Tech boys hoop ready for matchup with Winthrop

Local hoop fans should be in for a treat tonight when the Lynn Tech and Winthrop boys basketball teams face off at Tech (7).”As far as winning programs on the North Shore go, there’s not a (more) winning program in the last 10-15 years than Tech,” Winthrop coach David Brown, who is from Lynn, said on Sunday night.”It could be an interesting ballgame,” Tech coach Marvin Avery said. “Both teams are very competitive and well-coached.”There are quite a few connections between the teams. Avery and Brown grew up together and are friends. Brown’s brother Donald is an assistant coach at Tech.The Tigers bring a 6-5 record (6-2 Commonwealth Athletic Conference) into their matchup tonight. Avery will look for big games from his two senior captains, Gerrand Fairweather and Felix Rios.”Gerrand is starting to get his stroke going, and Felix is our coach on the court,” Avery said.However, the coach said, “We have a lot of inexperience.”Winthrop, meanwhile, is 10-1 and returns all its starters from a team that reached the Division 4 semifinals in 2008-09. That list includes Vikings star Dino Mallios, who has committed to St. Anselm and whom Avery described as “one of the best players in the state.””We’ve got our hands full,” Avery said.The teams previously met in the Benedetto Jamboree.”We’re more of an up-and-down team; they’re more of a spread team,” Avery said. “They shoot the three.”Asked whether playing at home would give his team an edge, Avery said, “We have a bigger gym and field house. They have a smaller facility.” However, he added, “They’re a great road team.”NOTES: Avery praised the performance of former Tech and Memphis star Antonio Anderson, now with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. Anderson is averaging 18 points per game for the Vipers and earned a spot on the NBADL all-star roster. “He’s doing very well,” Avery said. “He’s pretty confident.”