footed with a great first step. He finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and a block. Grady Gum had an exquisite up-and-under layup in the third quarter which got all the fans on their feet. Grady finished the game with 10 points and 4 rebounds. Max “Pickpocket” Cohen was a defensive menace all game, cutting players off on the press, which led to 3 steals, and finished with 4 points and 2 assists as well. Dylan Maillet (2 points) made some nice second half passes which led to 3 assists, along with strong defense that led to 2 steals. Yamori Richardson fought through some early foul trouble but added 4 points and 2 rebounds. Andrew Levasseur had a sequence of three offensive rebounds in a row and finished with 4 points as well.

In the end, the boys from Holliston fought off a late attack by a feisty and tough Medway team, which at one point cut the lead to only 8 points. Final score: 52–38 Holliston! The boys return home to the Robert Adams Jungle this Sunday (1/11) at 4:10pm vs. Somerville.

Next Game: Sunday, January 11 at home vs. Somerville (4:10PM)

7th Grade Boys (White)

Coach: Sgarano

The Holliston 7th Grade Boys (White) lost a tough game against Foxboro this past Sunday afternoon, 33–9, at Adams Middle School. Foxboro got off to a hot start, getting out to a 7–0 lead after the first quarter. Holliston fought back in the second quarter, holding Foxboro to just 2 points with their aggressive defense. Ultimately, Foxboro pulled away in the fourth quarter for the victory.

Arnav Pavuluri played tough defense, leading the team with 3 steals. Max Metivier and William Finneran each made a big shot to keep the game close in the first half.

Holliston’s next game is on Sunday afternoon against North Attleboro at Mass Premier.

Next Game: Sunday at Mass Premier vs. North Attleboro

7th Grade Boys (Red)

Coach: McDonough

The undefeated 7th Grade Boys (Red) Panthers got back to work this past Sunday against Coach McDonough’s alma mater, Dover-Sherborn (D-S). The frigid gym contributed to uncharacteristically cold shooting from the Panthers, who found themselves down 13–8 after the first quarter against a fast, aggressive D-S squad.

To make up for the missing shooting touch, the Panthers locked in on defense. A smothering full-court press forced turnovers that created fast-break opportunities, enabling the Panthers to take a 14–13 lead into halftime.

The defensive intensity continued in the second half. Even when D-S managed to break the press, the Panthers’ interior defense prevented them from getting second-chance opportunities thanks to the stout rebounding of big men Ty Looney (13 rebounds) and George “The Palm” Floeckher (7 rebounds). Cole Dennison, Anderson “Handerson” Langlois, and Owen Jacquet nabbed 5 rebounds apiece as the Panthers held D-S scoreless in the second and third quarters.

Floeckher paced the offense with 10 points, adding a highlight-reel block of a D-S three-point attempt to put this one away. Teddy Miller, Logan McDonough, and Ryan Baker controlled the pace and penetrated the D-S defense, and all 10 Panthers contributed to a hard-fought 22–14 win for the now 4-0 Panthers.

Next Game: Sunday at Milton (away)

8th Grade Boys (White)

Coach: Kanavich

The 8th Grade Boys (White) won in dramatic fashion against Watertown, 30–28. The team improves to 2-2 in league standings and 3-6 overall. Leading the team in scoring was Brody Stanley with 12 points, followed by Luke Bartels (6), Patrick Coletti (4), Leo DeFazio (2), Daniel Levens (2), Sam Ginnings (2), and Logan Kanavich (2). Leading the team in rebounds was Patrick Coletti (4), followed by Kirill Stotski (3), Sam Ginnings (3), Lincoln Daniels (2), Luke Bartels (2), Brody Stanley (2), and Daniel Levens (1).

The team travels to division rival North Quincy on Sunday, January 11.

Next Game: Sunday at North Quincy (away)

8th Grade Boys (Black)

Coach: Keller

Holliston’s 8th Grade Boys (Black) got into the win column with an inspired, hard-fought game against a previously unbeaten Medway team. After a sluggish start on the boards, Holliston turned things around in the second quarter, controlling the tempo and mostly limiting Medway to outside shots, earning a 20–19 victory.

The defense was the star of the show on this day, led by the aggressive, scrappy play of Nolan Burke, who registered 6 steals, while Stone Secaur registered 6 rebounds and 2 huge shot blocks. Burke also paced the team on the offensive side with 11 points, followed by Nick Gorham with 5 and Evan Utke with 4. Holliston returns home to face Needham on Saturday, January 10.

