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Jack Kelly agrees to play for Bridgewater State

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Jack Kelly runs down field in the Panthers’ game against Abington on Thanksgiving. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Jack Kelly will play football at Bridgewater State University next season.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior Jack Kelly has committed to play football at Bridgewater State University.

“Bridgewater State is a great school for education,” Kelly explained. “My father attended there, and I am going to be a physical education major.

“The coaches who recruited me were in constant communication with me all throughout the season, and immediately made me feel a part of the program. The coaches stressed academics just as much as they did football. College football is a big deal, but they are also preparing us for our careers and to be successful in life.”

Kelly said he began being recruited by the Bridgewater State coaching staff after the New England Elite Football Clinic at Bentley University in July.

“After meeting them at the camp, the coaches stayed in constant communication through email, text and phone calls throughout the season,” Kelly said. “After the coaches had me up for two games in the fall, that solidified that Bridgewater [State] was the perfect fit for me.”

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Kelly played two years for the Panthers, having moved to Whitman his junior year from Brockton, where he played his freshman and sophomore campaigns as a Boxer.

This past season, Kelly started at linebacker for the Panthers and recorded 47 tackles, seven for loss, and broke up three passes.

W-H football head coach Mike Driscoll lauded Kelly’s worth ethic.

“Jack was a very, very hard worker,” Driscoll said. “He really attacked the weight room hard last offseason to get stronger and that’s why we moved him to linebacker, because he played some defensive back for us, but he worked so hard in the weight room and got so strong that we knew we had a position for him and he earned it.”

Kelly said his most memorable tilt as a Panthers was Oct. 6 when W-H defeated Plymouth North, 28-24, in the last minute.

“They were a big, physical team, and as a defense we rose to the occasion and got many hard-fought stops in the second half, which allowed us to pull out a huge win late in the game,” Kelly said.

Driscoll said Bridgewater State is landing a hard-working kid, who is going to give it 100 percent every day in Kelly.

“He’s a smart kid, he’s a good kid,” Driscoll said. “They’re getting a well-rounded individual.”

Kelly said the two main facets of being successful at football he learned as a Panther were hard work and preparation.

“At Whitman-Hanson, the entire program bought into offseason workouts,” he said. Not only did it make us bigger, faster and stronger for the 2017 season, but it really brought us together and united us as a team. For me, as a linebacker on defense, coach [Keith] Sweeney had us thoroughly prepared week in and week out with film work and attention to detail every day at practice.”

Bridgewater State, which competes in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III, finished 2-8 last season.

“College football will be a big adjustment, going from playing against boys to playing against men,” Kelly said. “However, having played for many great coaches along the way, I will be ready for the next change in my football career.”

Tournament hoop dreams: Boys, girls in postseason

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Photos by: Sue Moss

This is the second straight season, and third time in the last five years both W-H basketball programs have earned a spot in the postseason.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have punched their tickets to the tournament.

This is the second straight season, and third time in the last five years both W-H basketball programs have earned a spot in the postseason.

The boys’ team (14-4, 12-2 Patriot League) clinched its berth with a 70-53 rout of Plymouth North at home on Friday, Feb. 2, giving it its 10th win of the season.

The Panthers were in command for much of the contest, leading by double digits essentially all evening, but did have to thwart a Blue Eagles charge that sliced their lead to seven in order to claim victory.

“After the game, I congratulated the kids on checking off one of their goals but [said] that we had several more to go,” W-H boys’ basketball head coach Bob Rodgers said.

In the victory, senior captain Sean Leahy led the way with 19 points and fellow senior captain Jacob Hanson-Bartlett chipped in 12.

Not only did it give the Panthers their 10th win of the winter, but it also marked the 10th straight season the boys’ program has qualified for the Division 2 South Sectional tournament.

“I’m a firm believer that each team has the potential to motivate the players of tomorrow,” Rodgers said of the consistent success. “When a young player comes into the gym and watches our guys play, it is my hope that they will go home dreaming of one day being on that court.  If enough kids in town have that dream I’m confident enough of them will find a way to make it a reality.”

