MADUX IOVINELLI has had a great stretch of games for the Pioneers. He had 12 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Amesbury on MLK Day, 16 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Triton (pictured) and 10 points and 10 rebounds against Manchester-Essex. (Shlok Kudrimoti Photo)
After press time:
Lynnfield defeats Pentucket 68-46 (Jan. 24)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — It was a good Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the Lynnfield High boys’ basketball team as they beat Amesbury, 54-44, at home in a day game.
The Pioneers led this one 29-20 at halftime but the Red Hawks cut the lead to two midway through the third quarter.
From there, Lynnfield went on a 17-0 run that expanded early into the fourth quarter.
“That was the key point of the game,” pointed out Pioneers head coach John Bakopolus.”That allowed us to control the game.”
Lynnfield led wire-to-wire as they scored the first 10 points of the game.
Alex Fleming led the way for the locals with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Madux Iovinelli also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Zach Pincus was second in scoring with 13 points.
With that win, the Pioneers improved to 7-2 overall and in the Cape Ann League. Amesbury, meanwhile, fell to 4-7 overall and 3-6 in the CAL.
On Friday night, the Pioneers rolled over Triton, 67-40, at home.
Up 29-21 at the break, the Pioneers outscored the Vikings 38-19 in the second half.
“We did a great job on defense that led to a lot of our offense in the second quarter and second half,” said Bakopolus, as his team held the Vikings to only four points in the second quarter.
Kelan Cardinal was the defensive leader as he led the team in steals with 7. He also led the team in scoring with 19.
“He was a menace on defense,” said Bakopolus.
Fleming had 17 points and 10 boards while Iovinell had 16 points and team-high 12 rebounds.
On Jan. 15, the Pioneers lost to Manchester-Essex, 41-38, on the road.
The 38 points was a season-low for Lynnfield.
“They have an active, hard-nosed defense,” said Bakopolus, about the CAL Baker Division leaders.
The Hornets trailed, 21-18, at the half but the defense really ramped up and held Lynnfield to only 17 points in the second half as the Pioneers scored just five points in the third quarter.
Iovinelli had 10 points and 10 rebounds while Fleming missed a double-double for the first time this year with 8 points and 14 rebounds.
“They made the final eight in the states (Division 4) last year,” pointed out Bakoplus. “I see them going deep again this year.”
On Wednesday, the Pioneers visit Reading. That non-league game will start at 6 p.m.
They return to CAL action on Friday night as they visit Pentucket at 6:30 p.m.
The Pioneers then have another non-league game on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. as Shawsheen Tech comes to town.