The high school basketball season is upon us and a bevy of local boys teams look to be competitive on the court this winter.
Eight Hampshire County clubs qualified for the MIAA postseason last season with three teams advancing to the Round of 16. Holyoke (Division 2), South Hadley (Div. 4), Granby (Div. 5) all managed one win in the statewide tournament a year ago.
Frontier, Smith Voc, Hampshire Regional, PVCICS and Smith Academy each lost in its respective division’s preliminary round.
The Rams earned the highest seed of all area squads as the No. 3 team in the Div. 5 bracket. Granby was also the only local team to win a Western Massachusetts championship, claiming the Class C crown, as well.
Frontier has gotten out the gate the best among Hampshire County teams, reaching a 4-1 record before the Christmas break. The Redhawks’ one loss came against Wahconah at the Pioneer Valley Tip-Off Classic at Mullins Center on Dec. 13.
Here’s more information on all 14 boys basketball teams in the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s coverage zone:
Amherst
Coach: Jamahl Jackson/seventh season
League: Valley Wheel
Last year’s record: 5-15
Roster: Tri Nguyen (Sr.), Eddie Ekajulo (Soph.), Zach Schmidt (Sr.), Brady Klaes (Soph.), Emanuel Montalban (Jr.), Carlos Eliel Vazquez (Soph.), Simen Chamoun (Sr.), Mitchell Carey (Sr.), Christopher Camara (Sr.), Oliver Bouton Donovan (Fr.), Nico Selman (Sr.), Gael Buford (Sr.), Azal Safi (Soph.), Samuel Woodruff (Sr.).
Outlook: The Hurricanes will attempt to attain their first winning record since the 2021-22 season this winter. Amherst never got into a groove last year after dropping its first five contests. Lingering injuries and illnesses certainly didn’t help matters either as it limped to a 5-15 final record. Seniors Mitchell Carey and Sam Woodruff appear to be the catalysts for the ‘Canes, but expect a couple of sophomores in Carlos Eliel Vazquez and Brady Klaes to chip in too.
Belchertown
Coach: Jim Hart/second season
League: Suburban South
Last year’s record: 9-11
Roster: Jake Pacunas (Sr.), Brice Letendre (Jr.), Shea MacLean (Sr.), Austin Raymer (Sr.), Nate Marino (Sr.), Gavin Couchon (Jr.), T.J. Mann (Jr.), Andrew Wright (Soph.), Chip Gladu (Jr.), Quentin Chen (Fr.).
Outlook: Four seniors will shoulder much of the load for this year’s Orioles, with healthy contributions expected from junior Brice Letendre, in addition. Head coach Jim Hart believes his squad’s speed and ball-handling ability will be it’s identity. Austin Raymer, Jake Pacunas and Quentin Chen, along with Letendre are players to watch for Belchertown.
Easthampton
Coach: Nicholas Whitney/fourth season
League: Hampshire South
Last year’s record: 5-15
Roster: Anthony Incampo (Sr.), Patrick Larson (Soph.), Chase Canon-Smith (Soph.), Luc Tetreault (Jr.), Raemon Mathurin (Soph.), Logan Crasnick (Sr.), Jay Brown (Sr.), Ryan Guyette (Sr.), Jake Magee (Jr.), Jackson Doubleday (Jr.), Zach Jones (Soph.), Nick Zhang (Fr.).
Outlook: The Eagles could shock some teams this year as a pair of sophomores are primed for breakout campaigns. Patrick Larson and Chase Canon-Smith will be Easthampton’s most important players, per head coach Nick Whitney.
“[Larson] can do a bit of everything, scoring, rebounding, and defending,” Whitney said. “As a freshmen was asked to guard many of the opponents’ better forward players.
“[Canon-Smith had] valuable minutes as a freshman, will be asked to be the primary ball-handler, will be tasked with initiate the offense this year,” Whitney said.
Senior Anthony Incampo is another name to note as one of the handful of Eagles with valuable experience. Whitney unveiled the team’s expectation is to make the MIAA tournament.
Frontier
Coach: Josh Morse/fourth season
League: Hampshire North
Last year’s record: 12-9
Roster: Garrett Dredge (Sr.), Austin Durso (Sr.), Alexander Ellis (Sr.), Dean Gray (Soph.), Landon Lavallee (Fr.), Carter Miller (Sr.), Max Millette (Sr.), Rowan Modestow (Sr.), Forest Savoie (Fr.), Ty Skroski (Soph.), Jaxon Spearance (Sr.), Kimie Taylor (Fr.).
