For Classical girls hoop, there’s hope with Hannah

Coming off an 11-10 campaign last season that saw them earn a surprising berth in the Division 2 North tournament, the Lynn Classical girls basketball team will look to continue their stellar play this season.The Rams, however, will have to fill some big holes if they want to make a return trip to high school’s version of March Madness.Classical will have to replace three starters, including Northeastern Conference all-star Diamond Doe, who is now plying her trade at St. Joseph’s College in Connecticut.”It’s going to be an interesting year with out Diamond that’s for sure,” Classical coach Tom Sawyer said. “She was our leader on defense and we’ve gotta replace that. But we have some capable folks who can fill her shoes.”Leading those returnees is NEC all-star Hannah Byrne. A two time league all-star, Byrne’s athleticism has been a problem for team’s to defend and with Doe now gone, the junior will be called upon even more.”We need for her to lead us at the offensive end of the floor,” Sawyer said about Byrne.Running the show for the Rams will be senior Tashanna Brown. The speedy point guard will be the catalyst for any attacking Classical would like to do.Roseann Batista and Jenna Kulakowski join Brown and Byrne as returnees from last year. After that, the Rams, for lack of a better word, are green at a lot of positions.”Its pretty much up for grabs after Hannah and Tashanna so we’re gonna be real young,” Sawyer said. “But that’s the fun part. Teaching the kids the fundamentals and watching them progress as the year goes. That’s what coaching is all about.”Sophomores Monta Connolly and Taylor Dumas will join the varsity after spending last year on a very successful freshman team for the Rams. Freshmen Kristin Lauria and Frankie Galeazzi, both of whom were varsity contributors in soccer this fall, will also be expected to help shoulder the load.”This year, we’re probably a bit under the radar and that’s fine and probably rightly so,” Sawyer said. “Hopefully that will make the kids work a little harder.Classical opens its season on December 14 with a game at Peabody. The Rams also will have to deal with archrival English and resurgent Revere along with Salem and Beverly in a very challenging NEC North.”All six teams are good and skilled. They have go-to players so you need to be on your game every night,” Sawyer said.