When the all‑state selections were released, the immediate buzz centered on the names that fell just outside the top ten. The list reads like a who’s who of South Shore talent, each player having left an indelible mark on their high school programs and beyond.
The Players Who Just Missed the Cut
Chante Bonds led Brockton to a state championship in 2001 and later built a decorated career at Bentley University, where she continued to excel academically and athletically. Nicole Beresford, Marshfield’s all‑time leading scorer with 1,804 points, brought her relentless offensive firepower to Dartmouth College. Jasmyn Cooper reached the 1,000‑point milestone as a junior at Oliver Ames and capped her high school tenure with a Division 2 state title.
Christine Duffy earned Catholic Central League MVP honors and guided Archbishop Williams to back‑to‑back Division 3 state titles, while Marion Dukeman became the first 1,000‑point scorer in Oliver Ames history and went on to play at Boston University. Stephanie Geehan scored 1,000 career points and steered Braintree to the state championship game as a senior, and Jen Gemma surpassed 1,200 points and 1,000 rebounds at Fontbonne Academy before starring at Bentley University.
Alana Gilmer led Archbishop Williams to another Division 3 crown and earned a McDonald’s All‑American nomination, and Jelani Jackson graduated as a Big 3 League MVP before starring at UMass Boston. Taryn Johnson topped the Brockton Enterprise rankings with over 1,000 points and was named Player of the Year, while Bridget Larkin reached the 1,000‑point plateau and committed to a Division I career at Pittsburgh.
Shelly Lyons became Braintree’s all‑time leading scorer with 1,444 points and later played at Brown University, and Kate Murphy finished her career with 1,672 points, earning a place in Carver’s athletic Hall of Fame. Ava Orlando closed out her high school run with 2,236 points, leading Notre Dame Academy to the Division 2 Elite Eight, and Caroline Peper averaged 18 points per game, guiding NYU to a 91‑game win streak and earning Division III Player of the Year honors.
Kelsey Simonds was enshrined in Cardinal Spellman’s athletic Hall of Fame and became Stonehill College’s leader in blocks, while Jaylen Williams, a McDonald’s All‑American nominee, continued his career at Penn State and UCF. Each of these athletes not only amassed impressive statistics but also carried their teams to championship moments, set school records, and transitioned smoothly into competitive college programs.
The subjective nature of any ranking inevitably leaves out deserving candidates, and the conversation surrounding these players underscores how much talent exists beyond the top ten. Readers are encouraged to weigh in with their own selections, sharing the names they believe should have earned a spot on the list and why those careers deserve broader recognition.