We’ve been saying it since last basketball season ended: We’re in for an exciting 2024-25 winter on the court.
Between Newburyport and Georgetown on the boys side, and the Newburyport and Pentucket girls, there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing some long postseason runs in a few month’s time. Like always, two of those squads — the Newburyport boys and the Pentucket girls — will get some great early tests when they play in one of the best holiday tournaments in the entire state.
The Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
And it looks like the tournament committee is just as excited for our local teams as we are.
The Newburyport boys have entered as a bottom seed over the past two years of the popular Greater Lawrence tourney, and have finished seventh in back-to-back outings. But this year, the Clippers come in as the No. 5 seed, and will play No. 4 Methuen in the opening round on Friday, Dec. 27th (all games at Merrimack College). That’s a big sign of respect for coach Mark Elmendorf and his crew this year, who are fresh off a run to the Division 3 quarterfinals a year ago.
And its well deserved.
Returning Daily News MVP Carson Gretz (15.2 ppg, 46 3s) will be back leading Newburyport this year, as will All-Stars Sam Craig and Cal Atherton. Craig is a crafty, defensive-minded point guard who reportedly has taken his offensive game to another level this offseason, and Atherton, Zayd Leanna and the returning Ben Corneau could round out the starting-5 alongside the 6-foot-5 Gretz. It also sounds like Ben Cormier, standing at 6-6, is going to factor heavily into the rotation.
The Clippers have the firepower to compete for a state championship.
They also reportedly beat the likes of Division 1 powers Lawrence and Central Catholic during summer leagues, but you always have to take those results with a grain of salt. How many of those team’s star athletes actually showed up to play?
Well, the Clippers will certainly get the full measuring-stick experience in this tournament.
And not to be overlooked, the Pentucket girls will enter as the No. 3 seed. Coach John McNamara and his Panthers have finished third in each of the past two tournaments, and will open by playing No. 6 Westford Academy.
Of course, Amelia Crowe will be the name to watch this winter for Pentucket. The junior is coming off a Daily News All-Star season that saw her average 15.0 ppg with 38 3s, leading the Panthers (22-2) to the Division 3 quarterfinals. Sofia Bellacqua will now be in her second year as the team’s starting point guard, Kate Conover is another returning starter, and Allie Gagnon, Carley Foley and Ally Cacciapuoti will see increased roles.