Broadway battle delivers drama as Revere boys push Chelsea to the brink

By Dom Nicastro

The Revere High School boys basketball team’s rivalry with Chelsea has never needed extra fuel, and Thursday night’s chapter of the “Battle for Broadway” delivered exactly what the matchup promises every winter: urgency, emotion and a game that came down to the final seconds. This time, the Patriots left Chelsea just short of a statement win, falling 53-51 in a game that showcased how far this group has come — and how close it is to turning competitive performances into consistent results.

Revere, which dropped the first meeting between the teams 55-50 after a late push, came out sharp on both ends of the floor. Junior forward Bryan David set the tone early, finishing the night with five points and 10 rebounds, while juniors Wesley Nunez and Chris Recinos helped Revere control tempo. Senior tri-captain Devin Berry added a traditional three-point play, and the Patriots jumped out to an 11-4 lead after one quarter.

Chelsea responded with a surge of defensive intensity in the second quarter, forcing turnovers and limiting Revere’s scoring chances. Nunez knocked down a wing three, Berry converted a fast-break layup and sophomore guard Charles Dobre went a perfect three-for-three at the line, but the Patriots managed just eight points in the frame and went into halftime trailing 25-19.

The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with neither team willing to give ground. Dobre ignited Revere with two three-pointers and a free throw, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and four steals. Berry attacked the lane for tough finishes, and David cleaned up inside with an offensive putback, but Chelsea maintained its edge heading into the fourth, up 40-33.

Revere’s response in the final quarter reflected a team that has learned how to fight through adversity. Twice trailing by double digits, the Patriots chipped away possession by possession. Recinos powered through traffic for a key layup; Berry took over offensively — scoring 11 of his 21 points in the fourth — and Dobre buried a three in the final minute after Revere forced a turnover with full-court pressure.

Down two with seconds remaining, the Patriots forced another steal and pushed the ball up the floor. Revere coach David Leary elected not to use his final timeout, trusting his players to make a play. Revere got three point-blank looks — on a layup and multiple offensive rebounds — but the ball was tipped away as time expired.

Chelsea held on for the 53-51 win, clinching a spot in the Division 3 MIAA State Tournament, but the takeaway for Revere extended beyond the final score.

“Proud of the effort — that’s a really good team,” Leary said. “But like I always say about the Broadway Battle, throw the records out. School pride takes over, and these games are usually always tooth and nail. Should I have called my last timeout? I thought we made the right decision. We got three very good looks and just couldn’t make one to tie it and put it into overtime. We are improving at the right time of year, and hopefully we can start scratching the win column soon.”

The Patriots now turn their attention to a demanding stretch run, traveling to Brooke Boston Charter School on February 3 before returning home for Senior Night against Somerville next Tuesday at 7 p.m., followed by road games at Everett and a snowstorm make-up at Medford.