But as Rodgers stated, the Panthers, who have clinched two straight Patriot League Keenan Division titles, and been to two straight Division 2 state semifinals, their eyes are on a much bigger prize.

“We just want to keep playing fundamental basketball with a great deal of intensity,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully that translates into enough wins to earn a home playoff game.”

Girls follow suit 

As for the girls’ team (12-7, 8-6), it had a little more work to do if it wanted to head back to the tournament. Playing a 21-game regular season, the Panthers had to win at least 11 of their tilts.

Down 24-21 at halftime Tuesday, Feb. 6, on the road against Pembroke, the Panthers weren’t about to fold over.  Two key aspects of their campaign this season have been their depth and defense, both of which played a key role in the second half, as they held the Titans to 12 points in the second half to claim a 51-36 victory, securing their spot in the playoffs.

During that second-half charge, junior captain Erin Leahy (11 points and 10 rebounds) secured a double-double, fellow junior captain Kathryn Dunn caused the Titans fits on the defensive end of the court, classmate Olivia Johnson sank two key 3-pointers, junior Leah Badger tallied seven points and sophomore Olivia Martin connected on two pivotal left-handed layups.

“The number one thing we wanted was to come out with urgency from tipoff,” W-H girls’ basketball head coach Jenna Olem said. “It was awesome to see a bunch of players who work so hard during the week step up and contribute to the win.

“At the beginning of the game, I talked about the adversity that we went through in January and how it kind of led us to where we are now. To appreciate the process of getting to this point and going out and getting a big win against a tough team on the road was something to be proud of. The girls talked about how they think team chemistry is their biggest overall strength and it was on full display Tuesday night.”

This marks the second straight season the Panthers have qualified for the tournament. But, there is a wrinkle in that this year as they were moved up to Division 1 over the offseason, so they will have to get past some top-tier competition if they hope to advance come March.

“I mean, once you get into the state tournament I think all of the teams are tough,” Olem said. “Obviously, D1 consists of the powerhouses, but the Patriot League has some very tough teams that we face twice every season with Duxbury, Quincy, Hingham etc., so we will obviously have to elevate our game and hope we are playing our best possible ball the rest of the way.”

Up next

W-H and Quincy are the only two Patriot League schools to have qualified both basketball teams for the postseason.

The girls continue competition Thursday, Feb. 15 on the road against Quincy at 6:30 p.m.

The boys will be back in action Friday, Feb. 16 at home against Quincy at 6:30 p.m.

McAleer is making impact at Nichols

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W-H alum Mel McAleer has found smooth skating as a Nichols Colege Bison. / Courtesy photo: Jill Souza

Mel McAleer, a Hanson native, is impressing on the ice at Nichols College.

Mel McAleer is no stranger to success.

At Whitman-Hanson, as a member of Pembroke/Whitman-Hanson (2013-14) and then Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake (2014-17), her teams boasted a 53-26-7 record and cracked the Division 2 tournament each season. During that span, McAleer registered 114 goals and 73 assists. Now, she is carrying over that success at Nichols College.

It took McAleer, a Hanson native, all but 6:55 into her first collegiate contest to find twine. At the 13:05 mark of Nichols College women’s ice hockey’s season opener against SUNY Canton on Nov. 3, Kelly Ferreira passed to Jordyn McGuire who fed the puck to McAleer and she skated a few strides and buried a shot far side for a power-play goal, pushing the Bison up 2-0.

“After realizing that we scored, it was the best feeling.” McAleer said. “My coach did let me keep the puck and I gave it to my mom and she put it in her room as display.”

The tally, which turned out to be the game-winner, came 49 seconds after McAleer dished out her first collegiate assist on a goal scored by McKenna Gernander.

Since that first tilt, McAleer has nine goals and 11 assists and had been tabbed Colonial Hockey Conference Rookie of the Week twice.

McAleer’s most recent honor came Feb. 4 after she tallied four points (two goals, two assists) in 5-2 win over Neumann the day prior. Not only was it a career day for the freshman, but it was a record-setting contest for Nichols, as it set a regular-season wins mark with nine.

“I think that was absolutely my fondest moment because we all dialed in,” McAleer said of the game. “We all worked as hard as possible and together we made [women’s ice hockey] history. This year’s team is a team of firsts and it feels good to be a part of something so successful.”

