Page 10 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 21, 2020 Correia reaches 1,000 career points in boys’ eighth win By Greg Phipps hough the overall record may not indicate it, the Saugus High School boys’ T basketball team could be a dangerous opponent entering this year’s postseason tournament. The Sachems earned their fifth win in their last seven games with a convincing 91-52 non-league victory at Northeast Metro Tech on Tuesday night. The biggest story was senior captain Christian Correia reaching the 1,000-point plateau for his four-year career as a varsity player. Correia didn’t just achieve that milestone but did so in highlight-like fashion, netting 43 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Deservedly so, head coach Saugus head coach Mark Bertrand has seen his team go 5-2 in its last seven games – with the playoffs just around the corner. (Advocate Photos by Greg Phipps) Mark Bertrand heaped praise on Correia both as a player and a teammate. “It’s just a tremendous accomplishment and he’s really earned it,” Bertrand told the press after Tuesday’s win. “He’s been a starter since his sophomore year, and he’s our go-to guy. It’s hard to score all those points when the defense is keying on you, but he works so hard. And the first thing he did is thank his teammates, that’s the kind of guy he is.” Also contributing to the win over Northeast was Mason Nickolas, who has quietLady Sachems Basketball finish season 16-4, prepare for playoffs By Greg Phipps he Saugus High School girls’ basketball team certainly ended its regular season on a strong note by knocking off a very good Everett squad on Tuesday night at John Towers Gymnasium. The Lady Sachems lost to the Crimson Tide earlier in the season but outscored the visitors by eight points in Tuesday’s final quarter to come away with a 51-43 triumph. It was Saugus’s 16th win of the season – the Lady Sachems finished 16-4 and head into the postseason feeling good about themselves and their chances to make a deep run in this year’s tournament. “It is the best record we have had winning-percentage-wise since at T least the 1980s,” pointed out head coach Mark Schruender. “Our senior class set a record for a class in a four-year span of time with 59 wins.” On Tuesday, Saugus took a 24-21 lead into halftime before Everett battled back to forge a 34-34 deadlock entering the fourth quarter. The ability to force turnovers and pressure the ball on defense helped the Lady Sachems outscore Everett, 17-9, in the fourth and avenge a 14-point setback to the Lady Tide back in December. Schruender credited Kiley Ronan, Jessica Nazzaro, Shaylin Groark and Fallon Millerick for their defensive effort, as well as the total team performance. “What I am most proud of is the genuine care and trust each member of our team has for one another,” Schruender observed. “They are a united group and care about collective success over their individual success.” Molly Granara led Tuesday’s offensive charge with a 16-point effort, followed by Jill Ricupero with 14 points and Taylor Bogdanski with 12. “Everett made runs throughout the game and took a lead early in the fourth quarter,” recalled Schruender. The Lady Sachems went an impressive 14-2 over their final 16 regular season contests. They are assured of a firstround playoff game at home and, according to Schruender, should get a third seed in the Div. 2 North bracket. The seedings will be announced on Friday. Senior captain Christian Correia eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau in Tuesday’s win at Northeast Metro Tech. ly made his presence felt the second half of the season. Nickolas drained 16 points and was followed by Myles Manalaysay with 12. With five key players – Correia, guard Joe Lusso, Nickolas, Manalaysay and center Nick Israelson, who has also come into his own this campaign – Saugus seems capable of giving any team trouble in the playoffs. Tuesday’s victory pushed Saugus to 8-11 on the season. The Sachems played their final regular season game against Medford on Wednesday and then wait to find out their tournament seeding and first-round opponent. Saugus’s Jill Ricupero canned 14 points in the Lady Sachems’ home win over Everett on Tuesday night. (Advocate Photo by Greg Phipps)
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