Browse our players to watch for the upcoming season: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey

Preseason Top 20 rankings: Boys’ basketball | Girls’ hockey | Girls’ basketball | Boys’ hockey

Earning their first coaching wins with their programs were Jesse Mitchell (Canton girls), Liv Robles (Essex Tech girls), Mark Garrity (Malden Catholic boys), Josh Keilty (St. Mary’s boys), Danny Burns (Belmont boys), and Adam Russo (Melrose boys).

▪ The North Reading girls emerged from double-overtime battle with Pentucket with a 52-45 victory thanks to a game-high 23 points from Sophia Gallivan.

▪ Amari Moe provided the buzzer-beating basket as the Lexington boys nipped Burlington, 64-62, despite a big night from the Redmen’s Matty Gray (29 points). Charlie O’Brien paced the Minutemen with 23 points.

▪ Eighth-grader Jackson Hines drilled a tying 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, then scored 4 of his team-high 13 points in the extra period to give the Arlington Catholic boys a 62-55 road win over Revere.

Our first Top 20 team to get taken down was the No. 17 Abington boys, who lost an 89-80 barnburner to New Bedford despite getting 30 points and 10 rebounds from Kingston Maxwell and 24 points and six rebounds from Tyler Staiti.

Noah Bayersdorfer, Winthrop — In a 54-43 win over East Boston, the senior posted 30 points and seven rebounds.

Ashley Cox, Barnstable — The junior led all rebounders on Friday night, pulling down 15 boards to go with 12 points in a 53-28 win over Bourne.

Hannah D’Angelo, Pembroke — Our one hockey entry of the night, the senior paced the Titans to a 5-1 win over Norwell with two goals and two assists.

Kayla Dunlap, Natick — The sophomore saturated the stat sheet with 25 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals in a 62-43 triumph vs. Brookline.

Anna Kanders, Swampscott — The sophomore did a tremendous job sharing the ball and looking for her own shot, scoring 20 points with eight assists in a 58-40 win against Gloucester.

Eileen Lowther, Hingham — The junior dominated the paint, blocking seven shots, grabbing 10 rebounds, and scoring 13 points to beat Middleborough, 43-19.

Diego Montanari, New Bedford — The senior dropped 31 points, leading the Whalers to an 89-80 upset of 17th-ranked Abington

Elian Rodriguez, Salem — The junior notched a double-double, scoring 21 points and dishing 10 assists in a 73-51 triumph over Saugus.

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman — The senior filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks ina 68-44 win over Nashoba Valley Tech.

Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn — The junior posted 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 56-44 win over Nipmuc.

▪ St. John’s Prep has a new volleyball coach: Pamela Benzan Leete. Leete coached both the boys’ and girls’ programs at Essex Tech, qualifying for the postseason for 10 consecutive years, capturing seven Commonwealth Athletic Conference crowns, and producing nine CAC MVPs.

“I am thankful and excited for this incredible opportunity,” said Leete in a statement. “I look forward to working with the boys and helping to mold this program’s future.”

Leete has also served as an assistant at Endicott and has spent more than a decade as a clinician at the Jumbos Volleyball Clinics at Tufts. A Danvers resident who grew up in Malden, she is the English department chair at St. John’s Prep, where she has worked since 2018.

“Pam embodies the kind of educator-coach who strengthens the heart of St. John’s Prep,” said athletic director Jameson Pelkey. “She understands how athletics can deepen a student’s confidence, character, and sense of purpose, and she has a remarkable track record of helping teams achieve at a high level while building a culture rooted in integrity and individual growth.”

Leete takes over an SJP program that has reached the Division 1 quarterfinals in two of the last four seasons.

▪ North Andover announced that former assistant Caitlin Enright will serve as interim girls’ lacrosse coach this spring. A North Andover alumna, Enright played three sports for the Scarlet Knights and went on to play lacrosse at Merrimack. A math teach at North Andover, Enright also serves as a JV soccer coach and freshman basketball coach.

▪ Former Catholic Memorial running back Datrell Jones has entered the transfer portal after three years at Boston College. He played in five games in 2024, with eight carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, but didn’t see the field in 2025.

