Yet the crowd for the jamboree, named for the late Lynn English football coach, left director Tom Sawyer, who is also the Classical girls basketball coach, with big smile on his face.
"I am very pleasantly surprised by the turnout," he said after the last game in the 7-hour long event wrapped up. "The people really came out in support. This is a scholarship event, and it's nice to see the support we got for it."
Classical finished the afternoon with a taut 21-19 loss to Reading, during which Paris Wilkey and Tyarah Horton had seven points each.
"Paris looked very good," Sawyer said. She's added offensive rebounding to her game. She's worked hard on that during the off-season. And I thought Tyarah had a nice game too."
Lynn English lost a tough game to Masconomet, 20-14. The Bulldogs were tied with the Chieftains, 12-12, at the half, but Masco pulled away, limiting English to just two points in the final eight minutes.
The jamboree consisted of two 8-minute periods, with a short break in between.
The Chieftains, pressed into action when the snow created travel issues for one of the teams scheduled to play, also defeated Revere, 27-19. The Patriots, trying to adjust to life without Pamela Rodriguez, got six points from Valentia Pepic, who was a presence in the low post.
Playing back-to-back didn't bother Masco coach Bob Romeo.
"We needed the work," he said. "I'm anxious for the games to start."
Peabody had a tough time shaking Billerica, falling 31-13. Liz Zaiter led the Tanners with six points.
Saugus hung with Hamilton-Wenham before falling 17-13. The game marked the return to the local coaching ranks of former Swampscott athletic director Jon Flanagan, who is directing the Generals this year.
Jacq Fibbie hit two back-breaking 3-pointers in the second half to put distance between the Generals and Sachems, who had lost a competitive game to St. Mary's Friday night. Saugus Taylor Bogdanski and Jillian Ricupero had four points apiece for Saugus.
Fenwick also defeated Danvers, 31-16. Other local teams involved included Swampscott, Marblehead and Medford.
