LYNN — Five-hundred tickets sold in the blink of an eye for Tuesday’s Division 3 state tournament matchup between No. 1 St. Mary’s and No. 16 Lynn Classical.
When the MIAA released its bracket, the potential for a St. Mary’s-Classical matchup looked promising.
However, both St. Mary’s Coach David Brown and Classical Coach Marvin Avery would attest that there are no easy games in the playoffs. Both teams faced scares in the opening round.
Classical needed overtime, but got there in the end, defeating Pittsfield, 78-76, while St. Mary’s was trailing Falmouth in the fourth quarter before going on a 12-0 run to win the game, 51-42.
Brown hopes Friday’s win can loosen the pressure on some of his players who had yet to win a tournament game.
“I talked to the kids afterwards and St. Mary’s is known for its winning tradition, but for the most part, we only had two kids on the basketball team that had won a tournament game previously. It was nice for the kids like Rowan Merryman, June Vasquez, Devell Pamplin, and Jake Fortier to get that tournament victory under their belts,” Brown said. “Now that they got the win, hopefully, they’ll play a bit looser and start to make more shots.”
Avery wants his team to “relax” and “have fun” going into Tuesday.
“You can consider it a rivalry game. It’s right in our backyard. We know them and they know us,” Avery said. “We’re going to take it in stride and go out there and compete.”
When asked what the message is leading into Tuesday’s game, Brown said his team has to match Classical’s intensity.
“They rebound very well and score on the block very well. We can’t get into the hoopla of the situation of it being one Lynn school vs. the other. They’re playing against kids they grew up with, so we’re expecting a tough game,” Brown said. “Whenever two Lynn teams play against each other, no matter their record, it’s always going to be a battle. It being a state tournament game where you win or you go home, we’re expecting a war out there.”
Avery knows it starts with his team’s defense.
“We need to set the tone early. Our defense will be key. They have some outstanding athletes and good shooters. Primarily their MVP, I’ve known him (JJ Martinez) since he was a kid. He’s my son’s (Marvin Jr.) best friend,” Avery said. “We just need to control them and when they get hot at their gym, that’s a big advantage. They’re tough to beat at home. Coach Brown does a great job over there. If we contain their shooters and we do a good defensive job, we have a chance of knocking them off.”
The Rams welcome back Rolky Brea Arias, who missed the last two games.
“The role players and the guys who filled in the void… stepped up big time. When you take one of the best players in the state out, who averages 22 points and 12 rebounds a game, that makes a huge difference,” Avery said. “We’re glad to have him back for the Sweet 16 game. He’s fired up and excited. It’s a big plus on our side. He’ll be ready to go.”
Avery and Brown believe this game has the potential to be one of the biggest in Lynn history.
“This game is so big, it should be at a different venue, but that’s not my call. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing because you have to get tickets in advance or else you can’t get in. It’s probably one of the biggest games in the City of Lynn’s history. It’s definitely in the top five,” Avery said. “We’re very excited at Lynn Classical and I’m sure they are, too. Mr. (Jeff) Newhall and everyone there are my friends and either way the ball bounces, I’m excited we get the opportunity to play in the Sweet 16.”
“I played in this game, in 1988, in the quarterfinals against Lynn Classical. It’s a game where my friends and I go back and talk about it all the time, even friends who were on the other team. It’s a game you remember for the rest of your life,” Brown said. “It’s great for the city. Alumni from both sides are going to come out and support their schools and, hopefully, it’ll be a great game.”
Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside of the Tony C. Gymnasium, the Rams and Spartans look to advance to the Elite 8.
At the end of the day, Brown knows that win or lose, the respect and love will still be there.
“I love competing against Lynn teams. I love to see them win when we’re not playing against them. When we play against them, I think it brings a little more out of you as a competitor. Coaching against Coach Avery, who I have known before we were even teenagers, it’s great to go against him and I expect him to have his guys well-prepared,” Brown said. “When it’s all said and done, whether you win or lose, you enjoy it and move on. You can talk about it for years to come. You’re going to see each other down the street, at the park, or in the grocery store. It’s still going to be all love between us.”
