Time of change for Classical

The Classical High girls basketball team returns nine players from last year?s team, but there will be some new faces in the starting five.The Rams are coming off a 12-10 season that ended with a tough loss to Burlington in the state tournament. After falling behind early, the Rams rallied and with less than a minute to go, the game was tied.Several players from that team have moved on, including Monta Connolly, Taylor Dumas and Bobbie Dee Regan. Connolly, who led the Rams in scoring, is now playing at Framingham State. Regan and Dumas are at Salem State, but not playing. Also lost to graduation were Alina Garrity and Shana Cruel-Reynoso.On the flip side, coach Tom Sawyer has two senior players back who have been on varsity since they were freshmen — Kristin Lauria and Franki Galeazzi. Lauria has been a force in the paint for the Rams since her freshman year and Galeazzi is a double threat, with her dogged defense and ability to heat up on offense. Senior guard Christine Connolly is also back.The junior class will include guards Chelsea Rogers and Jada Santos, and forward Heidi Milhem.?She?s a tall girl with a nose for the ball,” Sawyer said about Milhem. “The ball seems to find her.”The sophomore class includes guard Chenysse Hill, who saw her time steadily increase over the course of the season last year.?We?re looking for big things from her,” Sawyer said. “She?ll likely run the point.”Guards Shannon Magner and Christina Behen, who was called up for the tournament last year, will also see some time. The remaining varsity spots are still up for grabs.?We?re going to try and score in transition as much as we can,” Sawyer said. “We want to get out, running the fast break as much as we can.”Sawyer said when the Rams have to set up, he?s confident they?ll have an inside presence with Lauria and the players surrounding her.?I?m hoping we can have a good balance,” he said.The Rams will look a little different on the bench this year. Junior varsity coach Dennis Baldini and freshman coach Cara Baldini are no longer with the program. Frank DeLuca, who coaches the varsity volleyball team, is the new freshman coach and Jim Darling, who is also a teacher in the building, will coach the junior varsity. Irene Saranteas will return as a varsity assistant. Former Classical High standout Helen Ridley, who played Division 1 basketball at Quinnipiac University, will be Sawyer?s other assistant.The Rams open the season Tuesday, Dec. 17, at home against Beverly. The 21st Paul Duchane Jamboree will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at Classical.The schedule includes non-league games against Everett and Malden (the Rams play each team twice) and Dracut. The Rams will also have to contend with English and Peabody twice. English won the Northeastern Conference North last year and the Tanners were right on the Bulldogs? heels. Both return most of their players, Sawyer said. Also on the docket will be a date with St. Mary?s in the Boverini tournament.