BOYS:
4th Grade Boys (Red) Coach: Flannery
The Holliston 4th grade boys squad (red) were shorthanded 4th this past weekend, and lost a tough contest to neighboring Hopkinton at RAMS – the final score was 30-11. Hopkinton dominated the first quarter as the home team simply could not get a shot to fall. After one quarter the boys were down 12-0, which proves it’s almost impossible to climb out of a hole that big. Quarters 2 through 4 the boys played at a much higher pace and energy level which was a positive sign. The day was not a total loss, as there were several highlights worth pointing out. Not since the days of Bill Walton roaming the parquet floor has a redhead rebounded with such a combination of ferocity and joy! James Eaton finished the game with an outstanding 7 rebounds and 3 steals to lead the team. Henry Paine made a great jump shot and played with his usual tenacity, adding 3 rebounds and one steal. Keagan Shaw also got into the thievery column adding 3 steals to go along with his 3 rebounds. Declan Langlois continued his strong play on the season finishing with a team high 6 points and 5 rebounds. Next up for the squad is another early morning tilt this coming Sunday (February 2nd) against Medfield at RAMS.
4th Grade Boys (White) Coach: Peterson
Following the cancellation of their January 19th game against Medfield, the Holliston 4th grade boys (white) team had an eventful week filled with excitement and determination.
This past Tuesday (January 21st), the boys brought their energy to cheer on the Holliston varsity team as they dominated Bellingham. Adding to the fun, the boys played a halftime scrimmage against their crosstown rivals, the Holliston (red) team. For many players, it was their first experience on live television—a thrilling milestone! If you missed the action, the game is available on the HCAT YouTube channel.
On January 22nd, the team traveled to Wellesley for a rescheduled game. The tight confines of Bates Elementary School created an intense atmosphere, with fans practically on top of the action. Despite the challenging environment, the Panthers gave it their all, ultimately falling to the Raiders 44-26.
Trailing 32-11 at halftime, Holliston came out strong in the second half, outscoring Wellesley 15-12. Aiden Doss, Max Burian, and Charlie Ogoreuc led the offense, each scoring six points. Youssef Lahaini added three points, and Aaron Wang scored his first point of the season, sinking one of two free throws. The game’s standout moment came from Benjamin Leak, whose pinpoint bounce pass on a fast break set up an easy bucket for the Panthers.
After focused practices on Thursday and Saturday, the team hit the road again on Sunday, this time traveling to Canton for a matchup against the Bulldogs. Despite a packed schedule, the Panthers delivered their best performance of the season in a hard-fought 42-24 loss. Once again, Holliston fell behind early but adjusted their defense and played competitively for the final three quarters.
A key defensive standout was Oskar Peterson, who locked down Canton’s top scorers, grabbed key rebounds, and contributed four points. Leo Patka also had a strong game, moving his feet on defense and on a couple of occasions bringing the ball up the court into a prime scoring position (which we’ll take advantage of in the future!) David Girgis and Jayce Sweet stepped up with hustle plays and defensive stops, showing great effort throughout. On offense, Max Burian and Charlie Ogoreuc both shined, scoring 10 points each and keeping Canton’s defense on its heels.
The weekly effort award went to Aaron Wang, who pushed himself to finish first In the team’s end-of-practice sprints—a testament to his dedication.
While the team is still searching for their first win, Coach Mark Peterson couldn’t be prouder of their enthusiasm, effort, and teamwork. He remains confident about the future, sending a clear message to doubters: This is not a team to bet against!
5th Grade Boys (Black) Coach: Gum
The Holliston 5th grade boys (black) traveled to Bellingham this past Sunday with both teams entering the game 4-2. The game was very intense with both teams playing aggressive defense – Bellingham led at halftime 19-12. In the second half Bellingham forced multiple turnovers and out-rebounded Holliston, holding Holliston to its second lowest point total of the season. Bellingham won comfortably 39-18 bringing an end to Holliston’s 3 game winning streak.
Holliston was led in scoring by Grady Gum (7), Darian Harris (5), Yamori Richardson (2), Ronan Ojha (2) and Andrew Levasseur (2). Ronan Ojha had his best game on the boards pulling down 6 rebounds to lead the team. Logan Rivard played solid defense with 2 rebounds and a steal and Cooper Garran was a menace defensively the entire game. Cade Burke played his most aggressive game of the season diving on the floor to force 3 jump balls and also grabbed a rebound. Jack Donahue also played aggressive defense forcing a couple jump balls and pulled down 2 boards and added a steal.
The boys hope to begin another winning streak when they host Milton (black) this Sunday, February 2nd at 10:30.
