SAUGUS — The Saugus girls basketball team (2-2) faced off against a talented Wakefield Warriors group that boasted height and 3-point shooting on Wednesday. Four quarters later, the Warriors left Saugus with a 58-28 victory.
In the first quarter, the Sachems and Warriors went back and forth, trading baskets. Saugus opened the game with a 4-0 lead thanks to back-to-back steals – leading to layups – from Ashleen Escobar and Madi Femino.
“I thought we started the game exceptionally well. We generated some turnovers and took a bit of a lead,” said Saugus coach Joseph Lowe. “Wakefield is one of the better teams that we’ll see all year.”
But the Warriors led 24-14 at the half. In the third quarter, Wakefield couldn’t miss against the zone defense of the Sachems, and Saugus struggled to find its offensive rhythm.
“They hit 11 threes today. So, when they started burying threes, most of them came from us scrambling rather than sticking to the assignment. They made us pay,” Lowe said. “They had more hustle after every loose ball and rebound, especially in the third quarter.”
In a rough one, Wakefield led 42-18 going into the final quarter.
“In the third quarter, we just imploded a bit,” Lowe said. “They were a lot tougher than us.”
Despite the loss, a positive came from senior Ana Silva. She led the hosts with eight points and also made an impact on defense, drawing three charges.
Lowe enjoyed what he got from his senior on a day when Saugus struggled.
“For the people who watched the game, she was the only one who communicated the whole game. She didn’t let the noise or the pressure of the other team get to her. We were down 30 points and she was still sacrificing her body in the fourth quarter in a game we can’t win at that point,” Lowe said. “I told the team after the game that if they want to play, I don’t care if you can score 30 points, that’s the blueprint that will win games. Ana stuck out for the way she plays, hustles, and works.”
Lowe, a 2010 graduate of Saugus High, added, “It’s good to be back.”
“I enjoyed my time at Winthrop, but just having the comfort of walking into familiar spaces is great. The people working the books are the same people who were working when I was growing up,” he said. “We have a really nice group of kids and there isn’t another job I would prefer to have.”
The Sachems will have a bit of a break before returning to action Wednesday against Marblehead with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
