MIAA Boys' Basketball Player of the Year Watchlist: 3/5/18

Needham's Thomas Shaughnessy finishes at the rim against Arlington.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

 By SuiteSports Staff 

As the MIAA Basketball State Tournament begins to heat up, a number of the premiere players in Massachusetts have started to leave their mark on the hardwood.

Across the state, a bevy of players have turned in dominant performances, single-handedly willing their teams to victory.

Only a handful, however, have done it consistently from the season's beginning to where the season stands today.

With that said, SuiteSports is excited to introduce our updated "MIAA Boys Basketball Player of the Year Watchlist" for the 2017-18 season. These six players have proven to be the best in Massachusetts all season long, carrying their teams to the verge of a sectional championship, and the ability to contend for a state championship.

As the tournament goes on, more names may emerge as contenders for this year's award.

Here is SuiteSports' current watchlist:

Newton North Basketball Completes Season Sweep of Braintree in D1 South

By Kyle Schroeder (@kyshcroeder81)

Newtonville Mass. - Coming into Wednesday’s Division 1 South first round matchup between 4th-seeded Newton North and 13th-seeded Braintree, the two teams had already met twice.

Newton North won handily both times, but Braintree was hoping the script would flip in the tournament. Unfortunately for the Wamps, it was the same old story as the Tigers won handily, 61-34. 

In the first quarter, it looked as if the game could be competitive. Braintree did a good job keeping the pace of the game slow, which prevent Newton North from getting into their elite transition attack. Newton North’s offense was held in check early and Braintree fed the ball down low to 6-foot-6 senior center Anthony Peacock.

Peacock had seven points and an assist in the quarter. Newton North’s lead was only three as they ended the first quarter up 14-11.

There was a sense of hope among the Braintree faithful who traveled to Newton.

Then immediately came a Newton North avalanche.

Newton North Overcomes Quick Start by Brookline

By Kyle Schroeder (@kyschroeder81)

Brookline, Mass. - After being pummeled by a score of 76-39 in their first meeting against Newton North, the Brookline Warriors were determined to have a better showing on Tuesday. Brookline transferred that mindset to the court early on as they went up by as many as 11 in the first half.

However, Newton North answered the bell in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Brookline 26-8, which ultimately lead the Tigers to an 80-69 victory.

Super Sunday for Wright, Cooley as Tigers Hand Brockton its First Loss

By: Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

For the Tigers, the environment was all too familiar. 

In front of a packed house at Brockton High School on Sunday afternoon, Ethan Wright scored 32 points while Aaron Cooley added 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead Newton North to a 58-40 win over the previously undefeated Boxers.

MIAA Basketball: 2017-2018 Midseason All-State Team

Newton North's Ethan Wright (left) and Needham's Thomas Shaughnessy have been among the best players in Massachusetts the past few seasons..

By SuiteSports Staff

In the blink of an eye, the MIAA basketball season has reached its halfway point.

Some teams are at the point where they can jockey for tournament seeding, hoping to receive a pair of home games to start their quest a state championship. Others, meanwhile, are hoping to win just the amount of games necessary down the stretch to qualify in order to put them in the mix.

All the while, star players across Massachusetts are making their mark on high school hoops this season.

Below is SuiteSports’ midseason MIAA Basketball All-state Team and Award Winners. If your favorite player didn't make the cut, fear not. There is a LOT of basketball left to be played.

The Wright Way: For Ethan Wright, It Was Always About Being a Tiger

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Following a heartbreaking loss to Catholic Memorial in the 2015 Division 1 South Sectional Semifinals, Newton North senior Tommy Mobley stood outside the Tigers’ locker room and was asked about what was next for the program.

“There is a freshman in there who is going to work his tail off,” a choked up Mobley iterated.

Three years later and that freshman is the most explosive player in Massachusetts.

Newton North Dominates Walpole

By Kyle Schroeder (@kyschroeder81)

Newtonville, Mass. – With the biggest game of the season against Needham coming up on Friday, it was possible that the Newton North Tigers could take their matchup with Walpole (4-8 coming in) lightly. Newton North rejected that possibility with authority on Tuesday night, as the Tigers dominated Walpole wire-to-wire in a 76-38 win.

