By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High girls’ basketball team had its end-of-season banquet on March 6th at Polcari’s in Saugus. That evening, head coach Sue Breen gave out five awards.
The MVP Award went to Hayden Valiton who led the team in scoring averaging 11.5 points per game. The sophomore forward made the Cape Ann League First-Year All-Stars for the second year in a row.
The Coaches Award went to Hayden’s older sister, Taylor. Taylor, a forward, is a four-year varsity player and a two-year captain.
Erika Pasquale received the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The senior guard was a co-captain and a four-year varsity player. She also made the CAL Second-Team All-Stars this year as she led the Pioneers in assists and blocks this season.
Another CAL Second-Team All-Star, Chloe Grieves, took home the Rookie of the Year Award. The freshman forward led the Pioneers in rebounds averaging 13 per game.
The third senior captain, Emma Rose, was given the LAA Scholar Athlete Award. The guard is another four-year player.
After missing the states last winter, the Pioneers qualified this season. They ended up getting edged, 39-37, by visiting Groton-Dunstable in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 3 state tournament back on Feb. 25 to finish at 9-12 overall.
In the CAL, they came in 4th place in the Kinney Division going 7-8 in league play.
“I was proud of the kids,” said Breen, who just finished her fourth year at the helm. “We had a very competitive schedule and were in most of the games that we lost. We had a young team and the girls grew a lot.”
Lynnfield will lose Rose, Pasquale and Taylor Valiton to graduation.
“They are incredible kids,” stated Breen, about the senior class. “They were very positive and also do a great job in the community.They were freshmen my first year here and they leave our program in better shape.”
Next year, the team will be one of the most experienced in the league as 10 players are slated to return.
“I am really looking forward to next season,” said Breen. “Hopefully the kids work on their game over the summer since most of them play other sports in the fall.”
Also, at the banquet, the players voted for their captains for next year and they will be Hayden Valiton and fellow sophomore Maeve Wertz, who is a guard.