Your MIAA D3 Central Hockey Primer

By Nick Beaudoin (@beaudoin91_)

Ed. Note- SuiteSports is thrilled to welcome our newest correspondent, St. John's (Shrewsbury) alum and current Quinnipiac journalism student Nick Beaudoin. Nick will be manning our Division 3 Central hockey coverage, and was kind enough to provide us with this preview. Welcome aboard Nick!

As the 2017 MIAA hockey playoffs are set to begin, here is your Division 3 Central Mass boys’ preview.

Let’s start with the favorites, the undefeated Shrewsbury Colonials. Entering the playoffs with a tie to Wachusett as their only non-win this season, the Colonials are poised to make a run back to the district final. After a disappointing loss last season to Algonquin in a shootout, head coach Steve Turnblom and his team know what it takes to get back and pull through with a win this time around.

With three of the top five scorers in Central Massachusetts in Matt Ward, and the Quinlivan brothers, Anthony and Liam, offensive firepower will not be lacking for Shrewsbury. If rookie goaltender Pat Shaughnessy can stay hot, there is no team getting in the way of this Colonial squad.

MIAA Top 25 Boys Basketball Poll: 12/27/16

Marlboro makes a jump in our rankings after topping CMass power St. John's (Shrewsbury). Photo by Ryan Bowman.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state during the 2016-17 basketball season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 12/27)

1. Cambridge (4-0; Last Ranking  –  1): Falcons made mince meat of their conference opponents last week, but will face two tough opponents at the BABC Holiday Tournament in Portsmouth (N.H.) and St. Raphael’s (R.I.).

2. BC High (3-0; Last Ranking  –  2):  So far this year, the Eagles have defeated three very good teams by an average margin of 21.6 points. Talented point guard Travis Evee and star wing Carl Pierre provide the foundation, but this is a very deep BC High team. 

PHOTO GALLERY: Marlboro vs St. John's (Shrewsbury) Boys Hoops

Photos by Ryan Bowman (_ryanbowman_)

Marlboro edged out St. John's (Shrewsbury) in a battle of regional hoops powers last night. Now, our Ryan Bowman brings you some of the lasting images from the Central Mass battle.

Continue below for the gallery.

Marlboro Outmuscles Nashoba for Top Spot in Division & League

By Jason Siegel

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – Marlborough’s dominant defense and relentless rushing attack propelled the Panthers past Nashoba 27-7 Friday night, in a battle for the top spot in both Division 2A Central, and Mid-Wach B.

The offense and defense both received notable contributions from senior Owen Cappadona, who rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown to go along with two tackles for a loss on defense. 

Postgame Blog and Highlights: Groton-Dunstable Outlasts Marlboro

Groton-Dunstable sophomore Liam McDonough (12) and senior Nick Irby (2) celebrate a fourth quarter goal.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Thanks to a 6-0 run in the third and fourth quarter, Groton-Dunstable pulled away from Marlboro to win 13-9, in what had been a competitive game to that point on Tuesday afternoon.

In fact, the Crusaders (7-3, 1-3 Mid-Wach A) scored three goals in the final 25 seconds of the third quarter, thanks to three straight face-off victories and a pair of scores by sophomore Liam McDonough. At the seven-minute mark of the third, Groton-Dunstable was tied with Marlboro (8-2, 4-0 Mid-Wach C) 5-5, but the Crusaders' advantage in possession time, and just overall energy, carried them to a dominating finish.

Here are a few takeaways, with video highlights at the bottom.

Postgame Blog and Video: Marlboro Pushes Past Tyngsboro

Marlboro's Devan Raun, Ryan Mechler and Dominic Carter celebrate a third quarter goal.

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Ed. Note- This is not a complete game story, only a blog on the game's main points, and a few of my takeaways. Video highlights can be found at the bottom.

The Marlboro Panthers scored a signature win in their home opener against Tyngsboro, riding a 6-0 second half run to top the Tigers 11-8.

Marlboro (1-0), the reigning Mid-Wach C champions, used an emotional second half to outlast Tyngsboro (0-1), the reigning Mid-Wach C champs, but things were played nearly even for the game's first half.

Led by a pair of Matt Butler goals, Tyngsboro took a 5-4 lead into intermission, but wouldn't score again for a quarter and a half, as the Panthers attacked the cage with relentless energy. Sophomore middie Evan Doherty started the run with a cutting goal, and seconds later sophomore attackman Ryan Mechler dropped a dime pass to Dominic Carter, who threw in his third goal of the game.

Sophomore Devan Raun threw home a bomb, followed by a pair of Mechler goals to make it 9-5 at the end of the third.

Marlborough Rally Comes Up Short vs Concord-Carlisle in D2 Central Championship

Marlborough sophomore Chris Doherty (33) comes up with a clutch block in Marlborough’s 41-38 loss to Concord-Carlisle in the MIAA Division 2 Central final Saturday at Fitchburg State University. Doherty had 15 points, 16 rebounds and the pictured block that led to a layup and cut Concord-Carlisle’s lead to one with 6.5 seconds remaining. Concord-Carlisle advances to the MIAA Division 2 state semifinal to be played on Monday at the DCU center in Worcester.

Ed. Note- For video of this game, head to ESPN Boston for editor Joe Parello's highlights.

By Jason Siegel

The Concord-Carlisle Patriots held off the Marlborough Panthers en route to a 41-38 victory in the MIAA Division 2 Central sectional finals at Fitchburg State University on Saturday.

The Panthers (18-5) were plagued by shooting struggles and scoreless stretches throughout Saturday’s contest.

“We just didn’t make enough shots,” Marlborough head coach Bryan Riley said simply.

Riley attributed his team’s stagnant offense to the defense of Concord-Carlisle (21-1), saying that “Concord had something to do with” Marlborough’s offensive woes.

Marlborough Grounds Groton-Dunstable to Clinch Mid-Wach B Title

Marlborough senior captain Brian Short (31) scored 16 points in the Panthers’ 72-60 victory over Groton-Dunstable. Sophomore Chris Doherty added 25 points, as the Panthers clinched their second consecutive Mid-Wach B League title.

By Jason Siegel

The Marlborough Panthers outshot the Groton-Dunstable Crusaders on senior night in Marlborough on Friday.

Marlborough (14-4, 11-1 Mid-Wach B) defeated Groton-Dunstable (10-9, 9-4 Mid-Wach B) 72-60, clinching the Mid-Wach B League championship for the second consecutive year.

No Doherty, No Problem for Marlborough Boys Hoops

Without star Chris Doherty playing, Marlborough needed someone to pick up the slack on offense. Senior captain Bryan Short (31) answered the bell in Marlborough’s 56-41 win over Quabbin Friday night, pacing the Panthers with 15 points and 5 rebounds.

By Jason Siegel

Even without star sophomore Chris Doherty, the Marlborough Panthers had no trouble capturing their tenth win of the season on Friday night, topping Quabbin 56-41 at home to qualify for the MIAA playoffs.

As for Doherty’s absence, Marlborough head coach Bryan Riley said there was “no reason” why the 6-foot-6 super soph did not play.

Offensively, Riley said that his team “made some adjustments” without Doherty, but did not change things drastically.

“Basketball is basketball,” Riley said. “You play the game the same way.”

Marlborough (10-2, 7-2 Mid-Wach B) was coming off a surprising 60-26 loss to Leominster and responded well. The Panthers led wire-to-wire in a complete team win over visiting Quabbin (6-6, 4-6 Mid-Wach B).