Morales, Masco off and running
Most predictable thing to come out of the first week of the winter season?
Former Central Catholic standout Jaycob Morales is off to an undefeated start in his first season as the varsity boys basketball coach at Masconomet Regional.
Morales inherited a Chieftains’ program that has been stuck in the Northeast Conference mud in the last few seasons.
Masco is now a serious threat there.
Showdown Saturday
There’s a real good early-season matchup on tap on Saturday afternoon when HPNA hosts the Methuen- Tewksbury girls on the ice at Veterans Rink in Haverhill.
Both teams enter unbeaten with HPNA at 2-0-1 and the Red Rangers at 2-0.
It’s a clash of styles with HPNA relying heavily on three-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star goalie Julianna Taylor back-boning the operation.
Sniper Bree Lawrence leads the high-flying Red Rangers.
Monday nighter in Methuen
Speaking of the pre-Christmas local slate, if you are a fan of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic Basketball Tournament, might want to take in a pre-tourney prelim when the Andover High boys head to Methuen for a Monday night (6:30 p.m.) league matchup.
Andover’s Josh Roux has announced his presence with authority for the defending MVC champs in the early going. Meanwhile, Methuen’s dynamic backcourt of Isaiah Andino and Lennon Abreu De La Cruz is out to prove the Rangers belong with the big boys.
Methuen is the No. 4 seed in the Christmas tourney, which kicks off at Merrimack College on Dec. 27. Andover is the No. 3.
Madman Mazzulla
Leave it to Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla to throw a f-bomb-laced, midcourt, postgame tirade at referee Justin Van Duyne on Thursday night at the Garden.
Yeah, Joe. Your team shot 14 for 56 (not a typo) from the 3-point line in an 8-point loss to the 12-15 Bulls, but it was the official who cost you this one.
Great job standing up for your players, coach. Enjoy the oncoming suspension.
We’ll miss you, Jim
Some really sad news out of Rhode Island broke this week. Legendary Providence Journal sports columnist Jim Donaldson has passed away at the age of 73.
Jim was a regular on the Patriots beat during the dynasty years until his retirement in 2016.
He made the press box a better place.
A Notre Dame grad, Jim was smart, witty and had street savvy, the perfect combination for a columnist.
He just was a heck of a nice guy, who never shied away from a verbal clash.
And yes, Jim was a horse-player, too.
There was nothing I didn’t like about Jim Donaldson. He’ll certainly be missed.