LYNN — At halftime of Tuesday’s cross-town rivalry clash between the English and Classical boys basketball teams, it was anybody’s game. The Rams shook a sluggish six-point opening quarter, took advantage of a few Bulldogs fouls and found ways to hang tough.
Then English flipped the script in the second half and opened up its offense en route to a 90-52 win at Classical.
“(At halftime) we told our guys to stop settling,” English coach Antonio Anderson said. “Guys were a little too antsy in the first half. It’s a rivalry game, they’re all friends and chirping at one another. At halftime we told them to settle down and play our game. We started dominating at the glass like we’re capable off and guys started making the extra pass.”
English (10-2) clinched a Division 1 North tournament spot.
“Our focus was to get in and get the win,” Anderson said. “To be tournament eligible after a win like this is meaningful. I told the guys, ‘let’s come in this gym and play the way we can play.’ We started sluggish but we fixed things.”
Classical fell to 8-4 with the loss.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well all night,” Classical coach Jasper Grassa said. “But I think in the second quarter and some of the third, we played defense well and rebounded well. That’s why we had opportunities. We couldn’t get anything going in the halfcourt in the first quarter and when we did it seemed like there was a lid on the rim. (English) is a good team and if you don’t shoot well you won’t beat (English).”
Ademide Badmus (22 points, 12 rebounds) dominated the first quarter, scoring 10 points during the period. He found Mason Jean-Baptiste for an open layup on a 2-on-1 to start the game and took over the in the post through the rest of the quarter. His layup with 2:23 on the clock put English up 10-0. Jeff Hill (17 points) got the Rams on the board with a free throw. Louis Rivera’s (11 points) corner 3-pointer toward the close of the period helped English carry a 19-6 lead.
Classical found its offense in the second quarter. Jayden Thornton’s (nine points) 3-pointer with 5:30 until halftime brought the Rams back within single digits, 22-13. Classical hit the next basket to come within seven but another Badmus layup got English back on track. Aaron Vizcaino (nine points) hit a pair of free throws, bumping the lead to 33-21 with 2:30 to go. Jeff Barbosa (17 points) knocked in a pair of free throws as the half closed and the Rams were still within striking distance, down 37-26 at the break.
But English flipped the switch in the second half.
Jack Rodriguez (12 points) and Jean-Baptiste swished a 3-pointer each to cushion English’s lead to 18 points. Classical swapped baskets with the Bulldogs over the next few minutes. Jarnel Guzman’s (13 points) 3-pointer from the top of the key bumped the lead to 23, 55-32. The Bulldogs led 60-33 after three quarters.
Rodriguez’s uncontested putback after he hauled in an offensive rebound stretched English’s lead into the 30s at 66-35. It reached the 40s thanks in part to Rivera’s eight points (he hit two 3s) over the final minutes.
English travels to Swampscott Friday (7).
“We’re in a good spot,” Anderson said. “Lowell’s undefeated. Outside of the MVC, they have Beverly this weekend. At the end of the day, games have to be played regardless of where you’re seeded. The North’s going to be tough. We know everyone’s swinging for us. But when the time comes, we’ll be ready.”
Classical travels to Gloucester Friday (7).
“This is our first conference loss,” Grassa said. “We just have to bounce back and take care of business Friday.”
