Questions abound for Saugus girls hoop

There will be no shortage of questions facing second-year head coach Mark Schruender and the Saugus girls? basketball team, which must readjust to the Northeastern Conference while finding a way to make up for the loss of the programs? all-time leading scorer.
Even during a seasonlong struggle in the Cape Ann League, resulting in a 3-19 record, the Sachems found solace in the form of Norma Waggett who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark before moving on to the Division III ranks at St. Joseph?s College of Maine.
?It?s going to be an interesting adjustment but that?s usually the case for every team,” said Schruender, who previously coached at Georgetown and was, therefore, familiar with the CAL.
?I pretty much grew up around the CAL so my familiarity with the NEC with the exceptions of Marblehead and Beverly is basically nonexistent. I know there are a few new coaches in the league this year so that levels the playing field a bit.”
His team will miss Waggett, who averaged 23 points per game last season.
?Norma is playing college basketball for a reason,” he said. “She?s as good a player as I?ve ever seen and her many accolades obviously speak for themselves. We?re definitely going to miss her but the group we have coming back leaves me with a lot of optimism.”
Mikayla Niles, the team?s leading returning scorer, will be counted upon to fill the basket with regularity, along with fellow junior Gabriella Valente.
?Mikayla is every bit as important to us on offense as she is on defense where she uses a combination of smarts and quickness,” said Schruender of the junior guard.
?Gabriella has been something of a Swiss army knife for us with her ability to play from four different positions. She?s an extremely valuable asset,” he added.
Valente will serve as a tri-captain along with seniors Demetria Thompson (forward) and Kathryn White (guard).
Senior forward Jess Allen and sophomore guard Olivia Valente round out the group of six returnees with whom Schruender is now well-acquainted.
?Last season was every bit as beneficial as it was strange for both the team and myself,” said Schruender, now in his sixth year of teaching at Belmonte Middle School in Saugus.
?I never had any of the older girls in classes so it was certainly an adjustment period. Now that I?ve had a full season with the majority of these girls, I?m hoping our level of comfort will translate into better results.”
Freshmen Allie Kotkowski and Rachel Nazzaro figure to see a fair amount of playing time as well.
While he remains undecided on a starting five, Schruender noted that team-wide contributions will be the best — perhaps the only — way to account for Waggett?s production.
?We?re not going to be able to replace what Norma gave us night in and night out and the girls know that. They?ve been coming together as a team, which is really great to see at such an early stage,” he said.
Saugus finished up its preseason slate on Wednesday with a loss to Stoneham that left Schruender both encouraged and anxious for the Sachems? season opener on Tuesday evening at home against Marblehead.?The girls were picking up on a lot of the intricacies I?ve introduced to them. They were moving the ball and communicating well. I know it sounds cliché but from this point on, we can only go about our business one game at a time and see where it takes us.”