5th Grade Boys (Black) Coach: Taylor
The Holliston 5th grade boys (red) team coaches’ email had a slight mess up two weeks ago, so please enjoy this two week recap! On 1/12/25 the Holliston 5th grade boys (red) team took on another Somerville team this past weekend. The game was tight at halftime with Holliston clinging to small lead by a score of 19-18. However, in the second half Somerville’s best player turned up the pressure scoring 18 second half points and Somerville ended up taking the game 39-34. Scoring was led by Harrison Cirillo (11) followed by Ayen Hemaratne (8) and Sam Wagner (6). Max Cohen (3pts) took the task of once again sticking with Somerville’s top player most of the game playing excellent defense. Then on Sunday, 1/19/24 the snowstorm that moved through town ended up leading to a cancelation of the highly anticipated Holliston vs. Holliston game in the Robert Adams Jungle.
On to this past week’s game between the Holliston 5th grade (red) team and the visiting Bedford Buccaneers. Holliston came out hot running the give and go to perfection and cutting passing lanes to get a quick lead 13-6 at the end of the first. The boys played hard in the second half, but the scoring was not there by either side and the game went into half time at a score of 17-9 Holliston. The third quarter the boys exploded scoring 12 points and giving up none. In the fourth everyone got to play some new positions and the boys rolled to a 33-14 victory. Scoring was led by Harrison Cirrillo (19) and George Taylor (12) which included 4 for 4 from the stripe. Ayen Hemaratne battled through a slight finger injury but chipped in 2 points on a beautiful left handed layup. The boys take to the road this Sunday 2/2 and kick of February in Lexington @ 10:30am at the Diamond Middle School.
6th Grade Boys (White) Coach: Cordero
In an electrifying game, Holliston’s 6th grade boys (white) faced off against Medford (white) in an away match but fell short with a final score of 61-32. Despite the loss, Holliston put up a valiant fight and delivered their highest-scoring performance so far this season. Starting strong, Ryllan Kelley contributed 6 points, showcasing his skills on the court. Jacob Snow was a standout, racking up 10 points, including a thrilling 3-pointer that had the crowd on their feet. Connor Lyon and Clay Duffy each added 2 points, ensuring the team stayed competitive throughout the match. David Blackerby brought in 5 points, while Owen Callahan delivered a solid performance with 7 points, highlighting the team’s improving offensive game. Despite the final score, the boys demonstrated their determination and potential, making it clear that they are a team to watch this season. We’re looking to bounce back this coming weekend (February 2nd) on the road vs Wellesley (B).
6th Grade Boys (Red) Coach: Sgarano
The Holliston 6th grade boys team (red) beat a tough Somerville team 38-36 at home this past Sunday to bring their record to 4-3 on the season. Somerville got off to a hot start, getting off to a quick 11-0 lead in the first quarter. Holliston battled back to keep the game close with their suffocating press and scored 15 points in the 4th quarter to seal the win.
Seven different players scored for Holliston. Ryan Baker led the way with 11 points. Owen Jacquet had 8 points and George Floeckher had 5 points. Logan McDonough had 6 clutch points in the 4th quarter.
Holliston will take on Hopkinton at home this coming Sunday afternoon (February 2nd).
7th Grade Boys (Red) Coach: Kanavich
The 7th grade Panthers boys team (red) lost to Milton (grey) 21-35. The team drops to 3-4 in the division and 4-8 overall. Leading the team in points was Dylan Perrett (14), followed by Logan Kanavich (7), and Stone Secaur (1). Leading the team in rebounds was Stone Secaur with 13, followed by Patrick Colletti (9), Dylan Perrett (3), Lincoln Daniels (3), Logan Kanavich (2), Dylan “Dubbs” Dimmick, and Nolan Burke (2). The team looks to bounce back this coming weekend as it squares off against its Eastern Mass rival Westwood at home on Sunday February 2nd.
7th Grade Boys (Red) Coach: Magoon
Holliston’s 7th grade boys (red) team dropped a tough game to Milton, losing 42-22. Early in the game, the boys struggled to counter Milton’s (near) six-foot center. They found some rhythm in the second half, but by that time the game was out of hand. John Gebski was awarded the weekly bling, demonstrating amazing grit going up against Milton’s big guy. Nate Eppinger continues to be on a run, leading the scoring with 6 points, followed by Joseph Lawendi with 5, Nick Gorham with 4 points, Brody Stanley with 3, and Devon Doray with 2. Not sure who got the final 2, but we’ll assign those to the “rest of the team.” The boys are onto Milford for a Saturday night game at RAMS.
8th Grade Boys (Red) Coach: Furey
The Holliston 8th grade (red) boys team hosted Bellingham this past weekend. Unfortunately, the boys got off to a slow start and ultimately could not hold off Bellingham, falling 35-28. William Hayes came up huge in a second half run, leading the team with 9 points – Quinn McErlean followed with 7. In addition, Orson Daniels (6), Ben Furey (2), Andrew Ferguson (2) and Eli Boggess (2) also contributed offensively. Next week the boys have a double header, hosting Medford on February 1st and traveling to Natick on February 2nd.
