Tide begins season with overtime win at Revere

Everett boys’ basketball heads to Malden Tuesday after taking on host Medford Dec. 15  

If Tuesday night’s game against host Revere is any indication of what’s to come, the Everett High School boys’ basketball games should provide much excitement for the team’s fans followed by many wins throughout the course of the regular season.

The opening night game went to overtime, before visiting Everett was able to outlast the Patriots, 63-60. The score was tied at 57 at the end of regulation.

“This was a good way to begin a new season,” said Everett coach Stanley Chamblain, who is beginning his fifth year as the Tide’s top boss after serving as an assistant coach for the previous five seasons. “It was a good, competitive battle, but Revere coach Dave O’Leary always has his players ready to play.

“We led by as many as 15 points, but Revere started to hit its shots, while fighting hard to get back into the game,” added Chamblain. “We showed our inexperience at times, and also had the usual first game jitters, but in the end, we were able to stay level-headed to pull out the win.”

The Crimson Tide only has three players with any type of varsity experience on the roster this year, but the overall resiliency of the team was the deciding factor to push them over the top. “I was very happy to see how they fought their way back, when Revere started to chip away at our lead,” said Chamblain.

Steven Cordero paced the offensive attack for the Tide with 21 points. Dave De Souza was next in line with 15 points, including four in the extra period to help lead his teammates to victory. “{De Souza} had a chance to win the game in regulation, but was able to bounce back nicely in overtime,” said Chamblain.

Kevin Ruiz accounted for 14 points. Junior Anderson Joseph chipped in with seven. His classmates Allisn Desruisseaux and Cleevance Erilus had four and two points, respectively.

The Everett boys were scheduled to take on host Medford on Dec. 15, before facing the Golden Tornadoes in Malden on Tuesday, Dec. 20, starting at 6 p.m. They will then participate in the annual BABC (Boston Amateur Basketball Club) Winter Tournament at Cathedral High School on Dec. 27 and 28. The Tide will face BC High at noon on Dec. 27, and then Jeremiah Burke High School the next day at the same time. Brookline, Springfield Central and host Cathedral are the other teams in this year’s tourney. Each team is guaranteed two games, except for the host club, and there won’t be any championship and consolation games. The tournament is designed to keep these squads sharp over the holiday break.

Chamblain’s team will resume the Greater Boston League (GBL) schedule against Chelsea in the home opener on Jan. 3, beginning at 7 p.m.