LYNN — Last year’s St. Mary’s boys basketball team came up just short of what would’ve been a Division 3 state co-championship, falling in the state semifinal at TD Garden. Now this year, despite not having a state title game to aspire to, the Spartans are ready to get back out on the floor and be the best team they can be.
“Last year was a gratifying season after all the talent we lost from the year before, so we were overall really happy with how things went,” said St. Mary’s coach Dave Brown. “We had a lot of younger guys step up last year and play some big minutes, and we’re hoping that’s going to translate right into this year. Teams know that we’re talented and we’re going to have a target on our back, so we know we have to come to play every day.”
The Spartans — who went 23-3 last year — didn’t get off completely scot-free in the offseason, losing 1,000-point scorer Joe Abate-Walsh along with fellow senior contributors Josh Perez and Lee Pacheco to graduation.
But at the same time, a very talented and experienced core is back for 2020-2021. Sammy Batista returns to lead the way at the point guard position after averaging just under 15 points per game last season, while David Brown Jr. is poised to step into a bigger role at the other guard spot following a strong freshman season. There’s also a group of strong wings returning in Ali Barry, Henri Miraka, Nick Sacco, Omri Merryman, Jackson Field, Anthony D’Itria and Derick Coulanges, while seniors Keon Griffin — who transferred in from Lynn Classical — and Zach Barden are making their first appearances for the Spartans.
“We’ve got a great group of wings and some solid players at the guard spot,” said Brown. “We’re a little inexperienced down in the post and we’re working on that, but overall we have a great core coming back and we’re excited to get back to work.”
As is the case in most other years, St. Mary’s once again is staring at a formidable schedule. With games against Catholic Central League foes like rival Bishop Fenwick, Arlington Catholic, Cardinal Spellman Austin Prep, Cathedral and newcomers Bishop Stang and Bishop Feehan, every night will be a test for the Spartans. And that’s not even counting the non-conference bouts set up for this year against teams like Division 1 Bridgewater-Raynham.
“We try to set up a tough schedule each year, and playing in the CCL is always tough when you have to go into those hostile environments,” said Brown. “We’re also gaining a lot more respect around the state and now Division 1 and Division 2 teams are willing to play us, so that gives us a lot more freedom to schedule tough games.”
Normally by this time — 11 days before the first game of the season — the Spartans have already gotten a lot of work in. But with no fall league this year and limited time to get out on the court, Brown knows that every second counts out there during practices.
“Usually we can have one scrimmage and be fine, but this year I’m trying to hopefully get a couple of scrimmages in since we didn’t have fall league,” said Brown. “It’s hard to know what the rotation is going to look like and what young guys are going to get minutes when we haven’t seen them out on the court, so we’re trying to get them into some game action as often as possible.”
St. Mary’s opens up the 2020-2021 season Monday, Dec. 28 (6) on the road at Cathedral.
“It’ll be a tough way to start the year for sure, they’re always a good team,” Brown said of Cathedral. “I hear they have a good core returning and they’re always well-coached and they play hard, so it’s going to take our best to come away with the win.”
