Ethan Day stars as Revere clinches its first win of the season

By Dom Nicastro

Nothing like the first win of the season to get some momentum going.

The Revere High School boys basketball team did just that by beating Malden, 63-56, in the consolation round of the Tornado Classic Holiday Tournament in Malden at the end of December. Senior tri-captain Ethan Day had a monster night with 36 points, 12 rebounds and six assists and made the tourney all-star team.

“We are improving,” Revere coach David Leary said of his 1-4 team. “I think we can be better. I think we will be better, but obviously Ethan Day was fantastic (in the tourney). Avi Lung as well, but to be a good team we will need everyone to step up collectively. We have all shown we can do it; we just need more consistency on offense and defense. Just need to keep grinding.”

The Patriots entered the consolation game of the Tornado Classic searching for their first victory of the season.

Similar to the East Boston game the night before (53-41 loss), senior tri-captain Avi Lung (16 points, four steals) knocked down two first-quarter threes. Senior tri-captain Josh Mercado (three points, three steals) made a three of his own, and senior forward Erick Mayorga had a nice finish in the lane to jump the Patriots out to an 11-2 early lead.

The Golden Tornadoes called timeout to settle things down, which they did. The rest of the quarter went back and forth with a Malden basket and then a Day basket. The Revere senior tri-captain made four baskets and a 3-pointer in the frame and Revere led 22-14 to close the first quarter.

The Revere defense improved in the second quarter and after a Lung steal and basket and a great fastbreak bounce pass from Day to a streaking freshman Charles Dobre (four points, four rebounds) for the layup.

The rest of the period belonged to Day, who made three strong drives to the basket, sank three free throws and hit a wing 3-pointer to push the Patriots lead to 38-25 at halftime.

Malden, however, would not back down. It extended its defense and got hot behind the 3-point line. The Golden Tornadoes started the third quarter on a big run, cutting the Revere lead to just four points at 40-36.

Coach David Leary called a timeout to refocus his Patriots squad, and it may have, he said, but again the story was Day as he scored the last nine points of the frame, giving Revere the 49-37 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The Patriots defense was holding Malden down pretty well until the final frame, but the hosts again got hot and would not go away. Revere allowed 19 points. Malden hit five 3-pointers.

But in the end Lung, Dobre, junior forward Devin Berry and Day made baskets to help the Patriots hang on to a 63-56 victory.

In the prior game – the tourney’s opening round — Revere traveled to Malden High School to take on East Boston. The first quarter was back and forth, but the Patriots were led by their senior tri-captains from the beginning.

Lung (11 points, three steals) drained back-to-back 3-pointers, Senior guard Josh Mercado made a corner three of his own, and Day had two tough drives to the basket. But East Boston had an answer for each basket and took a 16-13 lead to end the first quarter.

Revere would respond to start the second quarter with another Lung triple, another Day drive to the basket and a set of free throws pushing the Patriots into a slight lead. Eastie would respond going on a big run to end the frame and give the Jets a 34-26 lead at halftime.

Revere was determined to tighten things up defensively in the second half after halftime. Day (22 points, seven rebounds) found the hot hand making two 3-pointers and a floater in the lane.

East Boston was held scoreless for almost five minutes. And after junior forward Zaney Kayembe made two foul shots for the Patriots, the game was tied at 36-36 before the Jets answered with a 5-0 run to end the third quarter, allowing them to continue the lead at 41-36 heading to the final quarter.

“Here is where Eastie controlled the rest of the game,” Leary said. “Between the Jets tough zone defense and our cold shooting, the Jets were able to extend their lead.”

Day had a couple of free throws, and junior guard Isaiah Llanos stuck a 3-pointer from the corner, but that’s all Revere could put on the board to close the game, giving East Boston victory.

Before the East Boston tourney, Revere fell to Lynn English, 82-48. Day had 23 points for the Patriots in the loss.

The Patriots will head down Broadway to Chelsea to take on the Red Devils of Chelsea High Friday night at 6 p.m., and then will face the Rams of Lynn Classical Sunday at Salem State University 11 a.m.