▪ WPI sophomore Myles Lakin, a Reading graduate, and graduate student Lauren Meinhold, an Acton-Boxborough graduate, were named to the NFHCA Region 1 First Team. Meinhold is a two-time selection after leading the Engineers with 10 goals and five assists. She finished her career with 27 goal sand 26 assists. Lakin, who was named NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Year, logged 14 wins in net with an .863 save percentage and .955 goals against average.

▪ On Tuesday, the United Soccer Coaches released its All-America lists. Massachusetts was represented on the boys’ side by Emmanuel Marmolejo (Berkshire School), Alex Hensch (Longmeadow), Luke Dougherty (Natick), Bless Jeremie Mbuyi Kasongo (Northfield Mt. Hermon), and Garrison Murphy (St. John’s Prep). Honored on the girls’ side: Emmy O’Donnell (Concord-Carlisle), Sarah Tressler (Central Catholic), Emily Burnham (Wellesley), Sidney Heavey (Medfield), Addison Kalaw (BB&N), Tyler Martens (Groton), Nicole Proia (Natick), and Wylie Roossien (Phillips Andover).

▪ North Attleborough will retire Mike Babul’s No. 43 in between the boys’ and girls’ games against Attleboro on Jan. 20. Babul was a standout player for the Red Rocketeers before going on to play at UMass. After several stops as a college assistant, Babul was in his second season coaching Thayer Academy when he died of a heart attack at age 47 in 2024.

