The Revere High boys basketball team turned in what head coach Rick Hayes termed “our best all around game of the season†to earn a 73-66 victory over Chelsea last week.
The highly touted Red Devils, who entered the contest with an 11-1 record that includes victories over Division 1 teams such as Salem and Peabody, came seeking revenge for the Pats’ earlier victory two weeks ago that marked the only blemish on Chelsea’s record. When the Red Devils jumped out to a 17-7 lead after the first period, it appeared as though a rout might be in the offing.
However, Hayes and his Patriot crew weathered the early Chelsea outburst and soon asserted control of the battle in the second frame, turning the 10 point deficit into a 33-30 advantage at the intermission.
The Pats continued their sharp shooting and employed what Hayes called an extended 3-2 zone defense designed to counter Chelsea’s top scoring threat, Cesar Castro, who is one of the top players on the North Shore. “The team worked our defensive scheme to perfection,†Hayes noted afterwards. The three point Revere lead ballooned to a 51-38 margin at the third quarter mark.
Chelsea made a desperate to get back into the game with a barrage of long three point shots that often found nothing but net. Indeed, the Red Devils sank six treys in the final eight minutes. However, the most balanced scoring attack of the season allowed Revere to hold off the Chelsea charge and the Pats walked away comfortably with a 73-66 triumph.
Trey Weathers and Greg Cabral led Revere in the scoring department with 16 points each, but major contributions were put forward by Ed Maglio (11 points on three treys), Jonathan Muteba (nine points), Matt Handy (eight points), Will Weathers and Paul Norton (five points each with the latter hitting a three), and Dom Boyce with three points.
“It was a great game for us at both ends of the floor,†said Hayes. “Everybody contributed and everybody played a key role in the win.â€
Revere then took on Winthrop, another 11-1 team on Friday, but did not fare as well in a 77-52 loss. A slow start found the Pats trailing 23-6 after the first period, a deficit from which they never were able fully to recover.
The Pats made some adjustments on defense and sliced the 17 point deficit to 11 at the half and got as close as five points in the third period, but a few key calls that went Winthrop’s way stymied the Revere comeback effort. The Winthrop offense, led by all scholastic guard Dino Mallios, who finished with 29 points on the night, then reignited and got the lead back to 17 after three periods.
Cabral was the top scorer for the Pats with 15 points, followed by Will Weathers and Norton with eight; Trey Weathers, Handy, and Frank Colleran with five; Maglio with four; and Boyce with a pair.
Hayes and his squad were set to host Swampscott last night (Tuesday) and will travel to Danvers on Friday. They then will host Salem next Tuesday.
