Published December 24, 2019
By JAMES CRANNEY
LYNNFIELD – After a tough season-opening loss to Pentucket, the Lynnfield boys’ basketball team looked to get back on Dec. 16 against a formidable Rockport opponent. During the season’s first game, the Pioneers struggled to find the hoop on offense only mustering 39 points. That would not be the case against the Vikings as Lynnfield won 73-53.
It was an evenly matched contest early on as both teams exchanged points. With a little less than six minutes remaining in the opening quarter, Lynnfield made their move. Tied 4-4, junior guard Blake Peters (12 points) gave the Pioneers their first lead banking one off the backboard. Peters would then make a great steal on defense leading to a quick 3-pointer from junior Luke Martinho (10 points).
JACK FORD soars in for two of his team-high 18 points during Lynnfield’s 73-53 victory over Rockport at home on Dec. 16. (Kristine Marengi Photo)
Following the Martinho three, Lynnfield forced two more steals on the defensive side of the ball leading to two quick buckets in transition. Coach Whitley had seen enough and used the Vikings’ first timeout. The timeout did not do much as junior Jack Ford (18 points) responded with another Pioneer 3-pointer.
“We made a couple open three’s early and I think the hoop got a little bit bigger for some of the fellas,” commented Lynnfield head coach Scott MacKenzie after the game. “We had very similar looks at the beginning of the Pentucket game that didn’t go and I think we got tight, that was the difference today.”
The Pioneers would carry a 10-point lead into the second quarter where things continued to click for the home team. Senior captain Clayton Marengi (17 points) opened the quarter with a mid-range fadeaway to make it 24-12. Rockport got the next basket but Lynnfield came roaring back.
On the following three possessions, Jack Ford would drop three consecutive bombs from down town. Up 33-17, Ford finally missed a shot but senior captain Khad Connell (10 points) was there to grab the board and lay it back in stretching the lead to 18. The Vikings would get a few back but went into the locker room trailing Lynnfield 44-29.
The second half’s first points belonged to Rockport, but Martinho’s third 3-pointer brought momentum back the Pioneers’ way. Lynnfield’s dominance continued on offense when they began attacking the basket. The Pioneers kept lighting the scoreboard up getting their points in the paint from Marengi, Ford, Connell, and Peters. Despite the onslaught of scoring from the white jerseys, the Vikings continued to battle but could never make it a single digit game. Lynnfield ended the third quarter with a terrific pass from Ford to Peters down low to make it 62-43 entering the final quarter.
Early in the 4th quarter, the Pioneers extended their lead to over 20 points when Ford fed Marengi with a bullet pass beneath the basket for the lay in. With a sizeable lead, Lynnfield controlled the pace of play and never gave Rockport a chance to get back in it. When the final buzzer sounded, the Pioneers had secured their first victory of the season with a 73-53 win.
Fans have only seen this Lynnfield team play twice thus far, with each game being polar opposites from the other. Going forward, it will be interesting to see which Pioneer team shows up each given night.
The Pioneers had a clutch 51-39 victory over Masco on Friday night. They hosted Danvers on Monday night after press time and next play in Melrose on Dec. 30at 6:30 p.m. To get the same performance displayed against Rockport, coach MacKenzie knows it all starts in practice for the Pioneers.
“We have a lot of practices to get better; it’s still so early in the season and we need to add some stuff to our arsenal.”
