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Erin Leahy back on the court

January 11, 2018 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Team quad-captain Erin Leahy (34) is making an impressive comeback from a serious knee injury last year. / Photo by: Sue Moss

Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball junior captain Erin Leahy has battled back from a torn ACL to be ready for the opener.

Sometimes, amid winning, the adversity overcome to get there can be forgotten.

Last February, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team, which was one win away from making the tournament at the time, hosted Pembroke. W-H was on fire in the early going, up 10-0, with six of those points coming from then-sophomore point guard Erin Leahy.

“In my head, I was thinking she was going to have a career night,” head coach Jenna Olem said as she reflected on the game.

But, things took a turn for the worse for Leahy. After snatching a steal, off the Panthers’ press, Leahy jump cut and went up for a routine layup, but her return down was anything but routine, as she hit the floor awkwardly and immediately went down in pain.

“I knew that something went wrong because I heard it pop,” Leahy said as she reflected on the injury. “I was so scared.”

Olem said the team was in a state of shock when Leahy, who has been struggling with knee problems for a while, went down, but it had to keep pushing forward, even if it was going to be without its floor general.

“When it actually happened, everyone was so focused on winning that clincher that we had to move on quickly and focus on the task at hand,” Olem recalled.

Leahy, with the help of the trainer, made it off the court and headed into the trainer’s office, where she was given ice and crutches, before returning to the sidelines. It was there where she watched her team finish off Pembroke, 63-32, securing its first tournament berth since the 2013-14 season.

With the team and Leahy holding out hope it wasn’t serious, she headed for an MRI a few days later, and the results: a torn left ACL, sidelining her for the rest of the season.

Classmate, friend since kindergarten and familiar face on the basketball court since third grade, Kathryn Dunn, said the news was devastating.

“I was crushed because that meant I couldn’t play with my partner in crime, as coach [Paul] Carroll has called us since freshman year,” Dunn said.

Leahy, despite the injury, never missed a game or practice, but she knew being stuck on the sidelines wasn’t where she belonged.

“It just upset me so much that I knew I wanted to get back so much sooner than I was predicted,” Leahy said.

Eleven days after season’s end, Leahy underwent surgery.

“They said the earliest I’d come back was nine months, but since everything happened the way that it did, they were thinking a year, so that’s what they put in my head,” she said.

Within a few weeks, Leahy, with that one-year timeline in the back of her mind, began physical therapy, working on her hamstrings and building up strength in her leg.

“I continued it for about six months and it was two days a week for like an hour and a half,” Leahy said.

“So, going to [physical therapy] I worked so hard and I put a lot of time and effort into getting back and I did a lot of the exercises at my house. So, it was really just beating the odds of what they thought I was going to.”

Although Leahy, was kept off the court, there was no keeping her away from the game of basketball and over the summer and fall, she coached the Panthers’ league teams. She said it allowed her to see basketball from a new viewpoint, albeit one she didn’t expect to have an angle from so soon.

“It was cool to see like a coach’s perspective and when playing, I now have a whole new perspective on the game,” Leahy explained.

When Nov. 27 tryouts rolled around, Leahy was ready to go, nearly eight months after surgery. Olem, who said she talked with her frequently over the offseason, said she felt a sense of joy and relief to see Leahy back out there.

“She is a kid that takes no days off,” Olem said. “I was honestly skeptical about having her back right from the get-go, but she cleared all the benchmarks with the doctor and physical therapist and was ready and willing to go full speed since the start of tryouts.”

Leahy said some of the best words of advice she received during the lenghty recovery process actually came from her brother, Sean, who suffered the same injury two years prior.

“He kind of just said that he knows how tough it is, but time can really only heal it and work as hard as I could with [physical therapy],” she said. “It was basically what I had to do with myself and he kind of showed me that with his injury.”

Since returning to action, Leahy, now a junior captain, is a major reason the girls’ basketball team, which sits at 7-1 and is on pace for its best campaign in eight seasons, is enduring such immense success.

“Having her back on the court this year shows that she was the missing link as we made our way towards the tournament without her,” Olem said. “She is so strong and athletic and can do so many different things on the court that it makes us as a team deeper and more versatile.

“Erin continues to grow as a leader and is becoming better every practice and every game. During the first game of the season, we lost Halle [Julian] and Kathryn to injuries. Erin was able to stay calm and even keeled, and the younger kids were able to really look up to her and she was able to hit clutch three in overtime.”

Dunn, who is also a junior captain, echoed Olem’s sentiment.

“Having Erin back this year changes the dynamic of the team because she is a versatile player who can play all positions from point guard to center,” Dunn said. “Her ability to play many positions makes us more flexible as a team.”

The Panthers recently wrapped up a trip to Fort Myers, Florida to compete in a three-game Queen of Palms Tournament. W-H went 3-0 and captured the Emerald Division title and Leahy was tapped to the all-tournament team.

