EHS boys bite Bulldogs, then burn Red Devils
The Everett High boys basketball team put it all together at both ends of the floor this past week to post a pair of victories at Greater Boston League (GBL) rivals Lynn English and Chelsea.
Last Tuesday the Crimson Tide trekked to Lynn and came home with a solid 75-68 victory over the Bulldogs. English had defeated the Crimson Tide in their first meeting earlier this season, but coach Gerry Boyce’s crew turned the tables on the Bulldogs (who had entered the contest tied for first place in the GBL with Lynn Classical with a 6-1 league record) in the rematch. The win catapulted the Tide into a tie with English for second place in the GBL, leaving both teams just one game behind Classical in the loss column.
Everett displayed a balanced scoring attack with four players reaching double figures, led by
Tyson Chhun, who hit for 20 points. “Tyson turned in an outstanding effort,” said Boyce. “His ability to find the basket when we needed it most was crucial to our success.”
Jevaun Berberena showcased his skill set impressively, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds, providing both scoring and solid defense. Geordiell Luna turned in another standout performance, contributing 11 points, as did Jayden Alsaindor, who also struck for 11 points.
Boyce cited a number of other Tide players who made substantial contributions to the winning effort. “Throughout the game, our players demonstrated impressive teamwork,” said Boyce. “Henrique Pinto made a valuable contribution with six points, showcasing his ability to find scoring opportunities. Cristian Vasquez played a crucial role not just in scoring, but also in facilitating the game, as he recorded five rebounds alongside six assists, helping to keep the offense flowing.
“From the bench, Jamil Nelson stepped up significantly, contributing six points and securing seven rebounds, demonstrating the strength of our bench and its impact on the game’s outcome,” added Boyce.
“While many people focus primarily on offense and scoring, I want to highlight that we finally played 32 minutes of tenacious defense throughout the game,” Boyce continued. “This commitment to defense has always been our primary objective, and seeing it come to fruition was gratifying. Our defensive effort was key in maintaining our lead and ultimately securing the win.”
Two nights later Boyce and his crew made the short trip across the Parkway to Chelsea and returned with a 58-51 victory.
Luna led the Tide with an outstanding performance, scoring 18 points and providing a strong presence on both ends of the court. Alsaindor also made significant contributions, adding 16 points. Additionally, Nelson contributed an impactful 12 points off the bench, showcasing the Everett’s depth and teamwork.
“This matchup was crucial for us,” said Boyce, whose team now stands at .500 with a 7-7 record entering the final quarter of the season. The win also boosted the Tide’s record to 6-2 in the GBL, tied with Lynn English for second place and just one game behind Lynn Classical in the race for the GBL crown.
“Our players showed remarkable resilience and discipline throughout the game,” Boyce continued. “One of the key takeaways from this game was our focused defensive effort, especially at the start and the finish. The team was evidently committed to maintaining a disciplined defense, which helped control the pace of the game and ultimately secured our victory. I am incredibly proud of everyone’s hard work and determination on the court. We will continue to build on this momentum as we move forward in the season.”
Prior to the two wins, Boyce and his crew traveled to Emmanuel College last Sunday afternoon to take on St. Mary’s of Lynn, the powerhouse Catholic school that is one of the few undefeated boys teams in the state and ranked #1 in Division 3, and came up on the short end of a 63-54 decision.
Alsaindor led the Tide with 13 points. Vasquez added 12 points, and Luna reached double figures with 10 points.
“Overall, we struggled to find our rhythm,” said Boyce. “As a defensive team first, we did not maintain the discipline that is crucial for our success in that area. While we did show some moments of intensity in the second half, it’s clear we need to keep our pressure consistent throughout the entire game. Our goal is to play a full 32 minutes of Everett basketball, demonstrating our discipline and energy.”
Boyce and his crew were scheduled to host Lynn Classical last night (Tuesday) in a showdown for first place in the GBL. They will make the short trip to Malden tomorrow evening (Thursday) for a 6:00 contest and then will entertain non-league opponent Brookline this Saturday for a 5:30 opening tip.
EHS girls hoop working to improve
Although the Everett High girls basketball team has come up short in its recent contests, EHS head coach Riley Dunn has been pleased with her team’s efforts to improve.
In a recent 42-28 loss to Malden, Clarice Alexis hit for 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made five steals.
Clarice also struck for double figures with 15 points, and played tenacious defense, in a 51-32 loss to Lynn English last Tuesday. Nicole Damaceno worked hard underneath and pulled down 11 rebounds and went 2-for-2 from the line. Casey Martinez and Julianna Rivera chipped in with two steals each on the defensive side.
“The girls fought really hard until the final buzzer,” said Dunn. “You can’t teach that type of effort. We’re continuing to build every game. We just need to just put it together and play four quarters together. We’re looking forward to getting better every single day.”
Dunn and her crew were scheduled to face Chelsea last night (Tuesday) and will host Somerville tomorrow (Thursday) at 6:30, Brookline this Saturday afternoon at 4:00, and Malden next Tuesday at 6:30.