8th Grade Boys (Black) Coach: Ennis
The 8th grade boys team (black) participated in two games this past weekend. On Saturday evening, they traveled to Westborough to face a well-balanced team. Despite the absence of several players, the team valiantly battled throughout the game. Regrettably, they emerged with a loss. The final score being 54 to 13.
The defensive effort has been steadily improving, although it may not be immediately apparent in the score line. However, the players’ determination and effort were evident throughout the game.
Leading the team in scoring was Vinny Lima, who tallied two points and two steals. Zach Ennis contributed three points, four rebounds, and three steals. Bior Ayuen secured four rebounds, while CJ Landers amassed six points and eleven rebounds. Sam Peters added two points and two rebounds, and Kiernan secured two rebounds.
On Sunday afternoon, the team faced a formidable Milton squad. Despite the challenging opponent, the boys demonstrated their defensive prowess, causing numerous turnovers throughout the game. The boys continue to practice their skills.
Leading the team in scoring was Zorik Sahakyan, who scored four points, grabbed four rebounds, and had two steals. Vinny Lima contributed three points, two steals, and Zach Ennis added three points, four rebounds, and three steals. Bior Ayuen secured two points and two rebounds, while CJ Landers amassed ten rebounds. Sam Peters contributed four points and two rebounds, and Paul Kuttab secured two points and four rebounds.
The boys will try to get back on the winning track this coming weekend when they host Westwood on Saturday at 4:10.
8th Grade Boys (Black) Coach: Negri
This past weekend, the Panthers battled but came up short against Lincoln-Sudbury (red), 36-24. Down 31-14 heading into the fourth quarter, the boys rallied with an 11-5 run, sparked by full court defensive pressure and timely shooting. Charlie Peterson earned the 4th Quarter Hustle Award for his relentless play, leading the team with 6 points. Nick DiPippo pulled down 9 rebounds, working tirelessly in the paint against a much larger opponent. Although the result wasn’t what they hoped for, the team should be proud of their effort and fight in the final moments. They’ll have something to build upon when they face Millis at home this weekend (February 2nd).
GIRLS:
4th Grade Girls Coach: Cooper
The bright lights of the Adams gymnasium shined on the 4th grade girls this past weekend in a thrilling victory which came in the closing seconds, to beat Bedford 13-10. Holliston found themselves down 10-9 with 1:05 on the clock when the team applied a full court press with ball pressure from Sadie Adamson (2 points) and Anna Maria DellaRocca to produce a steal, leading to a clutch go ahead lay-up from Catherine Lavasseur. Levasseur (6 points) then put the icing on the cake 30 seconds later with another basket to seal the game. Lilly Ennis and Harper Sochanek both found themselves in the scoring column with a basket each. Team defense was the name of the game with lock down Bobby Hurley style defense coming from Lilah Rowe, Addie Cicciarella, and Brighton Swenson. Reagan Taylor controlled the paint with a game high 6 rebounds and Madeline Cooper had 3 assists. It was a fun basketball weekend for this group, as the team got to play on Saturday at half-time of the Bentley University Women’s basketball game. The team travels to Lincoln-Sudbury for an early evening game on Sunday February 2nd at 6:30.
5th Grade Girls (Red) Coach: King
The Holliston 5th grade girls (red) earned another nice victory against a scrappy Bedford team this past weekend. Richa Yedugani was an impact player for the team this weekend making strong contributions offensively but also stopping the other team’s best player from scoring. Richa has really come on this season as a force and it has been wonderful to see her confidence grow with each passing game. Millie Guellnitz and Josie Brower also stood out for the strong defense both on and off the ball, getting in the passing lane, disrupting the other team’s plays, and playing outstanding help. Olive Bennett and Lennon King continue to do a great job bringing the ball up and engineering all plays for the team. Overall, the girls are doing a great job this season. They head into a bye week this weekend but will follow it up with 2 games on the weekend of February 8th and 9th. Best of luck to all teams this week!
5th Grade Girls (Black) Coach: Wing
The Holliston 5th grade girls (black) had a Saturday night home game vs the Bedford Buccaneers. Holliston did a nice job recovering from their loss from last weekend by coming back fierce and determined in their Saturday night game. They were able to stay strong throughout the entire came, which led to a victorious outcome.
Everyone played hard, aggressive defense and did well moving the ball around on offense. Katelyn Klein really shined as she hit the floor numerous times during the game to grab rebounds and steal balls. She also drove multiple times to the hoop, resulting in points on the board. Winnie McHugh rejoined us back on the court after being out for several weeks due to an injury. Her presence was greatly missed and having her back definitely helped provide the team with many rebounds and even an awesome jump shot, adding points to our final score.
