Ram boys hoop clinches tie for NEC/North crown

LYNN – The Classical High boys basketball team put itself in the driver’s seat in the race for the Northeastern Conference North title with a 62-58 win over Salem Tuesday at Classical High.http://itemlive.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1610182&CategoryID=41049The Rams earned at least a share of the title and could take it outright with a win over English Thursday. A loss would open the door for a three-way tie for the title with English and Salem (if it can beat Beverly) the other two teams.If the Rams can pull out a win against English, it will be their first outright Northeastern Conference title since 1983, coach Tom Grassa said, adding that he was an assistant coach at that time. His teams have shared the honor five times.Grassa recalled one year when the Rams went to the state final and lost and finished with a 25-2 record, 19-1 in the NEC. They had to share with Swampscott that year because Swampscott only had one loss as well.Last night’s contest with Salem had a tournament feel to it. The Rams (14-7, 12-3 NEC North) built up the lead a couple of times, only to see Salem get right back into it.”Games are won by whoever has the last run,” Grassa said. “It was like a roller coaster. They would go on an 8-2 run and we would go on an 8-2 run. We just happened to get the last one.”Philip Rogers was immense for the Rams, scoring 18 points and pulling down 15 rebounds.”Rogers played a phenomenal game at both ends of the court,” Grassa said. “As we expected him to do.”George Perez had 10 points including a huge three with 1:57 left that opened the lead to 60-52. Salem’s Christian Dunston had just torched the Rams for a three that brought the Witches to within five points. He responded to Perez’ three by converting a three-point play to close the gap tp 60-55 with 1:42 left.Jordan Brown also had a big game for the Rams, scoring 15 points to go with seven rebounds. Eraldo Custodio got off to a slow start, but finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.Salem coach Tom Doyle said the Rams came as expected.We pretty much knew what to expect,” Doyle said. “They killed us on the boards ? The kids played great most of the time. We just couldn’t sustain it.”Marvin Baez led the attack for Salem with 16 points, David Kazadi had 15 points and Jamie Dominguez had nine points. Dunston, who couldn’t practice because of illness the day before, battled his way to eight points.Although Salem (11-4 NEC North) no longer has its destiny in its own hands, the Witches are still in the hunt if they can defeat Beverly and Classical loses to English.”It’s out of our hands at this point,” Doyle said.Joyce Erekson can be reached at [email protected].