LYNN — The Classical boys basketball team played three solid quarters in Wednesday’s non-league game against Cathedral.
It wasn’t enough.
Down by as many as 17 points in the first half, the resilient Panthers stunned the Rams with a 78-76 overtime victory at Classical.
“We couldn’t rebound,” Classical coach Jasper Grassa said. “Our defense wasn’t great either but (Cathedral) had 21 offensive rebounds. They had 11 at half. For whatever reason we’re not going up and getting the ball.”
The Rams carried a 55-43 lead into the fourth quarter and didn’t trail until the overtime period. Cathedral exploded for 28 fourth-quarter points, tied the game on a second-chance 3-pointer in the closing seconds and stole the victory in overtime.
“I thought (Cathedral) did a better job defensively (in the second half),” Grassa said. “We got a lot of open looks in the first half when we broke their pressure. In the second half, it seemed like they weren’t taking chances. They extended it but they dropped into a zone, basically. We just couldn’t get open looks. They definitely contested shots in the second half and we weren’t making them.”
What can the Rams carry with them moving forward?
“This is definitely a disappointing loss,” Grassa said. “We just have to find someone who’s going to hit. We have to stay consistent. We have to stay fundamental throughout the game. I was happy with our offense. We weren’t making shots in the second half but we were looking for each other, at least. But we have to figure out something with rebounds.
“It comes down to rebounding. We’re not going to be able to give up 21 extra chances and be able to win.”
Jeff Hill carried Classical’s offense with 31 points, including four 3-pointers. Jeff Barbosa (16 points, four assists) and Eusebio Quintana (10 points) also scored in double figures. Jayden Thornton hit a pair of 3’s and finished with eight points.
Classical sprinted out to a swift 7-2 lead behind baskets from Barbosa and Raynel Nunez, and a 3-pointer from Hill. The Rams closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run with Tony Palavra’s 3-pointer, Quintana’s free throws and Hill’s lay-up, which put Classical up 25-14.
Cathedral matched Classical shot for shot in the second quarter. Thornton hit a corner 3 to stretch Classical’s lead to 32-19, forcing the Panthers to burn a timeout. Classical mounted its lead to 41-24 before Cathedral whittled it down to 41-31 at halftime.
“I thought we could’ve put them away a couple times,” Grassa said. “Little runs like that, that stuff hurt us.”
With Cathedral back within single digits in the closing stretch of the third quarter, Barbosa (7-of-8 at the free throw line) weaved his way through the defense for a lay-up and Thornton followed with a transition basket. Classical’s 12-point advantage, 55-43, stood firm heading into the fourth.
That’s when the momentum shifted in Cathedral’s favor. Basket by basket, the Panthers chipped away at their deficit and put the Rams on their heels. Down 71-68 in the closing seconds, Cathedral turned to senior guard Carl Dorsainvil (26 points). Dorsainvil netted seven 3-pointers, the last of which knotted the score at 71-71 with 1.3 ticks remaining and forced overtime. Dorsainvil missed his initial attempt, hauled in his own rebound and swished the next try from the top of the key.
The first two hoops of the extra period belonged to Cathedral senior forward James Spencer. Hill fired back with a 3-pointer but the Rams couldn’t manage to put themselves in front through the final stretch.
“If we rebound the ball I think we have a comfortable lead and end up beating (Cathedral),” Grassa said. “That’s a tough game to drop right there. We’re going to look back at that at the end of the year, definitely.”
Classical (5-3) hosts Marblehead Friday (7).
“(Marblehead) will be ready,” Grassa said. “I’ve seen them a couple times. They’re a disciplined team. They’re probably going to defend us in a zone as well.”
