Tide takes two GBL games to stay in the hunt for first place

Everett boys’ basketball gets ready for Lynn doubleheader showdown next week

The Everett High School boys’ basketball team (7-2 in the Greater Boston League, 7-5 overall) won two critical GBL games this past week – Medford (57-52) and Malden (63-59) – and had an experience of a lifetime last Saturday afternoon at the TD Garden, where they lost a competitive game to Beverly, 73-59.

The Crimson Tide participated in a series of games there at the Garden that was all a part of the annual Andrew James Lawson Foundation Invitational, and, according to coach Stanley Chamblain, “it was a wonderful experience, and it was embraced by every player on the team. Some of them have never been to the Garden before for any event, not even a Celtics game.”

Chamblain credits the entire community for making this opportunity happen for his players from the school committee to the teachers to the students themselves. “We had to sell 400 tickets for our game, and all of these groups stepped up to make this a reality. It was a beautiful thing,” he added, “and they all used their tickets to attend the game to cheer us on.”

The Tide jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but Beverly’s ability to shoot the ball all over the court eventually caught up to them. The Panthers led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, but the Everett boys did stage a comeback to trim the deficit to just four in the final period, before the Northeastern Conference team widen the gap, once again.

Steven Cordero led all Everett scorers with 22 points. Kevin Ruiz was next in line with 13. Allsin Desruisseaux accounted for 10. Cleevance Erilus chipped in with eight. David De Souza ended up with five.

Prior to the Garden game, the Tide got a wakeup call, when the Mustangs came to Everett, and gave the home team all they could handle, before an explosive second half put them in front for good.

“We were trailing at halftime, 32-24 after a very slow, lackadaisical start on our part,” said Chamblain. “But after a halftime speech, we exploded in the third quarter by applying the pressure early on with a full-court press,” said Chamblain.

It didn’t take Chamblain’s players long to wipe out the halftime deficit. They tied up the game within the first three minutes of the third quarter, and never looked back after that.

Senior forward Kevin Ruiz turned in his best game of the season to lead his teammates in scoring with 19 points, 15 of them in the second half alone. “(Ruiz) got the game ball afterwards for his exceptional performance to lead the comeback effort,” said Chamblain.

Cordero, who was in foul trouble throughout most of this game, still came through with 12 points, eight of them in the fourth quarter. Erilus produced six points. De Souza had five. Leison Ruiz was close behind with four. Freshman Christian Vasquez tallied three times.

Against Malden on Tuesday night at home, the Tide took a 15-5 lead, but foul trouble (two fouled out) coupled with Kevin Ruiz leaving the game in the third quarter with a high ankle sprain allowed the Golden Tornadoes to get back into it.

“We were able to stay composed to pullout the victory, while avenging an earlier loss to (Malden),” said Chamblain.

Cordero was Everett’s top scorer against the Golden Tornadoes with 19 points.  Anderson Joseph came through with 12. Kevin Ruiz, Erilus and Vasquez scored five apiece.  De Souza netted four. Desruisseaux ended up with three. Junior Steve Nunes got in the scorebook with one bucket for two points.

Following the Chelsea game Thursday night (Jan. 26) after press deadline, the Tide will welcome Lynn Classical to town Tuesday night (Jan. 31) for a 7 p.m. game, before heading to Lynn Thursday night (Feb. 2) to face the undefeated Lynn English Bulldogs. It should be a good pre-postseason test for Everett that needs just three more wins to clinch a state tournament berth with eight games remaining on the regular season schedule.

Boys hockey gets closer to state tournament berth

The Everett High School boys co-op hockey team was supposed to play non-league Matignon twice this month on Jan. 11 and Jan. 24. But the Warriors had to first postpone the first game, because of an injury to their only goalie, but when it was clear he wasn’t getting any better they had to cancel the rest of the season. As a result, the Crimson Tide was rewarded four very important points in the team’s quest to make the state tournament.

As of Jan. 26, the Everett boys are 5-5, counting the two aforementioned forfeits against Matignon. They have games coming up against Division 4 St. Joseph Prep on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Warrior Ice Arena in Brighton, starting at 8 p.m., and Taunton in another road game two days later on Monday at 7 p.m. After these two encounters, the local icemen have eight more regular season games left on the schedule to get to at least 10 wins and an automatic postseason berth.