Crimson Tide boys win three more, now 6-5; in 3rd place in GBL
The Everett High boys basketball team turned in complete performances at both ends of the floor to roll to a pair of victories over Greater Boston League (GBL) rivals Revere and Medford last week.
In Tuesday’s 75-38 romp at Revere, five Crimson Tide hit for double figures to pace a balanced scoring attack, led by Jayden Alsaindor with 15 points and followed by teammates Nathanael Nelson (13 points), Samir King-DaCosta (12), Adam Aitmessaoud (11), and captain Cristian Vasquez (10).
However, it was his team’s defense that led to head coach Gerard Boyce’s most praiseworthy comments for his team.
“Our victory started and ended with our effort on the defensive end,” Boyce said.” We came into the gym with a goal to disrupt their rhythm and the boys executed that game plan perfectly. Holding a team to 38 points is a testament to the discipline and communication we’ve been preaching in practice.
“We stayed aggressive in our lanes, forced difficult shots, and controlled the boards to limit their possessions. When we play defense with that kind of intensity and focus, it fuels our entire game.” Boyce continued. “I was proud of how the guys locked in and stayed committed to protecting the basket for all four quarters. That defensive identity is what we need to carry through the rest of the season.”
Two nights later, the Tide hosted Medford and once again shone at both ends of the floor en route to a 66-51 victory in which Adam Aitmessaoud (16 points, six assists, ans four steals) and Jayden Alsaindor (14 points, seven rebounds) led the way.
“This was a statement win for us,” said Boyce. “Winning versus Medford 66–51 on our home floor shows exactly how much this group has grown since the start of the season. We are finally playing the brand of Everett basketball I know we’re capable of.
“I was particularly proud of our defensive intensity,” Boyce continued. “Medford has been playing good basketball so we knew we couldn’t let them get comfortable. We locked in early, controlled the tempo, and moved the ball exceptionally well to get the looks we wanted.
“The momentum is clearly on our side,” Boyce added. “We aren’t satisfied yet, though. We’re going to enjoy this one today, but the focus immediately shifts to Monday’s matchup against Brookline. We want to keep this streak alive and keep climbing the standings. We are gel’n!!!”
The Crimson Tide then kept their momentum going with a 39-37 win over Brookline in the Hoop Dreams Magazine Winter Classic at Cathedral High this past Monday.
“We came here and got the job done, pulling out a tough 39-37 win over a solid Brookline team,” said Boyce. “It wasn’t our highest-scoring game, but the defense was the difference, pure and simple. I’m proud of how the boys battled. Brookline came in with a strong record, but we executed when it mattered most.
“Our leading scorer was Samir DaCosta-King with 14 points, showing real leadership out there,” Boyce said. “Nate Nelson was a huge factor, adding another 10 points off the bench. Cristian Vasquez hit a couple of crucial shots for seven points, building on that clutch performance he had last week.
“Jayden Alsaindor put up six points, and Adam Aitmessaoud chipped in two points,” Boyce continued. “Every single point mattered in a game this tight.
We knew this was going to be a battle, and we preached focus and execution. The energy was great, the communication was there, and we were able to get a big win,” Boyce added.
With the trio of victories, the Tide now have won five in a row and have moved above the .500 mark at 6-5 overall. In addition, Everett now is in third place in the GBL with a 5-2 mark, just one game behind Lynn Classical and Chelsea, who are tied for first place at 6-1.
Boyce and his crew will get their shot to move up on both league leaders in the coming week. The Tide took on GBL foe Malden last night (Tuesday) and are scheduled to host Chelsea tomorrow evening (Thursday) for a 7:00 opening tip-off and then will travel to Lynn Classical next Tuesday.
The outcome of those contests will go a long way toward deciding the winner of the 2026 GBL title.
EHS girls hoop embark on second half of season
Although the Everett High girls basketball team came up on the short end of its recent contests with Medford (48-33) and Marblehead (54-36), coach Riley Dunn saw some encouraging signs from her squad.
“Our contest with Medford was a battle for the entire game,” said Dunjn. “We just ran out of steam at the end. But I was really proud of our relentless effort.”
Senior Katerin Landaverde Vasquez turned in a powerful double-double with 15 points and15 rebounds.
“Katerin continues to make an impact in each game,” said Dunn.
Casey Martinez provided six assists to her teammates on the night.
The loss to Marblehead concluded what Dunn termed “a tough week for the team. The effort and hustle are there every game and I’m proud of our resilience to keep fighting, but we need to be more competitive for the entire game.”
Julianna Rivera led Everett in the scoring column with 16 points.
Dunn and her crew, who stand at 2-6 overall as they begin the second half of their season, were scheduled to meet Malden yesterday (Tuesday) and will make the short trip across the Parkway to Chelsea tomorrow (Thursday). They will take a longer bus ride to Haverhill next Monday before returning home next Tuesday to entertain Lynn Classical.