While the Lynnfield boys basketball team dropped its season opener against host Newburyport, 81-77, coach John Bakopolus said it was an “incredibly hard-fought game with a ton of guys stepping into new roles and making plays.
“This is a very young team and it will take time for us to get comfortable with one another,” he said. “We have a lot of talented kids, so hopefully we just become a better team with time.”
Last year, the Pioneers finished the regular season 14-6, earning the No. 15 seed in the Division 3 state tournament. They romped to a 61-41 win against visiting No. 18 Wilmington in the Round of 32, but were eliminated in the Round of 16 by eventual state champion and No. 2 seed Norwell 70-48.
Seniors Harris Hadzihasanovic, Matt Tracy, and Luke DiSilvio will serve as captains.
“This will be Harris’ third year starting. He’s our super steady guy. The bigger the game, the better he plays,” Bakopolus said. “Matt has been a contributor for two years. He does all little things that don’t always show up in the stat sheet. He just makes winning plays. Luke is just a tremendous athlete, obviously a scholarship baseball player who is really, really talented. He can do a lot of good things for us with his athleticism.”
There’s also senior Ryan Giacobbi, who is out with an injury.
“He can shoot and handle the ball,” Bakopolus said. “We’re hoping that maybe we get him back during the season.”
Juniors James Pasquale, Grant Neal, Oliver Harth, and Justin Flores also return with experience. Flores scored a team-high 28 points against the Clippers, while Neal was solid with 16.
“Grant has been on varsity since freshman year and we’re asking him to step up and play a big role this year at the guard spot,” Bakopolus said. “Justin played quality minutes last year and we’re asking him to step up. We have a lot of guys who played small roles last year that we’re asking to step up and play bigger roles.
“Oliver is an offensive player, a very talented shooter, and James is a very good athlete who unfortunately got hurt playing football. Hopefully, we can get him back before the end of the year. Again, just a tremendous athlete who hopefully, in the future, can help us.”
New to the team are junior forward Joe Rosa, junior guard Dahryel Motto, junior forward/guard Kellen Farias, sophomore guard Cam Chisolm, as well as freshmen Brandon Doherty and Ryan Barrett.
Doherty wasted no time showing what he is capable of doing, putting up 25 points with seven threes against the Clippers.
“Brandon and Ryan both have very bright futures,” Bakopolus said. “Both are really talented kids who hopefully can help us this year and in the future.”
Bakopolus said Chisholm is “a very talented player” and Rosa “a good-sized kid who can help us in the forward position. Dahryel can shoot and Kellen is athletic, can defend, and give us some offensive spark.”
As far as the DNA of the team goes, Bakopolus said that, unlike last year’s team, this year will be more guard-centric with more play on the perimeter.
When asked if the Pioneers are a tournament team, Bakopolus said, “We’ll find out.
“It was a fun experience last year — making the Sweet 16 — so we’re hopeful again this year,” he said. “I don’t think we can look ahead. We need to go day by day. Every day has got to be a day to improve and see where we are at. We just have to keep trusting each other and hopefully it works out. The Cape Ann League is very talented, so we have to prepare for every game as a tough game where we need to bring our ‘A’ game. Anyone can beat anybody.”
The Pioneers have some challenging non-league games against Reading, East Boston, KIPP Academy in Lynn, Shawsheen, and two games against Bishop Fenwick. Bakopolus is hopeful the Pioneers’ non-league schedule will help boost their power rankings.
“Everyone knows the system by now,” he said. “You know you have to play pretty good non-league games and compete — and hopefully win them.”
