The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team is back on track.
After its 35-game winning streak was snapped by Scituate in its season opener, the Panthers shook off a slow start against Silver Lake and rolled past the Lakers for a 75-47 home victory on Friday, Oct. 17.
“As soon as the guys started to get in the flow and run the floor a little bit better, I think we keyed off our defense,” said W-H head coach Bob Rodgers. “It’s good for them to get their first win. It’s a young team — most of these guys haven’t played varsity before — so it’s nice to get a W.”
W-H trailed 7-1 midway through the opening frame and then entered junior Cole Champignie. The junior (11 points) knocked down one of his three first-quarter triples and ignited a 31-0 Panthers run in the process.
“He’s really been one of the kids I’ve been most happy with here in the early going of the season,” Rodgers said. “He doesn’t just shoot it, but he’s pretty long, he hits the glass well. He’s somebody who is really working his way into the rotation.”
Senior Malcom Alcorn-Crowder was a force in the middle with 12 points and 15 rebounds, while senior captain Ryan Vallancourt netted 15 points in the win.
In other highlights:
Girls’ basketball (2-0) is off to a 2-0 start. Mike Costa’s team opened its revenge tour with a 49-39 win over Scituate on Tuesday, Dec. 14. The Panthers turned it up on the defensive end, holding the Sailors scoreless in the first quarter. On offense, senior captains Abby Martin (13 points) and Lauren Dunn (12 points) and junior Caitlin Leahy (10 points) all scored in double figures. … On Friday, senior captain Meg Stone pumped in 15 points off the bench to lead W-H past Silver Lake, 59-22.
Boys’ hockey (1-1) rebounded from an season-opening loss to Duxbury and edged Plymouth South, 3-2, in overtime on Saturday, Dec. 18. Sophomore Luke Tropeano (two goals) potted the winner with just under a minute to go in the extra frame. Junior Matt Solari had the other goal.
Wrestling (3-1) dropped a 48-27 decision to Oliver Ames on Wednesday, Dec. 15. Winners for the Panthers were: freshman Charlie Lussier (106 pounds via forfeit), sophomore Graham McInnis (120; 13-6), sophomore Austin Gamber (126 via pin in :30), freshman Cooper Lussier (152 via pin in :45) and senior captain Rocco Ruffini (220 via pin in :28). … On Saturday, W-H placed second in the Sandwich Early Bird tournament. The Panthers had four champions on the day. Charlie Lussier ran the table with four pins, senior Joe Boss (113) had three pins, Gamber also had three points and junior Maddox Colclough (226) had three pins of his own.