LYNN — State tournament basketball: Different, but the same, if you ask Lynn Classical’s Tom Sawyer.
“We’re going to go out and face an opponent,” said Sawyer, whose Lady Rams wrapped up their regular season with a 13-7 record. “The dimensions of the court are the same, the height of the rim is the same, and we’re just going to go out and try to be the best version of ourselves.”
Yes, the best versions of themselves. That’s what Coach Sydney Brennan and her Lynn English girls (11-9) are aiming to do as well.
“We’re preparing to see any type of team and we’re working on our own game and honing in on our specialties,” said Brennan, in just her second season at the helm. “So that whoever we do play, we’re prepared to play against them.”
Saturday afternoon comes the moment of truth. MIAA pairings will be released at 1 p.m. as Classical (Division 3) and English (1) await their next week’s plans.
And with big games on the horizon, comes a demand for big-time players. Sawyer’s Lady Rams will be led by sophomore Divine Egbuta, as well as seniors Keisha Perez, Nevaeh Eth, and Savannah Tang.
“Good players make successful programs,” Sawyer said. “We’ve been lucky over the years to have good players who have been able to win enough games to qualify each year. Not a lot of magic – you need good players… Often, teams are as good as their senior leadership, and we’ve had good senior leadership.”
A bulk of this year’s Classical group has been there before, but the Lady Rams are focused on the present – not the past – according to Sawyer.
“I think every year is unique. Our own team is different each year and the teams we play will be different. I’m not sure there’s any significant advantage being in the state tournament previously as it applies to this year’s game and tournament,” Sawyer said. “Each year, the tournament is something new and unique to itself.”
Speaking of being new, it’s Brennan’s first time reaching the tournament as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs.
“It feels great. Last year, it was my goal and we didn’t get there, so to be able to get there this season is great,” she said. “I worked with our AD (Dick Newton) and we worked around our schedule because I wanted to set it up in a way that the girls were going to be most successful. Working together and laying it out there for them… it feels great to have accomplished it.”
Brennan was an accomplished basketball player in her own right, winning the 2016 state championship with Bishop Fenwick her senior year. Although she’s drawing up plays from the sideline instead of directing traffic on the court, Brennan believes her playing experience could be beneficial.
“This is my first time coaching in the playoff scenario, but as a player, it’s very different, but I know what the girls are feeling and I know what myself and the coaching staff are feeling,” she said. “I think, for myself, it’s a lot more about putting the girls in a good position and especially when we find out who we are playing, by watching as much film and gameplanning around their team with my player’s abilities in mind. It’s a new experience for me and I’m sure I’ll learn a lot this year. Hopefully, I can carry it into this year and the future.”
Like Sawyer, Brennan will be leaning on her leaders.
“I think with my captains, especially Alisha (Soto), Amara (Flores), and Saniya (Patton), it’s about working together with them to instill our values and what our expectations are and what we need from them on and off the court,” she said. “Reflecting with them after losses or after good wins to reflect – to see what they did well and what we all did well and what we can improve.”
And Sawyer wants his players to know: It’s just another game.
“The beauty of our kids is that I don’t think they see it as a pressurized situation. They see it just as another game. For us, it’s just another away game,” he said. “I like that. There’s no reason to feel any more pressure in this situation than anywhere else.”
