The high school hoops season is underway, and despite a few COVID-related hiccups, most teams have gotten at least a few games under their belt.
It’s certainly been enough time to establish early contenders, between the mainstays like Scituate and Whitman-Hanson, and the surprises like Pembroke and Plymouth South.
We’ve also seen enough ball to know who to look out for on the hardwood this winter.
WATD has put together a list of the area’s top performers in the season’s opening weeks. Much like Santa’s reindeer, these nine led the way in December.
Sam Benning, SR, Scituate
While all eyes were on Keegan Sullivan, one of the area’s top athletes, entering the season, it’s been Benning who has led the way offensively for the Sailors.
Benning averaged 17.8 points per game in December, pacing an offense that sits second in the Patriot League in scoring. The senior was the leading scorer in three of the Sailors first five games, and has been in double figures in every game this season.
He averaged 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game over a three game stretch which saw the Sailors knock off league opponents Whitman-Hanson, North Quincy, and Silver Lake.
Tommy Fanara, SR, Abington
The Green Wave played just three games in December, but came away undefeated with a key win over South Shore League Sullivan Division foe Middleboro.
Fanara was the centerpiece in all three games. The senior captain averaged 21.6 points per game in December, authoring his best performance against the Sachems with a 25 point effort.
Amidst an unprecedented run for Abington, which included back to back state title appearances (with a share of the title in 2020) and a South Shore League crown in 2021, the Green Wave has always had a true offensive alpha.
Transitioning from all-time leading scorer Bryson Andrews in 2019 to second all-time leading scorer Matt Maguire in 2020 and 2021 has left Abington with big shoes to fill this fall. Fanara’s December had the ring of a man rising to grab the torch.
The key for Fanara will be staying healthy, as he exited in the first half of Tuesday’s loss to Cohasset after appearing to aggravate a shoulder injury lingering from the football season.
Daithi Quinn, SO, North Quincy
The first underclassman on the list, Quinn has been the heartbeat of the Red Raiders offense this season.
After opening the season with an 18-point effort against Silver Lake, Quinn turned heads with a 31-point outburst in North Quincy’s loss to Scituate.
Quinn has scored 30 twice this season, and is averaging 21.8 points per game. He is also one of the Red Raiders leading rebounders.
If you’re looking for a reason why North Quincy has gone from a team that seemed on the precipice of contending the last two years to a serious player in the Patriot League in 2022, look no further than Daithi Quinn.
Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, SR, Whitman-Hanson
One of the best big men in the area, Alcorn-Crowder has been a monster in the paint for the Panthers thus far this season.
The senior’s point totals may not be that high, thanks to a very balanced offensive attack from Whitman-Hanson, but he has led the team on the score sheet twice this season, and scored in double figures in five of six games.
During the Panthers’ yearly Florida swing, Alcorn-Crowder averaged 15 points per game, topping out with a 22-point, 14 rebound performance against Cypress Creek.
That effort was Alcorn-Crowder’s third double-double of the season.
Mike Loughnane, SR, BC High
You could say Loughnane’s first two games of the season were eye-opening, if not for the fact that all eyes have been squarely glued to the Quincy native since the season’s outset.
The best player in the area, bar none, Loughnane showed you why the Eagles will be a force this winter in the first two games of the season.
Loughnane followed up a 33-point opening night against Brockton with a career high 44 points in a win over Needham.
The senior’s 44 points came on solid 13 of 25 shooting.
Expect Loughnane to continue pacing BC High, and the state, in scoring this season.
Liam McBride, JR, Hingham
The Harbormen have come out this winter looking intent on ceasing to play second-fiddle to Whitman-Hanson in the Patriot League Keenan Division.
A 4-1 start has Hingham where it wants to be, and one of the guys fueling that start is McBride.
Averaging 21.2 points per game this season, McBride has been the leading scorer in one of the area’s most formidable duos alongside Nick Johannes.
After opening the season with 21- and 29-point efforts against Hanover and Plymouth North, McBride helped Hingham to a Westwood Holiday Tournament win last week with 41 points in two games.
Josh Campbell, JR, Archbishop Williams
Campbell, a Plymouth native, stands behind only Loughnane as the South Shore’s leading scorer thus far this winter.
In five December games, the junior lit up the scoreboard to the tune of a 26.2 points per game average.
Twice, Campbell went for 37 points in a game, leading the Bishops to wins over Bishop Stang and O’Bryant. He also had 10 and 16 rebounds in each of those games for a pair of double-doubles.
Campbell has gone over 20 points four times this season, including in a tight loss to Pembroke in the finals the Titans’ holiday tournament.
Joey Dwyer, JR, Pembroke
Speaking of the Titans, sound the best-start-in-program-history alert.
Pembroke finished December a perfect 5-0 with impressive wins over Hanover, Hingham, and Archie’s.
Dwyer has led the way for the Titans thus far, saving his best efforts for Pembroke’s biggest games.
The junior netted 24 points in the nine-point victory over Hingham, and added a 22-point performance to claim the holiday tournament title over Archie’s.
Not many eyes were on Dwyer nor the Titans to start the season, but everyone is paying attention to them now.
Jake Peterson, JR, Hanover
Hanover has faced a gauntlet out of the gates this winter, seeing Hingham, Pembroke, and Whitman-Hanson in their first three games.
The schedule has got the better of them, but the Hawks got off the schneid with a win over Rockland last week.
Despite the start, Peterson has asserted himself as a stalwart for Hanover offensively, scoring in double figures to lead the Hawks in each game.
The junior is averaging 16 points per game thus far this season.
Don’t expect the tough times to last this winter for Hanover, and believe that Peterson will be at the center of things when Coach Nick Hannigan’s squad gets it turned around.