Basketball Team Closes Strong Season

The boys varsity basketball team traveled to Florida in December to participate in a tournament. Courtesy photo.

– Allison Goldsberry

After winning a state tournament game for the first time since 1999 last Monday, the boys varsity basketball team ended their post-season run with a loss to Central Catholic on Thursday.

“Central Catholic’s defense is the best in the state and we really had a tough time scoring on them. We actually outscored Central Cathloic in the third quarter and almost played them even for the game in the second half until the final minutes where substitiutions were made,” said Coach Anthony Faradie, in his fifth season as head coach. “We haven’t seen ball pressure and denials like that in my tenure here at Medford; our kids were a little bit nervous coming out of the gate on how to handle that. I thought we fought very hard and had an impressive third quarter against the best team in the state.”

Junior Sean Doncaster “showed that he can play with the best” as he dropped nineteen points for the game and “came out strong in the second half,” said Faradie. Senior Larry Keating had eight points while senior Anthony Tortora added six points off two threes.

The Mustangs made some adjustments to handle a tough Central Catholic offense and defense. With Luis Pelo, one of the state’s top defenders, covering Doncaster, it was up to junior Jon Pires to do the ball handling duties for Medford.

“He did a great job getting us into our offense and it actually may have helped us to get Sean off the ball. I thought Pires really stepped up in a role that he wasn’t used too. He did a great job. I was very happy the way that we battled with them,” said Coach Faradie.

The Mustangs are losing seniors Tortora (“tough as nails”), Keating (“our leader who has been with us since his freshman year”), and Maurice Magras (“one of our best athletes”). Faradie said the seniors will definitely be missed. The team has a “solid nucleus” of returning players, including Doncaster, Pires, James Hawkins, John Lavoie, Jhemes Lemone, Billy Joseph, and Owen Healey.

Despite the state tourney loss the team has had a successful season.

“In retrospect we had a very solid season. We went to Orlando, Florida for the three games in the KSA events tournament and won two out of three. That was a great overall experience for our guys. We qualified for the state tournament. We ended up winning a first round state tournament game in our own gym against Peabody. Medford has not won a state tournament game since 1999,” said Coach Faradie. “I’m proud of what this team accomplished this season; we showed solid character. Playing against Central Catholic gave us a measure of where we need to get too and we can build off that.”

Faradie said the assistant basketball coaches, “who never get enough credit,” were “highly responsible” for preparing the team to succeed. The team’s assistant coaches include David White, Chris Morano, Kyle Heath, Tanner Turley, and Tim Southwick.

“They all do such a great job for us. Kyle Heath, who graduated from Medford High two years ago, will be leaving our coaching staff to join the Navy in the spring. He will be missed as well,” said Coach Faradie.