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December 14, 2012

Sports in a Minute

By David Willis The Eagle-Tribune The Eagle Tribune Sat Dec 15, 2012, 12:08 AM EST

Methuen opens football job

Methuen has officially opened its varsity football head coach position, confirmed athletic director Jim Weymouth.

Tom Tone had served as interim head coach each of the last two seasons, going 3-8 both seasons. He took over for Pat Graham in March of 2011 when Graham departed for what turned out to be a short stint as coach at Merrimack College. Graham, who spent this fall as linebacker coach at Saint Anselm College, was 26-18 in four years at Methuen, including 24-10 in his last three seasons.

“Tom had always been interim,” said Weymouth. “He got the job so late the first year, we wanted to give him time for evaluation. The prospects had always been that we would open the job after the second season.

“Tom is a very knowledgeable man who put in the time. You will have to ask him if he will be applying for the job this time. We will have to see how the process works out.”

Weymouth said he hopes to have a new coach in place by the end of January.

Caveney chooses Williams

Andover High basketball star Devon Caveney locked up her college plans on Thursday, when she was accepted to the elite Williams College, where she will play basketball.

The senior co-captain was a key member of Andover’s Division 1 state title three-peat, as sixth man in 2010 and a starter each of the last two seasons.

“It’s an amazing school that I’m really excited to be going,” said the two-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star. “I feel like the NESCAC is a great fit.”

Caveney isn’t the first Golden Warrior hoops star to play at Williams. Former Eagle-Tribune-All-Star Laura Renfro, a star on the 2008 team that made the Division 1 state title game, also played for the Ephs.

Bad boy blood

Don’t be surprised if the Brooks boys basketball team has a hint of a hockey attitude this winter. Sam Milbury of Peabody is the nephew of former Bruins player and head coach Mike Milbury.

Currently an analyst for NESN and Hockey Night in Canada, Mike Milbury is of course best known for climbing into the stands to fight fans during an altercation while Bruins head coach in 1979, two days before Christmas.

Kreider craze

Former Phillips Academy star Chris Kreider was a hit when he joined the New York Rangers last year, and his popularity with fans is clearly on the rise.

A student at Masconomet Regional, where Kreider also played hockey, was wearing an authentic Kreider Rangers jersey last week.

Vonleh mania

Indiana University basketball fans, naturally, are overjoyed that Haverhill’s Noah Vonleh will be playing for the Hoosiers next year.

On the Indiana basketball blog “The Crimson Quarry,” fans were again raving about the addition of the super-prospect on a thread this week. Some said he could resemble his idol, three-time defending NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant.

One wrote: “This kid is going to be a monster for us! He could be KD (Durant) part 2.”

Crabbe is back

There will be a familiar face on the Lowell Spinners bench next summer, as Bruce Crabbe will return as the team’s manager.

Crabbe managed the Spinners last season, in 2010 and in 2006. Also returning is pitching coach Walter Miranda, who served that role in 2005-06 and again in 2008.

Patriot protégé

After being a whipping boy for critics early in the season, Nate Solder has settled into his spot as left tackle for the Patriots.

Matt Light, who manned the same position for the last 11 years before he retired following the Super Bowl loss to the Giants, was very complimentary of his successor protecting Tom Brady’s blind side.

The comical Light also took a little credit for the second-year man’s success.

“Well, he did have a great mentor that went out of his way to help him out,” Light joked. “So he got some good advice.”

Mock arrogance aside, Light said he was impressed with Solder’s progression.

“You could see last year he was special,” said Light. “He is extremely athletic and has a great attitude.”