PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
Swampscott’s A.J. Venuti steers away from Tech’s Aquemini Gaston, left, and Jamar Johnson, back, during a scrimmage at Lynn Tech Wednesday.
By KATIE MORRISON
LYNN — After winning just one game last season, it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Swampscott boys basketball team in 2016-17.
The Big Blue lost four of their starters who were responsible for the bulk of their offense last season, with Nick Scibelli, Venantius Phillip, Brandon Byrne and Jack Porter graduating.
Swampscott coach David Born doesn’t know where the team’s offense will come from. The returning starters, like Nate Howard and Sean Lahrizi, both seniors, have been key defensive players for the Big Blue, but they “didn’t score a ton last year.”
“So some of these young guys are going to have step up” Born said, “and some of the seniors have to step forward and get better offensively.”
While the offense hasn’t come together quite yet, the Big Blue do have other strengths. Born will be looking to senior captains A.J. Venuti and Matt Moran to set the tone for a young core. Born calls Venuti, a wing player, a “rugged defender,” while Moran sees time in the post. Lahrizi, another wing player, and Howard, a forward/center, will also provide some veteran leadership.
Swampscott has a lot of young talent, but it’s going to take some time for the underclassmen to pull everything together.
Sophomore Jake Goldman has stepped up as the point guard and is “doing a real nice job,” according to Born. Max Pegnato and Jackson Byrne, also sophomores, both look to be scoring threats, but have work to do on the defensive end of the game. Tony Broadnax, a junior forward, also has the potential to score points for the Big Blue.
But with the season opener on the horizon (Swampscott hosts non-league opponent Amesbury on Saturday night), nothing is set in stone.
“We’ll see who starts when we open on Saturday, we’re not sure yet,” Born said. “We’re trying to find that balance. We have some guys who have trouble scoring and some guys who have trouble defending, so we have to work that out.”
The Big Blue will take on Amesbury and another non-league opponent in Georgetown to open the season before playing a tough slate of talented opponents Winthrop, Salem and Gloucester before the Christmas break.
“I’m excited, we have a couple non-league games that we should be very competitive in,” Born said. “We’re trying to get better every day…I know it’s a cliche, but it’s what we’re trying to do. Two more practices and it’s here…five games before the break and none during, so hopefully we can get some momentum going into the break.”
Swampscott has seen some good competition in the preseason, scrimmaging against Bishop Fenwick and the Big Blue alumni before taking on Lynn Tech Wednesday evening. Swampscott, the visiting team on Wednesday, fell, 48-38, to the Tigers.
“I was pleased with our effort, but we need to play smarter,” Born said. “Our kids have to get a little tougher, mentally and physically. We just have to be more aggressive and finish at the hoop.”
Katie Morrison can be reached at [email protected].