8th Grade Travel Boys Finish Strong, Win Ashland Tourney

In their final travel game of their young lives, the 8th Grade Boys A Travel Team defeated a talented Hopkinton squad in the recent weeks-long tournament in Ashland. After winning three straight games, the Eagles lost a tough championship game on Saturday to Hopkinton, but came back strong last night to beat the same team in this double-elimination tournament at Ashland High School's impressive 3-court gymnasium. Congratulations to coaches Danny Loeb and Jon Modelevsky for guiding the boys through many successful years of competition, and to the talented young men who will be moving on to Sharon High and other schools next year: (front) Caleb Piltch-Loeb, Jake Rotman, Ben Mecsas-Faxon, Darren Hefez, Eric Bloom, Donovan Henry, (back) Coach Danny Loeb, Mitchell Goldenberg, Sam D'Arcy, Will Modelevsky, Michael Green and Coach Jon Modelevsky.

16U Girls AAU Team Wins MPC Tip-Off Classic

With four Sharon girls anchoring coach Danny Faber's 16U AAU basketball team, the Mass Premier "Blues" swept their first tournament of the spring, 4-0, to win the MPC Tip-Off Classic this weekend. Former Sharon travel and Sharon High School players Julia Rotman, Liz Wluka, Melissa Rimpel, Emma Kurman-Faber and Zahra Alavi all played strong in helping their team win a coveted t-shirt.

Sharon Night with the Celtics a Big Hit

Although the Celtics couldn't keep up their end of the bargain (a rare 95-90 loss to the 76ers), players and coaches from the Sharon travel program enjoyed a great night of basketball at the TD Banknorth Garden with 236 attendees filling the stands. The Boys and Girls 8th Grade Travel A teams got to play 5 minutes apiece on the fabled parquet floor. What a fantastic way for the program to end the travel season. Special thanks to all the coaches who volunteered their time all season long.

7th Grade Travel Boys Sweep the Top Seeds to Win SSYBL Championship

Sharon won the South Shore Youth Basketball League 7th Grade Championship Sunday by beating top-seeded Marshfield, 42-38 in an exciting game held at Rockland High School. In their improbable run to the title, the 6th-seeded Eagles exacted revenge on 3rd-seeded Hingham in the quarterfinals, then 2nd-seeded Weymouth in the semifinals. Coached by Dave Thomas and Barry Rosenblum, the Eagles, often under-sized, used their quickness to jump out to an early lead and held on for the win.

Rec Championships
In the finals of the boys rec 9/10th grade basketball the Blue Team Defeated the Maroon Team, 54-50. Ross Friedman won the 3 Point Competition, Andrew Ferestein was the champion at the free throw line and Ben Pedersen took home the Hot Shot trophy. No one else has reported championships (but congrats to all anyway!).

8th Grade Travel Girls are MetroWest Champs

Congratulations to the Girls 8th Grade Travel team for winning the Division 1 Metrowest Championship! Coach Jim Jermyn says he's "so proud of our group and what they have accomplished ... I was also impressed with the support from the other group of 8th grade girls that came to cheer us on." The team (not pictured in order): M. Anderson, E. Daley, A. Friedman, A. Fritzon, C. Furr, K. Jermyn, K. McManus, M. Mulvaney, J. Shenkel, S. Toole and A. Tootell. Coaches: Jim Jermyn, Bill Anderson and Peter McManus.

Playoff Results Trickle In
The boys rec program has been entrenched in the playoffs the past week, and results for playoff games have been coming in. Go to REC SCHEDULES or REC STANDINGS for playoff schedules and results. Hot shot, free throw and 3-Point shooting contests for each grade level will precede each championship playoff game. Although it might appear from web postings that the girls aren't involved in the playoffs, we're guessing they are, so cheer on your kids (at whatever gym, whenever they're playing).

Final Standings and Playoff Schedules and Results for (Most) Rec Teams
We have posted final results for most grade levels in the Sharon Rec baskteball program. Those submitting final standings and playoff information include: Boys 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9/10th and 11/12th grades. Reprentatives from the girls' side have, unfortunately, submitted nothing. Go to REC SCHEDULES for final standings and playoff schedules and results.

