Bartlett-Oxford baskets

Text and photos by Steev Riccardo

Greetings sports fans!

There are few games that look as good on paper as the Bartlett-Oxford boy’s basketball game this Friday in Oxford. This game could have it all. Both teams are playing an up-tempo style and there is plenty of star power to go around. 

When the two teams met last year the Pirates successfully slowed down the Indians’ offense and senior co-captain Donny Freeland played flawless defense, holding Bartlett’s Nick Kobel to one point en route to a 48-38 win. It will be interesting to see if Pirates coach Sean Halloran puts Freeland on a much bigger Akeem Belnavis, who is averaging over 20 points a game, this year.

Another interesting match-up will be the two young big men, Bartlett’s Jacob Mailloux and Oxford’s Jared Buckley, who are both off to outstanding starts in their varsity debuts.

Like we said, this could be one of the best match-ups of the year, one you don’t want to miss.

The View’s Top 5 of the week:

 “The Sweet Assassin” wasted no time getting her final indoor track season off to a great start by breaking her own record in the 55-meter hurdles last week.

2. Donny Freeland, Oxford basketball:  The best lockdown defender in these parts showed he can deliver the offense as well with a couple of nice scoring efforts in his first two games against Southbridge and Prouty.

3. Akeem Belnavis, Bartlett basketball:  “The Dream” had an outstanding week with 25 points against Tantasqua and 24 in a tremendous comeback win over Northbridge, and he had a dunk in each game to boot. Could be a huge year for the senior.

4. Brooke Packard/Tina Gauvin, Shepherd Hill basketball: The outstanding backcourt combo of Packard and Gauvin are going to give teams fits all season and, oh yea, they are both also three-point threats as well.

5. Kate McCambridge, Shepherd Hill track: The Rams senior shot put ace looked good in the SWCL meet at Tantasqua last week, winning in the event she owns.  

New Boxing Club: We ran into Shepherd Hill grad John “Zab” Zablocki who was checking out his daughter Jordan’s game at the hill this past week and he told us that a new boxing club is coming to Webster soon. Stay tuned for more details and a story.  The legendary Joe Arns, who I was very fortunate to train with as a teenager, would be happy to hear this news!

Lindsay Bond:  Lindsay Bond had a homecoming of sorts last Thursday when her Anna Maria college basketball team played Nichols in Dudley.  Bond had 5 points, including her first college three-pointer! When we spoke to Bond in Northbridge on Friday night at the Bartlett game, she was pretty happy about how her freshman year is going and looked to be in amazing shape.

Oxford Track: The Oxford Pirates had some impressive showings at the SWCL dual meet in Northbridge on Wednesday, December 12. 

On the boys’ side, Andrew St. Germain won the 50-yard hurdles, while Michael McCarthy finished 4^th in the mile run and Nick Rivelli    finished 6^th in the shot put.

Emily Dawidczyk started her senior track career off by breaking her own record in the 50-meter hurdles. She also won the 50-yard dash and in a new twist for her, finished third in the shot put.  Julia Carrier came in 4^th in the 2-mile run for the lady Pirates.

“Breaking my own record in this first meet was the perfect way to start the season,” said Dawidczyk. “In the past few weeks I've been working really hard to improve my starts and hurdle form so I'm glad that's it's paying off. I'm still looking to better that time though.” Of course she is.

More SWCL Track Results: The Shepherd Hill Rams cleaned up last week at the SWCL meet at Tantasqua with a number of high finishers.

Kate McCambridge won the shot put, Lucy Harmon won the 2-mile run, Stella Worters came in second in the mile run, won the 1000-meter run, Emily Thibaud won the 600-meter run, and Haley Chamberlin finished second in the 600-meter run on the girls side.

Hunter Schultz won the 2-mile run for the boys.

Bartlett’s Jeremy Guyette finished third in 1000 meters for the Indians in a fine showing for the Green.

Until next week, see you on the sidelines! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any sports news and check out the new View From The Sidelines Facebook page with exclusive photos and news at https://www.facebook.com/ViewFromTheSidelines