Next Game: Saturday at home vs. Needham

GIRLS

4th Grade Girls (White)

Coach: Marien

The Holliston 4th Grade Girls (White) opened the new year with one of their grittiest efforts yet, battling back from an early deficit before ultimately falling 22–14 to Newton at home. Holliston dug in defensively and allowed only 4 points in the second half, nearly completing the comeback.

Offensively, Lyla Wisner poured in 10 points on four field goals and a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Laiana Girgis added 4 key points, knocking down two big shots during Holliston’s second-half surge.

On the glass, Cassidy Cicciarella was a rebounding machine, grabbing 12 boards. Liliana Brown battled inside for 6 rebounds and added a blocked shot, while Girgis pulled down 4 boards of her own. Iris Smith, Amal Hadad, Ava Snyder, and Kailey Esposito all contributed on the glass as well, rounding out a true team effort.

Defensively, Holliston’s energy in the second half was the story. Wisner led the way with 5 steals and a block, turning pressure into transition chances. Girgis, Cicciarella, Snyder, and Esposito each added a steal, while Riley Marien provided steady defense, and Molly Nechev chipped in with a nice assist to help jump-start the offense.

Though the comeback fell just short, the team’s resilience, positive attitude, and never-quit mentality shined from start to finish—a performance that felt every bit like a step forward, regardless of the score. They’ll be back in action this Sunday on the road against Medfield.

Next Game: Sunday at Medfield (away)

4th Grade Girls (Red)

Coach: King

Holliston’s 4th Grade Girls made the long trip to North Quincy this past Sunday. Despite a 20–14 loss to a talented North Quincy team, the Panthers showed many encouraging signs. After allowing 10 quick points in the first quarter, Holliston held North Quincy to just 10 points for the remainder of the game. Most notably, the team’s on-ball and help defense has shown significant improvement as the season has progressed.

Sloane Miller led the way with 6 points and strong defensive play. Rose Weinberg brought fierce, aggressive defense, disrupting numerous offensive opportunities for a strong North Quincy squad. Natalie Negri effectively ran the offense, making excellent passes, adding a basket, and playing tough defense. Evelyn Dellicker disrupted several plays with her consistent defensive effort, while Kate Robertson and Celina Lahaini worked to establish a presence in the post. Hannah Kane contributed solid help defense, and Adriana Dello-Iacono worked tirelessly on both ends of the court, showcasing her athleticism. Avery Jacquet continued to create offensive opportunities, and Devaney King added 4 points while also playing strong on-ball and help defense.

With a renewed emphasis on rebounding, finishing, and ball movement, the team looks to refocus and continue their hard work heading into next week’s road matchup against Walpole. Good luck to all teams this week!

Next Game: Sunday at Walpole (away)

5th Grade Girls (White)

Coach: Ennis

This weekend, the 5th Grade Girls (White) team engaged in a competitive back-and-forth game against Dover-Sherborn. The opposing team was a well-coached and formidable opponent.

Despite a sluggish start, the girls demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, ultimately rallying to take a lead in the first quarter. Brighton contributed 4 points and secured 5 rebounds, while Alaina tallied 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. The team’s defensive prowess was evident in their collective 15 steals. Anna Maria further enhanced her performance with 6 steals, a layup after Sienna’s effective screen, and 3 rebounds. Harper also contributed with 4 points and 3 rebounds, while Lily scored 4 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and recorded 5 blocks.

Despite their valiant efforts, the White team ultimately fell short, losing the game 23–18. The 5th Grade Girls will return home this Sunday to face Belmont in another competitive match.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Belmont

5th Grade Girls (Red)

Coach: Cooper

The 5th Grade Girls (Red) team pulled off an impressive 28–21 victory on Sunday while away at Needham Middle School. Even though the team only had 6 players compared to Needham’s 10, the girls played tough and with a lot of heart to achieve the win. The first quarter started out slow as Holliston quickly fell behind by 8. They were playing good defense; however, the shots were not falling. In the second quarter, though, things turned around. Holliston went on a 6-point streak by Catherine Levasseur to put Holliston back in the game.

