Sean McInnis enters his first season leading the Timberwolves in as good a situation as any.
The 2011 MIAA Boys Coach of the Year takes over a Walpole team that returns nine players from last year’s Elite Eight run. Most importantly, leading scorer and rebounder Bella Bingham returns for her senior year.
A returning Bay State Conference All-Star, Bingham averaged 17.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game last season.
Bingham is joined by two teammates who also received accolades.
Senior Tori Adams, also a conference all-star, expects to be one of the team’s main scorers.
Junior Katie McDonald, a conference honorable mention, stepped up in the playoffs last season. She sunk six three’s and finished with 18 points in the Timberwolves opening playoff win over Minnechaug.
“It’s a great little group, but their biggest thing is they love to compete,” McInnis said.
In addition to a top-notch trio, McInnis has players coming off the bench who bring championship experience in other sports. The last time juniors Riley Halloran and Ryan MacDonnell stepped onto the field in their respective sports, they won a state title.
Back in the spring, the duo led Walpole to the Division II championship in girls lacrosse. Halloran followed with another title with the Timberwolves’ field hockey team this past fall. Both are committed to play lacrosse in college; MacDonnell at Bryant University and Halloran at Merrimack College.
“They know how to compete night-in and night-out and knowing the level that’s expected to win,” McInnis said. “So when you can replace pieces on a team with individuals like that, you’re not stepping back.”
There aren’t as many Division II teams that have a schedule as tough as Walpole. Facing D-I opponents on a regular basis has the team ready for when the playoffs arrive,
“Top to bottom, there is no night off. Every game is going to be very challenging,” McInnis said. “It’s no wonder at the end of every year there’s Bay State league teams going into the tournament so battle tested and ready to be make their runs at the state title.”
