Saugus Sachems in transition: Bertrand talks strategy and team dynamics

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School boys’ basketball team enters the New Year happy with its strong defensive play and wanting to see better execution on offense. Saugus has scored 42 points per game, and that’s not going to cut it in the Northeastern Conference, according to its coach.

“Whether it’s outside shooting or just even finishing at the rim, we’ve averaged in the mid-40s for points,” Saugus coach Joe Bertrand said. “I’d like to get that up to the mid-50s. I think we’ll be in good shape. So I’d like to just see a little bit more production offensively out of everybody. Just a little bit more.”

The Sachems head into the 2024 portion of the season 2-3. They were scheduled to open up on the road at Marblehead on Jan. 3 and host Saugus Pioneer Charter School of Science on Friday, Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Gloucester on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

Saugus split its final two games of 2023, beating Winthrop, 48-32, in the David Green Memorial Tournament and then falling in the championship game to Greater Lawrence Tech, 53-39. Team-leading scorer Isaiah Rodriguez dropped 13 points, while Danny Shea and Cam Soroko added seven points apiece against Winthrop. It was the same three leading scorers against Greater Lawrence Tech, with Shea and Soroko adding 10 points apiece and Rodriguez nine.

“We struggled to get the offense going in the first half,” Bertrand said.

The coach has approached the season with a young team whose potential was initially uncertain. The team has three seniors, five juniors and four sophomores. Yet, after the first five games, he has found reason for optimism. “I’d say we’re in a good spot right now… we’re right in the mix, for sure,” Bertrand said.

The team’s defense has been a highlight. Bertrand noted, “I think our defense has been better than I thought it was going to be.”

This statement encapsulates the coach’s pleasant surprise at the team’s defensive capabilities, especially considering its size disadvantage. “We’re not the biggest team,” Bertrand said. “But we’ve done a great job, defensively,” he affirmed.

They like to press teams – pressure opponents at every turn and look for easy baskets off turnovers. The Sachems have found particular success with their full-court press, which Bertrand described as a key component of their defensive strategy: “Our full-court press … it’s kind of caused a little bit of chaos,” he said.

In terms of individual performances, senior Isaiah Rodriguez has been a beacon of consistency, something that Bertrand was hoping for, but he has been impressed by the actual results. “Senior Isaiah Rodriguez has stepped up. He’s consistently gotten double digits for us [in] these first five games,” Bertrand said.

Delving into the specifics of how Rodriguez is finding the basket, Bertrand spoke about Rodriguez’s ability to adapt and grow beyond his established skill set, saying, “Isaiah has traditionally only been an outside shooter, but he’s done a great job getting into the paint finishing around the rim.”

Furthermore, Danny Shea’s return from injury and Ryan Shea’s unexpected contributions as a sophomore have added layers to the Sachems’ attack. “Ryan Shea has done a bunch of scoring for us that … I guess I would say, I didn’t expect,” Bertrand said, showing his appreciation for the younger talent rising to the occasion as a sophomore.

Coach Bertrand believes in a diversified scoring strategy rather than depending on one or two high scorers. This philosophy is aptly summarized by his own words. “I think we’re gonna sit, you know, in the 10-to-15-point range [as far as its leading scorers per night],” the coach said. “I don’t think we’re going to have that one leading scorer.” Bertrand’s approach encourages a collective effort where different players can shine on any given night, fostering a team-centric environment.

Looking ahead, Bertrand spoke about the upcoming challenges within the Northeastern Conference (NEC), where he expects a more balanced competitive field. “I think the NEC is not as top heavy as the past couple years, but a little bit more balanced throughout,” Bertrand observed.

With the new year comes a renewed focus on consistency in scoring. Bertrand’s resolution for the team is clear: better offensive execution. The Sachems’ emphasis on a robust defense, unexpected scoring leaders and a balanced offensive attack would position them well, according to Bertrand. “We’ll see where everyone rolls out,” Bertrand said. “If we don’t get into too many holes early in games, I think we’ll be able to compete with everybody.”