The Hingham Harbormen are Ready to Set Sail
This past Friday I was able to sneak into the gym for a preseason clash between Hingham High School and Taunton High School. The Hingham Harbormen boast a mature experienced lineup that will no doubt help coach Bob Kniffen lead…
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Continue ReadingThis past Friday I was able to sneak into the gym for a preseason clash between Hingham High School and Taunton High School. The Hingham Harbormen boast a mature experienced lineup that will no doubt help coach Bob Kniffen lead them to a very strong showing this season. Despite playing in the very competitive Patriot League on the South Shore of Massachusetts this team appears to be ready to take on all competitors. The one two punch of superstar guard Liam McBride and upstart junior guard Chase Mello are poised to put defenders back on their heels with their outstanding offensive play and tenacious defense. When you add in gritty senior guard Nick Dubois, senior big man Eddy Rochte and the contributions of junior center Charlie Matthews this team is ready to go.
Liam McBride – Combo Guard – Hingham High School – Class of 2023
Liam is as advertised. The definite leader of this squad, he boasts an all around complete game that has him picking through numerous offers to play next year at the collegiate level. I had the pleasure of first seeing Liam play as a sophomore as he poured in over 30 points int he absence of their senior captain due to injury. Since then all he has done is get even better. In this scrimmage against Taunton he led his team in scoring with 23, rebounds with 9 and made three pointers with 3. Touted as a great shooter in the early stages of his career he has put it all together. A lightening quick first step leaves defenders in the dust when they get to close and when they sag off he will kill his opponent with a fury of three’s. His game isn’t just on the offensive end of the floor. a strong defender that is more than capable of holding his man in check and an excellent rebounding ability for a guard shows why he has a shot, in my opinion, at being Patriot League Player of the Year among many other possible awards.
Chase Mello – Guard – Hingham High SChool – Class of 2024
The only junior to crack the starting lineup for the Harbormen to start this season, Chase is poised to have a huge season. The first thing you notice about his game is that he never stops. It’s as if he has two speeds, stop and go, but he never stops. A tough and smart defender it is like he is a human blanket that engulfs his opponent leaving them frustrated. Through the course of this scrimmage he accounted for as many as 5 turnovers and 2 charges that swung the tide in his team’s direction just at the right moment. Chase has the ability to create fast break opportunities in the blink of an eye. You combine his defensive ability with great handle and unbelievable speed and that leads to a bunch of layups. If somehow a defender is able to beat him down the floor he has the ability to pull up on a dime and bury mid range jumper after mid range jumper. Combined with McBride in the back court this one two punch will put the South Shore and the whole state of Massachusetts on notice this winter.
Nick Dubois – Guard – Hingham High School – Class of 2023
To watch Nick play is to appreciate basketball and what it means to be a great teammate. Nick is the glue on this team that does all the little things, he does the dirty work to make things happen. In the scrimmage against Taunton he lead the team in assists with 9 and steals with 5. Every time I looked he was diving on the floor, creating a jump ball or tipping a pass to ignite a break. He will knock down a shot when needed and not he isn’t afraid to take the ball to the hoop where he has a knack of getting the ball past the much bigger defenders to finish the layup. Every team has to have the stud player, the big man but they also must have the glue guy, the gritty bulldog that isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and make the tough plays happen, those plays that don’t always make the score sheet but are definitely needed to win games and championships.
Eddy Rochte – Center – Hingham High School – Class of 2023
Eddy is the right mix of big, strong, athletic and tough. A non stop motor has him grabbing a rebound, hitting the outlet man then beating his man down the floor and getting the ball back for the easy two on the break. He lead the team in blocked shots with 2 during this scrimmage. His 6’4″ frame gives him an advantage when it comes to boxing out, which he does in text book manner. He has a true nose for the ball and great anticipation whether blocking shots or getting easy tip ins on the offensive glass. He is a strong foundation to the defense of this Hingham team and is definitely a rock that they can lean on when they need to as the season progresses.