Marblehead boys hoop wants more

The Marblehead boys? basketball team made coach Mike Giardi?s first season back on the bench a good one. The Magicians reached the Division 2 North tournament, winning one game before being eliminated by Danvers.
Giardi now brings back a team full of experience and ready to make a run at a possible Northeastern Conference/South title.
?We have a lot of seniors with experience and they helped us turn things around,” Giardi said. “We were a little slow to get going at the beginning last season but we really got it going at the end. We beat some good teams and gave others some good runs.”
The Magicians beat NEC/North champion Lynn Classical and pushed South division champion Danvers to the limit twice before the Falcons blew them out in the playoffs. That loss left a bitter taste for the talented group of upperclassmen that Giardi returns to his roster this year.
Heading into the season, four of the five Magicians starters project to be seniors with the roster having all upperclassmen except for two sophomores ? Bo Millett and Patrick Bugler.
?This year, we know what our players can do,” Giardi said. “Last year, it took us forever to get things going in terms of what we wanted to do on offense and defense. Now we have a good idea of what we want to look for.”
Leading the returnees is senior captain and guard Spencer Craig.
Craig, who will be headed to the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall, is fresh off leading the Marblehead football team to an 11-1 record as a quarterback. Giardi had a firsthand look at his talents as the offensive coordinator for the Magicians.
?The mental aspect that Spencer brings is just unbelievable,” Giardi said. “His basketball IQ is intense. He is so much above so many people at times in that regard. That?s what makes him a great player.”
Marblehead also brings back a trio of forwards that have plenty of varsity experience.
Cian Saunders will be at the small forward spot and has the versatility to score on the blocks as well as can the three when forced to the outside. Will Millett, fresh off tormenting NEC defenses as a tight end on the gridiron, will be at a power forward spot along with Angel Perez. A 6-foot-6 force in the middle, Perez was a dominant shot blocker at times last season.
?All four of those guys started the majority of our games last season and they can cause matchup problems for people,” Giardi said.
The Magician bench also will feature plenty of experience as three seniors are expected to make major contributions. Griffin Butterfield, a senior shooting guard, brings the outside shot while Joe Howard and Romello Matthews will see time at the forward positions.
Junior Teddy Bostley is expected to help Craig shoulder some of the point guard responsibilities while Bo Millett and Bugler bring plenty of energy to the second unit.
?These guys were happy about what we did last season but they weren?t satisfied,” Giardi said.
The Magicians? coach believes the NEC/South will once again be a challenge as Danvers returns the bulk of a team that fell to eventual state champ New Mission in the Division 2 North final. Swampscott also is expected to be much improved while Saugus is always dangerous under coach Paul Moran.
?Our league is going to be tough, that?s for sure,” Giardi said. “And when you look at the other side, it?s even tougher with Classical, English and Salem.”
The Magicians play Peabody on Friday in the Elmo Bennedetto Jamboree at Classical before opening the regular season on Tuesday at home against Saugus. It will be the first of a three-game homestand to open the season for Marblehead.?We have to get over the hump. We showed last year that we can compete,” Giardi said. “Now we need to show we can win.”