LYNN — Lynn Classical’s boys basketball team once trailed by 21, and was down 14 (47-33) going into the fourth quarter. All of the momentum was with Revere, but not the final score. The Rams flipped the switch to win 55-53 in overtime on their home-court.
The Rams used an 11-3 run to get back in the game. Junior Daron Guillen (10 points) nailed a deep three to start the run, sparking momentum the Rams didn’t know they had. Almani Medina (15 points) got in on the action by answering a Patriots’ three with one of his own.
Then, the run was highlighted by a defensive stop as freshman Marvin Avery Jr. (12 points) stepped into the lane and drew a charge – much to the delight of the Rams’ supporters. On the very next possession, it was Guillen again who sunk a three to force the Patriots to call a timeout.
The crowd went wild as Revere’s lead was cut to 50-44.
“We never quit,” head coach Marvin Avery said. “Our kids kept battling and battling. We did a good job keeping our composure to get us back in the game.”
One of those players who kept his composure was Medina. With eight seconds left in the game, the Rams were down two. Thomas Walsh (four points) grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and found Medina. Medina got fouled as he was driving to the basket. With the traveling fans trying to get in his head and making noise, Medina was as cool as ice, sinking both free throws to send the game into overtime 51-51.
“He was smooth. That’s what leadership does,” Avery said. “He’s our go-to guy and he did a good job against them.”
In overtime, the Rams relied on their defense to hold the Patriots to just two points. One of the stories on defense: Davonte Taggart, who was blocking shots from every direction and grabbing any rebound in his radius.
“He doesn’t get enough credit because what he does doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet,” Avery said. “He does all the little things that make us successful. He showed up tonight.”
The Rams survived a late scare when they turned the ball over with three seconds remaining and under their basket, giving the Patriots one more opportunity to either tie or win the game.
Medina, who stepped up at the end of the fourth quarter, stepped up again by drawing an offensive foul, giving the ball back to the Rams to close out the game. Then, a sound that was music to Classical’s ears: the final buzzer.
“We were down 21, but we kept battling,” Avery said.
In the first meeting between the two this season, Revere beat Classical 43-22. Now, the Rams settled the score and have split the season series.
“We didn’t score [in the first matchup],” Avery said. “We talked about [the first game] all week. We just kept working hard.”
Classical will travel to Medford on Thursday with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.
