Playoff Preview: Hockey and Basketball

With two league championships and two second-place finishes among them, the  boys’ and girls’ hockey and basketball teams had by far the best combined regular-season record, 69-12-2, of any school in the Middlesex League.

However, with all four teams seeking state titles, the real season is just getting underway.

BOYS’ HOCKEY
Seed: No. 7 in Super 8 tournament
Record: 17-3-1
Coach: Jim Duran
Next: No. 10 Springfield Cathedral (12-9-1) at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the Chelmsford Forum in North Billerica

After capturing their first league title since 2003, the Tanners were selected as the No. 7 seed in the prestigious Super 8 tournament.

The team will face No. 10 Springfield Cathedral in a play-in game at 6 p.m. today at the Chelmsford Forum. The winner will advance to the Super 8 tournament, while the loser will return to its respective bracket, in Woburn’s case, the Division 1 North sectional.

The two teams have one common opponent, and unfortunately for the Tanners, Springfield Cathedral beat No. 2 St. John’s Prep of Danvers (14-5-1) 4-1, while they lost 6-0.

The Tanners were undefeated on their home ice at , 12-0-1, but 5-3 on the road. The team outscored opponents by 40 goals, 74-34.

Statement games

• The Tanners avenged an earlier-season loss by defeating league-foe Reading (15-6-1) 4-1 on Saturday, Feb. 12. The home win proved to be the difference in the Middlesex League standings, as Woburn would finish one game ahead of Reading at season’s end.
• Junior Daniel Holland had two goals, as Woburn (12-6-1) 4-1 in a crucial late-season game on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Three to watch

Casey Shea, No. 10, junior: The team’s first-line center, Shea provides instant offense. He can take defenders one-on-one and is a true finisher around the net.

Alex Holland, No. 9, senior: Holland also has a knack for scoring. The team’s captain is linemates with Shea and his younger brother, junior Daniel Holland.

Brian Dulong, No. 21, senior: Known for his punishing checks, Dulong anchors the Tanners’ defense in front of senior goalie Cam McGlashing. The team’s assistant captain is also a leader in the locker room.

GIRLS’ HOCKEY
Seed: No. 2 in Division 1 tournament
Record: 18-1-1
Coach: Bob MacCurtain
Next: Winner of No. 15 Westford (12-5-3) and No. 18 Cambridge/Somerville (12-6-2) on Saturday, March 5, at O’Brien Rink

With , the Tanners will have to wait until Saturday, March 5, to get started.

Woburn received a bye in the preliminary round of the Division 1 tournament and awaits the winner of No. 15 Westford and No. 18 Cambridge Somerville.

The league-champion Tanners are riding an 18-game unbeaten streak into the tournament, as the team’s only loss came against No. 7 Lexington (14-2-4) in the second game of the season. Woburn would face Lexington in the quarterfinals if both teams advance Saturday. Woburn beat Lexington 4-0 in the teams’ rematch in January.

The Tanners have outscored opponents by an astounding 85 goals, 105-20.

Statement games

• After losing to St. Mary’s in the last two state finals, Woburn tied the Spartans 1-1 on Saturday, Jan. 29, with junior Bryana Harron scoring the Tanners’ lone goal. St. Mary’s, the three-time defending state champion, hasn’t lost in 99 games.
• Sophomore Kayla Smith had a hat-trick and three assists, as the Tanners (16-3-1) 8-2 in the last game of the season. The two teams squared off in last year’s state semi-finals and would again if they advance.

Three to watch

Colleen Martell, No. 10, senior: The team’s leading scorer, Martell has amassed more than 150 points in her high school career. Martell, a center, teams up with Smith and senior Siobhan Duran on the team’s potent first line.

Hannah Magee, No. 2, senior: The team’s unsung hero, according to MacCurtain, Magee starts at defense alongside sophomore Cassandra Connolly. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

Courtney Davis, No. 35, freshman: Only a freshman, Davis starts in net. She hadn’t allowed a goal in six games before sacrificing two to Acton-Boxborough.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Seed: No. 6 in Division 2 North sectional
Record: 16-6
Coach: Tom Sullivan
Next: No. 11 Masconomet (12-8) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, at Woburn High School

After starting the season 3-4, the Tanners are 13-2 in their last 15 games and are currently riding an eight-game winning streak.

The team will host No. 11 Masconomet, of the Cape Ann League, at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The two teams have one common opponent. Masconomet lost to No. 15 Reading (10-10) 69-61 in its last game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Woburn beat Reading twice this season, 62-54 on the road and 68-50 at home.

Woburn was the highest scoring team in the Middlesex League, averaging 65.8 points per game. The team also has eight seniors, four of whom start.

Statement games

• The Tanners (15-5) 56-49 on Friday, Feb. 4. Seniors Mickel Simpson and Bill Claflin had identical stat lines, 24 points, 12 rebounds.
• In its home tournament, Woburn (15-5) 70-64 in the championship game on Monday, Feb. 21. Simpson had 31 points and 14 rebounds against the defending sectional champs.

Three to watch

Mickel Simpson, No. 20, senior: The team’s starting point guard, Simpson has scored more than 1,000 points in a Woburn uniform. A great athlete, Simpson can take over a game at either end of the floor.

Bill Claflin, No. 34, senior: The team’s big man down low, Claflin is a double-double machine. He is a polished scorer with good touch around the rim.

Mike Sallese, No. 23, senior: The sharp-shooting two guard drained seven three-pointers in the team’s (12-8). He also covered Watertown’s Marco Coppola in the Tanners’ big win.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Seed: No. 4 in Division 1 North sectional
Record: 18-2
Coach: Steve Sullivan
Next: No. 13 Lowell in at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Woburn High School

The Tanners were one win shy of a Middlesex League title. They’ll open postseason play at home against No. 13 Lowell, of the Merrimack Valley Conference, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

If the Tanners win, they’ll most likely face No. 5 Acton-Boxborough (17-3) in the quarterfinals. The two teams squared off in the first round of last year’s tournament, with Woburn advancing 51-31.

The Tanners only two losses came against Reading (19-1) 60-44 and Stoneham (17-3) 43-36 this season, the No. 1 seeds in the Division 2 North and Division 3 North sectionals, respectively.

Statement games

• Senior Danielle Perkins hit a buzzer beater, as an ailing Tanners team 53-51 on Friday, Feb. 11. Perkins had 16 points and six assists in the win.
• Woburn also 58-53 on Friday, Jan. 14. Junior Erin Marshall sealed the win by going 10-10 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes.

Three to watch

Danielle Perkins, No. 33, senior: One of the team’s three captains, Perkins proved to be clutch in the win over Reading. A slashing forward, Perkins can also shoot from distance.

Erin Marshall, No. 4, junior: Marshall took over point guard responsibilities when junior Katy Knight went down for the season with a broken wrist, and she now runs the Tanners’ three-point shooting offense. Put her on the line at the end of a game, and you’re going to pay.

Natalie McGuire, No. 11, senior: A scrappy player, McGuire usually gives up a couple inches to opposing centers, yet wins rebounding battles due to her toughness. She also anchors the middle of Woburn’s defense.