Buzzer-beater boosts Classical boys hoop

The Lynn Classical and Beverly boys basketball teams had already exchanged the lead 24 times on Friday night at the Henry Cabot Lodge Field House when the Rams took the ball out of bounds with 6.2 seconds left in regulation.The play was designed to get the ball in Jasper Grassa’s hands and let him drive to the basket. But the Panthers would have none of that, forcing Grassa to pass with three seconds left.The target of his pass, Cam Smith, had hit only one field goal all night. Fortunately for Classical, his second shot of the game was true as he buried an 18-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Rams an exhilarating 65-64 win.”Beverly gave us fits all night,” Classical coach Tom Grassa said. “And with all the teams I’ve had, we’ve never come into Beverly and had an easy time. This was an extremely exciting game.”As excited as Grassa was about the outcome, Beverly and coach Scott Lewis were on the other end of the spectrum.”To be up one with six seconds to go, it’s frustrating to let it get away,” Lewis said. “That was a tough loss.”The Rams had trailed 31-30 at the half before outscoring Beverly 23-13 in the third quarter to take a 53-44 lead into the final eight minutes. But the Panthers, led by Nate Knudson’s 21 points, staged a comeback to take a 64-63 lead with 10 seconds remaining.The Rams had the ball, but with Beverly only having five team fouls, the Panthers decided to foul. However, Quivari Jackson was held while driving the lane, resulting in an intentional foul and two shots plus the ball.Lewis called time-out to ice Jackson and the ploy worked as the senior clanged both shots off the iron to keep it a one-point game.”We knew that they had a foul to waste and would foul us,” Grassa said. “Unfortunately, Quivari just missed the shots.”But the Rams still had a reprieve and Smith took full advantage of it.For the game, Grassa and Jarell Byrd led the Rams and all scorers with 22 points. Knudson’s 21 led the Panthers with Matt McQuaid having 15 and Brian Skerry 10.