ITEM FILE PHOTO
Jaylen Johnson helped engineer the Rams’ comeback Saturday.
By STEVE KRAUSE
LYNN — Sometimes in sports, nothing beats athleticism. Saturday’s 57-50 Classical win over Belmont in the MIAA Division 2 North boys basketball quarterfinal is a case in point.
Classical was behind the 8-ball from the opening tap to halfway through the third quarter. Belmont was having its way with the Rams’ customary man-to-man defense,with guard Dan Yardemian (game-high 24 points) and big forward Paul Ramsey (14) feasting on the good looks they were getting.
In the meantime, Classical couldn’t hit a thing from the outside, giving proof to the oft-repeated claim about this year’s Rams that they live by the 3-pointer and die by it.
But curiously enough, for all that, Belmont never got to the point where it ran and away and hid. Its biggest lead was eight (34-26 in the second quarter).
It was still a 7-point game (41-34) in the third quarter when assistant coach Jasper Grassa decided to switch to a 3-2 zone, and it solved all of Classical’s problems.
“It wasn’t just the zone,” said Belmont coach Adam Pritchard, “but it was their quick hands and their athleticism. They made steals and got right down and scored.”
“That was Jasper’s idea,” said Classical coach Tom Grassa. “We weren’t turning them over. And when we went to the zone, we started.
“I think Jasper screamed at (Jaylen) Johnson at one point ‘you haven’t made a single steal.’ And after he said that, he came up with three.”
There’s no doubt Johnson was author of the Classical comeback. He finished the game with 19 points to lead the team, but it was his defense — his and Dyrrell Rucker’s efforts to shut down Yardemian — that turned the tide.
Johnson started asserting himself late in the third quarter with two quick steals and baskets to start closing the gap, and he came up with three more conversions in the fourth as Classical surpassed Belmont (46-45) with 3:50 to go and never looked back.
Down the stretch, as Classical tried to hang onto its lead and Belmont resorted to fouling to get the ball back, the Rams made 75 percent of their free throws.
“We had nine of 12 with under four minutes to go,” Grassa said. “I’d say that’s good.”
The game was nip-and-tuck for the first half until Belmont opened it up. Once Classical began coming back, Edwin Solis was deadly from the foul line, making three of four free throws down the stretch to keep the Marauders at arm’s length. He finished with 13 points.
Classical plays Tuesday (7) in the semifinal against Malden Catholic in Burlington.
