Sachems drop home opener to Peabody

  The Saugus High School girls’ basketball team isn’t off to the start it was hoping for in 2021-22. The Sachems dropped their third game of the early season when they fell to Peabody in their home opener Wednesday night. It was the first regular-season game for the Saugus girls at the new school gymnasium. But the Sachems were up against a very good Peabody team and couldn’t come away with a win, as the visiting Tanners prevailed by a convincing 61-39 count.

  Ella Castle ended up as Saugus’s leading points-getter with 12 in the defeat. She was followed by Ashleen Escobar with eight points.

  The Sachems were hoping they could carry the momentum of Monday’s road victory at Winthrop into Wednesday’s home opener. But it wasn’t enough against the unbeaten Tanners, who improved to 4-0. The Sachems fell to 1-3.

  They lost a 44-34 decision at Danvers last Friday before turning the tide with a strong 58-44 win against Winthrop on Monday. After the victory, Head Coach Mark Schruender told the press it was great to “check off that first win” of the season, adding that it was a big boost for his team.

  As Schruender had predicted prior to the season, the Sachems so far seem to have a different leading scorer every game. Against Winthrop, Peyton DiBiasio, who was reportedly celebrating her birthday, did the honors by pouring in 17 points, a career high. Also finishing in double figures were Ashley Moore with 12 points and Fallon Millerick with 11. Schruender also cited Ashley Aldred, Jessica Bremberg and Cassie Israelson for their strong efforts on both sides of the ball.

  Millerick led the way with a career-high 14 points in the loss at Danvers. Castle finished with six points and DiBiasio five for Saugus, which will try to get back in the win column when it hosts Medford on Tuesday afternoon (scheduled 12:30 start).