Rosario’s 1,000th point highlights Lynn English romp over Saugus

LYNN – Lynn English’s Erick Rosario received the ball off a quick feed from Anthony Silfa with 3:19 remaining in the second quarter. In front of a hushed crowd, Rosario then forever etched his name in the Bulldogs’ record books, recording the 1,000th point of his high school career.
“As soon as the shot left my fingers, I knew I’d make it,” said Rosario. “That was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Lynn English defeated Saugus, 95-50, in a one-sided affair Tuesday night inside the Cavanagh Field House, and Rosario was the story of the night.
“When I first got to the gym and saw everyone, that’s when I got nervous,” said Rosario, who mentioned he was especially proud that his mother was there to witness his accomplishment. “I just wanted to score my first point, then I knew I wouldn’t be nervous any more.”
Rosario’s three-pointer hit nothing but net to reach the 1,000-point milestone, a magnificent accomplishment for any high school player, let alone one who prides himself on being a passer. He finished the historic evening with 14 points and seven assists.
“The kids on the team have embraced Erick, and he’s embraced them,” said English coach Mike Carr, whose Bulldogs improved to 11-1 with the victory. “It was special to watch how much the team enjoyed the moment with him.
“This group is all about the team — which we always weren’t at the beginning of the season.”
Saugus (5-7) struggled all game with English’s full-court pressure. The Bulldogs scored 17 points off 11 Saugus turnovers in the first quarter to jump out to a 24-6 advantage.
“We knew coming over here would be tough,” said Saugus coach Paul Moran, whose team faced a 49-18 deficit at the half. “Give English credit, they’re very well-coached and they played fantastic. That’s an outstanding team.”
Saugus was paced on the offensive end by Ronnie Rajeh (10 points) and received a solid night of defense from Steven Whitehurst (12 rebounds), but the Bulldogs simply featured too many weapons for Saugus to contain. Silfa dominated with 24 points, Stevie Collins (12 points, six assists) continued his role as the team’s heart and soul, and Jordan Lark (eight points, nine rebounds) and Johnny Hilaire (11 points, 16 rebounds) dominated in the post. English led, 76-41, before the reserves finished out the fourth quarter.
“Our team lives for this,” said Carr. “We’re approaching practices and games a lot differently. We used to try to beat teams off talent alone, but now we’re starting to come together as a group.”
Scoring is often thought of as an individual accomplishment, but Rosario understood his milestone would not have been possible without his teammates.
“I was playing for my teammates,” said Rosario. “That’s my family. I give them a lot of credit. Now I want us to win the whole thing.”
English hosts Gloucester this Friday night before showdowns next week with Danvers and Salem.
“We need to keep playing defense, keep playing physical, and stay humble,” said Silfa. “The rest will take care of itself.””We have some great scorers,” said Rosario. “But all we do in practice is play defense. We’re one of the best defensive teams in the state.”