2016 HockomockSports Boys Basketball Awards

Taunton senior Jose Mercado has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year for the 2015-2016 season. Mercado, the fifth recipient of the award, was also voted a Hockomock League All Star by the coaches.

“Jose was one of the most dangerous scorers that the league has seen in recent years,” HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. “He greatly improved his three-point shot this year and that opened things up for him to attack the basket. He certainly counts as a ‘match up nightmare’ for opposing teams.”

Mercado finished the regular season as the top scorer in the league, averaging 18.6 points per game. He was also one of the top rebounders in the league, leading the Tigers with 8.2 boards per game.

“Jose’s season was notable for his offensive skill set,” Taunton head coach Charlie Dacey said. “He was a three-point shooter, a penetrator and a rebounder. In many games he demonstrated all three proficiently.”

The Tigers finished just a game outside the Kelley-Rex title but were the first team to beat both Mansfield and Franklin in the same season in a long time.

“Early in the year I got the opportunity to watch a few of Taunton’s games and was very impressed with Jose’s game,” Mansfield head coach Mike Vaughan said. “His athleticism, size, and quickness made him a match-up nightmare. I was impressed with his ability to shoot from the outside or get to the rim. He had the potential night in and night out to be the best player in the gym. In our two games against Taunton we spent extra time at practice preparing for all the different ways he can hurt you in the game. He was a joy to watch.”

Mercado is the first ever Taunton player to win the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year and fifth player from the Kelley-Rex division. He joins Mansfield’s Michael Boen (2015) and Rocky DeAndrade (2014) as well as Franklin’s Sam Bohmiller (2013) and King Philip’s Jake Layman (2012).

Honorable Mention: Alex DuBrow (Foxboro), Tim Prunier (Franklin)

---

Alex DuBrow – Foxboro – Guard
Foxboro senior Alex DuBrow made the most of his two years with the Warriors, capping off his senior year by helping the team to its first ever Davenport title and the program’s first Hockomock League championship since 2003. DuBrow was second on the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game and led the Warriors in both assists per game (7.1) and steals per game (2.8). The senior, who is considered one of the best passers in recent league history, is committed to play basketball at Wheaton College next season.

 

---

Brent Doherty – North Attleboro – Guard
North Attleboro junior Brent Doherty was one of the top all around players in the league this year. Doherty led the Rocketeers, and was third in the Hockomock League, in scoring at 16.8 points per game. The junior also averaged over 31 minutes a game, hitting 45% of his three point attempts and 44% of his field goals overall. He averaged 4.2 rebounds a game, 3.0 assists, shot nearly 80% from the free throw line and scored a career-high 28 in an overtime win against Oliver Ames. Doherty scored in double-figures in 17 of North Attleboro’s 20 games this season.

 

---

Tim Prunier – Franklin – Guard
Franklin senior Tim Prunier captained a Panthers team that won its first Kelley-Rex division title since 2012 and reached the D1 Central Sectional Finals for the second time in his three years on varsity. Prunier, who was voted Hockomock League MVP by the league’s coaches, averaged 13.0 points per game, 4.5 assists per game and 4.0 rebounds a game. He was also selected as the HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 2.5 steals a game. In his three years, Franklin reached the sectional final twice and the semifinals once.

 

---

Sam Goldberg – Mansfield – Forward
Mansfield junior Sam Goldberg was a key piece in the Hornets’ run to their fourth straight Kelley-Rex title and another deep run in the postseason. The junior emerged as one of the Hornets’ go-to guys on the offense end and was faced with tough tasks night in and night out defensively. Goldberg averaged 11.3 points per game in 23 appearances, shooting 55% from the floor and nearly 70% from the free throw line. He averaged a team-high 7.9 rebounds a game and over one steal per game. He was also selected as a Hockomock League All Star by the coaches.

 

---

Jose Mercado – Taunton – Forward
Taunton senior Jose Mercado was a dominant force throughout the season for the Tigers, who had another strong season and finished in third in Kelley-Rex division. Mercado, who was named the HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (see above), averaged a team-high 18.6 points per game, which also led the Hockomock League. He hauled in 8.2 rebounds a game, also among the tops in the league. His versatility on offense made him a very tough matchup for opponents. He was also voted a Hockomock League All Star by the coaches.

 

---

---

Jay Dieterle – Franklin – Guard
Franklin freshman Jay Dieterle, the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. broke into the Hockomock League with a rookie season to remember. Dieterle led the Kelley-Rex division champions in scoring with 14.0 points per game and added 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He scored a career-high 24 points in December to help Franklin upset No. 1 ranked Catholic Memorial and also tied his career mark against Milford and in the playoffs against Westford Academy. He shot 40% from three-point range and 45% from the field overall.