McAleer’s path to the Bison is a unique one. She was actually recruited by former head coach Wil Brown, who stepped down, and was succeeded by former University of Maine women’s ice hockey assistant Mike O’Grady.

“I touched base with Mel when I got the job and she was in and said she was coming, so we kind of just went from there,” O’Grady said.

McAleer said the biggest adjustment from the high school to college level has been the speed of the game.

“Passes are much crisper and come much faster,” she said.

Building on speed

While at Whitman-Hanson, WHSL head coach Kevin Marani always raved about McAleer’s speed, but O’Grady said he’s seen her develop in other facets of the game as well.

“I think the other part that has come along is her ability to see some lanes, [and] not only put the puck in the net, but also give the puck,” O’Grady said. “She’s gotten better with some patience and the speed of the game and just the way things happen and reading lanes and more of some of the intricacies that come into the college level, playing within a system and understanding how to play within a system and how it can continue to help her be successful in putting the puck in the net.

“She’s grown in that way in terms of her hockey IQ has grown a ton, she’s not just playing at the Mass. high school level, where she was able to be really successful but at the same time, she was so skilled that she stood out a lot more where at the college level, you have to buy into the system, which she’s done very well to be successful.”

McAleer said the key to success at the collegiate rank is simply just competing for your teammates.

“Success on the ice at the college level is playing for the girl sitting next to me,” McAleer said. “I work as hard as possible from the minute I lace up my skates.”

McAleer, whose pregame ritual consists of putting on her headphones and imagining herself making plays from a fan’s perspective, said fully intends to finish out the campaign strong.

“A personal goal I have for myself is my first collegiate hat trick, but my main goal is my team’s success at all costs,” McAleer said. “I hope to get far in playoffs because we are absolutely capable of that.”

Brett Holmes signs with Colby College

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Brett Holmes hauls in a pass against Silver Lake. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Brett Holmes will play football at Colby College next season.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior Brett Holmes has committed to play football at Colby College.

Holmes, who has only received two B’s throughout high school and is a member of the Business Honor Society, said the choice came down to finding a school that would challenge himself academically and set him up for a bright future.

“When I went to other schools, they tended to focus on Brett Holmes as a football player, and how they will make me a better football player,” Holmes said. “When I went to Colby, they emphasized making me a better man as well as a better football player.

“They want to make their players better people and players, rather than just a good football player, and they do so by requiring players to do community service, and mandatory academic sessions.”

The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Holmes was a three-year starter at cornerback and a two-year starter at wide receiver for W-H.

This past season, Holmes, who served as a captain, was a ball hawk on defense, intercepting a team-leading four passes. He also ranked third on the Panthers with 59 total tackles. On offense, Holmes tied for first on the team with 23 receptions and led W-H with 306 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

W-H football head coach Mike Driscoll, who also coaches Holmes on the boys’ indoor and outdoor track teams, lauded his leadership.

“Brett was an amazing leader, he does everything right off and on the field,” Driscoll said of Holmes, who was the Panthers’ Patriot League Scholar-Athlete recipient. “His hard work rubbed off on the other players and he showed the younger guys that hard work pays off. Colby is getting an amazing-student athlete, with first-class speed, a work ethic that is second to none and a winner.”

Holmes, who was a league all-star this past season, said his most memorable game as a Panther was his final at Dennis M. O’Brien Field – a 21-14 victory over Marshfield on Nov. 10. He hauled in three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown and came away with an interception in that one.

“Marshfield was fun because it was my last game on the field I had been playing on my entire life, and we were playing a top program that honestly thought they were going [to] roll us,” Holmes said. “Everybody on the team played great, and it was just a fun experience to be playing on that field with my friends for the last time. The sub-20-degree wind chill wasn’t too fun though.”

Holmes said the main lesson he learned during his tenure at W-H that he hopes to carry over to the collegiate level is just hard work.

“W-H taught [me] that you have to work for whatever you want, on the field, off the field, anything, you have to go and work for it,” he said.

Colby, which competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III, finished 1-8 last season.

