Classical gives girls hoop awards

SAUGUS – The Classical High girls basketball team celebrated its season with a dinner at the Prince restaurant in Saugus Monday night.The Rams, who finished 11-11 after a season-ending loss to Andover in the first game of the Division 1 North state tournament, recognized their three graduating seniors – Francesca Galeazzi, Kristin Lauria and Christine Connolly with each receiving an award.Galeazzi took home Offensive Player of the Year, Connolly received a Coaches Award and Kristin Lauria was the recipient of the Lady Ram Award.Coach Tom Sawyer also presented the Most Improved Award to Chenysse Hill and a Coaches Award to Chelsea Rogers. Kristen Ago took home the Academic Achievement Award.Sawyer said after getting off to a slow (1-3) start, the team got it going in the fifth game with a win in double overtime against Salem. Back-to-back wins against Danvers and Swampsoctt on the road sustained the momentum. A loss to Winthrop, which eventually loss to Division 4 state champion St. Mary’s in the North Final, ended the streak, but the Rams rebounded sufficiently to reach the all-import .500 winning percentage to get into the tournament.”It was a good season and a great group of kids,” Sawyer said.The coaching staff also took time to recognized the freshman and junior varsity teams. Soneta Srey received the freshman Defensive Player of the Year Award; Priscill Alouido, the Offensive Player of the Year and Maryama Barry took home Most Improved.Junior varsity honors went to Emily Bucklin (Defensive Player of the Year); Ago, Offensive Player of the Year, and Mary Jok, Most Improved.