When evaluating the numbers prior to Tuesday night’s Div. 2 preliminary-round game between the Revere High School girls’ basketball team and Tewksbury, it seemed to have all the makings of a close contest. Unfortunately for visiting Revere, what actually transpired was far different in an eventual 53-34 loss. The state rankings seemed to have it right, putting Tewksbury (10-10 entering the game) at number 23 among 66 Div. 2 teams. Meanwhile, the 12-8 Patriots were placed back at 53rd but made it into the tourney as the 42nd seed among 44 teams.
Host Tewksbury built a 20-12 lead after one quarter and then broke it open with an 18-4 surge in the second period. Revere struggled to generate much offensively, missing several close-in field-goal attempts, while Tewksbury shot well from the perimeter and was able to go to the basket with success. Tewksbury’s Samantha Ryan was especially difficult to stop on offense. She displayed an array of scoring, from inside the paint to beyond the arc. The hosts also had a distinct size edge, and they took advantage of it by grabbing a number of offensive rebounds, particularly in the first half.
Revere’s top player and scorer, Carolina Bettero, was held to just two points on two free throws over the first two quarters, and Tewksbury entered the break with an imposing 38-16 lead. The Patriots came out of the intermission with more intensity and played the hosts evenly over the final 16 minutes. In fact, Revere outscored Tewksbury 18-15 in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough to pose a threat.
Bettero got it going on offense by netting 16 second-half points, including a three-pointer. She finished with a team-high 18 for the game. Four other Patriots made the scoring sheet. Elaysia Lung tallied seven points (all in the first half), Skyla DeSimone and Haley Belloise added four each, and Bella Stamatopoulos knocked down a free throw for her lone point.
Tewksbury moved on to play 10th-seeded Canton in Round 32 on Friday. Revere finished its season 12-9 overall under first-year Head Coach Chris Porrazzo. The Patriots finished third in the Greater Boston League with an 11-3 record in league play.
Seniors Bettero, DeSimone, Maressa Nunes Oliveira and Diane Mancia played their final game in a Revere uniform.