SENIOR CAPTAIN Alex Fleming had 22 points and 12 rebounds in Lynnfield’s season-opening victory over Pentucket on Tuesday. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season was a successful one for the Lynnfield High boys’ basketball team as they qualified for the MIAA Division 3 state tournament. The Pioneers ended up losing at Martha’s Vineyard, 63-47, in the first round.
The Pioneers finished the 2023- 2024 campaign at 15-6 overall. In the Cape Ann League, they went 12-4, coming in second place in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division to Newburyport.
Lynnfield lost two seniors from that team to graduation: guard Paul Breslow and guard-forward Chris Daniels who was a CAL First-Team All-Star.
The good news for fifth-year head coach John Bakopolus is that seven veterans returned when camp opened on Dec. 2.
“We have a lot of kids with a lot of experience,” said Bakopolus, who teaches at Minuteman Tech in Lexington. “We are working on meshing this team during the pre-season.”
Three of the veterans back are this year’s tri-captains: Iain McCarthy (guard), Alex Fleming (forward) and Zach Pincus (forward).
Fleming was a CAL First-Team All-Star last year as he led the team in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounds (12). He also recorded 14 double-doubles.
SENIOR CAPTAIN Iain McCarthy and the Pioneers are looking forward to a promising 2024-25 season. (File Photo)
The other senior back is Fleming’s brother, Chris, who will play guard.
The two juniors back are Harris Hadzihasanovic (guard) and Matt Tracey (guard- forward).
Grant Neal is another returner as the sophomore will play guard.
Two new seniors on the roster are Kelan Cardinal and Madux Iovinelli. Cardinal, who was the Pioneer soccer goalie, will play point guard while Iovinelli, who is on the Lynnfield football and baseball teams, will play center.
Luke DiSilvio is a junior guard who missed all of last year due to an injury.
It was a busy pre-season for the team as they had thee scrimmages. On Dec. 7, they played Wakefield at East Boston High in a Jamboree. They then visited Saugus on Dec 10 and hosted Stoneham on Dec. 13.
Lynnfield will play a 20-game regular season schedule with 16 league games and four non-league contests. For their non-league games, they will visit Reading and host Shawsheen Tech. Then, in February, they will play in the Spartan Classic Tournament at St. Mary’s of Lynn where they will take on Lowell Catholic in the first game.
It was a successful season opener on Tuesday as they beat guest Pentucket, 56-47, in overtime.
Lynnfield led this game 25-13 at the half but the Panthers cut the lead down to four after the third quarter.
The guests had a chance to win it it on their final possession of regulation, but a key block by Pincus, sent the game into overtime knotted at 43.
In the overtime session, the Pioneers took control outscoring the Panthers, 13-4.
“They started to hit the 3-pointers in the second half to get back into the game,” pointed out Bakopolus. “In overtime, we were able to make enough plays.”
Alex Fleming led the way for the Pioneers with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Hadzihasanovic came up huge in the overtime session scoring 8 of his 12 points. Pincus hit three 3-pointers to end up with 9 points while Cardinal added 8.
Bakopolus feels that this type of win can help his roster down the road.
“The kids showed a lot of poise late when they made their comeback,” he said. “Harris played especially big.”
The Pioneers met Hamilton-Wenham on Friday night after press time. They will have Christmas Vacation Week off this week as they will return to action on Jan. 3. That night, they will take on rival North Reading on the road. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
