A Shot For Life founder Mike Slonina has announced plans for a 24-hour basketball game to raise money and awareness for cancer. The ASFL Gauntlet will take place on November 11th at the University Sports Complex in Hanover. The Gauntlet is a 24-hour long basketball game meant to be symbolic of the struggle that cancer patients go through. This event is open to players of all ages - adults wanted.

From Slonina's press release: "Each player has a $5,000 fundraising goal, however, I want to make it clear that that’s just the goal that we want all of the players to strive for and do their best to reach. Nothing happens to the player if they come in lower than $5,000. This event is essentially a basketball pan mass challenge/Boston Marathon but the major difference is that we do not require a credit card the way those events do. We appreciate everyone involved and will not be charging a credit card or anything like that. Truthfully, $5,000 is a lot more intimidating of a number to raise than it is in actual practice. One of our participants auctioned off a golf outing and raised $2,500 in one night last week. 

If anyone has any questions or wants further clarification I can be reached at this email or 617-953-2312. We want to get as many people as possible welcomed into the ASFL Community through this event.

The link to register is: https://www.firstgiving.com/413537/a-shot-for-life-gauntlet"

Braintree lost the best basketball coach in the state yesterday when Kristen McDonnell resigned. The indication is that she no longer wanted to deal with some of the parents.

Everybody is shocked that she stepped down, but the reason isn’t shocking at all. It isn’t exclusive to Braintree, but how unreasonable are (some of) the parents there if this is true?

Winning isn’t everything in high school sports, but everything is more fun when you win. No program has had more fun winning over the past decade or so than Braintree.

Let’s put winning aside for a second. Braintree had an energetic, talented and passionate coach that built the Wamp girls hoops culture on making relationships and memories. If you look through the @BHSWampsBball twitter account, managed by Kristen McDonnell, you will see endless tweets from her praising past, present and future Wamps. You get a glimpse into how she mixes it up during practices with fun events for the girls such as Survivor Day and building an all-male scout team to get the Wamps ready for tough Bay State and D1 competition. What student-athlete wouldn’t want to be part of program like this? The next person I meet that has a negative thing to say about Kristen will be the first one. Why in the world would any parent want to force her out the door?

Varsity coaches don’t make a life changing stipend. Most get into high school coaching because they recognize how important high school sports are and want to create memories and instill values for the players in their program. And of course, coaches want to win. Coaches put in more hours than most will ever comprehend towards building a winning program, but there’s only so much one can take.

Some parents are really good at ruining a good thing. When one accepts a varsity coaching job it is understood that criticism comes with the territory, but there is a threshold where the coach asks himself or herself: “Is this still worth it?” I’ve been there.

The tragedy is that 90% of the time, the player is a pleasure to coach. Massachusetts is polluted with Lavar Ball, Richard Williams and Todd Marinovich wannabees that insist on living vicariously through their children and I hope Kristen’s resignation is an eye-opener to the state that something needs to be done about it.

What can be done about outspoken parents that ruin high school athletics? I think athletic directors and school administrators need to put their heads together and come up with a statewide standard for parental behavior with specific consequences.

Perhaps parents need to participate in a preseason behavioral workshop before each season and sign an oath to not be a disruptive blowhard. Consequences include ejection from game, suspension from games and ultimately removal of son/daughter from team. Nothing is going to change without consequences.

As a coach, you can have that individual sport preseason meeting and go over player and parental expectations and just hope that everyone complies because you have faith in humanity.  Unfortunately, coaches need assurances and protection because there will always be parents that are cancerous dinks.

Hopefully this Braintree situation ignites the discussion about what to do with unruly parents.
If the best coach in the state can be pushed past her breaking point, then nobody is immune to this. Good luck to the person that has to fill her shoes.

