LYNN — The Lynn Classical girls basketball team was a dominant force last season, going a perfect 20-0 en route to a state tournament appearance.
However, a first round exit (Algonquin Regional) ended the Rams’ magical run, and head coach Tom Sawyer is looking to turn the page with a new foundation.
New season, new faces for Lynn Classical after graduating three senior captains who “scored the majority of points and played the majority of minutes” last year, according to Sawyer.
Those graduating seniors include star Ava Thurman, whose play is surely to be missed inside the Classical High gymnasium.
Lost production aside, Sawyer sees it as an opportunity for returning players to step up, which is what he believes makes high school sports so special.
“With kids graduating, it’s no different than any other team, or any other year,” Sawyer said. “That’s the beauty of high school sports… it provides an opportunity for returning players.”
Of the returning squad, Sawyer mentioned seniors Lauren Wilson, Linda Jallow, and Kaleigh Bullock, as well as junior Keisha Perez.
Sawyer doesn’t plan to waver from what his teams have done in the past, either.
“Nothing was different about last year from prior years,” he said. “We play hard, we play competitively, and we try to play with as high a basketball IQ as we can… and that is no different than last year. It just resulted in a certain number of wins. This year will result in all the wins that we deserve.”
Wins are a nice add-on, but Sawyer doesn’t believe they translate to a successful season, per se.
“It’s not about wins and losses; it’s not about qualifications,” he said. “Did we represent the school well? Did we improve as a basketball team? And if we do those two things, I can live with whatever the results are.”
But, before the regular season, a jamboree awaits this Saturday at Classical High.
“I think the jamboree is really important for a number of reasons,” Sawyer said. “It honors Mr. (Paul) Duchane, it’s a scholarship fundraiser, and it’s the closest thing that any of us will get to a real game before the regular season.”
With 16 local teams in the gym, the jamboree “checks all the boxes,” per Sawyer.
“I know our players look forward to the jamboree… it makes for a really neat vibe and it’s a good first exposure to varsity basketball,” he said.
But before you move on, sometimes, you need to address the past. Sawyer knows his team can take a lesson or two away from last winter’s first-round exit.
“We have to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time. Last year, we couldn’t get to 20-0 until we got to 19-0,” he said. “So, right now, everything is geared towards being as prepared as we can possibly be for our first game, and as soon as it’s in the books, it’s time to move on.”
30th Annual Paul Duchane Girls Basketball Jamboree
Malden vs. Swampscott (2:30)
Somerville vs. Danvers (3:10)
Hamilton Wenham vs. Peabody (3:50)
Marblehead vs. North Reading (4:30)
Billerica vs. Bishop Fenwick (5:10)
Saugus vs. St. Mary’s (5:50)
Georgetown vs. Lynn English (6:30)
Lynn Classical vs. Melrose (7:10)