Odelia Nkam also did great with both offensive and defensive rebounds as well as making one of her foul shots. Brooke McGrath was another of our players who made it to the line and sunk one of her foul shots. She, additionally, did well maneuvering her way to the hoop and put 2 more points on the board.
Olivia Darling, Willa Drummey and Olivia Wing all played tough defense. Olivia Darling set some killer screens and Willa Drummey was another of our girls who hit the floor to chase down loose balls. A special thank you to Richa Yedugani from team King who helped us out since we were down several players.
The team’s hard work really did pay off in this game and the girls should be proud of all they did on the court. We look forward to our next game on Sunday morning February 2nd vs Natick!
6th Grade Girls (Red) Coach: Cooper
The 6th grade girls (red) team logged their first win of the season 20-4 over Dover-Sherborn at the storied Adams Gymnasium this past Sunday. The team also traveled to Bentley University on Saturday January 25th and participated in a dominant half-time performance at the Bentley Women’s basketball game. Emma Sochanek told reporters after Holliston’s win that “seeing a college team in person, move the ball and shoot, were all facets of them game that team would take in our own game on Sunday.” Sochanek was not lying! The Panthers logged a season high 10 assists to go along with 14 steals, 5 of which came from Molly “the glove” Starr. Ellie Brown had 3 assists and two points while Ryckie Reichheld added 2 points on 7 rebounds. Brianna Cooper led the game in scoring (6 points) and Gwen Rosen added 4 points on two great interior moves. Kendall Hanlon continued her 3-game scoring streak with a nice outside shot, and Rebecca Lindros (2 points) was an absolute force in the paint. Lindros had a game high 11 rebounds and set the tone for the Panthers all game long. The team is on the road this coming weekend vs Concord-Carlisle February 2nd, tapping off at high noon.
7th Grade Girls (White) Coach: Roche
After two tough back-to-back losses, the Holliston 7th grade girls (white) looked to rebound this past Sunday vs. Waltham at Adams. The girls played great team defense and came away with a 20-10 win.
Louisa Bigelow started the game by making the first basket and ended with 6 points. By halftime, the girls had exceeded their combined point total from the last two games.
Elle Lessard had an outstanding overall game with 8 points, 3 rebounds and 6 steals. Dominica Bellamy had a her best game of year with 4 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. In addition, Lindsay Haynes was great on the defensive end with 2 blocks and 5 rebounds.
The team will be hosting Belmont at Adams on Saturday February 1st at 4:15 for their next game.
7th Grade Girls (Red) Coach: McAdams
The 7th grade girls (red) team came into Sunday’s match looking to get back on their winning ways. The team started slow letting up 10 quick points in the 1st few minutes of the game. Holliston turned the defense to 11 and held Southboro to only 7 more points in 3+ quarters onto a 22-17 victory. The defensive intensity was led by Aahana Kulkarni who shut down the Southboro guards with her ‘in your face’ defense which led to 4 steals. Ella Bennett led Holliston with 11 points to go along with 5 steals. Addy McAdams chipped in 3 points and was cleaning the glass all day with 10 rebounds. Audrey Mancuso added 2 points and also snagged 7 rebounds. Gwen Miranda scored 2 points and also helped the front line dominate with 5 rebounds. Avery Palma had a great baseline bucket along with an assist and 2 steals. Mia Malvey hit a long jumper for 2 points and Jackie Schiavoni had another awesome game at center pulling in 6 key rebounds. Holliston hosts Milton this coming Sunday morning (February 2nd) at 9:45AM.
8th Grade Girls (Red) Coach: McDonald
The overwhelming majority of matchups this season have been challenging for the 8th grade girls, Holliston (red), and this week with no exception with a team from a higher division visiting Holliston. Parkway (red) jumped out in front early with a 14-6 lead halfway through the second quarter. Holliston had opened a bit sluggish and as a team decided to step things up. It started with stronger defense and an aggressive full court press led by Olivia Kerchner, Emerson Harrington and Sedona Cicciarella, who led the team with 6 steals. From there, their offensive game came together, and the tables began to turn. The very exciting finish Involved Holliston retaining a 30-27 final score for the win. Emma Arsenault led the team in scoring with 10 points while grabbing 4 rebounds, Chelsea Dufault scored 4 points and had 5 rebounds, Brooklyn Lessard and Shamili Pottur scored 4 points each, and Mackenzie McDonald led the team with 8 rebounds. The girls travel to Quincy this coming weekend (February 1st) tapping off at 5:15.
Sign up and get automatic delivery of headlines to your inbox.
Thank you for subscribing!
