Defense, resilience fuel Saugus boys’ basketball’s push toward the postseason

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School Sachems boys’ basketball team has spent much of the winter navigating one of the Northeastern Conference’s most unforgiving stretches. Lopsided losses, elite opponents, and a compressed schedule have tested the Sachems’ depth and resolve.

What has not wavered, however, is their response.

That was on full display in a 59–40 win over Salem Academy, a result that head coach Joe Bertrand said reflected both urgency and growth after a bruising run against league heavyweights.

“We played great,” Bertrand said. “The way we just responded after that stretch was just promising. We showed no quit. We were ready to play. The kids were excited. We just played hard.”

  The Salem Academy win came after losses to Salem and Beverly — including a 119–39 defeat to Beverly — games that highlighted the fine margin for error against the NEC’s elite.

“Both teams just play really fast. They’re strong, and you just can’t make any mistakes to beat those teams,” Bertrand said. “Every possession has to matter. From the start of the game to the end.”

Against Salem Academy, Saugus flipped that script. Ryan Shea led the way with 20 points, scoring in transition and knocking down shots from deep.

“A few threes, two baskets in transition,” Bertrand said. “He played really well.”

Oliver Hernandez added 10 points, continuing to carve out a larger role in the rotation.

“He transferred to Saugus from Revere at the beginning of the year, so I didn’t know him really well,” Bertrand said. “He’s very new to the program. He’s only a junior, and he’s starting to make his mark in the second half of the season.”

Bertrand described Hernandez as a versatile perimeter threat.

“Kind of like a catch-and-shoot guy,” he said. “Like a small forward.”

Jayden Le chipped in nine points, while Jordan Rodriguez added eight as the Sachems spread the scoring load.

The losses to Salem and Beverly were difficult — especially the offensive avalanche Beverly produced — but Bertrand said those games have sharpened his team’s understanding of what high-level execution demands.

“They really did not miss many jump shots,” Bertrand said of Beverly. “You’ve got to give them credit.”

While neither team relied heavily on full-court pressure, the pace and physicality exposed mistakes quickly.

“The defense is just in your face,” Bertrand said. “Transition points, and they just knock down a lot of jump shots.”

Bertrand believes those experiences will pay dividends later.

“I don’t know that we’ll play teams as good as Beverly or Salem in Division 3,” he said.

After the Salem Academy win, Saugus stood at 4–7, hovering near the postseason cutoff. Power rankings have kept the Sachems within striking distance, even as the record lagged.

“Playing Beverly and Salem has kind of improved our power,” Bertrand said. “We’re up to 37, so we’re right there at that 32 line.”

Bertrand said the path forward is clear — and demanding.

“We were 3–7 the first half,” he said. “We’ve got to go 7–3 on the back half to make it.”

The Sachems are already 1-0 on the back 10 games. The focus, he added, is on execution and belief rather than math.

“We know we need a big second half to make the tournament, and that started on Friday,” Bertrand said.

  Weather disruptions and cancellations have complicated the schedule, but Saugus continues to look for momentum as February approaches, with upcoming games against Danvers and Mystic Valley.

“At this point in the season, we’ll execute a little bit better on offense,” Bertrand said. “Hopefully that comes through for us.”

For a team forged in one of the NEC’s toughest stretches, the message remains consistent — compete, defend, and let the lessons carry forward.

“We’ve got to play really hard as a team,” Bertrand said. “And see what happens.”