SAUGUS — There aren’t many teams entering the state tournament as hot as the Saugus boys basketball team. The No. 31 Sachems have won eight of their last 10 games to earn a home game in the opening round, where they will face No. 34 Lowell Catholic on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Division 3.
Saugus head coach Joseph Bertrand said his team is “excited” heading into the postseason. When asked about the biggest difference between the first and second halves of the season, Bertrand pointed to the offense.
“The biggest difference has been our scoring,” Bertrand said. “In the first half of the season we were scoring in the 50s. Now we’re scoring in the high 60s, low 70s.”
The group is led by its seniors, and Bertrand had high praise for Ryan Shea, Jordan Rodriguez, Nathan Soroko and Huey Josama.
“These four seniors have been the heart and soul of our team. Huey and Jordan specifically have stepped up, both scoring multiple 20-point games in the past couple of weeks,” Bertrand said. “Nathan Soroko has also stepped up offensively, in addition to being tasked with stopping the other team’s best player game in and game out. Ryan Shea has been steady all season. He really does it all for us. In the past few weeks, all four of these guys have been clicking, and that’s been a huge part of our spark.”
In most games this season the Sachems held a significant size advantage having both Josama and Ryan Dupuy in the starting lineup who both are over 6-6.
“Ryan and Huey make it difficult for teams to score inside,” Bertrand said. “That, along with them being relentless on the glass at both ends of the floor, has led to some easy points for us.”
The Sachems are a balanced team, and Bertrand is not afraid to rely on his bench.
“What separates this group is that our senior leadership has been strong, not just from our four captains. Cristian Dean has really stepped up as well,” Bertrand said. “We’ve gotten great production off the bench from Oliver Hernandez, Paxton Ferraro and Kam Conroy. We are all bought in right now from top to bottom, and I think what these guys have built will have a positive impact moving forward. This group has done a great job showing the younger guys what it takes not just to win, but to be a team.”
Bertrand said the message this week is simple.
“Stay focused and take it all in, but don’t be a prisoner of the moment,” Bertrand said. “Basketball-wise, our message stays the same: Limit turnovers, rebound and execute.”
Bertrand and his team are ready to embrace the tournament.
“The second half of this season and this state tournament is something we as coaches, and certainly the players, will remember and talk about forever,” Bertrand said. “It’s an opportunity we don’t want to let slip away. I’m proud of this group and the season we’ve had, and I know they’re going to make the best of it.”
Bertrand knows this is a big game for his team and the community and is looking forward to a packed gym Wednesday evening.
