Patriot boys smother Rams for 2nd win

Defense was the focal point for the Revere High School boys’ basketball team as it shut down the Lynn Classical Rams in the second half and came away with a low-scoring 43-22 home victory Tuesday night. The win left the Patriots with a 2-1 record to open the 2022-23 season.

Head coach David Leary commented that the team’s defense was “fantastic” over the final two periods. Revere was led by senior captain Domenic Boudreau, who poured home 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Junior forward Andrew Leone added five points to go along with a strong night on the boards with 11 rebounds.

After losing a hard-fought 63-60 overtime game against neighboring Everett (a team that was ranked high in preseason polls) in last week’s season opener at home, the Patriots turned on the defensive prowess in a 53-35 win over Somerville last Friday. Boudreau once again stepped up with a productive effort. He netted a team-high 19 points and contributed five boards and three steals.

Senior captain Alejandro Hincapie finished with nine points and six steals. Boudreau exploded for 12 of his 19 points in the third quarter as Revere turned a 31-16 halftime lead into a 45-20 cushion after three quarters.

Leary told the press after the Somerville win that the team was not as sharp as it had been in the season opener against Everett. But the defensive play made the difference. “Our defense fueled us and allowed us to build the lead. I think these guys wanted to bounce back after the tough loss [against Everett] and we got contributions from across the roster.”

In the loss to the Tide, the Patriots battled back from a 13-point deficit entering the final quarter. Once again, it was the defense that rose to the occasion by holding Everett to just seven points in the fourth quarter. At the same time, host Revere came alive with 20 points in the fourth to force the contest to an OT period at 57-all.

The Tide would outscore Revere 6-3 in the extra session to come away with the 63-60 victory.  Senior captain Vincent Nichols led the Patriots with 17 points and nine rebounds, followed by Hincapie with 12 points and five assists, and Boudreau with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Revere played the Kennedy Academy of Health on Thursday (after press deadline) and resumes action when it participates in the David Green Memorial Holiday tourney at Winthrop on Dec. 28-29.