Day scores 65 to net 1,000th point in final game as Revere finishes strong

By Dom Nicastro

  Talk about a finish. To a career. To a season. And to another moment in the record books.

Ethan Day, a Revere High School boys basketball senior, scored an incredible 65 points and reached the 1,000-point milestone on his last game as a Patriot. It came in Revere’s 80-53 win over Northeast Voke in the consolation round of the Patton Tournament at Hamilton-Wenham High School Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The way he did it? We’ll let Day himself explain:

“There was 15 seconds left in the game. I had the ball on a fastbreak going up the court. I missed a contested layup, and my teammate Erick Mayorga got the rebound and passed back for an open floater.”

Revere finished the season 8-12, just two games shy of qualifying for the Division 1 tourney.

Day’s finish? 65th point for the evening. 1,000^th point for his career. Not a bad final few seconds.

He joins Sal Botari (1987) and Trae Weathers (2010) in the Grand Club for Revere boys basketball.

“My senior year was good and a lot of fun,” Day said. “I was hoping to get 10 wins to make the state tournament, but we lost a lot of close games. But it was very fun, and I’m happy my senior year was with a very fun and great group of teammates.”

Day also added 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals as he notched Point No. 1,000 “with the help of all his great teammates,” according to Revere coach David Leary. “He’s the third boy in the history of the school to do it.”

Day also led Revere in points with 27 in the opening round of the tourney – a 44-42 loss to Hamilton-Wenham, the tourney champion. He grabbed nine boards, and senior forward Erick Mayorga added five points and seven rebounds.

Earlier, the Patriots traveled to Tewksbury for a crucial matchup against a top-ranked Tewksbury of Division 2. The Patriots, who had suffered a 72-52 defeat in their first encounter, were determined to keep their state tournament hopes alive on Senior Night.

The Patriots started strong, with senior tri-captain Josh Mercado sinking a corner 3-pointer and senior forward Erick Mayorga making a tough inside basket. Day contributed with two baskets and two free throws early on. Freshman guard Charles Dobre also made his presence felt with a strong fast-break finish.

Despite their efforts, Revere found itself trailing 18-15 after the first quarter.

The game continued at a measured pace into the second quarter, with both teams exchanging efficient offensive plays. Avi Lung, Revere’s senior tri-captain, drove to the basket impressively, and Mayorga landed an open 3-pointer. However, Tewksbury managed to maintain its lead, finishing the half ahead, 34-28.

The second half saw Revere making a concerted effort to close the gap, ignited by Day’s back-to-back 3-pointers and a series of free throws. A strategic drive and kick from Day to Dobre for a corner three brought the Patriots within one point of Tewksbury.

Yet, despite playing their best basketball of the season during this stretch, Revere’s offense faltered, and Tewksbury extended its lead to 54-43 by the end of the third quarter.

The final quarter proved difficult for Revere as the Patriots struggled to convert opportunities. Day managed a layup and two free throws, and Dobre added a layup, but Tewksbury’s consistent performance from beyond the arc kept it in control, ultimately sealing the game at 66-49. This loss dashed Revere’s hopes for tournament play, but Coach Leary remained optimistic.

“Proud of the way these guys fought until the end,” Leary remarked. “They knew what was on the line and could have just given in early in the third quarter when we got down 16 but to our credit, we pushed back.”

Thursday night brought an emotional Senior Night as Revere hosted Brooke Boston High School. The night was made even more special as two-year team manager Brady Kerr, dressed in uniform for the first time, scored the Patriots’ first basket to a standing ovation. Energized by the crowd and the significance of the evening, the Patriots led 34-20 at halftime, driven by strong performances from their seniors.

The second half saw Revere maintain its lead, fueled by solid free-throw shooting and continued aggressive play. The Patriots eventually closed out a 64-45 victory, giving their seniors a memorable final home game.

An emotional Coach Leary reflected on the evening, “Just a special night for our kids, our community and our program. Brady will always have this moment to remember, and it was so awesome that he was able to share it with his parents, our seniors and their friends. I think being a part of this puts a lot of the winning, losing, etc. in perspective. We have a great group of kids and seniors that always stayed together this year during the ups and downs and that’s important when you are a part of a sports team or just in life in general. So happy these guys got to go out on a positive note.”