“Now, I just tell her to be honest with me,” Olem said. “If she is sore or feels a tweak she needs to rest, get ice, etc. Besides playing positions one through five for us all year, she is inching towards where she was pre-injury and will end up being better than she was before the injury, but we keep reminding her that she cannot get it all back at once and needs to be patient as she has not played at all over the course of her nine-month long recovery.”

Leahy said the biggest adjustment since returning has been just how different her leg is now, but it’s not a challenge she has to go through alone.

“It’s hard to play like I did before the surgery, but having my team behind my back and everything and, my coaches and they were being so supportive, just makes it a lot easier knowing they understand where I’m at,” she said.

Whether watching Leahy battle for boards, crash the floor in pursuit of a loose ball or slide into the lane for an easy two, know she doesn’t take the game of basketball as a given, not after what went through.

“I don’t really take it for granted anymore because it was taken away from me for so long,” Leahy said. “It’s nice to get back and the fundamentals that I had to start over with again just really made me a stronger player.”

Season Preview: Girls’ hoops builds on success

December 7, 2017 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team will be lead by a pair of senior and junior captains this season.

With a number of key pieces back in the fold, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team is looking to build off its success from last season.

It was a season in which the Panthers boasted 11 wins, their most in five years, and cracked the tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign. However, W-H will have its hands full trying to fill the shoes of four integral pieces from that run in three-year starter and two-year captain Taylor McVeigh, three-year starters and 201617 captains, Sophie O’Brien and Sarah Saccardo, and spot-starter Chloe Roberts, all of whom have graduated.

“In general, they will be a tough unit to replace more for the character, heart and leadership they brought every day than anything else,” fifth-year Panther head coach Jenna Olem said. “Their work ethic and accountability was such a big key to our success.”

But there will be no dwelling on what has been lost, as W-H seems to be in good hands going forward. Captaining this season’s club are juniors Kathryn Dunn and Erin Leahy, and seniors Halle Julian and Alyssa Nicholson.

Dunn, who moved into the starting lineup about a quarter of the way through last season, brings a lot to the table on both ends of the floor.

“She is another player that can play and defend so many positions,” Olem said. “Her ability to get to the basket and finish through contact will be huge for us this year. She never hesitates to hit the floor and consistently make those important hustle, momentumchanging plays for us.”

Leahy pumped in 7.3 points per game, snatched 6.4 rebounds per game and dished out 2.6 assists per game in 17 contests as a starter last season before going down with a torn ACL in early February. She initially wasn’t expected to be back until midseason, but looks good to go, which is a breath of fresh air for the Panthers.

“We will obviously be cautious with her until we feel she is fully ready, but there are no limitations,” Olem said. “Erin’s length, size, athleticism, speed and basketball IQ are what makes her such as special player. Her ability to play and defend all five positions makes it possible for us to flexible with our rotations. Once she starts hitting outside shots with more consistency, it will be very hard for teams to stop her.”

As for Julian and Nicholson, this will be their first season inserted into the starting lineup, and both are expected to contribute big minutes down low.

“Halle [Julian], again, has incredible quickness and athleticism for someone her size,” Olem said. “She is a natural shot blocker and great rebounder.

“Alyssa [Nicholson] has shown she can be a game changer when she is isolated in the post and can score consistently from underneath. She also alters every shot on the defensive end when her hands are up and active on defense.”

As Olem adjusts to her new lineup, she has made a change in the Panthers’ offensive game plan. Over the past couple of seasons a major part of W-H’s offense has been predicated on pounding the ball into the post, which is something the team will be trying to stray from.

“[We are] trying to spread out the offense a little bit with five-out or four-out sets,” Olem explained. “A lot of our offense will come directly off of our fast break, which has looked really good already. We have many players that can play a variety of positions with their length and speed.”

However, something that will not be changing is what W-H prides itself on the most, and that is being a defensiveminded team. Last season the Panthers had the ability to suffocate opposing offenses on any given night, as they allowed just a tick over 43 points per contest, and Olem said she absolutely expects the same level of play on the defensive end of the floor this winter.

“Defense is the most important aspect of our game simply for the fact that defense gives you the opportunity to win every game, especially on nights when the shots aren’t falling” she said. “We continue to have a lot of the same philosophies using different presses, match up trapping zones, and man to man.”

W-H will open the season on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. with a home game against Bridgewater-Raynham.

“While we suffered a heartbreaking loss in the first round of the tournament and it was the end of the seniors great run they put together, I honestly think we are set up for long-term success with the young kids we have in the program that are not only great athletes, but have a lot of basketball experience and high playing IQ,” Olem said.

Season Preview: Ready for redemption

April 6, 2017 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Jenna Olem has her sights on the postseason for her softball team this spring.

After a playoff hiatus last season, the Whitman-Hanson Regional High softball team is eager to get back into postseason contention.

The growing pains were tough for head coach Jenna Olem’s club in 2016. One year after posting a 15-5 regular-season record and earning a spot in the Division 1 South Sectional quarterfinals, W-H entered a state of rebuild, with the departure of many core pieces. Eight of the Panthers 12 losses came when they were tied or held a lead heading into the second inning. The fourth-year skipper is confident her club, which returns nine players, has learned from its mistakes.

