Priscella a Major Plus for BHS Basketball Program

By KEN HAMWEY,

Bulletin Sports Writer

Ross Priscella’s four years of high school basketball at Bellingham High include some impressive achievements.

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound point guard has been a captain twice, a Tri Valley League all-star as a junior and was chosen to the Barry Hutchinson all-tourney team last December. His accolades also extend to the classroom. His 3.75 GPA made his selection to the National Honor Society as a junior an easy decision for the BHS faculty.  

 

Priscella doesn’t take any days off when basketball concludes. He’ll be playing centerfield in his fourth season of baseball next month, and he also participated in unified basketball last fall, competing and interacting with special needs students.

The 17-year-old Priscella is the total package, but there’s one element that’s eluded him — a state basketball tournament berth.

“That’s been one of my primary goals,’’ he emphasized. “At the start of the season, my objectives were to compete for the TVL Small Division title and qualify for the playoffs.’’

Priscella and his teammates have missed out on tourney appearances three times — once because of the pandemic and twice because the Blackhawks fell short of qualifying. At the Bulletin’s deadline, BHS was facing a Herculean task to earn a berth. 

A late season, one-point loss to Dedham left the Blackhawks in an untenable position. Before the setback, they were No. 40 in the tourney’s power rankings but needed to get to No. 32 to qualify. Losing to Dedham left BHS at 6-13 with only one game (Greater Lowell) remaining on the schedule. 

“I’ll be deeply disappointed if we don’t qualify,’’ Priscella said before the Dedham defeat. “We’re accustomed to being in the playoffs in baseball, but my favorite sport is basketball, and to miss out on post-season play will hurt.’’

Failing to get a playoff date will be a regret that Priscella knows will take time to fade. “I’ll hold on to that regret, but I still have to get ready for baseball in a month and help our team qualify for the tourney for the fourth straight year, he said.’’

Coach T.J. Chiappone, who’s in his 14th year as the Blackhawks’ coach, calls Priscella “the best point guard in the TVL’s Small Division.’’ The coach is sold on Priscella’s strengths. “He’s got a high hoop IQ, he’s fast and quick, can handle the ball, sees the floor well, and he’s got the ability to drive or shoot a mid-range jumper.’’

Priscella’s per-game averages this season are all team highs — 14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.7 assists. 

“I like to drive and find an open man,’’ Priscella noted. “I enjoy playing the point because I can control the tempo and determine the outcome of a game. I also like breaking a press.’’

A victory over Dedham earlier in the season rates as Priscella’s best game. He scored a career-high 25 points and went 11-for-11 at the free-throw line. “That was a quality win,’’ he offered. “It was a Small Division game, and I improved my foul shooting.’’

A native of Bellingham, Priscella labeled a double-digit win over Medway last year as his top thrill. Choosing that game indicates he’s a team-first competitor.

“The game was at Bellingham, and it was Senior Night,’’ he recalled. “Earlier that season, Medway beat us by a huge margin. We wanted to win the rematch for our seniors. We did, and that was satisfying.’’

Priscella respects the Blackhawks’ other captains — Tyler Ladouceur and Joe Corsi — and a quartet of key contributors.

“Tyler and Joe have high hoop IQs and they play hard,’’ he said. “All three of us lead by example and can be vocal. Four other solid players are Max Gamble, Haroun Mafhoum, and Dasha and Jerry Domercant.’’

Priscella’s future definitely includes college, but he says playing basketball at that level is doubtful, because his choices are all Division 1 schools — the University of Connecticut, Stonehill College, and UMass-Amherst. “I likely will play club ball, focus on academics and major in business,’’ he said. 

Relying on a competitive philosophy that emphasizes hard work, improvement and winning, Priscella has learned valuable life lessons from sports. “Athletics can teach how to overcome adversity and to be resilient,’’ he emphasized. “Other lessons are how to become good leaders and teammates and how to build relationships.’’

“Ross has been the face of the program for the last two years,’’ Chiappone said. “He’s a great ambassador for the program and the school, and he’s served as an outstanding role model for our younger players.’’

As far as role models go, Priscella points to his father (Steve) as “a mentor and an adviser,’’ he said. “My father played at Quincy High and later at Boston University. He competed against Patrick Ewing in high school and faced Michael Jordan and Reggie Lewis in college.’’

While a two-time captain, a league all-star, and a Hutchinson all-tourney choice are terrific accolades, a humble Priscella notes, “All those honors are appreciated. My coaches and teammates played a role in all those achievements.’’