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You are here: Home / Archives for Sean Leahy

Leahy heads into break on high note for UMass Dartmouth

December 20, 2018 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Sean Leahy. / Courtesy photo

Former W-H basketball standout Sean Leahy is starting to find his rhythm for UMass Dartmouth.


Sean Leahy couldn’t have scripted a better way to head into the winter break.

In UMass Dartmouth men’s basketball’s final game of the semester, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound freshman forward from Hanson got his second start and erupted for a career-high 17 points in a 90-75 victory over Tufts on Dec. 10.

“He shot the ball well from the perimeter,” UMass Dartmouth head coach Brian Baptiste said.

Leahy connected on five of seven field goals, which included an 80-percent showing (four of five) from beyond the arc. The outing earned him Little East Conference Rookie of the Week honors in men’s basketball.

“It definitely feels good,” Leahy said. “That was a big win as a team and a big win over Tufts, so as a team it felt great and hopefully it will give us some momentum in the second half of the season.”

It’s been a work in progress this winter for Leahy, who’s battling back from two broken wrists. In the Corsairs’ first six games, Leahy averaged just 13 minutes per game, but over their last four outings he’s averaged 31.5 minutes per contest, including back-to-back starts.

“He’s been slowly coming along because of his injuries, and when he comes into the game he’s increased his minutes as the season’s gone on,” Baptiste explained. “He’s just playing better and better as the season moves forward.”

Leahy, a nursing major and the 2017-18 Patriot League Keenan Division MVP, said the adjustment to the college game has been a battle, for sure.

“Everyone up here is a little bit quicker, a little bit stronger, but definitely I now have to think about how I play defense, how you slide,” Leahy said. “It doesn’t come as easy as in high school.”

However, he’s using a few lessons learned at the high school level in his adjustment.

“I would definitely say paying attention to the little details and how you approach drills and how you play,” said Leahy of the lessons learned in high school he’s carried over into the collegiate rank. “And then probably how you play the game and not cutting corners.”

Baptiste said Leahy’s top asset is his understanding of the game.

“He makes smart decisions,” Baptiste said. “He’s added a great deal to the team. He’s got a lot of versatility. He’s a big man, he can shoot from the perimeter, he can handle the ball like a guard, he passes well, he rebounds well, he’s got a big upside.”

Leahy said he’s going to spend a majority of his break in the gym before the 7-4 Corsairs resume play Jan. 3 against Becker.

“I’m looking to get a little stronger so I can hang in the paint with those bigger guys, but that’ll take time,” he said.

Baptiste said he’s looking forward to what the next three and a half years will bring for Leahy.

“I expect him to be an outstanding player for us,” said the coach.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Brian Baptiste, College Check In, Sean Leahy, Sports, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Dartmouth Men's Basketball, Whitman-Hanson Regional High, Whitman-Hanson Regional High Boys' Basketball

Panthers sink Harbormen

February 15, 2018 By Nate Rollins, Express Sports Correspondent

Four weeks after suffering the program’s worst regular-season loss in over 10 years, a 71-45 defeat to Hingham, the Panthers rebounded for a 68-51 Patriot League Keenan Division win over the Harbormen.


HINGHAM – Bob Rodgers did something he doesn’t usually do.

On Friday evening, with 15 minutes left to spare before the opening tip off of the Whitman-Hanson Regional High boys’ basketball team’s game against Hingham, the 18-year head coach took a backseat for a moment.

He sent his seniors into the locker room to preach to his team, while he remained on the bench.

“I told them, ‘This is your team, you tell them,’ Rodgers said.

‘It’s not just about you playing well, it’s about getting the team ready to play.’”

The move seemed to have paid dividends. Four weeks after suffering the program’s worst regular-season loss in over 10 years, a 71-45 defeat to Hingham, the Panthers rebounded for a 68-51 Patriot League Keenan Division win over the Harbormen.

“It’s just a testament to a team of resiliency,” Rodgers said. “I give the kids all the credit in the world. I’m really proud of my guys.”

The Panthers’ triumph denied Hingham (14-2, 11-2) a share of the league title — at least for now.

When the Panthers (13-4, 11-2) needed a bucket, they turned to their senior captain Sean Leahy, who finished the night with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds.

“We wanted it, we just wanted to win tonight,” Leahy said.

Leahy poured in 13 points during the first half as W-H took a 34-30 lead into the break.

Down 35-34, a minute into the third quarter, the Panthers would go on a 10-1 run – sparked by five points from senior captain Jacob Hanson Bartlett (13 points, 5 rebounds) – to pull ahead 44-36 with 4:21 remaining in the frame.

With four minutes remaining, Tajh Hunter sliced to the hoop for two and drew a foul. After the free-throw make, W-H was ahead, 57-42.

Hunter, who finished the contest with nine points and five boards, played an integral role in W-H’s defensive scheme. The junior guard limited Hingham’s John Gates, who had 14 points in the two clubs’ previous meeting, to just one point (free throw with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter).

“It was definitely a tough matchup, he’s definitely one of the best shooters in the league,” Hunter said. “I just moved my feet, tried to stay with him and tried not to let him get in my head.”

If W-H is victorious Friday against Quincy and Hingham beats Plymouth North on Thursday, the two teams will share the league title.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 2017-18 Coverage, Bob Rodgers, Game Story, Hingham High, Patriot League Keenan Division, Sean Leahy, Sports, Whitman-Hanson Regional High, Whitman-Hanson Regional High Boys' Basketball

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