Tech boys basketball hopes for a better ending in 2009

They are the moments that made heroes of Adam Vinatieri and John Havlicek, and goats of Calvin Schiraldi and Rich Gedman. They are the final moments of a ballgame, and as Boston athletes know – perhaps better than others – every second counts.Lynn Tech boys basketball coach Marvin Avery knows this, too. Last season, the Tigers lost six games in the last 20 seconds. In their final game of the 2007-08 season, they fell to Newburyport on a buzzer-beater in the first round of the state tournament to finish 11-11.”We just couldn’t finish,” said Avery, who is entering his 10th season as the Tigers’ coach. “Now I have the talent I need, and the depth.”Indeed he does. Tech boasts four seniors this season: guard Victor Smith, the team captain, along with 6-5 center James Brazile, forward Lorenzo Rivera, and guard Terrence Gallo.”Victor Smith is one of the best in the North Shore and the state,” said Avery of his captain, who has played on the varsity since his freshman year. “He’s definitely going to be our go-to guy.”Gallo’s younger brother, Trey, a sophomore, will start at point guard. Junior Felix Rios, who started last year, will back him up. The team has two shooting guards in sophomore Richie Warren Jr. and junior swingman Garrett Fairweather, and a 6-3 center-forward in sophomore Joshua Cheever.The Tigers lost three seniors from last season – Jake Canty, now at Bridgton Academy, Brian Salvador, who will attend Salem State College in January, and Felix Rios’ brother Jose, who is in the work force. Despite the losses, Avery is enthusiastic about this season’s edition.”We have size and speed and height,” he said. “We’ll keep it up-tempo and play a lot more man-to-man. We’ll be back to the traditional Tigers.”One Tiger tradition in Avery’s 10 years has been winning. Tech has won seven of the last eight Commonwealth Athletic Conference titles. Last year, the Tigers finished 6-3 in the conference, tied for second with Shawsheen Tech. A loss to eventual CAC champion Minuteman Tech in the regular-season finale cost the Tigers a title.”Our goal is to come out on top in the conference, and hopefully get past the first round” of the state tournament, Avery said. “Greater Lawrence is strong, and Minuteman Tech is very strong. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”That’s the case outside the conference as well. Tech plays what Avery described as “a very tough Lynn Classical team” in the first round of the Walter Boverini Tournament, named for the former State Senate president and Lynn native, who died at 84 last Saturday.Other non-conference challenges for the Tigers include Cambridge Rindge & Latin, which Tech plays twice, and Swampscott, which will travel to Neptune Boulevard this season.”I’m looking forward to the challenges,” Avery said. “The kids are looking forward to the challenges.”Helping both Avery and the players are three assistants: Donald Brown, who is serving his 10th year under Avery; Richie Warren Sr., who will coach the junior varsity; and MacKenzie Charles, who will coach the freshmen. All four members of the coaching staff are Tech graduates. Avery said that this alumni status helps players relate to their coaches – and also helps him relate to the players’ employers under the Tech vocational co-op program when it comes to balancing work with athletics.”I’ve been doing it for nine years,” Avery said. “I was a co-op student. We work hand-in-hand with employers.”The team will play three scrimmages before the regular season starts: one each against Malden Catholic and Gloucester, and one against Winthrop in the Elmo Benedetto Jamboree on Sunday.In addition to the current squad, there are several other players with Tiger ties active in basketball. One of them is Memphis standout Antonio Anderson.”He wishes the team the best of luck,” Avery said.NOTES: Avery has a reason to celebrate even before the regular season has started. His family has increased by one, thanks to the arrival of a baby boy.