RADIO: The Local Sports Lunchbox- CMass Hoops & National Signing Day

Grafton's Ifeatu Melifonwu has been committed to Syracuse since July, but will some late interest from Michigan change his mind as National Signing Day approaches?

 By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

This week on the show, we welcome Tom Flanagan from the Telegram & Gazette to talk local hoops, and break down where all the best local football players will be signing to play their college ball next week.

Also, we reveal the Local Sports Lunchbox Top 10 for boys basketball, discuss Kevin Mensah, the region's biggest uncommitted football prospect, and wonder aloud where Grafton's Ifeatu Melifonwu (a Syracuse commit) will end up, after some late interest from Michigan. Listen in for all that, and more, below.

RADIO: The K-Zone Local Sports Lunch Box

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

For those of you unaware, today was my first solo show for WPKZ, and it was a fun maiden voyage. We welcomed in the Telegram & Gazette's Chris Kyne, who gave us everything we needed to know about Central Mass hockey, and chatted with Anthony Dandini and James Purcell of the Leominster Blue Devils basketball team.


Dandini, a talented football prospect, also updated us on his college football recruitment.

We also recapped Shepherd Hill offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom's signing with Boston College, and looked at a few local football prospects who will be taking their games to the next level next season. All that, plus our Unsung Hero of the Week, Studs n' Duds, and much more on this week's show.

Blog: Alec Lindstrom Works and Eats His Way to Boston College

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

As Alec Lindstrom began thanking all his friends, family, coaches and mentors before signing his National Letter of Intent to play college football for Boston College, you couldn't help but sense a theme.

The All-State offensive lineman thanked seemingly everyone in attendance for cooking for him, or for taking him out to eat. As much as Lindstrom is known for his tireless work ethic and fierce competitive nature on the field and in the weight room, it may have been his appetite that turned him into a Division I football player.

Postgame Blog: Wachusett Wins a Classic as Kevin Mensah Debuts for Shepherd Hill

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

Friday night’s SuiteSports Game of the Week was a thriller right down to the end. A game filled with dramatic plays, lots of penalties, and a second half downpour, the Rams and Mountaineers sure gave us one to remember.

But, in the end, it was Wachusett (3-0, 1-0 Mid-Wach A) sealing the deal with a 28-21 victory over Shepherd Hill (0-3, 0-2 Mid-Wach A). Let's take a look back at this thrilling Mountaineer win.

Postgame Blog: St. John's Pulls Away from Shepherd Hill

It was a big night for St. John's juniors Steve Bucciaglia (10) and Hunter Gorgas (7).

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was a tale of two halves in Dudley Friday night, as visiting St. John's scored 30 unanswered points in the game's final 17 minutes to top Shepherd Hill 44-20.

The Pioneers ran only 20 offensive plays in the first half, but junior quarterback Steve Bucciaglia got things going just before intermission. From the final three minutes of the first half on, Bucciaglia threw for three touchdowns, ran for another, and was able to step in and deliver his throws with confidence.

SuiteSports Game of the Week: St. John's at Shepherd Hill

Shepherd Hill, and it's powerful offensive line, hosts our Game of the Week against St. John's Friday night.

By Connor Evans (@RonnocEvans)

This week’s Suite Sports Game of the Week is a heavyweight matchup between two Central Mass powerhouses. The St. Johns Pioneers (1-0) will head to Shepherd Hill (0-1) and attempt to pick up huge back-to-back wins to open the season, after defeating Catholic Memorial last week.

Shepherd Hill, despite being the host, may have to work uphill a bit. The team faces controversy as former Holy Name star running-back Kevin Mensah is being barred from the field by MIAA rules. In order to show support for Mensah, Shepherd Hill head coach Chris Lindstrom sat out the Rams' season-opening loss to Shrewsbury.

Expect to see the same thing again this week.

Ed. Note- Since the publishing of this story, coach Lindstrom has announced he WILL coach, and that both schools are making progress on getting Mensah back on the field.

St. John's is also dealing with a distraction off the field, as at least one player was involved in a racially-charged group chat that occurred after Doherty junior Mike Oppong took a knee during the national anthem Friday night. 

Central Mass High School Football Road Trip: Shepherd Hill

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

From now until the Massachusetts high school football season begins on September 9th, I'll be no the road checking out some of the most promising teams in Central Mass.

We begin today with the Shepherd Hill Rams, a team that enters 2016 with lofty expectations after an eventful 2015. The Rams didn't qualify for the postseason last year, thanks to a slow start against a brutal early slate, but rebounded to play some of their best football late, and built the foundation for this year behind a newly expanded offense and defense.

Add in the fact that Shepherd Hill received a transfer from All-State running back Kevin Mensah, to go with its already loaded offense, and hopes couldn't be much higher in Dudley.

All this couldn't have come together at a better time for Shepherd Hill, as realignment has placed the Rams in the new Division 2 Central, which also happens to be the largest classification in Central Mass. How will the Rams stack up against regional powers like Leominster and St. John's? Here's our camp report.