DORCHESTER — The No. 8 Lynn Tech boys basketball team couldn’t get past the Elite 8, falling to No. 1 Albert D. Holland (formerly Burke) 77-55 on Friday evening. After starting the season 1-7, the playoffs looked unlikely for Lynn Tech, let alone make the quarterfinals. However, the Tigers found their identity and finished the season 14-9.
The Bulldogs got out to a fast start leading 9-2 after the opening minutes. Lynn Tech fought back and got it to one after a three from Andy Bautista.
Unfortunately for Lynn Tech, leading scorer Giovanni Jean picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and committed his third early in the second quarter meaning he spent the majority of the first half on the bench.
Travis Sanchez (21 points, 3 steals) gave the Bulldogs a much-needed boost scoring 12 first-half points. The Tigers trailed the Bulldogs 32-25 at halftime.
But in the second half, the Bulldogs stepped it up another level and the Tigers couldn’t hold on. The Bulldogs had a lot of size and used it down low by drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line.
Lynn Tech was outscored 23-14 in the third quarter as the Bulldogs took a 16-point lead into the fourth before stretching it out to 22 to finish the game.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Ian Piper who scored a game-high 24 points, while teammate Gerald Banks poured in 16 to lead them to the Final Four.
Lynn Tech won two games in the tournament defeating both Millis (65-53) and Manchester Essex (59-49) en route to the Elite 8.
This was the second year in a row that the Tigers reached the Elite 8, but both times failing to make it to the Final Four. The bright side is the Tigers are graduating just two seniors and most of their main contributors, including their starting lineup, will be back next winter, with the goal of getting over the Elite 8 hump and getting to the Final Four.
