Sachems Girls’ Basketball Coach Lowe brings accountability to his game

By Dom Nicastro

Joe Lowe wasted no time taking accountability in his new position as head coach of the Saugus High School girls’ basketball team. After the team’s 38-36 loss to Northeastern Conference rival Winthrop this week, the coach put the loss on himself. “I need to do a better job coaching in the fourth quarter in tight spots and put us in a better spot to succeed,” said Lowe, whose team got a big night from Peyton DiBiasio (18 points), Jessica Bremberg and Ashleigh Moore. “All of our girls played unreal. This loss is 100% on me with coaching.”

Lowe wants nothing but the best for his Sachems, which began the young season 1-1, beating Swampscott to open things up.

Lowe’s a Saugus guy, has been in the program for several years and is looking to keep the program momentum going in his first year as the varsity girls’ coach. He takes over for 10-year coach Mark Schruender, whose team won an NEC title for the first time in decades and averaged around 13-14 wins in the last six seasons.

“The focus this year is continuing to build upon the success of last season,” said Lowe. Saugus went 14-7 and were co-champions in the NEC Lynch Division. “Our goal is to get a little better each day and string together a lot of good days so that come tournament time, we are prepared to make a run. If we take care of small, focused goals each practice and game, we will have a successful season.”

Lowe is in his fourth season as a head coach, having served in that role with the Winthrop boys, and is now in his first head coaching gig in Saugus; Lowe’s coached 13 years in total. Lowe played for Saugus from 2007 to 2010, serving as team captain in 2010. He played for coaches Titus Manderson, Mike Broderick and Paul Moran. After graduating, he coached middle school, freshman and JV for the Saugus boys’ program for eight years before becoming a head coach at Winthrop. He then joined Saugus girls for one-year last winter as an assistant and is now the head coach.

Lowe will be joined on the bench this season by varsity assistants Chris Brablc and Manny Lopes. Norma Waggett, former player in the program and 1,000-point scorer, heads the junior varsity and serves as a varsity assistant.

“I was on the staff last year as an assistant and developed a great relationship with the players and coaches in the program,” Lowe said. “Being an alumnus and comfortable in the school made it an obvious fit for me.”

In all, Lowe’s program this winter features nearly 25 girls between the JV and varsity teams. The team has eight seniors, and each one of them is on the varsity team as a returnee from last year. “Experience and leadership have been great,” Lowe said. “We have three of the premier guards in the NEC who at any night can take over a game scoring, as well as any one of the 12 on the roster being a threat to knock down 3’s.”

Lowe wants the team to establish a defensive identity: tough defense and good shooting or is it going to be an up-tempo team looking to apply pressure and press the whole game. “I think it’s important to have something to mold yourself into and work toward being,” Lowe said. “There will be nights we do not shoot it well, but if we can play multiple defenses we will be in every game.”

DiBiasio, Ashleen Escobar and Ella Castle provided a majority of the Sachems’ scoring last season and can fill up the score sheet. Taylor Deleidi, Juliana Powers, Moore, Ana Silva and Amelia Pappagallo can shoot. “They will make it tough for teams to play in a zone,” Lowe said.

Bremberg and Devany Millerick are solid post players who do a ton of dirty work rebounding and battling inside. Madison Botta and Madi Femino are two of the best defenders in the league who on any given night can shut down the opposing team’s best player.

The Sachems play in the NEC Dunn division with Winthrop, Danvers, Gloucester and Swampscott. The NEC Lynch division is Peabody, Masconomet, Marblehead, Beverly and Salem.

“The league has a lot of parity amongst each other, and any team could beat each other,” Lowe said. “Winthrop and Peabody are the two teams that stick out with the most talent and experience. They will be tough outs and the frontrunners to win the conference. Peabody has the returning two-time league MVP in Logan Lomasney as well as some great shooters in the Bettencourts (Abby and Ally) who are tremendous athletes. Winthrop has great size and a ton of experience while having one of the best players in the league in Grace Fleuriel. They also added a tough freshman in Angela Tshowa who is extremely talented and athletic.”

For non-league games, Saugus picked up Ipswich, Wakefield, Arlington Catholic and Lynn English.

“With the [MIAA] ranking system I do not care about seed,” Lowe said. “I want to find good quality teams that will prepare us for the tournament.”