Tide boys’ basketball teams up to get back on track against Medford, Malden

Everett hosts Lynn English, Somerville next week to begin the second half of the season

By Joe McConnell

The Everett High School boys’ basketball team (7-3) bounced back quite nicely after two straight close losses to Cambridge (58-53) and Revere (44-41) to defeat Medford (75-61) and Malden (54-40) by thoroughly convincing scores.

First-year head coach Gerard Boyce was quite happy with the energy level in both games last week after those heartbreaking defeats from the previous week that followed the Christmas break.

“The game against Medford was our first game back after the disappointing loss to Revere,” he said. “We bounced back with energy after some good practices. Hopefully, we can sustain that solid play.”

Boyce went on to say that his team returned to that “meat and potatoes” approach, and just in time with the second half of the season getting underway. “They understand that we now have to be on our A-game going forward,” he added.

Christian Vasquez was the game’s top scorer with 18 points.

The Everett boys carried over the winning momentum into last Thursday night’s game at Malden to slowdown the Golden Tornadoes’ offense to end the first half of their regular season schedule needing just three more triumphs to secure a playoff berth.

“This was a good team win for the second game in a row,” said Boyce. “We slipped into a little complacency before last week’s games. It happens during the course of any season. But then, we have since humbled ourselves, and went back to the basics of fundamentals to get back on track.”

But he’s not taking anything away from the teams that have beaten the Tide previously. “Hats off to those teams that beat us,” he said.

Tyson Chhun came off the bench to lead his Tide teammates on offense with 14 points.

The Tide had a week off after the win over Malden before they suited up again against host Lynn Classical last night (Jan. 18) after press deadline. They have since come home to get ready to welcome Lynn English to town on Tuesday night, Jan. 23, and then Somerville two nights later. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

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