Sharon's Andre Tippett Ends Up in Canton

Neighbor, friend, Pop Warner coach and current Patriots Director of Community Affairs is now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The great former Pats linebacker will be heading to Canton (Ohio) along with WR Art Monk, CB Darrell Green, DE Fred Dean, OT Gary Zimmerman and CB Emmitt Thomas for induction ceremonies on August 2, 2008. Andre made the NFL's All-Decade Team in the 1980's as one of the most prolific and feared pass rushers, along with the Giants' Lawrence Taylor. Congratulations, Andre! We're all very proud of you.

Parents and Coaches Need a Lesson in Sportsmanship
Two recent incidents happened in travel basketball that I have to pass on. Couldn't believe it. In the first, a boy's coach (from another town) mouthed off to the ref about some calls and was quickly assessed two technicals and tossed from the game. He wouldn't leave. Ultimately, after some tense moments in front of his players, parents and the opposing team, he left, but didn't leave the sidelines. It took a few more minutes and some more choice words before he left the court. The game continued, but his act extended to his players who were chippy and chatty, and at times, out to injure the entire second half. Poor sports, from the coach on down. In another travel game, a coach from a girls travel team lifted a "star" player in the second half (for whatever reason), causing the girl to cry and her father to leave the stands, walk over to the bench and yell at the coach to put her back in... while the game was in progress! He then tried to take the girl home, during the game. Again, poor sportsmanship from the father on down. Good object lesson for coaches, parents and kids alike. It's just a game, folks. Lighten up and have fun.

Sharon 4th Grade Travel A's Win Moscato Holiday Tourney

The Sharon Boys 4th grade "A" travel team swept their way to victory in the Muscato Holiday Tournament at Stonehill College from 12/29-12/31. Playing four games in three days, Sharon defeated Easton 32-26, Berkley 40-23, Marshfield 32-20, and Easton again in the championship game 37-33. In the tourney final, Sharon found themselves trailing by 6 points with just 4 minutes to go but a suffocating pressure defense forced multiple turnovers which were converted into easy hoops. Key free throws down the stretch by the Eagles sealed a thrilling come-from-behind victory. The team now continues its regular season Metrowest schedule.

All Rosters and Most Schedules Now Posted
Rosters for all rec teams are now complete and posted. Most schedules are also posted. Click on the "Schedule" link above each roster to download a PDF of your grade's schedule. Check with your coach for practice and game schedules if your schedule is not here. Have fun!

Instructional Basketball: Closed Out
Both sessions of the 2nd Grade Instructional Basketball Program are now full, with each having the maximum 35 participants.

Rec Basketball Gym Schedule (revised 12/3/07)
Click on the Rec Rosters button (to the left) and then on the "Schedule" link above each roster to download a PDF of your grade's schedule. Check with your coach for practice and game schedules if your schedule is not there. Here is the 2007-2008 gym schedule:

		Grade	Day	Time	School
Instructional		2	Saturday	9:00-10:10	Heights
			Saturday	10:20-11:30	Heights
Girls		3 & 4	Tuesday	6:30-8:30	Heights
			Thursday	6:30-8:30	Heights
			Saturday	9:00-11:00	Cottage
		5 & 6	Monday	6:30-8:30	East
			Thursday	6:30-8:30	Cottage
			Saturday	1:00-4:00	Heights
		7 & 8	Thursday	7:00-9:00	Middle School
			Saturday	12:30-2:30	Middle School
Boys		3	Monday	6:30-8:30	Heights
			Wednesday	6:30-8:30	Heights
			Saturday	2:00-5:00	Cottage
		4	Monday	6:00-8:00	Cottage
			Wednesday	6:30-8:30	Cottage
			Saturday	10:00-2:00	East
		5	Wednesday	6:30-9:30	East
			Saturday	11:00-2:00	Cottage
		6	Tuesday	6:30-9:30	East
			Saturday	2:00-5:00	East
		7	Thursday	6:30-9:30	East
			Sunday	4:30-7:30	East
		8	Tuesday	6:30-9:30	Cottage
			Sunday	4:30-7:30	Middle School
		9&10	Sunday	2:00-5:00	Cottage
		11&12	Sunday	3:30-7:30	High School

2007-2008 Sharon Travel Rosters Set
The rosters for all Sharon Travel teams are now posted. Congratulations to all who tried out.

Sharon Travel at Mass Premier Courts
SBA once again has elected to house the entire 2007-2008 travel basketball program — including tryouts, practices and home games — at the state-of-the-art Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro. You can check out the facility on-line at www.mpcourts.com. This move allows the travel basketball program to expand the number of participants and teams, increase the number of practices, and control costs relative to prior travel seasons. Click here for directions to Mass Premier.

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