Carson Desrosiers put up the big numbers again last night as he tallied 20 points, 20 rerounds, 9 blocks, and 7 assists as Central Catholic beat Madison Park last evening 59 - 50 in the Division 1 State semifinals last night at the TD Garden.

Last evening will go down as another dominating night for Desrosiers who controlled the game from the beginning to the end as he compiled two assists, two points, a block and a steal in the first minute of play. Desrosiers again disrupted the entire game for his opponent as they could only muster 50 points on the night.

Desrosiers is one game away of making his argument that he is the best high school player in Massachusetts history.   I've said it all along and Mr. Desrosiers will prove it true Saturday night.  Central Catholic is 91 - 11 over the last four years.  If Desrosiers wins Saturday it will be the young man's second State Championship.  The only other Central Catholic championship coming in Scott Hazelton's junior year as the talented Hazelton broke his foot during his senior season.

The kid is an amazing high school players.  The record, the numbers, the leadership, and the important fact that he makes all his teammates better all speak for themselves.  Nobody has done it the way Carson has.  We hope he can finish it off this weekend.  He deserves it. 

If you are not sure how good Desrosiers is, you'll have to wait until next year and see how much his presence in the Central line-up will be missed. 

Rivals Mike Carbone Puts It To The Floor

Mass Rivals Sophomore's Mike Carbone and Steve Haladyna combined for 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead St. John's Prep to a 79 - 78 victory over Lynn English last evening.   Carbone nailed three 3-pointers in a 3 minute stretch in the fourth quarter to keep the Prep close.   Carbone finished with 4 threes and 14 poinsts on the evening.  Haladyna might of had the best game of his young career as he dominated the game.  He was the leading scorer connecting for 28 points while adding 10 rebounds.   Rivals junior Mackenzie Burt added 14 points for the Eagles.  The Eagles will face off against Central Catholic Friday night at the Fleet Center.

Carson Desrosiers and Central Catholic advanced to the Division 1 North Final with a 52 - 33 win over Acton Boxborough last evening.   Desrosiers and the raiders held a talented Acton Boxborough to 22 points after three quarters as they cruised to the victory.

In Central Mass, junior Cedric Kuakumensah had 19 poinst to lead Worcester North to the division 1 finals Friday at WPI.  The Polar Bears held back determined Shrewsbury High 72-58 in a Central Mass. division 1 semifinals. The No. 3 Polar Bears (18-4) earned a rematch of last year's memorable CMass final with No. 1 St. John's Shrewsbury at 7:30 p.m. Friday at WPI. The teams split their regular-season meetings this year, each winning at home. 

The Rivals freshman squad which was already loaded got that much better this week as 6'7" forward Alec Brennan joined the elite program.    The Rivals announced a couple of weeks ago that Chevrus (Portland, ME) 6'7" freshman forward Matt Cimino had commited to play basketball with the Rivals this Spring.  When you add these two studs to 6'6" Noah Voleh (Haverhill High), 6'1" Derek Collins (North Andover High) and 6'6" Joel Barroa (Central Catholic) you have a national level team.   Plus there is much more talent in 6'2" Ryan Grant (Whittier Tech), and 6'1" Drex Costello (Saint John's Prep). 

As for Brennan, he is a real talent.   The big man has an abundance of skills that very few big men are fortunate enough to get.  He is long, athletic, can put the ball to floor, has an excellent first step, can run the floor, has great hands, and has a great touch.   You put that all together and add the fact that he is 6'7" as a freshman and it easy to see why his future as a basketball player is so bright.   Brennan has already proved that he is willing to work hard at the game and that in itself is a special talent in itself.  Brennan has a huge upside and is only a year away from being a real special player.   You can pencil this young man in as one of the next great ones to come out of Massachusetts.

The Rivals have just graduated three divison 1 players in Evan Smotrycz (Michigan), Carson Desrosiers (Wake Forest), and Matt Brown (Harvard), and have a slew of scholarship juniors coming back to the program this year.   But the fact of the matter is that this freshman class is the most talented group of youngsters I have ever had.  They will be a fun group to watch develop over the next four years.

