CHRIS DANIELS (14) is one of two captains ready to lead the LHS boys’ basketball team this season. (File Photo)
After press time:
Lynnfield defeats Pentucket 65-59 (Dec. 15)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High boys’ basketball team had one of the biggest turnarounds in the state last year. After winning only one game two seasons ago, the Pioneers finished at 14-7 as they lost to host East Boston, 56-54, in the MIAA Division 3 preliminary-round game.
In the Cape Ann League, they came in second place in the CAL Kinney Division behind Newburyport going 9-5.
They lost three seniors from that roster including CAL Kinney Division MVP Alex Gentile who averaged a team-high 14 points per game.
Pioneers head coach John Bakopolus had five veterans return when winter practice started on Nov. 27.
Two of those five are this year’s captains: Chris Daniels is a senior who will play both guard and forward. Ian McCarthy is the junior captain and he is also a guard.
Both were starters last winter.
The three other players back are senior guard Paul Breslow, junior guard/forward Zach Pincus and junior forward Alex Fleming.
Fleming is a returning starter.
“The preseason has been good,” said Bakopolus, who is in his fourth year at the helm. “We have six newcomers on the roster with four sophomores, one junior and one freshman.”
Lynnfield got in two scrimmages against Northeastern Conference schools Beverly and Saugus.
The Pioneers will play a 20-game regular-season schedule as they will play 16 CAL games and four non-leaguers.
With Essex Tech now in the league, the Pioneers will play only four non-leaguers. Two of them will be against Tewksbury while one will be against Revere. The other will be in a tournament.
Newburyport will be the team to beat again in the CAL Kinney Division while Bakopolus feels that Manchester-Essex will be the best overall team in the league.
Lynnfield will play its season opener on Dec. 15 as they visit Pentucket at 6:30 p.m. They then go to Hamilton-Wenham on Dec. 18 and that game will also start at 6:30 p.m.