Grillo surpasses 1,000 career points as St. Mary’s boys hoop wins opener

St. Mary’s senior Tyler Grillo pushed the ball up the court in the first quarter. Catholic Central League foe Archbishop Williams of Braintree had frustrated the Spartans up front as the game began, but Grillo solved the defense and connected on a three-pointer. With the shot, he surpassed the 1,000 career-point milestone in a game the Spartans eventually won, 67-54, at the Conigliaro Gymnasium on Monday.”I said, ‘I got it’ when I let go,” said Grillo, a point guard and captain from Saugus. “I knew it was in.””I’m really proud of him,” said St. Mary’s coach Kevin Moran, whose team prevailed in its season debut. “He put a lot of time and effort into it. He led our team tonight.”Needing nine points for 1,000, Grillo finished with 22, putting him at 1,013 for his career.”Once I got it, I started getting hot and hitting shots,” Grillo said.He also dished out nine assists and grabbed five rebounds.”It was an all-around effort from Tyler,” Moran said.In a ceremony, St. Mary’s recognized Grillo’s accomplishment, presenting him with the ball and taking a photo, a gesture he said he appreciated. Grillo is the Spartans’ first 1,000-point scorer in Moran’s tenure, which is in its fourth season.”I couldn’t be any prouder of a kid as I am of Tyler tonight,” Moran said.Grillo and the Spartans took a 37-28 lead at halftime. Both upperclassmen and underclassmen helped St. Mary’s; freshman Nick Gagliolo, playing in his first varsity game, made four baskets in the second quarter that the coach described as critical. Gagliolo finished with 10 points.John Bakopolus also hit double figures for the Spartans, with 17, including several key three-pointers. He added six rebounds.The coach praised the efforts of newcomers Rosanto Campbell, Paul Bedard, and Ryan Kennedy, all of whom made their varsity debut.