LYNN — Spartans, meet the Tigers (again).
Not only was Tuesday night’s boys basketball showdown between Lynn Tech and host St. Mary’s for all of the Spartan Classic marbles, but a rematch from December’s meeting that saw the Spartans escape, 61-53, over their city foe that sits just 0.7 miles away.
But inside of the Tony C. Gymnasium, there was no time like the present for Tech to even the score. The Tigers captured the Spartan Classic championship with a 68-64 win, leaving a raucous crowd victorious.
“The Tigers came to play today,” said Tech Coach Corey Bingham, a 1,000-point scorer in his Tiger days. “We already had them the last time, but we let it slip. This game, we scored down the stretch.”
As for the story of the night, look no further than Tech’s Giovanni Jean (29 points, 5 assists). The tournament’s Most Valuable Player scored 25 of his team’s 37 first-half points.
“Lights out. He was a man-child today,” Bingham said. “I don’t know if anyone could’ve stood in front of him. From the beginning to the end, it was something to watch.”
Tyler Guy of the Spartans scored a putback basket as time expired in the third quarter. Tech – feeling some pushback – still held on to a 50-45 lead after three.
“I just thought Tech played harder than us. They wanted it more and it showed. We struggled to put the ball in the hoop tonight,” said St. Mary’s Coach Dave Brown, also a 1,000-point scorer during his time with the Spartans. “Congratulations to them on winning the Spartan Classic and I wish them the best of luck in the state tournament.”
JJ Martinez (20 points) of the Spartans played strong defense on Jean and cut the deficit to two points in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers responded with a Brandon Antwine (9 points) triple and Jean layup.
“Brandon played lights out on defense, too,” Bingham said.
With Tech holding on to a 65-60 lead with 44 seconds remaining, St. Mary’s Jake Fortier (15 points) calmly buried a pair of free throws, but so did Tech’s Travis Sanchez (16 points, 4 steals) on the other end. From there, after a St. Mary’s layup, Sanchez went 1-for-2 at the line on Tech’s next possession, putting the Tigers ahead by four points late.
Time ran out on the Spartans, who tasted defeat for the first time this season.
“It’s a disappointing loss,” Brown said. “But basketball is a make-or-miss game and we missed our shots. I’m happy we were able to find our way back. I tip my hat to them again.”
The good news on both sides, however, is that Tech and St. Mary’s already clinched their state tournament spots. As of Tuesday morning’s MIAA power rankings, the No. 9 Tigers (12-8) were right in the Division 4 mix, while the top-ranked Spartans (21-1) sat atop the Division 3 throne.