Diego Montananri, New Bedford, 31

Alex Ste. Marie, Manchester Essex, 31

Noah Bayersdorfer, Winthrop, 30

Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 30

Matty Gray, Burlington, 29

Cal Atherton, Newburyport, 28

Justin Flores, Lynnfield, 28

Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 27

Liam MacPhee, Stoneham, 27

Jovani Melendez, Norton, 27

Caleb Haynes, Brookline, 26

Nate Lane, Salem, 26

Leticia Castro, Greater Lowell, 25

John Chareas, St. Mary’s, 25

Brandon Doherty, Lynnfield, 25

Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 25

George Howell, O’Bryant, 25

Mathaios Stamm, Newton North, 25

Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 24

Cam Santos, Bridgewater-Raynham, 24

Tyler Staiti, Abington, 24

Malikhi Tavares, Wareham, 24

Rolky Brea Arias, St. Mary’s, 23

Ethan Elie, Braintree, 23

Sophie Gallivan, North Reading, 23

Sarah Michel, Blue Hills, 23

Charlie O’Brien, Lexington, 23

Jonny Sullivan, Tewksbury, 23

Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn, 23

Harrison Burbine, Winchester, 22

Allie Danis, Newton North, 22

Savvy Eriksen, Abington, 22

Olivia Gaynor, Peabody, 22

Jordan Oliver, Acton-Boxborough, 22

Aiden Richard, Tewksbury, 22

Lily White, Dracut, 22

Weston Bunnell, Stoneham, 21

Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 21

Amare Rose, Wareham, 21

Meredith Gibbs, Dover-Sherborn, 20

Shane Harrington, Walpole, 20

Adyxandra Jimenez, Fenway, 20

Anna Kanders, Swampscott, 20

Ashley Cox, Barnstable, 15

Kelsey Hudon, Dracut, 12

Aboubakar Nimaka, Malden Catholic, 12

Bobby Taku, Malden Catholic, 12

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 12

Paige Morrison, Sandwich, 11

Sophia Coburn, Peabody, 10

Jeremy Hernandez, Catholic Memorial, 10

Eileen Lowther, Hingham, 10

Ava Martin, Somerville, 10

Kingston Maxwell, Abington, 10

Cassidy Saindon, Dracut, 10

Oliver Van Rhijn, Dover-Sherborn, 10

George Howell, O’Bryant, 9

Katie McMahon, Natick, 9

Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 9

Kate Suneson, Apponequet, 9

Lizzy Bettencourt, Peabody, 8

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 8

Jackson Farrington, O’Bryant, 8

Matt Kenney, Salem, 8

Erin Langone, Shawsheen, 8

Lily White, Dracut, 8

Elian Rodriguez, Salem, 10

Anna Kanders, Swampscott, 8

Domenic Paniello-Torres, Beverly, 8

Bridget Pole, Natick, 8

Dom Torres, Beverly, 8

Sienna Miranda, Seekonk, 7

Kaylee Maier, Dracut, 6

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 5

Grace Goudreau, Seekonk, 5

Amari Kergo, Somerville, 5

Rex Satter, Ipswich, 5

CC Curran, Natick, 4

Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 4

Hanna Kuriscak, Apponequet, 4

Teddy O’Neill, Swampscott, 4

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 4

Vin Winter, Ipswich, 4

Caelen Mahoney, Seekonk, 7

Kyle Ewans, Gloucester, 6

Lala Gomez, Shawsheen, 6

Amari Kergo, Somerville, 6

Tori White, Canton, 6

Avery Bettencourt, Peabody, 5

Kayla Dunlap, Natick, 5

Kelsey Hudon, Dracut, 5

Olivia Gaynor, Peabody, 5

Aliana Ryan, Peabody, 5

Connor Chiarello, Swampscott, 4

Jillian Gagnier, Apponequet, 4

Cece Levrault, Apponequet, 4

Sienna Miranda, Seekonk, 4

Denai Williams, Natick, 4

Eileen Lowther, Hingham, 7

Sophia Coburn, Peabody, 5

Carson Sarpong, Winchester, 5

Roman Treadwell, Minuteman, 2

Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.

Yankee Candle is a staple in the Bay State, famous for its colorful jars full of fragrance and warm light.

And while its candles can essentially be bought from anywhere, the mothership of the iconic candles lies in South Deerfield at Yankee Candle Village.

The flagship store, known for its ginormous collection of Yankee Candle scents and retail goods, is a winter holiday destination for those in New England.

• This is the most popular candle scent in Massachusetts, according to The Loupe

Leading up to Christmas, the store turns into a complete holiday stop.

Now on prominent display are the brand’s many different winter scents, including such classics as Red Apple Wreath and Balsam & Cedar, and such holiday scents as Christmas Cookie and North Pole Greetings.

Bavarian Christmas Village, arguably the most festive room in Yankee Candle Village, is Christmas all year. Guests will stroll through an enchanted forest featuring a 25-foot-tall Christmas tree, nutcrackers, winter village displays and even indoor snow that falls every 4 minutes.

• ‘Disneyland’ Leverett estate of Yankee Candle founder Michael J. Kittredge II for sale at $23 million

But scattered throughout the flagship store are hints of Christmas and a winter wonderland — from the home section filled with holiday kitchen decor to the Toy Shop filled with jolly trinkets.

Santa even pays a visit to the Yankee Candle Village, hosting a storytime with kids every Monday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

And if the shopping and holiday joy become overwhelming, the store even has cafes that offer a bite to eat. Guests can also indulge in sweet treats in its candy store or try freshly made fudge.

Yankee Candle Village is located at 25 Greenfield Road in South Deerfield. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Yankee Candle will close 20 stores; parent to lay off 900 employees

It swims in the family.

A mother and calf wandered off the beaten path and got stranded in a Massachusetts marsh, forcing an emergency mammal rescue crew to save the wayward dolphin pair.

On Dec. 8, the Wareham Department of Natural Resources responded to a report of two stranded dolphins in the area of Beaverdam Creek off of the Weweantic River, a 17-mile tributary that drains into Buzzards Bay, which directly connects to the Atlantic Ocean.

When crews arrived, two common dolphins were located alive and active, but partially out of the water stranded in the marsh, according to the Wareham Department of Natural Resources.

Responding authorities alerted the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Marine Mammal Stranding Response Team, based in Cape Cod.

IFAW team members put the dolphins on stretchers and brought them to safety, where they conducted preliminary tests on the wayward dolphins.

“Our teams were easily able to extract the animals and transport them via our custom-built rescue vehicle,” Stacey Hedman, senior director of communications for IFAW, said.

The dolphins were weighed; the smaller of the two weighed approximately 90 lbs, and the larger mammal around 150 lbs.

Upon further analysis, it was revealed that the dolphins were an adult female and a socially-dependent juvenile female, a mother and calf pair.

According to Hedman, IFAW had some concerns over the mother’s decreased responsiveness and abnormal blood work, though it was deemed the pair was healthy enough to release back into the ocean at West Dennis Beach in Dennis, Mass.

“By releasing them into an area with many other dolphins around, this would hopefully increase their chances of socialization and survival. Both animals have satellite tags that are still successfully tracking,” Hedman said.