Over the last four seasons, Old Colony basketball had the luxury of featuring Jake Jason on its roster. But now the wing has moved on to study at Bridgewater State University after graduating in the spring.
The Cougars also lost their second-best player in Zach Soucy, so Old Colony could easily set the bar low and call 2019-20 a rebuilding year. But Old Colony expects to maintain the same level of success.
“I feel like with the kids that I’ve got, there’s no reason why we can’t be in the hunt this year, next year and continuing to do big things,” Old Colony basketball coach Matt Trahan said. “A lot of these guys, they played summer league and they’ve bought in and they know what it takes to be successful. So, I know they’re going to work hard.”
While their work ethic should maintain, in order for the Cougars to have success similar to that of past seasons, role players from the 2018-19 team – specifically Hunter Soares and Jo Jo Cortez – need to take a step forward. But Trahan doesn’t necessarily expect those two to be the only ones who make up for Jason and Soucy’s scoring.
“I think that the scoring is going to be a little more spread out,” Trahan said. “Obviously, they’ve got to be buying to the defensive concept, as well. I’m pretty hopeful. I think the kids are ready to work.”
Following their matchup on Thanksgiving Eve at Tri-County, Old Colony football will play in the Massachusetts Small Vocational Championship game on December 5.
Old Rochester Regional
Former Old Rochester Regional standout athlete Harry Smith carved out a greater role for himself on Southern Connecticut State University’s football team in 2019.
Last season, played in eight of the Owls’ 10 games. He registered 10 total tackles, three of which were solo. The outside linebacker also combined with one of his teammates on a sack, finishing with 0.5 in 2018.
Smith’s sophomore season, however, has gone a bit differently. The Rochester native has played in each of Southern Connecticut State University’s 10 games. He more than doubled his amount of total tackles (23), 14 of which were solo tackled. He finished with one sack on the season, but Smith also had 2.5 more tackles for loss.
The Owls improved to 4-6 in 2019 after going 2-8 in 2018.
Old Rochester Regional football closes its season out on Thanksgiving Eve against Apponequet. The game starts at Apponequet at 6:00 pm.
Tabor Academy
Former Tabor Academy basketball standout and Mattapoisett native Noah Fernandes has begun his career with Division I Wichita State. The guard has appeared in four of the Shockers’ first five games, with the one exception being their season-opening win over the University of Omaha.
Fernandes scored his first collegiate points in Witchita’s win over UT Martin. It was a 3-point attempt. So far, he’s 2-for-7 from the floor (2-for-5 from three) to start his career with the Shockers. He’s also logged eight assists, six of which came in his 17-minute performance against Fernandes and the Shockers started the season with a five-game winning streak.
High School Sports Update
By Nick Friar