Mini-run makes major difference for Classical boys hoop in win

LYNN – With his club clinging to a 24-20 halftime edge over visiting Everett, Classical hoop coach Tom Grassa wanted to tell his squad to take it easy with the shot selection once the second half began. The team had connected on four three-pointers in the first half, but Grassa wanted his players to slow the game down somewhat. He was talked out of it by assistant Kenny Turner, who advised Grassa that a shooter’s best shot is his next one.That move paid off for the Rams (13-6), as they netted the first 11 points of the third (all within the first 90 seconds, including a trio of three-pointers), and Classical never looked back in a 58-47 win over the Crimson Tide yesterday at Classical High.Click here for a photo gallery.Forward Tony Wonde got things started for the Rams, connecting on a three from deep on the left side for a 27-20 Classical edge. After a failed Everett possession, guard Jasper Grassa (11 assists) fired a court-long pass to teammate Ariel Ligonde (a game-high 21 points), who was standing right underneath the Crimson Tide bucket. His layup improved the margin to 29-20. The younger Grassa, guard Nick, then connected on a pair of three-pointers (he had five in the game) of his own to open up a 35-20 Rams lead only 90 seconds into the period.”That little mini-run was the difference right there,” stated the coach. “We shot 33 percent with the threes (8-for-24), which is very good for high school. And it’s a good win over a good team.”Everett cut the deficit to eight (37-29) with 3:30 to go in the quarter, knocking down a 14-point Classical lead almost in half. Yet the Rams netted the last eight points of the quarter, including six by Ligonde, for a 45-29 lead entering the final stanza. The lead grew to as much as 18 in the fourth.Classical – which had defeated Everett (6-9) three weeks ago, despite not getting the lead until less than a minute remaining in regulation – actually took advantage over the Crimson Tide in the second period. Everett guard Daquan Lee drilled a three-pointer from the right side with 5:10 left in the half to tie the game at 19. From that point on, both teams were ice cold from both the floor and the line (the Crimson Tide were 14-for-31 from the free throw line throughout the contest). Neither team could collect an offensive rebound, and no field goals were made for almost three minutes (it took Everett close to seven minutes before it hit its next one).Nick Grassa (17 points) broke the logjam with a three-pointer from the far left side to give the Rams a 22-19 lead. Moments later, he would fire a baseball pass in the direction of Ligonde, whose layup increased the lead to 24-19. Everett’s Erno Deshommes hit a free throw with 21.3 seconds to go in the half, which would be the Crimson Tide’s only point for seven minutes (last five of the first half, first two of the second).Coach Grassa had much to be impressed by in the win.”We don’t usually ask Tony Wonde to rebound for us, but he had 10 (four defensive, four offensive), and that’s coming against a team that’s terrific in rebounding,” Grassa said. “Wally Abraham also gave us a nice spark with his rebounding (four offensive, one defensive).”Everett, which has dropped four in a row and seven of its last eight, was led in scoring by forward Rodman Noel with 19.