Whitman-Hanson Express

You are here: Home / Archives for Plymouth North High

The wait is over: Girls’ basketball wins first league title since 2010

By

Senior captain Lauren Dunn celebrates with her teammates after cutting down the net. / Photo by: Nate Rollins

The Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball program has secured the Patriot League Keenan Division title.

The current Whitman-Hanson Regional High girls’ basketball seniors were in kindergarten the last time the program had won a league title.

That was 12 years ago.

They ended that drought last night on senior night.

Backed by a dominant defensive effort and offensive contributions from all over the roster, the Panthers cruised past Plymouth North, 55-31, to earn their first Patriot League Keenan Division crown since 2010.

“It feels so amazing,” said senior captain Abby Martin. “I’ve never been happier in my life.”

Said senior captain Lauren Dunn: “We’ve been so close the past couple of years and we finally got it. I’m so happy.”

Senior Kristina Tsiantoulas (10 points) — in her game action back from a torn ACL — got the Panthers rolling early against Plymouth North — the defending league champion — scoring the first four points of the evening to help W-H (17-2, 14-2 Patriot League) build a 23-5 advantage after one.

Freshman Lillie MacKinnon (10 points) nailed a three right before the halftime buzzer to push the Panthers’ lead to 35-16 at the break.

That cushion swelled to 24 at the end of the third quarter and they kept their foot on the gas the rest of the game.

“They’ve wanted this,” said third-year W-H head coach Mike Costa, who owns a 41-13 record since taking the helm. “They know how close they were to getting this last year. I’m extremely proud.”

Senior Rosie MacKinnon paced the Panthers with 11 points and eight rebounds. Senior captain Meg Stone chipped in eight points and corralled six boards in the win.

“Everything we’ve done for the past three years with [coach] Costa all came together,” Stone said. 

W-H is back in action on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. when it takes on Belmont at St. Mary’s (Lynn) to open the Spartan Classic.

“This is great but we still feel like we have a long way to go,” Costa said. “We feel like we have as good a chance as anybody to compete for Division 2.”

Said all three senior captains in unison: “We’re not done yet.”

Dunn lifts girls’ basketball over Plymouth North at buzzer

By

Junior Lauren Dunn’s tip in at the buzzer sends the girls’ basketball team to its fourth straight win.

It was Whitman-Hanson’s ball with nine seconds to go and the score tied at 43.

Junior Lauren Dunn knew just what she had to do.

“I was in the corner ready to crash,” she said.

And she came through. After Reese Cordero’s 3-pointer was off the mark, Dunn was there for the putback at the buzzer to lift W-H (5-2) over previously-unbeaten Plymouth North (6-1) and to its fourth straight win, 45-43, the final.

“Coach (Mike Costa) had the play all drawn up for Reese and it all just happened so fast,” Dunn said. “Reese shot it and I just had to go get it.”

“You always say when the shot goes up, a lot of people just watch the ball, especially at the end of the game,” said head coach Mike Costa. “But she snuck in there and was able to put one home.”

Not only was able able to put one home, but with 33 seconds remaining she threw the ball of a Plymouth North defender as she was falling out of bounds to give the Panthers new life.

“We wanted it bad,” Dunn said.

The Panthers trailed by as much as seven, 36-29, in the fourth quarter until junior Abigail Martin (14 points, seven rebounds) got going. Martin, who sat out most of the third quarter due to foul trouble, scored six points in the final frame, including a layup to put W-H up 43-41 before the Blue Eagles tied it at 43.

“She just brings a toughness that not many people in this league have,” Costa said of Martin. “She battles, she rebounds and she does the dirty work.”

W-H looks to keep its winning streak alive Friday at 6:30 p.m. when it hosts Marshfield.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Costa said. “We’re just focused on us and not anybody else and we’re just letting the chips fall where they may.”

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

By

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.