“Last year we struggled defensively,” Olem said. “We made a lot of errors. We also did a poor job closing out games. This season our experience going through what we went through last year and not being able to finish is the main focus.”

Leading the team this spring will be senior captains Kristin Arthur, Kelly Burke, Emily Cook and Sarah Saccardo. Cook and Saccardo (2016 Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star) have started every game at the varsity level since their freshman season, Arthur is a three-year starter and Burke is W-H’s top home run threat.

On the mound, W-H will be led by 2016 team MVP and Patriot League Keenan Division All-Star, junior Colleen Hughes.

“She pitched for us, played center [field] and second [base],” Olem said. “This year she looks to be this team’s ace after spot starting last year. She is long and athletic and has a natural downward motion on the ball so it’s tough for hitters to make really good contact on her when she can locate.”

Cook, who toed the rubber in the Panthers’ 4-1 first-round win against Bridgewater-Raynham in 2015, will play a significant role on the bump as well.

When she’s not on the mound, Cook will start at shortstop, senior Kelly Burke will man first base duties, sophomore Kayla Crawford will play second and junior Hailey Norris will start at the hot corner with Arthur returning behind the plate.

In the outfield, Saccardo anchors the group in centerfield, classmates Julia Donovan and Julia Pendrak roam left and right, respectively.

Olem said she believes her club has the potential to turn what was a weakness last season into a strength this spring.

“We moved Cook to shortstop and she has such great instincts and confidence over there, and Saccardo to centerfield which plays to her strengths of getting to every ball and has a very strong arm,” Olem explained. “So, with those two and Arthur, who is a very strong catcher behind the plate, we are solid up the middle.”

W-H will be back on the field Thursday, April 6 at 4 p.m. as it plays host to North Quincy.

“I think you’ll see a team ready to redeem themselves from last year’s subpar season,” Olem said. “[Our returning players] all came into the season a better player than they were last year. They are a team that is ready to get back to their winning ways from a few years ago.”

W-H falls to Westwood in Hingham Holiday Hoops Classic

January 5, 2017 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Senior captain Taylor McVeigh (22) and sophomore guard Kathryn Dunn (33) join the battle for ball control under the boards vs. Westwood in the Hingham Holiday Classic. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

The Panthers dropped to 2-3 on the season with a loss to Westwood.

HINHGAM – A late Panthers charge was not enough Friday evening as the Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball team fell to Westwood 47-40 in the consolation game of the Hingham Holiday Hoops Classic.

“I told the girls it’s never a matter about play as hard as we can, you always bring that intensity,” W-H head coach Jenna Olem said. “It’s about playing a little bit smarter, taking care of the ball a little bit better and really just our Achilles’ heel all year has just been being able to put the ball in the basket when it counts.”

The Panthers hung with the Wolverines for a majority of the contest but a tough third quarter proved too much to overcome.

W-H (2-3) found itself in a hole early on as Westwood opened the game on a 7-2 run, sparked by five points from senior captain Haley Connaughton, as the Wolverines knocked down three of their first seven shots from the field.

The Panthers, despite nine turnovers in the quarter, clawed their way back to tie the game at 10-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Westwood (5-1), which connected on four of its first seven field goals to begin the second, started to ramp up the defensive pressure on the Panthers — limiting them to eight points in the quarter — and took a 23-18 advantage into halftime.

The Wolverines opened the third quarter on a 5-0 run to push their lead to double digits at 28-18.

Back-to-back field goals extended the Wolverines, who missed a string of nine consecutive field goals in the quarter, lead even further as they held W-H to four points to extend their lead to 35-22 entering the final frame.

Senior captain Sarah Saccardo spots up for a potential 3-pointer. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

“Sometimes we’re just beating ourselves in not being able to capitalize on the chances we need to and not go on enough runs,” Olem said. “We’ll get stops, but we won’t get any baskets to counter those stops.”

Back in it

Trailing 43-32 with 2:08 to go, things started to jell for the Panthers offense as they went on an 8-2 run — capped by Erin Leahy’s 3-pointer — to slice the Wolverines lead to 45-40 with nine ticks remaining.

However, Westwood was able to successfully inbound the ball after the make and two makes from the charity stripe squashed the W-H comeback.

“We only scored four points in the third quarter and then I put my defensive lineup in there a little bit and we held them and we scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and definitely gave ourselves a chance to win,” Olem said

McVeigh paced the Panther attack with 11 points as O’Brien chipped in nine.

At the conclusion of the game, McVeigh and O’Brien were named to the All-Tournament Team.

“They’re phenomenal,” Olem said. “I can’t ask for better coached players, better leaders, more experienced good kids. They’ve given me everything they got every time and they’re a great model for the entire program.”

Season resumes

W-H returns to Patriot League action at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 at Plymouth North.

“We just got to get back to work,” Olem said. “We’ve been practicing really hard. We have to try to win one game each week to get into the tournament.”