Sachem girls look to make playoff run this winter

  After going through a pandemic-shortened season in 2020-21, Saugus girls’ basketball Head Coach Mark Schruender is looking for this year’s team to make another playoff run. The coach is banking on team depth to help steer the Sachems to a tournament bid this time around.

  Schruender recently told the press that there are a number of players that are capable of leading on the score sheet on a given night. In addition, different players can perform roles such as ball handling, running the offense and manning the boards.

  Playing in a league (Northeastern Conference) that engineers mostly an up-tempo style, Schruender added that his team will need to substitute a lot in order to stay fresh during games. “I don’t know if it’s going to be one player that necessarily leads us in scoring from game to game. I think there’s a variety of kids that can put the ball in the basket,” he said. “Likewise, when you talk about roles, we have multiple kids that can bring the ball up the court and facilitate the offense. We also have multiple kids that can rebound the basketball.”

  Saugus opened its season at Triton on Wednesday and lost a tight 45-39 affair. Peyton DiBiasio ended up as the team’s leading scorer with 12 points. Senior captain Fallon Millerick and Ashleen Escobar each contributed six points in the loss.

  Along with Millerick, senior players April Aldred and Cassandra Israelson serve as captains for this year’s squad. This trio included sophomores on the 2019-20 squad that finished with a 16-5 overall mark and earned a playoff berth.

  The 0-1 Sachems travel for a game at Danvers on Friday and are on the road against Winthrop on Monday. The home opener is set for Wednesday, Dec. 22 (7 p.m. tap) against the Peabody Tanners.