LYNN — For 30 years now, local high school girls basketball teams have tipped off the winter season the same way: at the annual Paul Duchane Varsity Girls Preseason Jamboree.
Classical coach Tom Sawyer said he’s been in charge of the tournament for about 20 years after taking over from former Classical Athletic Director Dick Ruth.
“Today has been a good day,” Sawyer said on Saturday. “We’ve had good basketball and we’re pretty much staying on schedule and I think the kids are having a pretty good time getting out onto the court. For most teams, it’s their first real action in uniform. So far, so good.”
The jamboree is held every year at Lynn Classical High in memory of Duchane, who taught and coached throughout the Lynn school system for many years. Sawyer said that while he never had the pleasure of meeting Duchane, he is certain that Duchane’s memory continues to live on.
“All the stories I hear from Dick Ruth, he was everything that’s right about athletics and helping kids and coaching kids. Everything you wanted for youth in sports, he was it,” Sawyer said.
This year’s jamboree featured 16 teams playing two eight-minute quarters. Teams included English, Classical, Saugus, Swampscott, St. Mary’s, Peabody, Marblehead, Bishop Fenwick, Malden, Somerville, Danvers, Hamilton-Wenham, North Reading, Billerica, Georgetown and Melrose.
“Most of these teams want to come back every year,” Sawyer said. “It’s very rare that they don’t. Our feeling is if you’ve supported us all these years, the least I could do is extend an invitation again. Invariably, everyone comes back.”
St. Mary’s shook off a pesky Saugus team that kept things close in the first quarter until the Spartans turned on their offense, cruising to a 38-21 win. Bella Owumi scored 11 points and Reese Matela added seven.
“Tom does a great job with this and it’s another opportunity for us to go out against a real opponent under game conditions,” said Spartans coach Jeff Newhall. “The more time you play in real-game situations, the better off you are. I think the girls may have been a little sluggish early having played (and won) last night.”
In the last game of the night, Classical lost a close one to Melrose, 22-18. Keisha Perez and Divine Egbutta scored five points each to lead the Rams.
Peabody survived a slow start, but turned it up defensively in the second quarter to defeat Hamilton-Wenham, 28-14. The game was tied 9-9 after the first quarter. The Generals regained the lead a few seconds into the second quarter, but after that, it was lights out for the Generals as Peabody went on a 15-0 run. The Generals’ three points the rest of the way came from the free throw line.
“We definitely had foul trouble,” said coach Stan McKeen. “We reached too much. As a result, we were over the foul limit in both quarters, but we were able to subsequently pull away.”
Logan Lomasney, a senior captain, led the Tanners with 10 points.
McKeen praised the play of senior point guard Abby Bettencourt (7 points), junior guard Ally Bettencourt (2), junior guard Maia Davis (4), sophomore forward Lizzy Bettencourt, and sophomore forward Sophia Coburn.
“Overall, it was a good effort considering I think they were a little tired to start after having a six-quarter scrimmage last night,” McKeen said.
Marblehead struggled breaking North Reading’s stifling press, losing 18-8. Hailey Schmitt scored a team-high four points while Tessa Andriano and Ainsley McDonald scored two points each.
“I didn’t do a very good job today and have to do a better job getting them the plays earlier. I put that on me,” said coach Paul Moran.
Co-captains Kate Burns and Katie Pine said they are happy with the Magicians’ effort so far this season.
“We were just looking to get everyone in today,” Burns said. “We had a good game last week and played well and beat Revere, so today was all about making sure everyone had a chance to play.”
“We weren’t playing our starting lineup and everyone was mixed up,” Pine said. “We have several plays to break the press, but today, we got caught a lot and that was a problem.”
Marblehead (1-0) can even the score with North Reading Monday.
“I definitely think we can take them,” Pine said.
Fenwick defeated Billerica, 20-12. Senior captain Cecilia Kay scored a game-high seven points and pulled down six rebounds. Samantha Dormer scored four points and had two steals, while CCL Small Division MVP Isabella Marian-Lope, who transferred from Matignon after it closed, had three points and three steals. Caitlin Boyle (3 points, 2 rebounds) and Kiley Bloom also scored.
“They were tough – a very physical team,” said Fenwick coach Adam DeBaggis. “We have to be able to play fast and tough at the same time. We took some bad shots and missed some layups because we were rushing things and getting hit.”
DeBaggis also added, “I love this tournament.”
“I like the whole atmosphere. I like to see the other players and teams,” he said. “The kids get to wear the uniforms for the first time instead of their practice uniforms.”
The Crusaders open the season Tuesday at Malden Catholic.
“I know they are well-coached, so it should be a good game,” DeBaggis said.