Following that scoring run, Mia Fosberg made a great steal and drove to the bucket to tie up the game. The team never looked back. Jaxy Mix and Adalyn Cicciarella were defensive beasts, leading to multiple steals and 6 points for Holliston. Regan Taylor also had a strong game on the boards with 10-plus rebounds and 4 points.

The team was thrilled to have Sadie Adamson back from the injured reserve list after being out since November. Her scrappy defense, diving after loose balls and rebounds, was just what the team needed. Lilah Rowe, who unfortunately just joined the injured reserve, was there and did a great job helping coach and motivate her team on the sidelines. In the end, Holliston’s defense was too much for Needham. The girls play next week back in Holliston on Sunday.

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Canton

6th Grade Girls (White)

Coach: Wing

The 6th Grade Girls (White) travel team played strong and fierce vs. Northboro this past Sunday; however, the game ended in a loss (14–28). Holliston worked hard throughout the game, but Northboro’s intensity and nonstop trapping made it very challenging for our girls to move the ball and put points on the board.

Olivia Wing had an awesome breakaway that resulted in a successful layup. She was also able to blow through some tough defense and hit a sweet little jumper. Another force was Amelia Parker, who flew by defenders numerous times and drove right to the hoop. Her speed and determination helped put 8 points on the boards.

Julia O’Shaughnessy showed no fear as she guarded and boxed out players twice her size. Her undeniable hustle and speed on the court was on full display and led to a successful basket.

The girls will continue to work on their defense, shooting, and boxing out this week at practice in preparation for their next game this Sunday evening at home vs. Medway. Come cheer our girls on!

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Medway

6th Grade Girls (Red)

Coach: King

Holliston’s 6th Grade Girls faced their toughest matchup of the season against a very talented Westborough team. Both teams entered the game undefeated at 3–0, with Holliston facing a notable size disadvantage. In a hard-fought, high-energy battle, the Panthers showcased their athleticism, effort, and confidence, earning a 34–22 victory to improve to 4–0 on the season.

Richa Yedugani set the tone early with several quick steals and layups, finishing with 6 points and applying relentless defensive pressure throughout the game. Lennon King contributed 13 points, going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, while effectively running the point and dishing out multiple assists. Katelyn Klein added 6 points and demonstrated a high basketball IQ with strong court awareness and impressive interior passing.

Josie Brower (4 points) and Winnie McHugh (2 points) established a physical presence against a forward-heavy Westborough team, attacking the boards and diving for loose balls. Millie Guellnitz played tough, embracing a challenging defensive assignment against a talented Westborough forward. Olive Bennett continued to showcase her anticipation skills, recording several steals that led to successful fast-break opportunities.

It was a strong and well-earned win against a quality opponent. The Panthers remain hungry and focused on continuing to improve as they host Southborough at home on Sunday. Good luck to all teams!

Next Game: Sunday at home vs. Southborough

7th Grade Girls (Red)

Coach: Cooper

The 7th Grade Girls (Red) team played hard for all 32 minutes of their 15–13 loss to Hopkinton on Sunday, including a clean shot attempt by Charley Marcuard that rimmed out with 7 seconds left in the game. Marcuard, who scored 4 points on the day, received a great inbound pass from Ryckie Reichheld for the last-second shot attempt.

The story of the day for the Panthers was defense and fast breaks. Ruby Smith, who tied the game in the third quarter with a rebound and big-time putback, also had 4 blocks to go with 5 rebounds and 2 points. After the Smith putback, the electricity in the famed Adams Gymnasium would have powered all of Holliston. The Holliston Reporter received reports after the game that Smith’s play caused a 5-second electric blackout across all of Holliston at 7:22pm.

Also in the third quarter, “Emma Squared” (Emma Whitehead and Emma Sochanek) were relentless on the fast break. First, Emma Sochanek had a huge 7-foot floater on a fast-break pass from Emma Whitehead. The next possession, Whitehead did it herself with a 9-foot jumper that once again put the fans in a frenzy. Whitehead had created 6 fast-break opportunities from 6 of her own steals on the day.

Becca Lindros registered 14 rebounds, and Brianna Cooper added 3 points before leaving the game with blood gushing from her nose after creating offensive contact and taking a whack to the face. The team will look for their first win of 2026 with a long-haul matchup at Freetown-Lakeville.

Next Game: Sunday at Freetown-Lakeville (away)