Lynnfield Girls Basketball Team Gears Up for Exciting Season

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield girls basketball team is set to enter the new season with optimism, despite the loss of three senior starters to graduation. After finishing the 2024 regular season with a record of 9-11, the Pioneers earned the No. 30 seed in the Division 4 tournament but were narrowly eliminated in the preliminary round by No. 35 Groton-Dunstable, with a final score of 39-37.

Coach Sue Breen expresses confidence in this year’s squad, highlighting the strong bond the players have developed over the years. “This team has been with me for my four years and they are all great kids,” Breen stated. “They’ve been such a big part of my time here. They showed up and they came back. Most of them are multi-sport athletes, so it’s awesome. They played all summer together, so they are always building. I think the kids are up for it.”

Returning Talent and New Leadership

While there are no returning seniors, a talented group of juniors is eager to take the lead. Key players include Hayden Valiton, a Cape Ann League First Team All-Star, and Maeve Wertz, who will serve as captains this season. Breen emphasized their leadership potential: “Hayden and Maeve are great kids. As juniors, they’ll have the opportunity to be great leaders. They’ve been in the program since the eighth grade when they played on the junior varsity team.”

The team’s roster saw an encouraging turnout at tryouts, with 24 hopeful players vying for a spot. Valiton noted the positive shift in attitude, stating, “We definitely have more kids this year than in the past two years. I think everyone this year is taking it a lot more seriously, so hopefully, it will be a better season.” Wertz added, “I really think that we’re going to be good this year. We’re already a really close-knit team.”

Other returning juniors include Faith Angelo, Jordan Calichman, and Hannah Doherty. The sophomore class features Chloe Grieves, who was named a CAL Second Team All-Star as a freshman, along with Olivia Braley, Calleigh Caprio, and Vanessa Champy, all of whom contributed valuable minutes last season.

New Additions and Competitive Schedule

A promising addition to the team is junior Chloe Bergeron, who transferred from St. Mary’s. Breen expressed excitement about her return, saying, “She was with us in the eighth grade and it’s awesome to have her back. We know her well and she’s a great addition.”

Wertz believes the team’s athleticism will be a significant asset this season. “We’re really athletic and are fast,” she explained. “I think we can use that effectively, especially on defense to stay ahead of the other team.”

To prepare for the regular season, the Pioneers will participate in scrimmages against Swampscott on December 9 at 16:00 and Tewksbury on December 10, also at 16:00. The regular season opener is scheduled for December 12 against Newburyport at 17:30 in Lynnfield. Valiton noted the challenge ahead, stating, “They’re one of the best teams in the league, so it will be a challenge.”

Wertz and Breen both identified North Reading and Pentucket as additional tough competitors, with Breen commenting on the demanding nature of the Cape Ann League: “There are just no days off in the Cape Ann League.”

Non-league games will see the Pioneers face Waltham at home and a home-and-away series against Wakefield. Breen remarked on the strength of the upcoming schedule: “Already, we have a really tough league schedule with two games each against Newburyport, Pentucket, North Reading, and Triton. With Waltham and Wakefield, our power ranking should be pretty good.”

As the Lynnfield girls basketball team prepares for the season ahead, the combination of returning talent, emerging leaders, and a rigorous schedule sets the stage for a promising run.