The Revere High boys basketball took on two of the perennial powers of the Northeastern Conference in their season opening week and played well, but came out on the short end of both decisions.
Last Tuesday night’s opener against Salem was a proverbial barn burner that saw the visiting Witches score a bucket in the final five seconds to eke out a 67-65 victory.
The teams had battled evenly throughout the contest, with the Patriots closing a seven point deficit at the intermission to draw within three points after three stanzas. Salem held a 65-60 edge in the final minute, but a three pointer by Frank Colleran, followed by a defensive stop, and then a nice bank shot by Trae Weathers with 19 seconds to go deadlocked the count at 65-65.
However, Salem worked the ball for a final shot and made it. Revere had a last ditch effort as the seconds ticked away, but a desperation shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
There were a pair of key stats that told the story of the game for Revere: 5 for 17 from the free throw line and 24 turnovers.
“If we had hit our free throws and protected the ball better, it would have been a different game,†said RHS head coach Rick Hayes. “But I have to give kudos to our team because they really played their hearts out al the way against a team that went to the Garden last year.â€
Junior pivotman Chris Palladino, a newcomer to the Patriots this season via a transfer from St. Mary’s of Lynn, topped the scoresheet with 17 points, 14 of them coming in the second half. Paul Norton, whom Hayes lauded for a “great all around game,†tingled the twine for 15 points, including a trio of treys.
Weathers also reached double figures with 14 points. Greg Cabral made a nice contribution with nine points, followed by Sean Quiroz with seven and Colleran with three.
Friday night’s contest at English saw the Pats shoot much better at the charity stripe (13 for 18), but a total of 24 turnovers once again caused the offense to sputter. Revere fought back from a 14 point deficit at the intermission to draw within seven by the end of the third period, but English had too many horses and ended up with an 81-69 triumph.
Weathers led the Patriots with 20 points, with Cabral hitting for 14 and Palladino for 12. Quiroz also reached double digits with 10 points and a passel of steals that speedy Sean turned into breakaway baskets. Colleran added seven, with Norton, Sodawine Nov, and Alex Urena chipping in with two apiece.
Hayes and his crew hosted Beverly last night (Tuesday) and host Lynn Classical tomorrow evening.
The Pats will be off until after the Christmas break.
