LYNN — The last time these hoopsters took the court (February of last season), Lynn English got the best of Everett, but it wasn’t easy.
Everett had the then-undefeated Bulldogs on their heels, trailing by just five points at halftime. Granted, English pulled away, but Everett scored a morale victory that night – spectators might have said.
Fast forward to Thursday night at English High. The 3-0 Crimson Tide dreamed of handing English that first loss – again.
Mission accomplished.
The host Bulldogs (3-1) fell, 65-61, in a turnover-filled contest.
“I’m very disappointed in the turnovers that we had, and our ball security,” said English coach Alvin Abreu. “We didn’t play well down the stretch.”
English held a 55-48 lead with 6:25 remaining in the game, but Everett refused to quit behind first-year coach Gerard Boyce.
“It was a game of runs… I like that we got challenged,” Abreu said. “It was a battle. It was a back-and-forth game, a physical game, and a game in which guys had to go make plays.”
Ask, and you shall receive. Tied 57-57 with two minutes to go, English caused a turnover and Kyle Kemembin (13 points) finished a breakaway layup for the lead.
When asked who impressed him, Abreu jumped to Kemembin, as well as Pierre Veras (20 points), who “changed the game for us tonight” with his rebounding and finishing ability.
But it wasn’t enough. Allsin Desruisseaux scored to give Everett the lead, then Lian Dorosario hit the dagger 3-pointer with 39 seconds remaining (64-59) after a backcourt violation from English.
“Everett made the plays that won the game. They capitalized on our turnovers, to be honest with you,” Abreu said. “There were bad turnovers down the stretch that we’ve got to clean up.”
Those turnovers – and missed open shots – plagued the Bulldogs, but Abreu wasn’t worried postgame.
“Everyone’s trying to figure out who they are here,” said Abreu, whose side lost its two leading scorers in Warren Keel and Tyrese Melo Garcia. “It’s just what it is – the nature of the early season.”
Get your popcorn ready. English returns to action next Thursday at St. Mary’s (3 p.m.) in the Walter J. Boverini Holiday Basketball Tournament.
“In the big picture, we want to experience games like this as we play different opponents,” Abreu said. “We just didn’t make enough plays tonight.”
