LYNN — If you walked into the Lynn Tech gymnasium on Thursday evening, you would have seen posters to your left, and star-shaped balloons to your right. On its Senior Night, the Lynn Tech girls basketball team handled KIPP 49-26.
The game was tied 8-8 after the first quarter, but from there, the Tigers pounced and extended their lead after each quarter.
Tech sophomore Engelyz Bingham led the way with 16 points, followed by junior Aliyah Volquez who added 11. Despite the offensive performances from the guards, head coach Kaitlyn Wechsler credited her team’s defense as the key to victory.
“Everything we do starts with defense,” Wechsler said. “Really locking down.”
After the first quarter, Tech outscored KIPP 41-18. During the second period and, frankly, throughout the game, Tech’s Divine Egbuta wreaked havoc on the offensive glass. The eighth grader had 14 rebounds and seven steals in total.
“I think it’s effort, I think it’s technique, I think she’s super athletic,” Wechsler said. “When she starts getting layups, she’s going to be a real force.”
After leading 27-17 at halftime, the floodgates opened in the third as Volquez went on a mini 7-1 run by herself towards the middle of the period. Not only that, she did it in versatile fashion as the points came from a three, a mid-range jumper, and a finish at the rim.
On top of her intelligence and defensive prowess, Wechsler also added “she’s so fast.”
“She’s been playing very well the past couple of games,” Wechsler said. “When she gets going, it’s hard to stop her.”
The fourth quarter was the Alejandra Pineda show. The Tech senior buried a short jumper to begin the frame, then followed it up with a triple off the glass to put the Tigers ahead by 25.
Despite the loss, KIPP head coach Tiphani Harris said her team “kept fighting no matter what happened.”
“That’s honestly what basketball is all about,” Harris said. “It’s about having that fun and just coming together – and sticking together.”
“As much as we want to win, as long as we play hard is all we care about,” Harris said.
For KIPP, junior Katrina Fortes caught eyes with 16 points. But despite the efforts of a few, Harris said it was tough to play with six players.
“It’s very hard to play that way and be in foul trouble at the same time,” Harris said. “But aside from that, we played continuously hard throughout the entire game.”
Prior to the game, Tech seniors Pineda, Amie Diaz, and Daniela Maldonado were honored for their time in Tiger red and blue.
“They really are a special group,” Wechsler said. “They are just the best teammates and the true definition of what we want our players to be like here at Lynn Tech.”
