Everett boys’ basketball thumps Malden in the home opener; girls drop close decision

After taking on host Chelsea Thursday night, Boyce’s crew heads to Brockton tonight (Dec. 19) to face the non-league Boxers

By Joe McConnell

Coach Gerard Boyce couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season after his Everett High School boys basketball team blew away the visiting Malden Golden Tornadoes on Opening Night, Dec. 16, 66-43.

“The boys displayed excellent teamwork and determination throughout the entire game,” said Boyce afterwards. “From the opening tipoff, we set the pace with aggressive defense and a well-executed offensive strategy. Our players shared the ball effectively to find the open shot.”

The Tide’s versatility was on display in the first half, and as a result multiple players contributed consistently on offense to build up a solid lead. “They really showcased their basketball abilities in that half,” said Boyce. “In the second half, we maintained the momentum, even when Malden tried to make a comeback. Our defensive effort still remained strong that limited their scoring opportunities. Key rebounds that led to a transitional offense helped us stay in control of the game.”

Boyce wants to specifically single out the contributions of his reserve players, who came off the bench to make significant impacts in the game. “Their energy was crucial in maintaining our lead,” he said. “It’s always great to see everyone step up and play their roles effectively.”

Cristian Vasquez was the leading scorer with 28 points. Samir King-Dacosta was next in line with 14 points. Jayden Alsaindor chipped in with 10.

The Everett boys had little time to celebrate, because they had to board the bus for Chelsea last night (Dec. 18) to face the Red Devils after press deadline, before closing out the week with another road game tonight (Dec. 19) against the host Brockton Boxers at 7 p.m.

Boyce knows that one game does not make a season, and so he says he “will continue to focus on refining the team’s execution, while still maintaining the defensive intensity,” He then added, “I’m still proud of how our players performed on opening night.”

Girls drop heartbreaker to host Malden

The Crimson Tide girls’ basketball team opened up a brand-new season in Malden Tuesday night, only to lose the close contest, 44-39.

“We fought hard throughout the game, but just came up short,” said coach Riley Dunn afterwards. “It was a tough game throughout all four quarters. We kept on fighting our way back (from deficits), never giving up, and we will learn from this effort, which will only make us better as the season rolls on.”

Nicole Damaceno led her teammates in scoring against host Malden with 12 points.

The Everett girls took on Chelsea last night (Dec. 18) in the home opener after press deadline, before beginning their Christmas week. They won’t suit up again until Haverhill comes to town for a non-league game on Dec. 30, starting at 1:30 p.m.