Hadley Beauregard recalls distinctly her first meeting North Middlesex girls' basketball coach Pat Murphy, when she was just a 5-year-old tyke.
“At first, I thought he was my grandfather. In fact, my mom had to sit me down and say, ‘Hadley, he’s not your grandfather,’” she said with a laugh, “and I was heartbroken.”
At the time, Beauregard was hanging out at Murphy's basketball clinic that her older sister, Elena, was attending. Little did she know, Murphy would some day be coaching her, too.
“I came into the gym with a bag of carrots and yogurt and I was sitting on the sidelines,” she recalled, “and Murph came over, handed me a basketball and said, ‘Here, take this, and just play.’ ”
Murphy recalled the moment distinctly, noting with a wry smile, “I guess you could say I recognized talent at an early age,” he chuckled. “I wouldn’t let her just sit there, so that’s how long we’ve been back and forth with each other.”
It turned to be a brilliant example of foresight on Murphy’s part, as last week Beauregard became the third basketball player in modern North Middlesex basketball history to reach the coveted 1,000-point plateau.
Beauregard joins Jen Carson (2000) and Christine Godin (2002) from the modern era, while the first girls’ player to reach that milestone was Bonnie Lorden, back in the 6-on-6 era of 1962.
Beauregard quietly achieved the mark in a game at St. Bernard’s on Jan. 12, and then played three nights later in Gardner. Once the Patriot co-captain hit the opening layup against Lunenburg at home last Friday night, the game was stopped to acknowledge the accomplishment.
“I was hoping to hit the 1,000 points at home, but our game (against Quabbin) was snowed out,” she explained. “After my first basket, Murph called a timeout and we celebrated. It was awesome.”
Beauregard became the first North Middlesex player to reach the 1,000-point plateau in 16 years.
“Well, they don’t grow on trees, you know,” Murphy said of the milestone, noting that several of his past players — Jessica Veysey, Mackenzie Farina, Jenny McGonagle and Brittany LeBlanc all concluded their careers in the mid-900s in career points.
“Hadley ranks right up there,” Murphy said. “She’s very special and I’ve been very blessed.”
Then again, the Patriots have also been blessed to have the sage advice and leadership of the 70-year old Murphy, who has coached the squad for the past 38 seasons.
“We’re in the learning process this season,” he said. “You talk about team chemistry, they all get it.”
Senior co-captain Molly O’Neill has missed a portion of the season due to injury, but the squad has been bolstered by several other players on the floor. Senior Maddie Harrington has had a great defensive year with 55 blocks, while senior Sarah Ward, speedy junior guard Erin Bourgeois and junior Molly McFague have also performed well in starting roles.
Senior Sarah Kleeman provides a big spark off the bench, while junior Tessa Wesinger and sophomores Katie Kleeman, Sophia Couto and Maggie Hackler see regular action. Other sophomores Alex Bellemare, Joanna Chase and Sarah Murphy stagger their time between the JV and varsity.
And while everyone has had a role in the squad’s 7-5 record to this point, Beauregard relishes in her go-to role as the teams’ top scorer averaging better than 20 points per game.
“I’ve been playing basketball forever and I’ve put in so much time of my life into playing; it’s such a big part of who I am,” she said. “And Coach Murph has been such a big part of my basketball life.”
Just like a benevolent grandfather, watching his youthful squad get better each season.
Shipping up to Boston
Friday afternoon, the Algonquin boys’ basketball team will take its show on the road to the TD Garden in Boston, the land of Kyrie, Horford and Tatum.
Algonquin will be one of two Central Mass. teams to play in the fifth annual Good Sports TD Garden Invitational, a high school basketball event to benefit charity.
The Tomahawks will take on Westford Academy at 12:30 p.m., following the Wachusett girls, who will play Westford at 11 a.m.
“It’s great for the school, great for the community and, obviously, great for the kids,” Algonquin coach Brian Doherty said.
The Tomahawks have fashioned a rather impressive 8-2 record on the season in a very difficult Mid-Wach A division.
“Mid-Wach A is always competitive, and Mid-Wach B (where they also have scheduled games) is just as competitive, if not more,” Doherty said. “We have a good mixture of young and older players and they’re a great bunch of kids.”
Any glimpse at the Algonquin box score and three names pop out — senior Kyle Henderson (22.0 points per game), and juniors Brian Duffy (19.6 ppg) and Nick Redden (18.5 ppg).
“We’re not just three guys,” Doherty said, “but these guys kinda drive the bus and the others are a great supporting cast.”
Having a high-scoring trio like Henderson, Redden and Duffy is a great luxury, but Doherty is quick to point out players like Sean Cullen who has “stepped up big,” senior Seth Krivanec, who is back from an injury for his senior season, and juniors like Mike Spataro and Will Goss, and sophomore Artem Segarra.
“It seems like every game there’s someone different stepping in,” said Doherty, whose squad has averaged just under 78 points per game. “The supporting staff we have, every game it’s different.”
Seniors Brett Casellini, Gus Chapin, Danny Furey and Zach Zides, and juniors Dustin Branson, Riley Garand and Gavin McRae round out the high-scoring squad.
“We’re an up-tempo type team. We put up a lot of points, we just need to do a better job on the other end,” Doherty said. “These guys get along so well and it means something to them. They play hard and they play really smart basketball. They’re motivated to get better.”
Doherty also had high praise for his assistant coaches, Mike Mocerino and Jared Wilbon.
In addition, Doherty said he is impressed at the willingness of his team to go above and beyond what they accomplish on the basketball court by helping out the Algonquin community.
“Our kids also do basketball clinics for the youth, do readathons with younger kids in the elementary school,” Doherty said. “Actually, I don’t call them kids any more. They’re young men and they get it.”
—Contact Mike Richard at sports@telegram.com.