Moving to 6-0 is good, but moving to 6-0 along with the Boverini championship is even better. That’s what the Lynn English boys basketball team did Thursday evening at Classical High, defeating Lynn Classical (3-3) 90-24.
In the week of Warren Keel Jr., the English sophomore ended 2022 on another high note. He recorded 33 points and six assists, winning him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.
It was also a special evening for English head coach Alvin Abreu, a former Classical legend on the hardwood. Abreu never won the Boverini tournament as a player, but doesn’t need to worry about that happening as a coach.
“I’ve never won it as a player or a coach, so this is a special one for me,” Abreu said. “[It was good] for us to win it, especially for our seniors.”
Classical head coach Marvin Avery said Abreu does a great job with his team, and respects English for its hard-working nature.
“You can’t take anything away from one of the best teams in the state, no question about it,” Avery said.
Coming off Friday’s performance against Beverly when he hit seven threes, English captain Tyrese Melo Garcia opened Thursday’s game with another three, plus the foul. He had 18 points, five assists, and five rebounds in total.
On top of their sharpshooting, the Bulldogs dominated the glass, especially Nelson Obarisiagbon who had 20 rebounds on Thursday. The first quarter ended with English ahead 32-2.
“They’re [the Bulldogs] talented, they’re big, they’re sized. They utilized what they had to do and I take nothing away,” Avery said.
English kept the pressure going in the second. Many of their points were scored in highlight-reel fashion, but the Bulldogs also did the little things. Off the bench, junior Carmelo Buese caught eyes after he dove to save a ball out of bounds, leading to English free throws on the possession.
“The way we coach on our staff is next-man-up,” Abreu said. “We coach everyone from our first guy to our 13th guy just as hard, that way everyone’s ready.”
Keel Jr. began the quarter with a corner three and showed his touch on a floater moments later. He scored again on the fastbreak with seconds remaining in the second, and English led 50-11 at halftime.
“I think Warren [Keel Jr.] does a nice job reading the court. Alvin [Abreu] does a great job with him,” Avery said.
Themes continued in the third – Classical’s inexperience showed as the Rams racked up turnovers, while English took advantage with several layups on the fastbreak.
“We’re young. Our inexperience showed, we’ll work on some things, but we’ll learn from this,” Avery said.
Other highlights of the third quarter, one that ended 71-16 in favor of English, included Classical’s Davonte Taggart delivering a perfect bounce pass to Rolky Brea Arias for a layup, and English’s Obarisiagbon scoring a putback layup with one hand.
English’s starters stayed on the court for a good chunk of the fourth and kept things out of reach. Senior guard Jeury Barbosa impressed for the Bulldogs, scoring baskets at the rim and from distance.
Classical’s effort never left, but time ran out on the Rams. English picked up the 90-24 victory to remain undefeated heading into the New Year.
Abreu thanked the “supporters that came out today,” and his team returns to action at Revere on Tuesday with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Classical hosts Medford on Tuesday, also at 7 p.m.
“Keep fighting and learn from it. Absolutely, and we’ll bounce back,” Avery said.
