The big shots: Wareham boys basketball win 2026 state championship
After a year away from state championships, the boys take home the trophy yet again. Photos by Brandy Muz
Lexi bringing comfort all the way to Lowell.
Aaron Cote makes a move toward the basket.
Moving fast, Amare Rose makes his way to the net.
A free-throw shot sees Aaron Cote getting the Vikings a point.
Aaron Cote evades a Royals player.
Brayden Cannon eyes the ball.
Amare Rose goes for the free-throw.
A rebound shot sees Amare Rose get air.
The Wareham cheerleaders kept the crowd lively.
Some family members brought personal merch.
The boys watch the time tick down as the Vikings hold the lead.
Malikhi Tavares waits for the go ahead.
Head Coach Steve Faniel directs his players.
Constant cheers from the fans.
Malikhi Tavares goes for a last second shot.
Following the game, tight hugs were had.
Aaron Cote celebrates with family.
The cheers post-game could probably be heard from Lowell to Wareham.
Yet another trophy for the case.
After a year away from state championships, the boys take home the trophy yet again. Photos by Brandy Muz
Lexi bringing comfort all the way to Lowell.
Aaron Cote makes a move toward the basket.
Moving fast, Amare Rose makes his way to the net.
A free-throw shot sees Aaron Cote getting the Vikings a point.
Aaron Cote evades a Royals player.
Brayden Cannon eyes the ball.
Amare Rose goes for the free-throw.
A rebound shot sees Amare Rose get air.
The Wareham cheerleaders kept the crowd lively.
Some family members brought personal merch.
The boys watch the time tick down as the Vikings hold the lead.
Malikhi Tavares waits for the go ahead.
Head Coach Steve Faniel directs his players.
Constant cheers from the fans.
Malikhi Tavares goes for a last second shot.
Following the game, tight hugs were had.
Aaron Cote celebrates with family.
The cheers post-game could probably be heard from Lowell to Wareham.
Yet another trophy for the case.
Miles and miles away from the comfort of the Montague Gymnasium and the streets of Wareham, the boys basketball team took home the trophy for the 2026 MIAA Division Four state championship.
The Wareham High School Vikings won 80-73 against the Georgetown Middle/High School Royals Saturday, March 14 at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. This win comes after a successful regular season with a record of 15-5.
The boys played a tight game with scores evening out various times throughout the four quarters. The Royals proved to be a fierce competition overtaking the Vikings 41 to 32 at halftime.
Head coach Steve Faniel said the ball wasn't moving between players and "sticking" in the first half and that his team was playing more of a one-on-one game. His players were busy in the first and second quarters head-to-head against the Royals.
"We got some talented kids that can get their guys, but that's not how we play," he said.
The team took a year hiatus from the state championship tournament following back to back wins in 2023 and 2024. The boys took a sweet sixteen loss in 2025, something Faniel accredits to the injury player Aaron Cote suffered last season.
"We felt like if Aaron was healthy they wouldn't have beat us, so this game was pretty gratifying," he said.
The arena saw familiar faces like Lexi the comfort dog, Wareham cheerleaders and principal Scott Paladino. From the sidelines, Paladino cheered on the students he's watched grow since eighth grade.
He highlighted the teams work throughout the season, highlighting the effort in the third quarter to overcome the nine point lead the Royals had.
"I think it's a testament to their character— the hard work they put in this year. They played an unbelievable schedule with some really tough teams," Paladino said. "It's just a testament to their character, hard work and brilliancy. They stand together as a team and you can see it."
For Faniel, he said that "expectations" going into the game is what set this championship apart from the other wins.
"This group— I don't think anybody expected much out of it at all— besides us," he said.
As a sea of blue and gold shuffled out of the stands to head back to the gateway town to celebrate, Faniel called the support from the community "amazing." He said the community’s presence and cheers gave the boys energy to win.
"I think that's what's special about Wareham is that we're a small school, we don't have a lot of kids. Some of these kids have opportunities to go to a lot of different places— but they choose to stay home and represent their town. And they did it with class and dignity," Faniel said.
The boys were welcomed home and escorted off the highway with a police and fire brigade.
