Michael Muldoon
The Eagle-Tribune
---- — Mimi and the 138-point scorer
Jack Taylor of Grinnell College in Iowa’s 138-point game is the talk of the basketball world. Grinnell coach Dave Arsenault caught the attention of Hall of Fame coach Mimi Hyde 13 years ago. For the 1999-00 season, her Methuen High girls team followed Arsenault’s unorthodox theories: substitute like hockey teams and jack up 3-pointer, after 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
Although roundly criticized, like usual Mimi got the last laugh. Led by Jillian Middlemiss, Amy Johnson, Kaitlin Gallo and Meredith Waldie, the 3-point mad Rangers surprised everyone and made the EMass. finals at the FleetCenter/Boston Garden.
Current head coach Karen McLaughlin, who was Hyde’s long time assistant, said Arsenault is coming out with a book and Methuen will be prominent in it.
Cakes are baking
UTL birthday wishes go out to ex-Major Leaguer from Haverhill Mike Ryan (turns 71 today), ex-NFL quarterback Brian St. Pierre of Georgetown (turns 33 Wednesday), ex-NFL lineman Kevin Hunt of Londonderry (turns 64 Thursday) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Paul Thompson of Derry (turns 24 Friday).
AHL happenings
Bobby Farnham of North Andover’s season was highlighted in the paper the other day. His teammate with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins is the aforementioned former Pinkerton and UNH star Paul Thompson, who is one of the team’s leading scorers with 6 goals and 3 assists in 16 games. Andover’s John McCarthy of the Worcester Sharks (16 games, 2-6—8) and ex-Phillips star Chris Kreider of the Connecticut Whale (14 games, 4-6—10) are forwards biding their time during the NHL lockout.
same old laSpada
Billerica’s Nick LaSpada, who is arguably the greatest QB in MVC history, played wide receiver as a postgrad at Taft. He caught the winning TD pass in a 41-36 win over Kent then sealed the win with a late interception. He hopes to attend Yale.
Move your feet
West Virginia’s Kevin Noreen somehow managed to foul out in eight minutes vs. Gonzaga.
No nepotism
It’s amusing what isn’t included in college biogs. For Bryant hoopster Joe O’Shea, it mentions his father was the longtime St. Michael’s coach Tom O’Shea. It neglects to point out his uncle is Bryant coach Tim O’Shea!
Union shenanigans
A sweetheart teachers’ union deal cost Schenck High of Maine it’s championship boys basketball coach. Steve LeVasseur, who had won five state titles and over 300 games in 22 seasons at Schenck, his alma mater, recently stepped down.
According to the Bangor Daily News, his beef was his pay was being cut from $5,019 to $3,150. That was due to a new policy that teachers in the system would get a higher stipend than those from outside the system.
Jumping to conclusions
Skywalking Arizona State hoop star Jahili Carson claims to have dunked as a 5-3, 13-year-old. Methinks there is a bit of exaggeration there.
Grand Canyon
College of Charleston’s 6-6 freshman guard Canyon Barry, who is redshirting this year, is the fifth son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry to play Division 1. Canyon shoots free throws underhanded like his old man.
Follow Michael Muldoon on Twitter under the screen name @MullyET.