Outlook: The Redhawks have their sights set high this season with seven seniors on the roster. Max Millette already joined the 1,000-point club earlier this month and will be Frontier’s most reliable scorer. Head coach Josh Morse calls Millette the “best guard in the state, he’s that good.” Seniors Alex Ellis and Rowan Modestow are poised for strong seasons too, according to Morse.
Gateway
Coach: Nick Balboni
League: Tri-County South
Last year’s record: 1-14
Roster: Connor Allen (Jr.), Jackson Renaud (Jr.), Jacob Maynard (Jr.), Roan Boeri (Jr.), Zachary Hess (Jr.) Landon McCaul (Fr.), Logan Papillon (Fr.), Quinn Boeri (Fr.), Briggs Boone (Jr.), Glukhov Nikita (Soph.).
Outlook: The Gators have already tied their total wins from last season, following their season-opening victory against St. Mary’s on Dec. 18. Gateway’s junior class will serve as its leadership corps with no seniors on the roster.
Granby
Coach: Mike Afflito/first season
League: Bi-County East
Last year’s record: 18-5
Roster: Brodie Funk (Sr.), Ray Colon (Sr.), Zavien Fernandez (Sr.), Anthony Santiago (Sr.), Sam Moure (Jr.), Brandon Carillon (Jr.), Liam Everson (Jr.), Logan Carmody (Soph.), Liam McKinnon (Soph.), Amare Fernandez (Soph.), Armani Fernandez (Soph.).
Outlook: A banner year in 2024-25 will be difficult to replicate for the Rams. First-year head coach Mike Afflito has plenty of upperclassmen at his disposal and anticipates Funk, Colon and Zavien Fernandez will guide Granby on the hardwood. The Rams are still searching for their first win following a 0-4 pre-Christmas slate.
Hampshire
Coach: Dylan Rickles/fourth season
League: Hampshire South
Last year’s record: 12-9
Roster: Colin Cahill (Sr.), Vynce Carr (Jr.), Gabriel Couture (Sr.), Brody Frenier (Soph.), Luke Gardener (Sr.), Isaiah Isa (Jr.), Braylon Jarrett (Sr.), Kameron Locke (Soph.), Gerald Moreau (Jr.), Joseph Moro (Sr.), Liam Neill (Soph.), Samuel Plumer (Jr.), Adrian Roldriguez (Soph.), Emmett Schatz (Jr.).
Outlook: The Raiders will look to make it three straight winning seasons after posting 10 and 12-win campaigns, respectively, the past two years. Vynce Carr and Braylon Jarrett will be critical to Hampshire’s success as two if its more polished players.
Holyoke
Coach: Juan Maldonado
League: Valley League
Last year’s record: 15-5
Roster: Jordan King (Sr.), Julian Fasoli (Sr.) , Thomas Daisy (Sr.), Gian Cora (Fr.), Georlee Aponte (Soph.), Devin Fernandez (Sr.), M.J. Medina (Jr.), Devin Velez (Sr.), Brian Thomas (Soph.), Isaiah Frazer (Soph.), Jeremiah Vargas (Soph.) , Jackson Guerrero Zorrilla (Sr.), Nayan Tabin (Jr.) Cosmo Bond (Soph.).
Outlook: The Purple Knights put together their best season in years last winter, winning the most games in a season since their 2021-22 schedule. Jordan King highlights Holyoke’s senior class and will aim to be a force on the court.
Hopkins Academy
Coach: Lee Mollison/second season
League: Hampshire North
Last year’s record: 2-18
Roster: Chace Earle (Sr.), Jeremiah Scanlon Dean (Sr.), Matthew Vassalo (Sr.), Harry West (Sr.), Owen Cain (Jr.), Nathan Rickles (Jr.), Tucker Russell (Jr.), Spencer Bye (Soph.), Henry Dizek (Soph.), Jack Cycz (Soph.), Derek Gromacki (Soph.), Drew Crutch (eighth).
Outlook: The Golden Hawks should take some strides during head coach Lee Mollison’s second year at the helm. Chace Earle will garner lots of attention from the opposition as Hopkins’ most skilled player, but it has multiple underclassmen eager to make an impact as well.
