Prep’s fast start overpowers Classical

DANVERS – The storm predicted to hit the Massachusetts coast veered harmlessly into the Atlantic Ocean but the Lynn Classical basketball team still got snowed under Sunday afternoon.The Rams had no answer for the three-point barrage launched by St. John’s Prep as the Eagles drained 14 triples en route to an 88-59 victory, improving to 2-0. Classical, now 2-1, never recovered from a 32-8 first-period haymaker delivered by the Eagles.”We didn’t miss much and shot it very well, especially in the first quarter,” said St. John’s coach Sean Connolly. “And we’ve been stressing defense and I thought our defense was very good in the first half. That’s a very good team and we held them to 15 points in the first half, so I’m very happy with our defense. We really got after them and gave great help defense on their shooters.”Notre Dame-bound senior swingman Pat Connaughton and junior Mike Carbone engineered the first-quarter demolition, combining for 27 points. Connaughton (5 three-pointers) recorded his second double-double in as many outings with 30 points and 11 rebounds while Carbone (3 three-pointers) wound up with 21 points.The pace slowed considerably in the second quarter, though the Eagles still doubled up the Rams and headed off with a 47-15 lead at the break. From there it was simply a matter of maintenance. Classical showed its spunk with a 21-point third quarter that shaved six points off the Prep lead but would get no closer.Steve Haladyna (2 three-pointers) joined Connaughton and Carbone in double figures for St. John’s with 12 points while Freddie Shobe dropped in a pair of triples and had nine points off the bench. Nick Grassa dropped in four from beyond the arc to lead Classical with 14 points. Keith Nance and Josh Cheever added 10 each.With a week to prepare for Classical, Connolly said the most noticeable difference between this game and the Eagles’ season-opening win against Saugus was his team’s consistent defensive pressure. “We also moved the ball around well and found the open man in the offensive end,” he said.