“Right now, I’d be quite the undersized defensive back, but if I can put on some muscle it’ll help,” Holmes said. “I expect to succeed by just doing whatever the coaches ask me to do.”

All-around leader takes the mat: Blackstone steps up for Panthers

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LEAP FORWARD: Britney Blackstone on the bars in a recent meet. In her first year with W-H gymnastics – the team’s second since its return – she is a an all-around team leader. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Through the Panthers’ first five meets – in which they are 8-1 – senior first-year member Britney Blackstone has posted the highest all-around score in each one.

Sophistication, maturity, hard work and incredible talent.

Those are the assets that senior Britney Blackstone has brought to the gym this winter in her first season as a member of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High gymnastics team.

“Her work ethic is incredible,” W-H head coach Rachel Sferruzza said. “She’s always working, you don’t have to ask her to do anything, so she is definitely a leader by example.”

Through the Panthers’ first five meets – in which they are 8-1 – Blackstone has posted the highest all-around score in each one.

“She has certainly stepped up in a role where she shows the other girls how hard work can really pay off,” Sferruzza said. “She kind of brings a life to our team which we didn’t have before, where the girls are really cheering her on. They haven’t had someone on the team do gymnastics this big before, so they get really excited for her and we’re all really proud of her.”

In W-H’s first meet of the season Dec. 19, Blackstone boasted a 34.7 all-around score as the Panthers swept the meet, to open the winter 3-0. The three wins matched the club’s win total of last season, which was its first year back from reinstatement.

While it may be Blackstone’s inaugural campaign donning a Panther uniform, she is no stranger to gymnastics. She first hit the floor when she was 6 years old at Kathy Corrigan’s School of Gymnastics and has competed ever since. Last year, she was sticking her routines at Head Over Heels Gymnastics before having a change of heart.

“I hadn’t done a high school sport yet and I was getting a little tired of my club sport,” Blackstone explained on her decision to join the Panthers this season. “It was a lot of time and stuff so I decided to quit that and start high school.”

Sferruzza said that while she didn’t know Blackstone personally last season, she did know of her, but she’s ecstatic she chose to join them this time around.

“Her mother was actually pretty instrumental in pushing for the program at Whitman-Hanson, and I know Britney was really contemplating doing it last year, although her club team was pretty strict and it would have been a lot of juggle along with keeping up her grades, she’s a good student as well,” the head coach said. “So, I understand that mental struggle in doing one versus the other.”

Sferruzza said as the winter’s gone on, they’ve added difficulty to Blackstone’s routines, which can be seen by her all-around marks, as she’s hit 35.4 or more in two of the past three meets.

“We’ve tweaked them a little bit to build up her scores,” Sferruzza explained. “We’ve worked hard on cleaning up her routines and making sure that she is hitting the elements and she has gotten better through the season.”

As for growth, Blackstone acknowledged she still has plenty of room for it as the season enters the homestretch.

“I want to pike my vault, to stick beam because that hasn’t been going so well and I want to get my double full back on floor,” Blackstone said.

Hoping for some deja vu in Big D

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After winning nationals last season, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleading team is vying for another title.

It’s off to Dallas for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders.

The team will head for the Lone Star State Friday morning, where it will compete in the NCA Senior & Junior High School National Championship, held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The two-day tournament, which spans from Saturday to Sunday, boasts many of the top teams from across the country.

Last winter, the Panthers, in their third straight trip to the tournament, captured the Small Advanced High School division.

Screen Shot 2018-01-25 at 3.32.47 PM

Under the leadership of head coach Tanisha King and senior captains-Ali Janis, Hannah MacDonald, Olivia Villanueva and Peyton Wright-the squad railed to win their first the NCA national title in the Advanced Small High School division on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017. / File photo

W-H head coach Tanisha King, who is in her sixth year at the helm of the program, said the NCA is one of the most prestigious competitions in the country based on the fact that teams must score a certain average at the state-level to even be invited.

King added that embarking on such a journey does draw them closer together.

“It definitely is a team bonding trip,” King said. “Whenever we do go there I do try to do certain things outside of our competition. In years past we’ve gone to the aquarium, the zoo, last year we took a tour of the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, so we get to do things as a team we obviously wouldn’t be able to do here in Massachusetts, so it’s nice to do that.