 

---

Brandon Teixeira – Stoughton – Guard
Stoughton senior Brandon Teixeira was near the top of the scoring list for the majority of the 2015-2016 season. He averaged a team-high 15.6 points per game, scoring a career high 27 points in a narrow win over Attleboro in December. Teixeira eclipsed the 20-point scoring plateau on five different occasions for the Black Knights. The senior also had a league-best eight double-doubles this past season, including scoring 18 points and hauling in 18 rebounds in a win over Canton in January. Teixeira recently committed to Nichols College.

 

---

Jake Dunkley – Attleboro – Forward
Attleboro junior Jake Dunkley emerged as one of the top scoring threats in the entire Hockomock League during the 2015-2016 campaign. He averaged 18 points per game, which was second in the league, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He went over the 20-point plateau five times and had a career-high 32-point performance against Bishop Feehan. He recorded three double-doubles on the season and had four more games with at least 10 points and nine rebounds. He shot nearly 80% from the free throw line and shot 36% from beyond the arc.

 

---

Jason Procaccini – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro senior Jason Procaccini helped the Warriors to their first league title since 2003 in his lone year with the program. Procaccini, who transferred in from Nobles & Greenough, was the top scorer for the Warriors with a team-high 16.3 points per game. Foxboro, who won the Davenport division, was a three-headed monster and Procaccini became a true matchup nightmare for opponents with his ability to play in the post or step out and shoot from distance. He shot 48% from the floor, averaged 6.5 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game.

 

---

Carter Evin – Oliver Ames – Forward
Oliver Ames junior Carter Evin had a strong season for the Tigers, including a superb second half of the year. Evin netted 300 points, averaging 13.6 points a game to lead OA in scoring and was second on the team in rebounding with 6.0 rebounds per game. Over the final 14 games, Evin averaged 17.6 PPG. Evin had a dynamic inside-outside game and could hurt teams from beyond the arc or aggressively attack the hoop. Evin shot 65% from the FT line. In a game that the Tigers needed to win to qualify for the postseason, Evin netted a career-high 28 points to lead OA to a win.

 

---

---

Matt Ehrlich – Mansfield – Guard
Mansfield junior Matt Ehrlich was a big factor yet again for the Hornets, who have won a league title in all three years that Ehrlich has been on varsity. He was the leading scorer for Mansfield, averaging 11.9 points per game, appearing in all 25 of the Hornets’ games this season. Ehrlich was one of the better rebounding guards in the league, averaging just over four boards a game. He connected on 46 three-pointers this season at a 40% success rate from beyond the arc and a 71% free throw percentage. Ehrlich, a league All Star, averaged just over two assists a game.

 

---

Dimitry Torres – Milford – Guard
Milford senior Dimitry Torres capped his high school career with a memorable final year. The senior became the go-to guy on offense for the Scarlet Hawks, averaging a team-high 14.5 points per game and 4.4 assists per game. He scored a career-high 26 points in a double-digit win against Canton in January. Torres helped lead the Scarlet Hawks back to the postseason for the first time since 2013. He averaged 3.7 steals on defense and 2.3 rebounds overall. Torres eclipsed the 20-point plateau three times down the stretch for Milford.

 

---

Tommy MacLean – Taunton – Guard
Taunton junior Tommy MacLean was instrumental in the Tigers’ successful season this year. Over the past three seasons the Tigers have lost a lot of talent to graduation and transfers but MacLean has been a constant for Taunton. He averaged 13.6 points per game, second on the team in scoring, 4.6 rebounds per game and and helped make the offense work with 4.1 assists per game. MacLean has been known for his range but this season he showed off his vision and ability to attack the basket. He was also selected as a Hockomock League All Star.

 

---

Rob Lowey – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro senior Rob Lowey was a driving force behind the Warriors’ run to their first league title since 2003. Lowey helped Foxboro clinch its first ever Davenport division title, averaging 10.2 points per game. He also averaged a team-high 8.2 rebounds per game, one of the league leaders in that category. The senior big man was one of the top post threats on both ends of the court. He shot 59% from the field to help one of the top scoring teams in the league and was one of the top post defenders for Foxboro, who allowed the least points per game in the league.

 

---

Quan Roberson – Taunton – Forward
Taunton junior Quan Roberson made an immediate impact in his first year dawning the black and orange. He was third on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game and second on the team in rebounding with 7.2 boards a game. He showed his strong post game with the ability to turn around and hit a jump shot as well. He was a strong post defender with good athleticism that could make it tough for opponents to try and attack. Roberson scored a career-high 25 points in a win over Franklin in February to help the Tigers sweep the season series against the Panthers.

