After a strong 2023 campaign, Sandwich is poised to take the next step.

One season after going 16-5 in his first year as Sandwich head girls basketball coach, Mike Barrett’s group is off to a 9-0 start buoyed by stifling defense and a diverse array of scoring.

In its first year back as a member of the South Shore League, Sandwich holds notable wins over one-loss Norwell, Middleborough and Cohasset.

“We have a lot of kids returning,” Barrett said. “Last year was a learning year for us in many cases. It was my first year. The kids bought into the system. I knew this year I would not have to go through the learning curve. The kids have responded well.”

Sandwich’s starting lineup includes tri-captains Maddie Lawrence, Aubrey Schwager and Avery Cobban. Alongside them are junior Colby Darmon, who is committed to Assumption for lacrosse, and sophomore Paige Morrison.

Lawrence and Schwager are the team’s primary scorers, averaging over 28 per game. Cobban, meanwhile, has showcased her own scoring prowess, pouring in 14 points in a win earlier this season over Duxbury and being primarily responsible for Sandwich’s aformentioned two-point win over Cohasset.

“Cohasset did a terrific job on Maddie and Avery and we needed that other person to step up and Avery did that,” Barrett said.

Defensively, Barrett’s team has been superb. The Blue Knights, led by their aggressive zone pressure, have yet to allow more than 45 points in a game. On four occasions the Blue Knights have kept the opposition under 30 points. Morrison highlights the team’s quickness particularly at the defensive end of the floor as she spearheads Sandwich’s press.

“Our defense has been our calling card,” Barrett said. “First thing we introduced in practice was the way we press and defense. It does not matter what team we play, we go after them. We’re still learning how to turn that defensive pressure into offense, but we’re getting better at it.”

Sandwich takes a road trip to Carver on Tuesday before a highly touted rematch on the road with Norwell on Friday.

Tip-ins

The Taunton boys had a memorable win on Tuesday. After trailing for most of the night, sophomore Dray Thielker drilled a corner triple as time expired to give the host Tigers a thrilling 70-67 win over No. 4 Mansfield. Senior guard Trey Santos had 33 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The second annual Citi Team Hoop Classic will take place Sunday at Emmanuel College. The action begins at noon with New Mission tipping off against Bridgewater-Raynham. New Bedford and St. Mary’s will play at 1:30, followed by Burke/Lynn English (3), Wareham/Charlestown (4:30), Clinton Grace Christian (DC)/Lynn English (6) and Worcester North/Malden Catholic (7:30).

Also on Sunday, the 10th annual Andrew James Lawson event will be held at the TD Garden. The schedule is as follows: 8-9:50 a.m., a series of unified games, followed by Revere vs. Notre Dame (Hingham) girls (10), Pembroke vs. Sandwich girls (11:30), Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard boys (1), Salem vs. Marblehead boys (2:30), Cambridge Rindge and Latin vs. Chelsea boys (4), Nobles vs. Dexter Southfield girls (5:30), Worcester Academy vs. Rivers girls (7) and Rivers vs. Tabor Academy boys (8:30).

Maddie Lawrence, left, and Avery Cobban work on their games during Sandwich’s practice this week. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)