Morales already in gear at Masco
Masconomet Regional has landed a good one in new boys basketball coach Jaycob Morales.
The former Central Catholic two-sport great has been a fixture in basketball all over Eastern Mass. since graduating from Wheaton College.
Morales was the head coach at Cathedral High in Boston last year, but the commute into the city from his day job at Austin Prep and then back home to the Merrimack Valley was just too much.
He’s excited about the challenges at Masco.
“I’m excited for the opportunity, and I know the kids want to want to play the game. I hope to get the buy-in from the whole community,” said Morales.
“No matter who is in the driver’s seat, that program should win. I’m looking to have kids who are unselfish, care about the team and are willing to play together.
“The kids have to play hard and commit to their roles. The hardest part of the game of basketball is players have to sacrifice. One person is making the basket or one person makes the big play on defense, but what are the other guys on the floor doing to help make that happen?”
The commitment at Masco started almost immediately as Morales has the Chieftain boys competing in three different summer leagues.
More Hoop Talk
It’s a big time of year coming up for local high school hoop players looking to turn some coaches’ heads at the college level.
A couple of intriguing area big men are seniors Sam Concemi of Andover and Niko Catalano of North Andover, each of whom will be on the road with the New England Storm for the final open recruiting period of the summer.
“I’d like to play high-academic, Division 3 basketball, so it’s an important time,” said Concemi. “I’ve been to a lot of college camps, too, as part of that recruiting process.”
“Three more tournaments and then that’s it for AAU basketball,” added Catalano. “I haven’t really made any decisions, I’m keeping all my options open, so yeah, this is a big time for me.”
On the links
The 156-player field is set for the New Hampshire Amateur Golf Championship, which opens on Monday morning at Concord Country Club.
The region will, once again, be well-represented, starting with the Atkinson Country Club contingent.
Mat Gover, Aiden Azevedo, Jack Pepin, Evan Desjardins and Riley Reardon all are talented college players, repping Atkinson CC at the NH Amateur.
Any of them could make some serious noise next week.
Among the other area players in the field are Pelham’s Colin Brennan, who plays out of Overlook CC, Derry’s Jake Vaiknoras, Salem’s William Miele, and Plaistow’s Peter Beaulieu, one of the elder statesmen in the field at 63.
In the ring
Boston Pro Boxing Promotions is continuing to build a monster pro card for its “Summer Fight Night” at Memorial Hall in Melrose on July 27.
Methuen’s Andrew Perez, 3-0 as a pro, is slated to make his return to the ring after a two-year layoff.
Fight fans looking for more info or to get tickets, check out bostonboxingpromotions.com.