2016 Boys Massachusetts Middle School State Tournament Results
8th Large Gold
Champion: Franklin
Runner-up: Attleboro
Final Four: Franklin, Scituate, Attleboro, Wareham
 
8th Small Gold
Champion: Medway
Runner-up: Westborough
Final Four: Waltham, Medway, Westborough, Gardner
 
8th True B Gold
Champion: Swampscott
Runner-up: Natick
Final Four: Natick, Belmont, Sandwich, Swampscott
 
7th Large Gold
Champion: Bellingham
Runner-up: Stoughton
Final Four: Bellingham, Plymouth, Stoughton, Belmont
 
7th Small Gold
Champion: Wachusett
Runner-up: Sandwich
Final Four: Newton, Sandwich, Franklin, Wachusett
 
7th Small Silver
Champion: Grafton
Runner-up: Weston
Final Four: Grafton, Georgetown, Weston, Ayer-Shirley
 
7th True B Gold
Champion: Dighton-Rehoboth
Runner-Up: Westwood
Final Four: Dighton-Rehoboth, Weston, Belmont, Westwood
 
6th Large Gold
Champion: Beverly
Runner-up: Braintree
Final Four: Beverly, Canton, Fitchburg, Braintree
 
6th Large Silver
Champion: Franklin
Runner-up: Scituate
Final Four: Plymouth North, Franklin, Shrewsbury, Scituate
 
6th Small Gold
Champion: Westford
Runner-up: Marlboro
Final Four: Marlboro, Sharon, Dedham, Westford
 
6th Small Silver
Champion: Stoughton
Runner-up: Wareham
Final Four: Stoughton, Wachusett, Wareham, Rochester
 
6th True B Gold
Champion: Reading
Runner-up: Westwood
Final Four: Westwood, Hopkinton, Reading, Walpole

Mass Premier Courts is home to THREE D1 girls champions and are holding try-outs at the end of August.

Try-out schedule:

Saturday, August 29th
4th Grade: 8:30AM-10:00AM
5th Grade: 8:30AM-10:00AM
6th Grade: 10:00AM-11:30AM (State Champion - Coached by Jim Reen)
7th Grade: 10:00AM-11:30AM (State Champion - Coached by Mike Harney)
8th Grade: 11:30AM-1:00PM
9th Grade: 11:30AM-1:00PM
10th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM (State Champion - Coach by Alex DaLuz)
11th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM 
12th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM

Sunday, August 30th
4th Grade: 8:30AM-10:00AM
5th Grade: 8:30AM-10:00AM
6th Grade: 10:00AM-11:30AM (State Champion - Coached by Jim Reen)
7th Grade: 10:00AM-11:30AM (State Champion - Coached by Mike Harney)
8th Grade: 11:30AM-1:00PM
9th Grade: 11:30AM-1:00PM
10th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM (State Champion - Coach by Alex DaLuz)
11th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM 
12th Grade: 1:00PM-2:30PM

Monday, August 31st
6th Grade: 6:00PM-7:30PM (State Champion - Coached by Jim Reen)
7th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM (State Champion - Coached by Mike Harney)
8th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM 

Tuesday, September 1st
9th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM
10th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM (State Champion - Coached by Alex DaLuz)
11th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM
12th Grade: 7:30PM-9:00PM

To sign up, click here. 

Congratulations to one of the truly good guys in AAU girls basketball, Pat Russell, on the formation of his new club - NEX Elite.

Russell has been associated with the Bay State Magic for over a decade, but has decided to venture on his own using his NEXbball moniker. 

Russell has coached multiple Bay State Magic Elite teams and has helped place girls in college at the D1, D2 and D3 level. NEXbball hosts a heavily attended and high competitive tournament in the fall at Roger Williams University and in the spring at Wheaton College.