So far this year, the cheerleaders – led by junior captain Anna Franklin – have captured a league title, regional crown and state title all during the fall. King said she’s seen an immense amount of growth from her team, which boasts just one senior after graduating four off last year’s roster, as the season’s worn on.

“I’ve seen a lot of people pick up the slack that I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to be able to,” King explained. “Even just younger girls stepping up and being role models and leaders for the team and filling the shoes of the four girls that left. They accepted that challenge and I think that showed in our state routine and the level on confidence and the level of difficulty that we had. They didn’t let anything hold them back.”

While the cheerleaders have endured great success, considerable time and effort has gone into that, and even more is needed before heading to Dallas, where they’re forced to alter their entire routine. The NCA consists of a minute-long cheer, while stunting, tumbling and moving, where back in Massachusetts the girls’ whole routine is performed to music.

“It could be a stamina issue, it’s definitely training your body differently,” King said. “You have just over six weeks to do that with them, so it’s a lot of different training that goes on in those six weeks getting them ready.”

Last winter, W-H followed up its national championship winning trip to the NCA with a league title, regional title, state title and New England tile. But first thing is first, it had to get the job done in Dallas.

“They have one agenda on their minds,” King said. “It’s not like a regular trip where we’re going down there, they’re going down there with the intentions on hitting their routine and hopefully becoming a champion again.”

Pinning down success: Freshman Goldsmith-Greene impressing on the mats

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Damari Goldsmith-Greene wrestles his Plymouth South opponent in his 9-5 win Jan. 3. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Freshman Damari Goldsmith-Greene is impressing on the mats this winter.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High freshman wrestler Damari Goldsmith-Greene has been turning some heads with his play on the mat this season.

It was on brisk Wednesday, Jan. 3 evening when W-H hosted and was soundly defeated by Plymouth South, 69-3.

W-H’s lone win of the match came at 132 pounds, courtesy of Goldsmith-Greene, who downed his opposition, 9-5.

It was already the third victory of the winter for Goldsmith-Greene, and while he may be in ninth grade, he is vastly ahead of the game.

Goldsmith-Greene began his career on the mat in sixth grade as a member of Josiah Quincy Upper School’s wrestling team, where he competed for three seasons, before moving at the outset of the 2017-18 school year, which led to him attending W-H.

“I came in not knowing anything and then in seventh and eighth grade it was more of like a learning thing for me,” he said. “Then, when I got here it was kind of different because we all wrestle different, but I knew I just had to work hard and just keep it up.”

W-H wrestling head coach Gary Rabinovitz said he knew from day one he had something special in Goldsmith- Greene. “He had great takedowns, but his top and bottom is what really needs the work, so he has a lot to learn, he’s a freshman, but he’s willing to learn – he’s going to go very far,” Rabinovitz explained. “He’s come with a lot of experience behind him and pure talent, I think he’s going to be really good over the next three years.”

Not only has Goldsmith-Greene enhanced his own skills, but he’s improved others around him as well.

“Actually, Ben Cordingley at 138 [pounds], they both weighed in at 132 and he has made Ben a better wrestler,” Rabinovitz said. “Damari showed up on the scene and pushed him and actually won the spot at 132 and they’re going to wrestle off one more time before sectionals, so the things that he’s brought to the team are incredible. He really works very hard, very coachable and just a great overall kid.”

Goldsmith-Greene said the biggest hurdle he’s had to overcome since joining the W-H program is just adapting to the system.

“Learning the new moves that they learn,” Goldsmith-Greene said of his toughest challenge since joining the team. “Everyone wrestles differently, that’s basically it, learning new moves.”

In the Panthers’ Jan. 10 meet against Duxbury, Goldsmith-Greene scored another 9-5 victory to help the team edge the Dragons, 45-36. Three days later, he medaled at the 2018 Weymouth Invitational with a sixth-place finish at 132 pounds.

“I just want to work harder and make it to sectionals and states,” Goldsmith-Greene said.

Rabinovitz is looking for the same thing out of Goldsmith-Greene.

