LYNNFIELD — With at least four players measuring in at 6’3″ or taller and a few others topping 6’0″, the Lynnfield boys basketball team is more than stacked with size this year. The Pioneers are hopeful that a successful 2022-2023 season will serve them well as they take it to the next level.

“We’re pretty good and pretty tall and are long so we can rebound well and move the ball,” fourth-year head coach John Bakopolus said.

Last year the Pioneers finished the regular season with a 14-6 record and finished second in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division behind Newburyport. The No. 34 seed in the MIAA 2023 Division 3 Boys Tournament, the Pioneers were eliminated by No. 31 East Boston 56-54 on the road in the preliminary round.

Bakopolus said the experience “gave us something to build on this year.”

“It was a great game. We had a shot at the buzzer that went in and out so we had our chance,” Bakopolus said. “It was a very competitive game and was a great experience for the kids.”

This year’s team must find a way to fill the void left by what Bakopolus described as “three great seniors who did a ton for us” in Alex Gentile, Cam Marengi, and James Sharkey. Bakopolus is first looking for his captains, senior 6’5″ swingman Chris Daniels and junior guard Iain McCarthy as well as three other returning players in senior guard Paul Breslow, junior 6’3″ forward Alex Fleming, and 6’4″ guard/forward Zach Pincus to step up.

“Paul played varsity last year and does a lot of good things for us and Alex is also a two-year guy who will play a nice role this year,” Bakopolus said. “Zach also is going to play a lot for us this year.”

Bakopolus is excited about having a strong group of first-year players in junior Chris Fleming, sophomores Matt Tracy, 6’3″ Harris Hadzihasanovic, Zahir Mitchell, and Ben Gazit and freshman Grant Neal. 

“That’s a really, really, really good group,” he said. “Those are guys who will definitely help us and should really fit in well with the returners.”

Lynnfield’s first game is against Pentucket on Friday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

“It’s a really tough place to play,” Bakopolus said. “They were young last year but very competitive. They’re probably going to be good.”

Bakopolus expects Newburyport, Manchester-Essex, and North Reading will be the cream of the crop in the Cape Ann League.

“They’re always pretty good,” he said. “But we have competitive kids. A lot of them are three-sport athletes who work their butts off, so right now defense is going to be our calling card until we become more comfortable with each other. Once we become comfortable, hopefully, that will open up our offense, but right now it’s all about defense.”

According to Bakopolus, the Pioneers’ goal is to get better every day on their road to the state tournament.

“Last year making the tournament met our goal and this year the goal is to get those kids that experience because it’s fun to play tournament games in the state-wide format,” Bakopolus said. “It’s a cliche but the goal is to get better day by day

I like the state format but it’s tough because all the teams are good. I think it’s cool because you have to play everyone tough. After all, they’re all good.”

Bryan Wladowski and Tyler Grillo will serve as assistant coaches again this year.