Joe Mussashia Releases His Jump Shot

Rivals 6'5" forward Joe Mussachia had another outstanding game as he tallied 17 points and 15 rebounds to lead Manchester Essex to a 66 - 53 win over Georgetown last evening. Mussachia has dominated the Cape Ann League all year long and it was no different last night as Mussachia rallied his club as the Hornets built an 18 point lead half way through the third quarter.  Mussachia scored in a variety of way during this run including two threes, a couple of midrange jumpers, and a nice offensive putback.

In their state tournament opener, the third-seeded Hornets cruised past No. 11 Georgetown with a 66-53 victory in the Division 4 North quarterfinals at a loud and rowdy Manchester Essex High School. The Hornets (16-5), who remained unbeaten at home at 12-0. They will next face the winner of No. 2 Winthrop and No. 7 St. Clement (that game is tonight) in the Division 4 North semifinals on Wednesday in Malden (7:30 p.m.). The Hornets are two wins away from the TD Garden.

Rivals 6'8" forward Zach Auguste was immense last night putting together 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocks to lead Marlborough over Doherty 70 - 66 in the quarter finals of the Central Mass Division 1 tournament.  This is no surprise as Auguste is one of the best juniors in all of New England.  The young talent has a great skill set, is long, athletic, can put the ball to the floor, and has a knack of putting the ball in the basket.   Last night was no different as Auguste ignited a come from behind win for his Malborough team.

Auguste's fifth-ranked Panthers erased a late third-quarter double-digit deficit to topple the Highlanders 70 - 66 in a Division 1 Central quarterfinal at Burncoat High School.  Down 56-45 with 1:48 left in the third quarter, the Panthers got a huge lift from Auguste (game-high 28 points). Auguste drilled a short jumper and then after a huge block on Doherty's next possession, the 6-foot-8 junior went coast-to-coast to earn himself a three-point play that he converted, cutting the Highlanders lead to six (56-50) after three quarters.

"I just felt like I had to step it up and lead the team as a captain," Auguste said.  Auguste's five unanswered points ignited an 18-3 Marlborough run that propelled Marlborough into the lead.  Marlborough (15-6) will meet top-seeded St. John's (21-2) on Sunday at 3 p.m. at WPI in a semifinal tilt.

Former Form McDonald's All-American Scott Hazelton (top right) is cranking up the action with his new Rivals AAU program in New Hampshire, working out of the spectacular Rockingham Athletic Club in Plaistow. Hazelton poses with Rivals sensation Noah Vonleh (left) this past Fall.  Spring 2010 tryouts for all NH Rivals teams continue this weekendt. Any boys or girls interested in trying out can check out this tryout slate.

NH Rivals Boys
U10 and U11 - Saturday, February 27, 1:30-3 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 1-2:30 p.m.
U12 and U13 - Saturday, February 27, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
U14 and U15 - Saturday, February 27, 4:30-6 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
U16 and U17 - Saturday, February 27, 6-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 5:30-7 p.m.; Saturday, March 13, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
For information, go to http://www.racathletics.com/ or e-mail Scott Hazelton at shazelton21@racathletics.com.

The Mass Rivals are known has the one of the selet Elite programs in New England and have had several division 1 and division 2 scholarhip players over the last couple of years.   Mass Rivals basketball tryouts for the Spring 2010 boys teams will be held at the Greater Lawrence Technical School. Middle schoolers can try out Sunday, Feb. 28: 5th and 6th graders from 6-7:15 p.m., 7th graders from 7-8:15 p.m., and 8th graders from 8-9:15 p.m. High school boys can try out Feb. 28 and March 7: 9th graders from 6-7:30 p.m. , 10th and 11th graders from 7:30-9 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.massrivals.com/ or email mtrovato11@aol.com.

NH Rivls Girls
U10 and U11 - Sunday, February 28, 1:30-3 p.m.
U12 and U13 - Sunday, February 28, 3-4:30 p.m.
U14 and U15 - Sunday, February 28, 4:30-6 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 10-11:30 a.m.
U16 and U17 - Sunday, February 28, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 6, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday, March 13, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.

