Crimson Tide basketball teams wind down seasons with mixed results

By Joe McConnell

Boys need two more wins to clinch postseason berth

It’s coming down to the wire for the Everett High School boys basketball team (8-9) in its pursuit of a Division 1 state tournament berth. The Everett boys have three regular season games left, and for all intents and purposes they need to win two of them to make it to the postseason. Playoff teams need at least a .500 record to qualify.

The Crimson Tide were at North High School in Worcester last night (Feb. 6) after press deadline. They will then begin the Dudley Davenport Classic, but not until 10 days later on Sunday, Feb. 16 against Walpole at Sharon High School, beginning at noon. Dedham will square off against the host team in the other opening round game at 1:30 p.m. The consolation and championship games will take place the next day on Feb. 17.

In the team’s last two games, coach Gerard Boyce’s club first took care of host Malden, 75-40 on Jan. 30. Two days and a brand-new month later, the Tide lost to visiting Brookline, 73-64. This was the nightcap of a doubleheader between the two schools. The girls (2-13) dropped a 47-28 decision to their Brookline counterparts. These games were also the first-ever Senior Days that took place on the same day in the same venue for both Everett High hoop teams.

Back to the boys team against Malden, it was a much needed victory for them, according to Boyce.

Jayden Alsaindor scored a season-high 25 points to lead the attack against the Golden Tornadoes. “His energy and his defense were crucial for us,” said Boyce. “He also demonstrated exceptional skill from beyond the three-point line.

“Overall, it was a great team effort, and I was proud of how everyone played,” added the second-year Everett coach.

During the Brookline game, the Tide fought hard, but ultimately fell short by 11. Geordiell Luna Morales led all scorers with 26 points. “(Luna Morales) really showcased all of his offensive skills throughout this entire game,” said Boyce.

Cristian Vasquez also turned in a fine effort with 14 points and three steals. Henrique Pinto and Alsaindor netted nine points apiece.

“The one area that really hurt us in this game was our long-range scoring drought, especially in the first half against (Brookline’s) zone,” said Boyce. “Our defensive rotations and combinations were also off. Unfortunately, our energy was off during this time period, as well. These factors contributed to our struggles at both ends of the court.”

On a positive note, Jevaun Berberena stood out with nine assists, which were crucial in creating scoring opportunities for the team, according to Boyce. “We have to learn from this experience, and work on our execution and energy levels in practice moving forward,” added the coach.

After beating Chelsea, Tide girls drop three straight

The Everett High School girls basketball team (2-13) lost its last three games against the likes of Somerville (61-44, Jan. 30), Brookline (47-28, Feb. 1) and Malden (50-18, Feb. 4).

In the Somerville game, Clarice Alexis was the team’s leading scorer with 15 points. Against Brookline, Alexis once again led the team in scoring with 16 points. Gerniah Boyce was the star of the show during the Malden game with six points and six rebounds.

“We are looking to keep on building and keep on fighting as we finish the season strong,” said coach Riley Dunn.

The Tide girls have five more regular season games left. They first took on Lynn Classical last night (Feb. 6) after press deadline, before going up against host Revere this coming Tuesday night (Feb. 11), starting at 6 p.m. They will close out next week at home versus non-league Lowell on Thursday night (Feb. 13) at 6:30 p.m.