Boys Basketball: Marblehead clinches tournament berth

The Magicians improved to 10-8 and qualified for the state tournament with a 50-38 win over Winthrop Friday night. Marblehead was coming off a tough loss to Danvers on Thursday night, and coach Mike Giardi was very aware of his team?s condition entering Friday?s game.
?We were really worn out physically and mentally,” Giardi said. “We played a tough one against Danvers and then had to turn right around and go up to Winthrop.”
But the Magicians still had some fight left in them, led by Keegan Saunders? 16 points. Will Millett added eight points and his brother Bo Millett scored six points with a team-high eight rebounds in the win.
Beverly 72, Revere 64 (OT)
Beverly seemed dead in the water earlier this year. Eight games into the season, the Panthers stood at 1-7 with no real prospects of making the tournament. They were simply a young team, with their top six players graduating last year.
But that didn?t stop them from almost running the table down the stretch. They went 9-2 over their next 11 games to put their record at 10-9, and they clinched a tournament berth.
?All the credit to the kids,” Panthers? coach Scott Lewis said. “They kept fighting all year and never gave up, and now we?re in the tournament.”
Sam Traicoff led the way for Beverly with 20 points, while Gavin Sparkman had 13 and James Aaron added 10.
Salem 56, Lynn Classical 52
The Witches (14-5) pulled out a close win over Classical on Friday behind a big performance from Jhonel Roberts, who had a team-high 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Salem was down by two points at the half, but rallied back in the third to take over the lead. Classical almost made a comeback, but the Witches were able to hold them off.
?It was a tight game both ways,” Salem coach Tom Doyle said after the game. “They stormed back late and thankfully we were able to hold them off. It was a great game.”
Bryan Martinez scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Salem. Joelle Nunez added 11 more points in the win.St. John?s Prep 67, Waltham 40
St. John?s jumped out to an early 20-point lead in the first half before Waltham went on a bit of a run. But the third quarter is where the Eagles pulled away, outscoring Waltham 34-19 in the second half.
Ben Judson led the way for St. John?s with 21 points. Spencer Danforth added 12 points and Kareem Davis chipped in seven.
?It was a good effort on both sides of the ball by us,” Eagles? coach John Dullea said. “It was a solid win.”
Greater Lowell Tech 74, Lynn Tech 54
The Tigers? (2-17) struggles continued on Friday with a tough 20-point loss on the road to Greater Lowell. Arlin Reynoso led the way for the Tigers with 11 points, while Michael Freeman and Michael Anaya each scored 10.
?We just didn?t play well defensively in the first quarter,” Tech coach Dave Leary said. “We fought back in the second, but they really came at us in the third and pulled away.”
Lynnfield 49, Ipswich 30
The Pioneers (14-5) kept rolling Friday night with a convincing win at home over Ipswich. Brendon Sullivan scored 15 points in the win and Traverse Briana added 14 points.St. Mary?s fell to Malden Catholic, 58-50.