Plenty of talent on display at Duchane Jamboree

LYNN ? Much of the North Shore’s girls varsity basketball teams were on display on Saturday, as Classical held its 17th annual Paul Duchane Jamboree.Click here for a photo gallery.”I thought it would be nice to do the same thing for the girls that the boys got out of the Benedetto Jamboree,” Classical’s former athletic director and founder of the event, Dick Ruth, said. “It also allowed me to honor a man who was a great supporter of Classical’s girls basketball when it wasn’t quite as competitive right after his untimely death. He did a great job supporting them.”At the time of his death, Duchane was a teacher at Classical and the coach of Bishop Fenwick’s girls team. Ruth remains involved in the event as the timekeeper, despite retiring back in June of 2007.While the results from the jamboree do not affect the records of the teams, all of the coaches who participate in it value it.”The Duchane Jamboree is important,” Classical coach Tom Sawyer said. “First, it allows us to honor Mr. Duchane’s memory. All of the proceeds go towards the scholarship. And basketball-wise, it gives us a chance to play in a game-like atmosphere.”Swampscott coach Jack Hughes agrees.”It’s for a nice cause,” he said. “We want to make sure that everyone plays. We try to keep the game plan simple. We’re just happy to be there for such a great cause.”Hughes’ Big Blue were featured in a local matchup against St. Mary’s in the event’s third contest. The defending Division 3 state champions fell to the Spartans 27-23, despite an unwavering effort after falling behind by 10 points.”(The Spartans) are a veteran team and a big team,” Hughes said. “It was a good effort and everyone got in ? that’s what you look for in a jamboree.”Tori Faieta controlled the play underneath to lead St Mary’s. She scored eight points and pulled down 12 rebounds.”Tori really came alive under the basket for us,” said assistant coach John Bozarjian, who filled in for head coach Jeff Newhall.Bria Tiro led all scorers with nine points, while Cassie Amenta chipped in with seven points and a strong defensive game.Swampscott was trailing by 10 points with two minutes remaining when Kara Gilberg, Nikki Laskaris and Ara Palkov came alive to bring the deficit down to only three.”We have a lot of inexperienced players,” said Hughes. “They have been a pleasure to coach. The big job is trying to find what is going to fit for this team. The attitude is great, though, and that’s a good start.”In the day’s other matchups, Saugus and Lexington played to a 25-25 tie; Marblehead defeated Tech, 25-10; Watertown defeated Revere, 12-9; Fenwick defeated Gloucester, 32-14; Somerville defeated Beverly, 24-15; Peabody defeated Masconomet, 26-18; English and Reading played to a 24-24 tie; and Classical outlasted Malden, 26-21.