Saugus girls hoop seeks success

When the Saugus girls basketball team tips off its season a week from today, the Sachems will look to put a tough 2012-13 season behind them while finding their way in the Cape Ann League. With first-year head coach Mark Schruender on the sidelines and nine returning players, this task may not take very long to complete.Schruender takes over a Sachems team that finished 2-18 last season while still a member of the competitive Northeastern Conference. Schruender coached for five seasons at Georgetown, a CAL member, meaning he is quite familiar with the teams that make up the majority of his new squad?s schedule.?It?s kind of nice to come in and be familiar with the opposition, having coached in the CAL, but I think that?s overblown a bit,” explained Schruender. “It might help us in the early going as we adjust to a new conference, but things change as the years progress.”Schruender, a teacher at the Belmonte Middle School for the past five years, is already at home in Saugus.?I love the community feel here and it will certainly shorten my commute,” said Schruender. “I?ll miss Georgetown for sure, but I am really looking forward to the opportunity to coach this team.”In their short time together, Schruender has already noticed a “night and day” transformation as the team looks to shake off last season?s rust.?I am very excited about the group we have put together,” he explained. “They have really bought into the new philosophies and drills I have added and made me feel welcome. Our co-captains have been a tremendous help so far.” The tandem of Norma Waggett — Saugus? leading scorer last season — and Gillian Lyons will lead the Sachems.?Norma and Gillian love to play the game as much as anybody I have ever met,” said Schruender. “They are both gifted players and have been terrific leaders so far, bringing the team together and making practices run smoothly.”Waggett was an Item and Northeastern Conference All-Star in 2012-13.The term “team” will go a long ways this season in allowing the Sachems the chance at improving, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where Schruender has noticed some chemistry early on.?There has definitely been a ?defense first? mentality in the early going and it seems like the girls have realized they will need to stop the other team as a unit,” he explained. “They have communicated well and accepted that when the ball goes in, it?s not one person?s fault. There is no sense of ego on this team.”Offensively, Schruender believes the team?s strength lies in its ability to move without the ball.?We have some players who can generate solid movement and if we can utilize the screens we set and take advantage of our cuts, we should open up the opposing defenses and score some points,” he said.Along with Waggett and Lyons, the Sachems will look for solid contributions from Gianna Zirpolo and Courtney Hollett.?Gianna is a solid all-around player who does all the little things right and can score very quickly,” he said. “Courtney will be big for us on the glass; she is athletic and has the ability to finish with both hands.”Saugus opens up with a non-conference game against Marblehead on Dec. 12 before hosting a powerful Pentucket team the following night. Schruender will get his first crack at his old team later in the year.?It?ll be a bit weird to go back to Georgetown, but I am definitely looking forward to it,” he explained. “I developed a lot of great relationships over there and am excited to see the kids.”He continued, “I?m a competitor like everybody else, though. I?ll say my hellos and shake a lot of hands, but when it comes down to business, it?ll be all about Saugus.”