There is more good news for the Rivals and the Merrimack Valley, and his name is Noah Vonleh.  The 6'5" freshman earned All-Conference selection as he had an exceptional year for Haverhill leading his team in all catergories as he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Vonleh is the second best player in the league right now behind the Wake Forest bound Desrosiers and he is further along than both Hazelton and  Desrosiers at this point in his career.  By next year, Vonleh will be virtually unstoppable at the high school level.  He is the real deal and you can pencil him in as the next high major division 1 college player to come out of the Merrimack Valley.  He is big, strong, athletic and has so much game.  I am fortunate enough to be in the gym with this young man every day and and I know he goes to sleep every night knowing he's better than the day before. 

Rivals sophomore Luis Puello of Central Catholic was also named to the All-Conference team.  Puello is a great athlete who plays the game hard and with a purpose, and that purpose of course, is to win.  On both ends of the court, Puello get his hands on more basketballs than any other guard in the Merrimack Valley.  He also is the best defender in the league and maybe the state and always has the responsibility of covering the opponents best player.  The bottom line with this young Rival is that if you want to win you better have him on your side.  

Matt Cimino From Chevrus School, Portland Maine Takes A Three

New England Recruiting Report has released the Maine freshman rankings,  and 6'7" Matt Cimino is rated the second best player in the State of Maine.  Cimino has an abundance of talent, and like many other Rivals he has a great skill set as he can handle, shoot, and pass the basketball as well as make a variety of other basketball plays.  Cimino can also get up and down the floor and will be a huge addition to the Rivals this Spring and Summer.  Cimino is young and tall and his body needs to fill out some, but when he does, look out.  The young talent has a huge upside and will be a real force in due time. 

Cimino will join fellow freshmen 6'5' Noah Vonleh of Haverhill and 6'1" Derek Collins of North Andover as part of an outstanding core of Rivals freshman. 

Rivals Freshman Derek Collins Drives To The Hoop

The New England Recruiting Report came out with the ratings of the top freshman in Massachusetts.  Again, the Rivals our forutnate enough to have as members of their club two of the eleven players that are discussed in the article by Adam Finklestein.  Derek Collins and Noah Vonleh are both long time Rivals who have both had great high school seasons at North Andover and Haverhill High schools respectively.

See what the New England Recruiting Report had to say about the best Massachusetts Prep School and High School players.

Massachusetts

The Bay State was by far the most difficult to assess.  Rene Castro, Wayne Selden, and even Ramone Gibbons may be the most effective players right now but guys like Noah Vonleh and Jaquille Taylor may have higher upsides.  Then there's Cornelius Tyson who is the best point guard we've seen in the class along with Jake Fay, Derek Collins, Carlin Haymon, Colin Richey, Bobby Ahearn, and a handful of others all fighting for a spot in the top five.  Ultimately we decided to leave Castro #1 until someone knocks him off and put Vonleh at #2 because of his staggering long term potential and current production.  Selden is third for the time being, with Taylor fourth, and Tyson fifth, but the bottom line is that if you ask five different qualified evaluators they may give you five totally different orders. 

Zach Auguste Dunks One Home

Rivals junior Zach Auguste scored 35 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had five blocks for Marlborough in a 72 - 51 non-league victory over Tantasqua.  Auguste scored 21 points in the first half before leaving the game early with Marlborough handly headed.

Rivals freshman Noah Vonleh scored a career high 30 points in Haverhill's 85 - 65 loss to Malden.  Vonleh also netted an impressive 25 points the evening before.  Vonleh saved his best games for last as the 14 year old freshman finished off his spectacular season with a bang. 

Rivals junior Donald Celestin scored 28 points in a loss to Methuen. 

Rivals junior Cedric Kuakumensah scored 22 points as Worcester North defeated St. Bernard's  75 - 44 as the No. 3 Polar Bears (14-4) won big in the Inter-High/CMC Classic at Worcester Tech.