Barrington Middle School teams poised for playoffs

Boys team is 9-1, while girls are 10-2

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA
Posted 1/23/19

The Barrington Middle School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are at it again.

It seems that around this time each season, both squads are preparing for playoff action in their …

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Barrington Middle School teams poised for playoffs

Boys team is 9-1, while girls are 10-2

Posted

The Barrington Middle School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are at it again.

It seems that around this time each season, both squads are preparing for playoff action in their respective leagues. The 2018-19 campaign has been no different.

"Our Lady Eagles will be looking to reach the Final Four for the sixth time in 7 years," said head coach Mike Topazio, "and with some luck, our fifth State Championship. The journey begins Thursday, Jan. 24, at home versus Woonsocket.”

Barrington ended the regular season with a 10-2 record, winning 7 of its last 8 games and earning the number 3 seed. The team was led by tri-captains, eighth grader Caroline McConaghy and her inside outside presence; Steady eighth-grader Chloe Rouleau, who lends great defense as her big asset; and seventh-grader Dani Ceseretti, who set a BMS school record her last game scoring 38 points against Portsmouth.

“She’s coming into her own as one of the more talented players in the state,” said Coach Topazio.

Rounding out the starting lineup are seventh-graders Lyndsey Lemay and Maddie Gill. Top reserves include seventh-graders Julia Daniello , Fran Johnson, and Jordan Roskiewicz.

Remaining roster members include Grace Tarri, Maila Villella, Sydney Schuman, Ella Johnson, Delaney Reed, Riley Graveline, Ellie Donato, Ellen Greiner, Ava Caldarone, Isys Dunphy and Primrose Anderson.

Like Coach Topazio, Bill St. Vincent has done another masterful job guiding the Barrington Middle School boys team into the postseason.

“When the season started in November, there were only four sure starters,” he reported. “They were Sean Bonneau, Matt Raffa, Danny Coogan, and Gabe Tanous, based on last year's performances. Beck Kegelman and Liam O'Neal were either fifth or sixth. At about mid-year, Quinn McNamara earned a starting spot. About this time, Matt injured his ACL freeing up a lot of playing time. Most of the time was seized by the hard-working and ever-improving Jake Ignall and Nick Scandura."

“The team had won its first six games before losing to Riverside when the offense let them down,” said Coach St. Vincent. “From there, everyone stepped up their games and a series of home games contributed to a first place finish with a 9-1 record. In the last game against rival Portsmouth, Matt returned to score 22 points while Jake had 16 and Sean 14 to lead BMS to a 64-47 victory. Sixth-grader Owen Pfeffer scored 8 points and changed the tempo of the game with his ball-hawking defense against the dribbling of the much taller opponent. Indeed, it was the intense, in your face defense all season long that was the team's strength.”

Coach St. Vincent has continued to be impressed with his team as the season progressed.

“While the rapid improvement of Jake, Nick, Quinn, Gabe, and Owen and the consistent contributions of Beck and Danny were invaluable, it was the play of Sean and Matt that was the key to the team's success," he said. 

"Matt got off to a good start averaging 14 points per game before being injured. Sean picked up his game in all phases to become the 'go to' player and very possibly the best all-around player in our 11 team division. He averaged 15 points per game. As dynamic Sean and Matt have been, what is most striking is their unselfish play. They are just as happy to pass to a teammate for a basket as to score themselves. They just want to win and have fun doing it.”

And speaking of fun, the coach admitted that this has probably been the most enjoyable team with which he’s been associated with.

“I’m proud of this team,” he said, “and the community should be proud of these student-athletes' performance and sportsmanship on the court.”

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