If there was a theme in MIAA boys basketball last week, it was buzzer-beaters and game-winners.
More than a handful of games went down to the wire with thrilling and heart-pounding finishes, and some of those late heroics are reflected in this edition of the 5 Stars of the Week.
As always, please feel free to submit nominations for our MIAA 5 Stars of the Week, as we highlight the top performers of the winter. Email Steve Hewitt at steve.hewitt@basketballjournal.com, or message/tag us on Twitter/X at @steve_hewitt or @nehoopjournal.
Let’s get into the stars of an exciting week in MIAA boys basketball.
Mike Dankert and Nathan Reynolds, Bourne
Class of 2025
Dankert: 6-5 forward
Reynolds: 6-6 forward
I’m breaking the rules here, but it felt appropriate to recognize Bourne’s star senior duo together after they produced a monster week for the Canalmen. They got the week started with a dominant performance in a win over Apponequet, where Reynolds produced 38 points and 21 rebounds and Dankert added 26 points and eight boards. Three days later, Dankert poured in 29 points in a win over Case. Dankert averaged 24 points and Reynolds averaged 21.7 points as Bourne went 3-0, which included a win over Monomoy in the Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational at TD Garden on Saturday.
Javi Lopez, Central Catholic
Class of 2026, 6-1 guard
The Raiders’ star guard continued his stellar junior season with 26 points in Friday’s road win at North Andover, which included a game-winner with three seconds remaining. Lopez went coast-to-coast with his left hand, beating his primary defender and then hung in the air to finish a ridiculous up-and-under layup to put Central ahead.
Central Catholic’s Javi Lopez scored this game-winner with 3 seconds to go to lift @CCRaider_Bhoops to a win over North Andover on Friday night. Absurd finish.
(IG/brian_nanje30) pic.twitter.com/ehrJeXkYI1
— Steve Hewitt (@steve_hewitt) January 12, 2025
Dylan Perrault, Whitman Hanson
Class of 2025, 6-4 center
Perrault averaged 22.7 points per game to lead three wins for Whitman Hanson, which included a career-high 30-point performance in Friday’s 61-47 victory over Plymouth South. The Panthers are now 8-0 this season, leading the Patriot League.
Tzar Powell-Aparicio, Lowell
Class of 2025, 6-0 guard
Powell-Aparicio once again dominated as he kept the Red Raiders (9-0) undefeated, scoring 29 points in a 58-55 victory over Haverhill before stuffing the stat sheet with 29 points, eight rebounds and five steals in Lowell’s 72-60 win over Methuen.
Alan Shi, Brookline
Class of 2025, 6-9 center
Shi had a memorable week. The uniquely talented big man produced 22 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in a win over Weymouth before putting up 14 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in Brookline’s convincing win over Catholic Memorial on Sunday, pushing the Warriors to 7-3 this season. After Sunday’s game, Shi committed to McGill University.
Other notable performances: Norwood’s 6-foot-10 senior Alex Yukhymchak had 25 points and 12 rebounds, including a game-winning alley-oop play in the final seconds of a 50-48 win over Dedham. … Scituate senior Braden Danehey had 31 points, including the game-winning buzzer-beater to send the Sailors to a 77-76 victory over Duxbury. … Catholic Memorial freshman Jacari Jenkins broke up with a career-high 33 points in a two-point victory over BC High, which included a late 3-pointer.