“The key is to place in sectionals, go to states, especially as a freshman,” Rabinovitz explained. “Then at every tournament next year he’ll have what’s called paper, so he’ll be at least seeded at every tournament next year, so we’re really looking for him to be in the top-four in sectionals and go to states as a freshman.”

Holland commits to Trinity College

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Rilley Holland (center) readies to snap the ball during the Panthers’ game against Barnstable. / Photo by: Sue Moss

During Riley Holland’s four seasons on the offensive line, the Panthers’ rushing attack saw an immense amount of success — accumulating 9,339 yards and 102 touchdowns.

Whitman-Hanson Regional High senior Riley Holland has committed to play football at Trinity College.

“I looked at what school is going to give me the best chance to get a good degree, mixed with the best chance to play high-competitive football and Trinity fit both perfectly for me,” Holland said.

The 6-foot-2, 285-pound Holland was a four-year starter on W-H’s offensive line. He spent his first two seasons at left tackle, before shifting over to center, where he was tabbed a two-time Enterprise All-Scholastic. This past Thanksgiving, Holland set a school record with his 44th consecutive start.

During his four seasons on the offensive line, the Panthers’ rushing attack saw an immense amount of success — accumulating 9,339 yards and 102 touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, Holland, who manned a post on the defensive line since his sophomore campaign, totaled 144 tackles and 4.0 sacks over his high school career. Holland, a captain this past season, is also a two-time Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star on the gridiron.

W-H football head coach Mike Driscoll, who just concluded his seventh season at the helm of the program, said Holland is the best all-around lineman he has ever coached.

“Riley brought a toughness to the offensive line and an overall understanding of the scheme [which] was huge on game days,” Driscoll said. “Riley will get to work right away for Trinity and it will not surprise me if he starts next year, he will help them big time.”

At Trinity, Holland will be reunited with former W-H trench-mate Matt Evans, whom he spent two years with on the Panthers’ offensive line.

“Knowing someone there and being able to talk to him about the school and the chances you get was definitely something that I enjoyed throughout the process,” Holland said.

Holland said his best moment playing for W-H, which boasted a 25-19 record during his time there, was on Thanksgiving of his junior season, when the Panthers came roaring back from a three-touchdown deficit to defeat Abington, 29-28.

“Being down 21-0 and coming back to win that game, that was huge,” Holland said.

Trinity, which competes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III, finished 8-1 last season.

“I just want to go into camp next summer and compete as early as I can,” Holland said.

Scoreboard debut

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Freshman Emily McDonald has been logging significant minutes at forward for the Panthers, and Sunday evening at Hobomock Arenas, she collected her first career varsity goal.

PEMBROKE — With a rash of offensive production gone from last season, opportunities have arisen for many younger players on the Whitman-Hanson/Silver Lake high school girls’ hockey team.

One of those younger players getting the chance to shine is Emily McDonald, a freshman from Whitman. McDonald has been logging significant minutes at forward for the Panthers, and Sunday evening at Hobomock Arenas, she collected her first career varsity goal. 

Whitman freshman Emily McDonald netted first career varsity goal in WHSL’s loss to LaSalle Academy/Moses Brown Sunday, Jan. 7. / Photo by: Sue Moss

With 6:41 remaining in the third period, McDonald, from inside the blue line, blasted a shot on the La Salle Academy/Moses Brown goalie Asia Porter, and it found the back of the net.

“[It felt] good,” McDonald said of her goal.

WHSL head coach Kevin Marani said McDonald had been snakebitten a bit this season – hitting the post on a few chances in a pair of prior games – so he was happy to see her have something to show for her savvy play.

“She’s a smart, smart player,” Marani said. “She’s a good kid, tries hard. It was nice to see her finally break the ice.”

McDonald’s tally was one of three WHSL (0-7) goals in an 8-3 loss to La Salle Academy/Moses Brown (10-0-1).

The first came just 52 seconds into the contest when sophomore defenseman Natalie Nemes (Kingston) worked her way up the boards, to left circle and flicked a shot that beat Porter right over her left shoulder, making it 1-0.

The advantage was WHSL’s first all season.

