Swampscott boys hoop gets pulsating OT victory over Tech

SWAMPSCOTT – For a game that featured flypaper defense, spirited up-and-down play, and all-around intensity, it seems almost a letdown that it ended on two free throws with 8.6 seconds left.But that’s the way the ball bounces ? literally. Scott Leffler knocked down two freebies at the end of overtime Monday, and that was enough to lead Swampscott to a 67-66 win over Tech.It should have ended with one of Victor Smith’s falling-out-of-bounds three-pointers. Or perhaps one of Ryan Squires’ oh-so-cool three-pointers from the corner. Or even one of Leffler’s patented spin moves down low.However it ended, this was a regular-season classic ? a game for the ages between two schools that have become spirited – and friendly – rivals.”When I got this job,” said Swampscott coach Paul Moran, “(Tech coach) Marvin (Avery) said he wanted to play me, and we’ve had two straight games now (Swampscott came back from a 12-point deficit to win last year at the T. O’Connor Gym). You know you’re always going to get Tech’s best when you play.””We play teams like Swampscott to get us ready for the tournament,” said Avery, whose team may be young, but grew by leaps and bounds Monday.”I don’t usually believe in moral victories,” he said. “There’s no such thing as a moral victory. But I think I’m going to take this game as one.”The Tigers have 10 underclassmen, and it’s safe to say some of them grew up on the court. One of them was James Bazile, who grew more confident as the game wore on, and pulled down some crucial rebounds by the end.This was a game of spurts with tremendous shooting ? and of stifling defenses. Swampscott used a zone to keep Tech from penetrating, and the Tigers answered with a flurry of three-pointers (nine in all, seven by Smith). Tech tended to go more man-to-man, which worked for three quarters. However, Swampscott stepped it up in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Tigers 18-12 to force overtime. In fact, it took a basket by Smith with 1:12 to go in regulation (two of his game-high 29 points) to put the game into OT.There, things just got more and more tense. Chris Canty put Tech back up front, 59-57, with 3:23 to go, but Squires got that one back 30 seconds later. Smith answered with 2:35 left, but John Beaulieu (18 points) hit two free throws and then hit a bucket at 2:08 to make it a 63-61 game.Bazile hit a huge hoop with 1:51 to go to retie the game, but Leffler hit two foul shots with 1:05 left to put Swampscott back in front.However, Smith launched a three from the corner that connected, and Tech had the lead (66-65) with 1:16 to go. A Swampscott turnover gave the Tigers the ball back, but Tech missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Swampscott got possession with 24 seconds left.The ball went down low to Leffler, who tried one shot (a miss), got the rebound, went up again, and got fouled. He hit both free shots with 8.6 seconds left.”My hat’s off to Tech,” Moran said. “But I have to tip my hat to our guys, too. Leffler (20 points) really came to play, and I can go right down the line. (Trevor) Wheeler was sick, but he was out there. The guards ? everybody. We didn’t match their intensity at the beginning, but we caught up.”Tech got a good game from Canty (16 points), and Jose Rios at point guard also played well.”We’re getting there,” Avery said. “Tonight was a big step. We may have lost, but I think we’ve turned our season around.”