 

---

Franklin freshman Jay Dieterle as been named the 2015-2016 HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year, the fifth season the award has been given out.

Dieterle had a terrific rookie season for Franklin, leading the Kelley-Rex division winning Panthers in scoring. He was the top scoring underclassman in the league and ninth overall in the league in the regular season with 13.8 points per game. With playoffs included, he averaged 14 points per game and 4.0 rebounds a game.

“I really enjoyed coaching Jay this season because of his terrific work ethic, attitude and coachability,” Franklin head coach CJ Neely said. “He is always looking for ways to improve every time he takes the floor. If you didn’t look at the rosters they give out at the games you would never know he was a freshman by the way he plays. It is really special to have a freshman lead you in scoring. He made big shots in key spots all season long and has a bright future ahead of him.”

Dieterle didn’t shy away from the spotlight at all this season despite his age. In Franklin’s upset of top-ranked Catholic Memorial, Dieterle scored a career-high 24 points. In the first meeting with Mansfield, the Panthers trailed the Hornets with just over a minute to go. Dieterle stepped up and buried a three from straightaway to give the Panthers the lead for good.

“Jay had one of the best seasons by a freshman that the Hockomock League has seen in recent history,” HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. “He showed off his incredible shooting touch all year but as the season progressed, you could see that he was much more than just that. He’s going to be a tough player to try and stop for the next three seasons.”

Dieterle is the second straight player from the Kelley-Rex Division to win this award and third overall, joining Taunton’s EJ Dambreville (2015) and Mansfield’s Brendan Hill (2013). Sharon’s Jordan Mello-Klein (2014) and Brian Mukasa (2012) are the other recipients of the award.

HockomockSports All Underclassman Team

G – Jay Dieterle, Franklin
G – Cam Andrews, Stoughton
F – Tony Harris, Canton
F – Kayden Kelley, Milford
F – Connor Peterson, Franklin

---

Franklin senior Tim Prunier has been named the 2015-2016 HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year, the fifth season the award has been given out. Prunier was also selected as the Hockomock League MVP by the coaches and was named to the HockomockSports.com First Team.

“Tim is the ultimate competitor and teammate,” Franklin head coach CJ Neely said. “He sets the tone for us defensively at the point guard spot and never backs down from a challenge. We were very fortunate to have him as a leader this season and as a key contributor to returning back to the top of the league.”

The Panthers were one of the best defensive teams in the Hockomock League in the 2015-2016 season, thanks in part to Prunier, senior Kevin Gill and sophomore Paul Mahon. Prunier’s defensive hustle was summed up in one play in the Panthers’ playoff game against Westford. After a turnover late in close game, Prunier tracked the entire length of the court to get a steal before Westford could get a layup and the Panthers went on to win.

“Tim shined the brightest in the biggest moments, especially on the defensive end during Franklin’s run to win the league and throughout the playoffs,” HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. “His play against Westford was one of the best individual efforts I’ve seen in such a big moment.”

Prunier is the second straight Franklin player and the third Kelley-Rex Division player to be selected as the HockomockSports.com Defender of the Year. Prunier joins former teammate Dylan Reno (2015), Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (2014), Oliver Ames’ St. Clair Ryan (2013) and Stoughton’s Marcus Middleton (2012) as winners of the award.

HockomockSports All Defensive Team

G – Tim Prunier, Franklin
G – Charlie Ryan, Oliver Ames
G – Paul Mahon, Franklin
F – Dom Smith, Taunton
F – Peter Banks, Sharon

---

Coach of the Year – Don Byron, Oliver Ames

Oliver Ames head coach Don Byron has been named the 2015-2016 HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. It’s the first time Byron has been selected and also the first time a coach from the Davenport division has been chosen.

Byron led the Tigers to a 10-10 regular season and a playoff berth, just one year after losing the first seven players in the rotation. All five starters from last year’s Davenport division winning team graduated as well as the first two players off the bench. This season, the Tigers averaged 43 points per game over the first four games and 50 points a game over the first seven but improved greatly over the season and finished with an average of 60.5 points per game.

“Coach Byron took a team with very, very little varsity experience and brought them back to the playoffs,” HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan said. “It looked like it would be a rebuilding year for the Tigers but instead they made the playoffs, won a tournament game and now look primed for another great season next year.”

Byron joins Mansfield’s Michael Vaughan (2015, 2013), Taunton’s Charlie Dacey (2014) and Franklin’s Dean O’Connor (2012) as winners of the award.

Honorable Mentions: Jon Gibbs (Foxboro), Michael Vaughan (Mansfield)

 

---