“It was a nice celebration,” Marani said. “We needed a lead, we deserve it, we work hard.”

Unfortunately for WHSL, it would not last as LA/MB knotted the score at 1-1 with 7:11 remaining in the first period when Alexa Morra blasted a wrist shot past freshman goalie Kat Gilbert (Halifax).

Less than a minute later, LA/MB went ahead 2-1 and that’s where it stood after the opening frame.

The second stanza is where the contest would get away from the Panthers as 41 seconds into it, the visitors pushed ahead 3-1 when Grayson Goolgasian found twine. Tallies by Samantha Marsh and Jennifer Rickard gave LA/MB a four-goal cushion through two periods.

With 6:41 remaining in the final stanza, McDonald’s tally drew WHSL within 6-2.

After another LA/MB goal, WHSL’s Meagan Elwood (Kingston) found the back of the net with 2:31 left, making it 7-3.

However, it took LA/MB 14 seconds to respond as it made it 8-3 and that’s where it would stand.

WHSL will be back on the ice Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. against Haverhill/Pentucket/ North Andover at The Bog Ice Arena in Kingston.

“I think we’re getting it,” WHSL head coach Kevin Marani said. “We had a bunch of breakdowns. They’re trying hard. Today was a good game, they played hard.”

A win for Lori: Panthers erupt for five goals in third period to win one for Sawtelle

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WINNING FOR LORI: The W-H Panthers wore specially designed memorial jerseys for the Saturday, Jan. 6 Lori Sawtelle Memorial Game. / Photo by: Sue Moss

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team played with heavy hearts Saturday.

ROCKLAND – Saturday evening was Lori Sawtelle Night as the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ hockey team honored the late mother of its captain, Ryan Sawtelle.

The team broke out its black jerseys and donned an oval “LS” decal on the top right shoulder, all of which were part of the tribute to Lori, who lost her battle with cancer last March. After a brief pre-game announcement to remember Lori while showing support to her family, the puck was set to drop.

On the ice, the Panthers weren’t about to be denied — not on Lori’s night — as they rallied behind their captain and his family for an emotional 6-1 victory over Plymouth North at Rockland Ice Rink.

“We definitely knew what we were playing for tonight and this whole season, too, so it meant a lot,” Sawtelle said.

When W-H (4-3-1, 1-2-1 Patriot League) took the ice for the third period with the score reading 1-1, the feeling in the rink was palpable — it was going to get the job done.

With roughly nine minutes remaining, senior assistant captain Korey Howard (one goal and two assists) made sure that happened by blasting a wrist shot past Plymouth North (3-3-2, 2-1-1) goalie Chris Kearney to push the Panthers in front 2-1.

“We did it,” Howard said of his initial thought after the goal.

Nearly a minute later, with 8:22 remaining, freshman Kevin Willis poked one home, pushing W-H’s lead to 3-1.

Senior assistant captain Alex Uva enhanced W-H’s advantage to 4-1 with 6:39 left, potting one past Kearney.

“It was awesome,” Uva, who said this was the most packed he’s seen the Rockland Ice Rink, explained. “The atmosphere tonight was great and getting that goal in front of all these fans and for Ryan and his family was awesome.”

The Panthers’ offensive onslaught continued as tallies by junior Owen Manning and sophomore Ed Collins capped a five-goal period.

After falling behind 1-0, W-H drew even at the 8:05 mark of the second period as a blast by Sawtelle caused a pair of rebounds, one of which was slapped in by sophomore Chris Stoddard.

“I knew that I wanted to come out strong and show everyone who we are and what we’re going to do tonight,” Sawtelle, who finished the night with three assists, said.

Uva, who ended the contest with a goal and three assists, said his mindset coming into this one was a simple one.

“Get the win for Lori, she was a great person and I’d do anything for the Sawtelle family,” he said.

Sawtelle said the outpouring of support he received from his teammates, coaches and community meant a lot.

“It shows who’s there for me, definitely a lot of support for me and helped me play through this game,” Sawtelle said

The victory also snapped a two-game Panthers losing streak, to boot.

W-H returns to action Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. against Abington at Rockland Ice Rink.