Oyster River Boys Christmas Tournament

Final Results:

1. Spaulding
2. Winnacunnett
3. Timberlane
4. Oyster River
5. Somersworth
6. Raymond

D1 Spaulding beat division rival Winnacunnet 46-44 in the championship for the second straight year. Spaulding is slowly making progress during this rebuilding year after losing five starting seniors from last year's final four run. Junior Cal Connelly was named tournament MVP, draining four three-pointers in the finals and scoring a total of 45 points in the tournament. Freshmen Arie Breakfield had a breakout performance for SHS with 43 points in 3 games and being named to the all-tourney team.

The Warriors are an athletic team that likes attacking the rim. Point guard Liam Viviano (14 points) was successful converting in traffic and Zach Waterhouse is a knock-down shooter with deep range. Waterhouse finished with a game-high 15 points in the finals, making the all-tourney team. Anthony Primavera gives WHS another penetrating guard and pressure defender. Winnacunnet was playing without power forward Freddy Shacke, who is nursing an injured ankle. He's a rugged inside presence, also capable of getting to the rim off the dribble.

For Spaulding, junior Matt Roy is a power guard, who handled Winnacunnet's full-court pressure, allowing Spaulding to get into their half-court sets. Roy was able to penetrate into the paint for some tough finishes or kick-outs to shooters. Spaulding finished 8-for-16 from three with Connelly (4 treys) and Breakfield (3 treys) doing most of the damage. Freshmen Keagan Calero (7 points), another blossoming underclassman for Spaulding, also hit from deep. Red Raider head coach Tim Cronin has his core group of four juniors and two freshmen making strides early in the season as they try to become relevant in Division 1. Connelly is a 6'5" inside-out threat, who did damage again Oyster River and Somersworth with strong post moves before turning to the three-ball in the finals. Breakfield is a lengthy 6'3" frosh with good bounce and a developing stroke. Junior Griffin Towle adds another capable shooter trying to adjust to the varsity level.

Quite frankly, I didn't think Spaulding was ready to compete with Winnacunnet this early in the season. Once Jay McKenna's team is at full strength they will be capable of playing different styles and beating the iron in D1. Coach Cronin's crew, meanwhile, lacks depth and is using baptism by fire, with only one returning regular in Connelly. Varsity game experience is the biggest hurdle for Spaulding and a 3-0 tourney performance at the Oyster River Tournament certainly helped.

Justin McIsaac couldn't ^^^^^^ have said it better himself.