Before the start of the contest, Newton North’s star senior guard Ethan Wright was honored for being in the running to be a McDonald’s All-American. Once the game started, he played like one and set the tone early. Wright exploded for 13 points in the first quarter, as he was able to get in the paint at will and use his size to finish with ease.

Tournament Tease: Cambridge, Newton North Headline Loaded Slate of Friday Night Games

Newton North star Ethan Wright throws one down.   Photo by Eamon Convey.

It may only be the second week in January, but Friday night will certainly feel like tournament time for many teams across Massachusetts.

A bevy of matchups are sure to appeal to even the most casual fan as in some cases historic league rivalries are set to tipoff while in others a top non-league showdown is in order.

Four matchups standout, as No. 4 Cambridge vs. No. 11 Newton North, No. 9 Mansfield vs. No. 7 Franklin, Catholic Memorial vs. No. 8 BC High, and No. 3 Lowell vs. No. 19 Lawrence, combine to feature seven teams in our latest MIAA Basketball Top-25 poll including five in the top-10.

Mansfield Pulls Away from Newton North Late

By Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612)

Ed. Note- Click here for photos of the Hornets and Tigers.

Mansfield, Mass. - A stiff early season challenge did little to slow down Mansfield’s Johnny McCoy.

McCoy scored 22 points and corralled nine rebounds to lead the Hornets to a key, 71-62, non-league win over Newton North in front of a packed house at Mansfield High School.

The Tigers (1-2) were paced by star Ethan Wright, who finished the contest with a game-high 32 points.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mansfield Basketball vs Newton North

Photos by Eamon Convey (@eamonconvey)

Mansfield, Mass. - We will have a full recap of Mansfield's big non-league win over Newton North up in a bit, but for now, check out these fantastic shots from our Eamon Convey.

Note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.

Ethan Wright returns to lead No. 12 Newton North to win over No. 17 Braintree

Newton North junior Ethan Wright poured in 31 points in his first game back from injury

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

BRAINTREE, Mass. - Basketball is a team game, but on occasion, individuals can transcend the parameters of the sport and engage in a true battle.

Newton North junior Ethan Wright (31 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals) and Braintree senior Nick Timberlake (39 points, 6 rebounds) carried their respective teams in a Bay State Conference showdown, but Wright’s Tigers proved to be just a bit tougher down the stretch, as they escaped Braintree High with a 68-64 victory.

Shaughnessy leads No. 9 Needham to thrilling overtime win over No. 4 Newton North

Needham junior Thomas Shaughnessy denies Newton North's EthanWright the ball in the fourth quarter

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

NEEDHAM, Mass. – Thomas Shaughnessy is one of the most talented prospects in the state of Massachusetts, but sometimes talent pales in comparison to the sheer force of an indomitable will. 

As he’s done all season, Needham’s junior guard carried the Rockets offense in a meeting with rival Newton North. Yet it was his defensive efforts on Tigers superstar Ethan Wright that allowed the Rockets to come back from a seven-point halftime deficit to force overtime and defeat their rivals, 59-52, in a thrilling conference game.

“Thomas [Shaughnessy] is the best we’ve had here in a long time,” said Needham head coach Paul Liner. “He really willed us to victory tonight.”

Newton North continues to roll with a win over rival Brookline

Sequence that put Newton North up 20 and essentially sealed their win over Brookline today: pic.twitter.com/gl4EXFqRHQ

— Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7) January 4, 2017

By Nate Weitzer (@Nweitzer7)

NEWTON, Mass. - It’s never easy to knock off the king of the hill, or in Newton North’s case, the king of the Bay State Conference. 

The Tigers have dominated their conference for nearly a decade, while rivals such as Brookline have tried in vain to knock them off their throne. Despite coming into Tuesday afternoon’s tilt with an impressive 4-0 record and a star-studded roster, the Warriors were once again denied by a well-coached Tigers squad, as Newton North led from wire-to-wire in a convincing 69-52 victory. 

Newton North pulls off incredible comeback to down rival Newton South

Ethan Wright battles for an offensive rebound during Newton North's win over rival Newton South

By Nate Weitzer (@nweitzer7)

NEWTON, Mass. - Throw out the records when these two rival high schools face off, because they always battle for pride more than another notch in the win column. 

More often than not, that leads to close games, but the most recent installment of Newton North versus Newton South provided a stunning turnaround, as the host Tigers came back from a 16-point second-half deficit to down the Lions 64-53 in a thrilling win.