Northampton
Coach: Rey Harp/22nd season
League: Valley League
Last year’s record: 9-11
Roster: Brayden Nichols-Staples (Jr.), Eli Reid (Jr.), Isaiah Comerford-Hennessey (Sr.), Xavier Nteta (Sr.), Isaiah Brown (Jr.), Nathan Lupert (Jr.), Henry Callan (Soph.) Charlie Agostino-Pierce (Jr.), Lucas Gomes-Raposa, (Jr.), Roan Steed (Soph.) Jahir Sanchez (Soph.), Mason Tait (Soph.).
Outlook: The Blue Devils will look to eclipse the .500 winning-percentage mark for the first time in several years this season. Northampton returns two starters in Brayden Nichols-Staples and Eli Reid while the remainder of the starting lineup is up for grabs. Head coach Rey Harp is one of the most experienced coachs in the Pioneer Valley (22nd season), which should help the Blue Devils.
PVCICS
Coach: John Gingras/fourth season
League: Tri-County North
Last year’s record: 10-9
Roster: Rondey Allen (Sr.), Gavin Quist (Fr.), Nate Tuttle (Sr.), Grafton Tolopko (Jr.), Mino Paul (Jr.), Marco Gao (Jr.), Oscar Schwellenbach (Jr.), Lobsang Rabten (Soph.), DeAndre Mitchell (Soph.), Justin Pugliano (Soph.), Adolphus Yap (Soph.), Tyler Quist (Soph.), Declan Wolf (Fr.), Daniel LaRose (Fr.), AJ Hokonya (Fr.).
Outlook: If history is any indicator, look for the Dragons to improve once again this season. PVCICS went winless during head coach John Gingras’ first season in 2022-23, but have since built its program up to a MIAA tournament caliber club following its inclusion in the Div. 5 statewide bracket a year ago. Look for Lobsang Rabten, Grafton Tolopko, Nate Tuttle and Rondey Allen to be impact players for the Dragons.
Smith Academy
Coach: Matt Zerneri/17th season
League: Hampshire North
Last season’s record: 12-9
Roster: Harry LaFlamme (Sr.), Nathan Maloney (Fr.), Rowan Jeffress (Sr.), Grant Murray (Sr.), Aiden Hopfenspirger (Sr.), Matt Scagel (Sr.), Cajun Benson (Sr.), Tyler LaValley (Jr.), Oscar Higuera (Soph.), Callan Payne (Fr.).
Outlook: Seniors Harry LaFlamme and Rowan Jeffress will carry the mail for the Falcons as part of their six-player senior class. Much of the roster has state tournament experience after Smith’s appearance in the Div. 5 tournament last season. Head coach Matt Zerneri is also approaching 200 career wins.
Smith Voc
Coach: Akara Holder, 16th season
League: Tri-County North
Last year’s record: 13-9
Roster: Domeniq Sanchez (Sr.), Josh Cole (Jr.), Nolan Ingram (Fr.), Finn Smith (Fr.), Nathan Gruszkowski (Sr.), Caiden Fournier (Soph.), Theo Wojcik (Soph.), Spencer Warner (Soph.), Luis Delerme (Sr.), Kaleb Jorritsma (Sr.), Yadiel Poppie (Jr.), Romeo Karch, Kevin Matuszko (Fr.).
Outlook: The Vikings have a pair of stalwarts in Domeniq Sanchez (approaching 1,000 career points) and Josh Cole that’ll likely play major factors in how far the team goes this season. Look for Smith Voc to finish among the top half of the Tri-County North come February. Nolen Ingram is another Viking name to keep tabs on.
South Hadley
Coach: Chris Gerber
League: Suburban South
Last year’s record: 16-6
Roster: Isiah James (Sr.), Griff Soderbaum (Sr.), Colin Lumb (Sr.), Jayhmar Henry (Sr.), Noah Hambley (Jr.), Tim Loughrey (Jr.), Noah Rivera (Jr.) Jackson Driver (Jr.), Chase Pecia (Jr.), Max Barcome-Laflamme (Jr.), Jaxon Pueschel (Jr.), Matt Butler (Jr.).
Outlook: Perhaps no team lost a more valuable player to graduation than South Hadley did with Jack Loughrey’s departure last spring. Loughrey was impactful all-over the floor for the Tigers last season and reached the 1,000-point threshold. Luckily for Chris Gerber’s group, Noah Hambley, Tim Loughrey and Isiah James are back and bring vital experience to the team.