NEWBURYPORT — The message has been a simple one coming out of the Newburyport boys basketball locker room this year.
“The past is the past,” said senior captain Zayd Leanna.
And, man, have the Clippers rallied around that motto.
Even when there was good reason to believe that the program might take a small step back this year … nope!
Now midway through the season, Newburyport (9-0) still remains undefeated heading into Tuesday night’s game up at Manchester Essex. The Clippers have won all seven of their Cape Ann League games to date by an average of 26.7 points, while also adding good non-league victories over Division 1 opponents in Woburn and Reading. But perhaps most importantly, the Clippers still find themselves seeded No. 10 in the latest MIAA power rankings, even though it’s their first year back up in Division 2.
New year. New division. Tougher competition.
Same dominant Clippers.
“We looked up to the seniors last year, they sort of set the example for us with the work they put in,” said fellow senior captain Thomas Thoreson. “Then we just sort of stayed in the gym all summer and have kept working at it.”
Now, look, we still knew that Newburyport was going to be good this year.
You don’t just win seven straight CAL Kinney titles, then roll over in your quest to win an eighth.
But there was a significant amount going against the Clippers this year.
For starters, 6-foot-4 forward Carson Gretz, the two-time CAL Kinney and Daily News MVP, graduated out and is now doing a prep year at Phillips Exeter. The same could be said for the program’s two-year starting point guard, Sam Craig, who is now suiting up for Westfield State University. Throw in the sharpshooting Ben Corneau (4.8 ppg last year), and the Clippers came into this season having to replace 60% of their starting lineup.
It hasn’t mattered.
“Everyone was saying that we were going to lose a lot when we lost the seniors last year,” said Thoreson. “But we obviously had people that could step up, so I feel like we’re just as good if not better.”
Then, yeah, moving up a division was a huge deal.
If you remember, Newburyport actually started in Division 2 for the first two years after the MIAA switched to the new statewide playoff format ahead of the 2021-22 school year … and this was where it finished.
2021-22: No. 38 with a 13-7 record.
2022-23: No. 37 with a 12-8 record.
Despite winning the CAL Kinney in each of those years, Newburyport began both of its playoff runs with preliminary round games. However, that all changed over the past two years down in Division 3. The Clippers are fresh of back-to-back 19-win seasons for the first time in program history, and were the No. 8 seed two years ago and the No. 3 seed last winter.
“We’re the smallest or second-smallest (enrollment) out of the schools in Division 2,” said Thoreson. “I think people don’t expect a small school like us to make some noise.”
It’s obviously a greater challenge being back up in Division 2.
But so far, Newburyport has met that challenge, used it as fuel, and remains a legit title contender.
“I think people always sleep on us, so we have a chip on our shoulder,” said Leanna. “We’re playing to prove people wrong, prove it to ourselves, and show the work that we’ve put in.”
And how exactly have the Clippers done it?
Well, it helps when you feature what has to be the best backcourt in the entire league between Cal Atherton and Leanna.
A two-time Daily News All-Star, Atherton is averaging a ridiculous 25.2 points per game to go along with 18 3s. Nearing the 1000-point career milestone, he dropped 38 points against Reading, 35 against Ipswich, 28 against Lynnfield, and 26 with 13 rebounds against Woburn in what coach Mark Elmendorf described as, “One of the best games I’ve seen a kid play.” Then not to be outdone, the fellow returning Daily News All-Star Leanna isn’t too far behind averaging 16.3 ppg with 17 triples, putting up a season-high 25 points in a win over Hamilton-Wenham.
Both are likely college scholarship players.
“We’re just getting tremendous guard play from Cal and Zayd,” said Elmendorf, now in his fourth year with the program and a combined record of 60-16. “It’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
But others have taken that next step forward.
Thoreson acted as the team’s sixth-man last season, but has been a steady presence in the starting lineup this year averaging 3.7 ppg. Then perhaps the most improved player in the entire league has been 6-foot-6 forward Ben Cormier. After averaging just 4.1 ppg a year ago, the senior has dominated this winter averaging 12.7 ppg while being a force on the boards — and also showing an outside touch with 15 3s. The Clippers have a former State Champion high jumper in the starting lineup in Greg Guckenburg (2.5 ppg), and Tyler Lisauskas (5.7 ppg), Greg D’Ambrosio (3.8 ppg) and Kian Markos (3.1 ppg) have all been important members of the rotation.
Size. Speed. Athleticism. Guard play.
The Clippers have it all.
“We all just try to stay positive,” said Atherton, the team’s final senior captain. “If there’s ever a time where we’re not playing our best, someone always steps up to lead, and that energy affects everyone else. It’s contagious.”
Which all brings us back to that opening motto.
While it’s seldom discussed in the locker room, Newburyport remembers all too well how last season ended. The No. 3 Clippers had their sights set on bringing a state title home, only to see that dream end early with an upset loss at home to Latin Academy in the Round of 16.
It was an unfortunate end … and one that this year’s team is determined to not let happen again.
“I think it definitely left a bad taste, so nobody wants to go through that again,” said Atherton. “We’re just trying to do whatever we can to not let that same thing happen again.”
So far, there hasn’t been any slip-ups.
Newburyport has rolled through its schedule to date, and will be tested with CAL games at Lynnfield and Georgetown later this season. The Clippers will then travel down for a rematch against Woburn, then end their regular season in the Spartans Classic against Greater Lawrence (No. 13 in D3) followed by either St. Mary’s (No. 1 in D2) or Lynn Tech.
So the opportunities to validate that current top-10 ranking will be there.
And make no mistake, this Newburyport team will be ready to take advantage.
“They’re a very focused group,” said Elmendorf. “They practice hard and the play hard. We’re a very senior-laden team, and the whole program is playing well. We have great senior leadership, and people have stepped up. They just love basetball and they play it constantly.”