LYNNFIELD — With every starter returning from last year’s team and two key players who contributed quality minutes off the bench, the pieces appear to be in place for the Lynnfield girls basketball team to have a big year.
“We are in a good position with every starter and our top seven coming back,” said second-year head coach and 2018 Cape Ann League Kinney Division Coach of the Year Peter Bocchino. “I know what I have in terms of the players and I know what to expect from them and they know what is expected of them, so we are way ahead of where we were last year.”
The 2018-19 team had a breakout season, posting a record of 13-7 after winning only five games combined in the previous three seasons.
The Pioneers qualified for the Division 3 North tournament for the first time since 2015 and won their first two games in dominant fashion before being eliminated by North finalist Amesbury in the semifinal.
This year’s team will be led by returning tri-captains, twin sisters Melissa and Tori Morelli, both senior CAL Second Team All-Star forwards and four-year varsity veterans, along with junior point guard Grace Klonsky, who is entering her third campaign.
Tori averaged 11 points and eight rebounds per game, while Melissa averaged 9.8 points and seven rebounds per game.
Sophomore Cate MacDonald returns for a second season. MacDonald, who averaged 10+ points per game, had a brilliant rookie season, becoming the first freshman to earn CAL First Team All-Star honors since all-time leading scorer Shae Fitzpatrick did so in 2002.
“Cate wants to get to the rim even when the lane isn’t open,” said Bocchino. “But she has great ball control and can get herself to the free throw even if the lane is shut down. She is a real threat and I think now she needs to be more aware that if the lane is not open, to be able to find the open player and dish off.”
Junior guard Caroline Waisnor is also a returning starter and has two years of varsity ball under her belt.
Junior forward Ava Buonfiglio returns for her second full season on the varsity squad after being called up as a freshman. Sophomore sharpshooter Riley Hallihan also returns. She and Buonfiglio played key roles coming in off the bench and delivering quality minutes.
Bocchino said he is counting on Waisnor, Buonfiglio and Hallihan to be triple-threats from behind the three-point arc.
“Those three are my gunslingers,” said Bocchino.
Sophomores Lucy Cleary, Abby Adamo and Catherine Ciolfi, who were swing players on last year’s team, return with true varsity experience. Junior Meghan Nevils, who played as a freshman, is also back.
“Lucy is tough as nails, a quiet assassin who is so effective down low,” said Bocchino.
There are a few promising newcomers who are expected to challenge for playing time. That group is led by freshman point guard Bella George and guard Maggie Ozanian.
“Bella will be on a learning curve, but from what I see, I expect she will do well with it,” said Bocchino. “She and Maggie likely will swing between JV and varsity early so she can get some good playing time, and then we’ll see what happens.”
Bocchino said the strength of the team is its depth.
“They have all had another year to play and I definitely feel we have more depth this year,” he said. “We didn’t have that last year when we really had a seven-player rotation, but I think more of the bench will be able to give us quality minutes.”
Lynnfield opens the season against perennial powerhouse and defending Division 2 state champion Pentucket on the road Friday. Last year, Lynnfield was one of a handful of teams to actually hold a lead against them.
“The key will be to break the press,” said Bocchino. “If we can stop Pentucket’s press, they will have to take it off and then we can run our offense, which is as good as anyone’s with three returning players putting up double-digit numbers in points.”
The Pioneers have their most challenging non-league schedule in five years with games against Middlesex League powers Melrose on Sunday, Dec. 30 at home (6) and February 2 on the road (TBD) as well as Arlington on Jan. 22 at home (7).
“Nobody wants to play us anymore,” said Bocchino. “All of our non-league opponents dropped us this year.”
“We’ve always been the creampuff of the league, but now, all of these teams know we are not a doormat anymore,” said Klonsky.
The Morellis agree that their success from last year carried into the summer and they believe it will also carry into this season.
“We really built on our success and had a great summer season and everyone is ready to play and anxious to get started,” Tori Morelli said.
“I agree,” said Melissa. “We had a great year last year and we all believe we can take from that and really have a great season.”