For more information about NEXbball tournaments and AAU information, visit http://www.nexbball.com and/or e-mail Pat at russ7525@beld.net

Double Digit Club – Sunday and Monday

Boys Varsity
Tim Prunier, Franklin 33
Nick Timberlake, Braintree 28
Robert Pierce, Attleboro 27
Berlyns Abraham, Attleboro 25
Tony Harris, Canton 22
Aidan Conboy, Braintree 21
Koneski, Dighton-Rehoboth 20
Washburn, Walpole 20
Ryan Costello, Braintree 19
Rick Ripley, Sharon 19
Reed, Dighton-Rehoboth 19
Nick Baskin, Mansfield 18
PJ Adams, Millis 17
Goldstein, Franklin 15
Collamore, Norton 14
Alex Dubrow, Foxboro 14
Lowey, Foxboro 14
Brent Doherty, North Attleboro 13
Jake Dunkley, Attleboro 13
Madden, KP 13
Poufong, Attleboro 13
Carter Burress, Millis 12
Mark Clagg, Foxboro 12
Mike Harris, Canton 12
Kelly, Oliver Ames 12
Ike Shephard, Walpole 12
Christian Weber, Mansfield 12
Brown, Norton 11
Lowerre, Sharon 11
Sheehan, Norton 11
Boucicant, Attleboro 10
Luke Esty, Walpole 10
Filipkowski, Sharon 10
Eric Oleshaker, Canton 10
Kyle Swansburg, Mansfield 10
Chad Peterson, North Attleboro 10
Williams, Franklin 10

Girls Varsity
Lexi Hackett, Worcester Academy 28
Emily Houle, Needham 27
Sarah Deyo, Attleboro 23
Meghan Reen, Norwood 21
Jen Peel, Mansfield 20
Doharb, Brookline 19
Alecia Quinones, Stoughton 19
Jalani Jackson, Brockton 18
Tess Sussman, Needham 17
Maddie Murphy, Worcester Academy 16
Nicole Smith, Bishop Feehan  15
Meg Hill, Mansfield 14
Emily Houle, Attleboro 14
Kayla Raymond, Oliver Ames 14
Riley Lahiff, Bishop Feehan 13
Nika, Southeastern 13
Kate Irwin, Milford 12
Ainsley Jolin, Bishop Feehan 12
Niyera Mitchell, Oliver Ames 12
Amber Chisholm, Norwood 11
Colins, Foxboro 11
Dalngren, Canton 11
Foley, Canton 11
Ashley Sampson, Foxboro 11
Hannah Benson, Norwood 10
Katie, Franklin 10
Kim, Tri-County 10
Ashley Sampson, Foxboro 10

Boys 8th Grade
Will Rywolt, Barrington 20
Gallery, Canton 19
Somers, Westborough 17
Badger, Westborough 16
Makhi Baskin, Mansfield 16
Batting, Barrington 15
Canal, Hopkinton 15
Sheehan, Medway 14
Cunningham, Franklin 13
McGowan, Canton 13
Garzon, Millis 12
Wilson, Attleboro 12
Reynolds, Cumberland 11
Eutsay, Canton 10

Girls 8th Grade
Herbert, Sharon 21
Wietucki, Medfield 14
Julia Kleczkowski, North Attleboro 12
Wallace, Sharon 11

