Ok, we’ll start with the rumor of the week.
Word out of Haverhill is that Jack O’Brien’s name was one of the first mentioned for the hoop job, vacated by Bob Walsh recently.
Yes, that Jack O’Brien. Incredible competitor Jack O’Brien. Former Charlestown, former Salem, Mass., almost Lynn coach Jack O’Brien.
The Haverhill job is a big one. We’ll keep you up to date.
One other hoop note, Central’s Adrian Gonzalez reports that he’s heard from Northeastern most recently, but Assumption remains the only offer he’s gotten so far.
Why, in the back of my head, does Jim Ferry and Long Island University keep popping up? Might be a nice fit. I don’t know, just a hunch.
Took in a pair of games over the weekend at Veterans Stadium in Lawrence, and yes, the place is really nice these days. Don’t know if Lawrence and Lawrence High can rebound, but the stadium is just a great place to hang out and watch a game.
It’s an asset to the city.
Among the fans at the LHS-Pentucket game was Jesus Moore, back after his game at the Holderness School yesterday. Moose looked great, and reports things are going splendidly in his p.g. year at Holderness. He’s starting both ways and taking four tough classes, with 3-4 hours of homework.
Moore and the Holderness coaching staff are already thinking colleges. And Bryant and Stonehill are among his early choices. It’s still very early, though.
Best of luck to young Taylor Proulx, 7, of Windham, N.H., who spent Friday night not watching his brother Ben, a promising Pinkerton sophomore, make his first three varsity catches, but on an operating table in Boston. Taylor broke his arm on Wednesday, and our thoughts are with him.
By the way, watch big Ben, who as a freshman, played up with the Astros varsity hoop team at times. He’s 6-foot-3 athlete, who can run and catch.
We’re halfway through the high school football season. Here are some award winners and not-so winners in my eyes:
Top team: Nobody can touch Pinkerton Academy right now. Brockton will find that out soon enough.
Top player in the E-T region: So far, it would have to be Bruce Vieira, who has Pelham High at the trop of Division 5 in NH, winning by 40 points a week.
Top hitter: Remember, this one is only from the teams I’ve seen, and I’d have to go with Salem’s Chris Sousa. He reads and attacks at LB.
Biggest surprise, player: Londonderry, Ryan Griffin’s impact has the Lancers thinking championship.
Biggest surprise, team: Billerica. They’re not a better team than Central and Andover in my eyes, yet they took care of biz in both. Hurdles lie ahead in Tewks and Chelmsford, but Pete Flynn’s Indians look poised for the MVC title.
Biggest disappointment: I’m sorry, it’s Lawrence. I see so many positives going on at LHS and in Mike Yameen’s program, but the Lancers have not taken that necessary step forward. The loss to Lynnfield, which hadn’t won a CAL game since 03 was devastating.
Second half predictions
1. Andover runs the table, including a Turkey Day win over Central, but the loss to Billerica, which also wins out, costs the warriors a title.
2. Pinkerton and Londonderry meet again in the Division 1 state final in NH. Don’t have a winner, but the game’s a classic.
3. Masco dominates the CAL the rest of the way. Anything short of an EMass Super Bowl championship is a disappointment.
4. Nate Adames and the Reggies of Greater Lawrence win the CAC large, but it won’t be easy.
