CHLOE GRIEVES had 13 points and 20 rebounds in Lynnfield’s road victory over Amesbury on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Shlok Kudrimoti Photo)
After press time:
Lynnfield falls to Pentucket35-23 (Jan. 24)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
AMESBURY — On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Lynnfield High girls’ basketball team won at Amesbury 45-34. With that road victory, the Pioneers improved to 4-7 overall and 3-5 in the Cape Ann League.
The Red Hawks, meanwhile, fell to 6-6 overall and 4-5 in the CAL.
“It was a great game for us,” said Pioneers head coach Sue Breen, whose team has won four of its last seven contests. “We have been clicking better lately.”
The Pioneers trailed,13-7, after the first quarter but held the Red Hawks to two points in the second as they were up 20-15 at the half.
Lynnfield expanded the lead to 10 (36-26) after the third quarter and kept the hosts at bay in the fourth.
Hayden Vailton led the Pioneers in scoring with 15 points and she also had 4 blocks. Chloe Grieves, the team’s top rebounder, had 13 points and a team-high 20 boards.
Taylor Valiton had 10 rebounds to go with 7 points while Maeve Wertz added 5 points.
On Friday night the team traveled to Byfield and lost to host Triton, 40-30.
“We struggled on offense,” admitted Breen, whose squad was only 10-for-45 from the field.
Down 19-10 at the half, the Pioneers cut the lead to five in the third and then got it down to three in the fourth before the Vikings pulled away.
Olivia Braley and Hayden Valiton both scored 8 points while Grieves had 6 points to go with her 12 boards.
Faith Angelo came off the bench and produced 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
On Jan. 15, the Pioneers beat Manchester-Essex, 40-32, at home.
“That was a great win,” said Breen. “We played that night with poise and confidence.”
Lynnfield led 19-10 at the half. In the fourth, the Hornets cut the lead to three but the Pioneers scored the game’s final five points.
Hayden Valiton had 16 points while Grieves had 9 points and 13 rebounds. Taylor Valiton tied Grieves in rebounds as she also scored 5 points. Angelo scored 7 points and was third on the team in rebounds with 8.
The next two games for the team will both be at home.
This Friday night, the Pioneers welcome Pentucket at 6 p.m. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Georgetown comes to town. That game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.