It was a season to remember for some of the 2024 Greater Fall River High School teams.
There have been other teams that have made school history by reaching the Final Four, from back-to-back state championships in softball to the field hockey team’s all-time state title.
Here are the top four sports stories the Herald-News team was involved with, as well as other memorable moments from the past year.
4. Somerset Berkeley’s ice hockey miracle run ends in the Final Four
The Raiders earned a ticket to the Final Four for the first time in school history. No. 12 seed SBR defeated No. 5 seed Essex North Shore and talented No. 20 seed West Springfield. Despite senior goaltender Brandon Silva making 50 saves, the Raiders’ run came to a halt in the Final Four against top-seeded Nauset. SBR finished the season with 18 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws.
3. Almost the upset of the year for Somerset-Berkeley men’s basketball.
It was arguably one of the best runs on the hardwood floor by the Raiders in program history. The last time SBR made significant progress in the state tournament was in the 2003 season. Victories over Burncourt, Canton and Mansfield set up a matchup with Malden Catholic in the Final Four. The Raiders lost by a heartbreaking two points, ending the season with 21 wins and 3 losses.
Vote: Dec. 23-28 Herald News Women’s Basketball Players of the Week
More information: 14 men’s basketball players named Herald News Player of the Week Dec. 23-28
2. A familiar field hockey team is back at the top of the state.
Somerset Berkeley field hockey defeated Hingham 4-2 to advance to the championship game for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 2018-19. In the Division 2 final, the Raiders avenged last season’s loss to Norwood, 2-1. SBR (22-2) outscored its opponents 16 times during the season, including three of five postseason games.
1. Joseph Case softball title streak
The Cardinals defeated second-seeded Tyngsboro in the Division 4 state final to win their sixth state title. This is the first time in school history that Case (23-1) won back-to-back titles in 1995-1996. The Cardinals finished the season on a 17-game winning streak, sweeping the Massachusetts state softball title and moving into fourth place.
Other memorable moments
∎ Somerset Berkeley Football shared the SCC Blue Division title for the second year in a row.
∎ Somerset Berkeley cross country team wins SCC Blue Division title
∎ Durfee Field Hockey wins Big 3 Conference Title
∎ Durfee field hockey player Casey Curran set a new record for most goals in a season, breaking a 31-year school record. She scored 39 goals and eight assists.
∎ Durfee Baseball advances to Elite 8
∎ Somerset Berkeley softball team advances to Elite 8
∎ Durfee Field Hockey wins Big 3 Conference Title
∎ The Case outdoor track team finished the spring season undefeated and had back-to-back perfect seasons this year.
∎ The Diman girls indoor track and field team finished the season with a league championship in the Mayflower Athletic Conference Large.
∎ Perry had an 8-0 record in Deman Baseball, pitching three no-hitters and fanning 68 batters while walking just five.
∎ Case’s Landon Cayton surpasses 1,000 career points.
∎ Durfee’s Jah Stevenson surpasses career 1,000 point mark.
∎ Westport’s Owen Boudreier surpasses the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Steven Sanchez, sports editor for the Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette, can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him at X (formerly Twitter) @Chezsports.