Boys Varsity League Leaders – Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Boys
Tim Prunier, Franklin 26
Nick Baskin, Mansfield 25
Ben Smith, King Philip 24
Lahart, Xaverian 19
Kyle Swansburg, Mansfield 18
Pete Williams, Franklin White 18
Keyshad Dixon, Braintree 17
Alex DuBrow, Foxboro 17
Ben Smith, King Philip 17
Koneski, D-R 16
Boulter, Mansfield 15
Mark Clagg, Foxboro 15
Kyle Healey, Walpole 15
Friberg, North Attleboro 15
Prouo Poufong, Attleboro 15
Williams, Medfield 15
Brent Doherty, North Attleboro 14
Noah Goodwin, King Philip 14
Kelley, Oliver Ames 13
Chad Peterson, North Attleboro 13
Hart, D-R 12
Johnson, Medfield 12
Carter, Oliver Ames 11
Lowell, Medfield 11
Madej, Medfield 11
Welch, Oliver Ames 11
Zonfrelli, Millis 11
Gillespie, Xaverian 10
Carter Burress, Millis 10
Graziano, Oliver Ames 10
Karger, Medfield 10
Noah Goodwin, King Philip 10
Andrew Milliken, Attleboro 10
Matt Peterson, Norton 10
Khristian Conner, Mansfield 9
Matt Elias, Franklin White 9
Logan Kenney, Franklin White 9
Matt Lowere, Sharon 9
Miller, Sharon 9
Aidan O’Grady, Braintree 9
Otto, Mansfield 9
Ike Sheppard, Walpole 9
Andrew Zola, Sharon 9
Andrew Block, Foxboro 8
Joe Collamore, Norton 8
Falcone, North Attleboro 8
Loranger, Medfield 8
Alex Mattie, Xaverian 8
Tom Madden, King Philip 8
Joe Sullivan, Foxboro 8
Adrien Costello, King Philip 7
Kyle Gaumond, North Attleboro 7
Paul Houlihan, Franklin 7
Latosek, Millis 7
Josh Macchi, Franklin 7
Silvia, D-R 7
Bryce Smith, Sharon 7
Troiano, Norton 7

Varsity League Leaders – Monday, June 22, 2015

Girls
Lexi Hackett, Worcester Academy 28
Julia Strachan, North Attleboro 28
Abbie Phelan, Norton 21
Boston, Worcester Academy 20
Sarah Deyo, Attleboro 18
Jalani Jackson, Brockton 18
Pariseau, Worcester Academy 17
Cassidy Harrison, Foxboro 14
Maddie Murphy, Worcester Academy 14
Quinones, Stoughton 14
Meg Nichols, Norton 13
E. Liskov, Milford 13
Allen, Foxboro 12
Brown, Walpole 12
Dalzell, Brookline 12
Ainsley Jolin, Bishop Feehan 11
Brennan, Norton 10
Kate Irwin, Milford 10
Nika, Southeastern 10
Kiera Fernandes, Worcester Academy 10
Malling, Foxboro 10
Grace Tamulionis, Foxboro 10
Jerrier, Canton 9
Katlyn #14, Bishop Feehan 9
Morse, Franklin 9
Ashley Sampson, Foxboro 9
Broyles, Mansfield 8
Griffin, Walpole 8
Abbie Kurtzer, Norton 8
Bridget Lanchester, Walpole 7
Sam Pierce, Attleboro 7
Foley, Canton 7

Boys
Tim Prunier, Franklin 31
Chad Peterson, North Attleboro 24
Kelley, Oliver Ames 20
Timberlake, Braintree 19
Alex DuBrow, Foxboro 18
#22, Dighton-Rehoboth 18
#16, Oliver Ames 17
Albanese, Mansfield 17
Friberg, North Attleboro 17
Friberg, North Attleboro 16
Stephen Hamerski, Attleboro 15
Washburn, Walpole 15
Jake Dunkley, Attleboro 14
#21, Dighton-Rehoboth 14
Dunkley, Attleboro 14
Poufong, Attleboro 14
Shepard, Walpole 14
Max Galluccio, Franklin 13
Rob Lowey, Foxboro 13
Joe Collamore, Norton 12
Ryan Brown, Norton 12
Graziano, Oliver Ames 12
Goldberg, Mansfield 12
Mahoney, Braintree 12
Ryan Brown, Norton 11
Brent Doherty, North Attleboro 11
Mahoney, Oliver Ames 11
Nick Baskin, Mansfield 10
Luke Esty, Walpole 10
Conooy, Braintree 10
Boucicaut, Attleboro 9
Smith, King Philip 9
Madden, King Philip 9
Mitchell Sirota, Sharon 9
Sagar Desai, Millis 9
Gill, Franklin 8
Hodgkins, Franklin 8
Goodwin, King Philip 7
Carter Burress, Millis 7
Brent Doherty, North Attleboro 7
Ricardo Ripley, Sharon 7