Despite jumping out to a huge lead early on, the Lynn Tech boys basketball team ended up holding on for a close win over Greater Lawrence, 60-59, on the road Tuesday evening. The Tigers initially jumped out to a 22-1 lead with some hot shooting, but Greater Lawrence was able to cut the deficit in half by halftime.
“We came out really strong tonight, which was good to see,” said Tech coach Stevie Patrick. “Then we started making some quick, wrong decisions that let them get back into the game. But we were strong enough to be able to hold on in this one.”
Rob Wallace led the way for Tech with 24 points, while Belmin Berillo added 12 points. Jama Aroni contributed 11 points.
After an 0-8 start to the season last year, grabbing a win on the first game was a welcome relief for Patrick and the Tigers.
“It feels good to be 1-0,” Patrick said. “Hopefully we can build off this and keep winning games going forward.”
The Tigers will try to make it a two-game win streak this afternoon when they go up against Fellowship Academy on the road.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Swampscott 61, Stoneham 58
Jake McIntire had 23 points to help pace the Swampscott offense as the Big Blue opened up the season with a win at home on Tuesday night. Jackson Byrne added 11 points and hit a big three-pointer to help seal the win in the fourth quarter, while freshman point guard Jaheed Allen-Paisley contributed seven points and ran the offense.
“It was a solid win for us against a good team,” said Swampscott coach Justin Fucile. “Stoneham did a good job staying in the game the whole time, so it was a great test for our guys to start the year.”
The Big Blue (1-0) will take on Marblehead in a Northeastern Conference matchup on Friday night.
Winthrop 80, Malden Catholic 65
The Vikings start the season with a win on their home floor, the first victory for new Winthrop coach David Sacco. Tayjuan McKenzie led the Vikings with 28 points and six rebounds, Devin Pulsifer scored 14 points with five assists and Chrono Washington added 21 points and seven assists.
Needham 72, St. John’s Prep 62
Home-court advantage wasn’t enough for St. John’s Prep on Tuesday as the Eagles dropped their season opener to fall to 0-1.
St. John’s will try again for its first win on Saturday when the Eagles host Newburyport.
SWIMMING
Peabody 88, English 78
For English, Caroline Zuffante took first place in the 200 freestyle (2:13.31) and the 500 freestyle (6:00.59). Mary Lawor finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:08.46) and Hannah Trahant earned second place in diving (153.83). Lawor, Zuffante, Trahant, Adamma Uzoma took second place in the 200 free relay (2:00.08). Peter Phelan, Devyn Curley, Shane Carino and Zuffante earned second place in the 400 free relay (4:43.40). English (0-1) is back in the pool next Tuesday at Salem.
For Peabody, Bella Forte won diving (159.30) with Avery Langone ranking third (137.7).
Tanner swimmers won all three relays, with the all-girl 200 medley relay team of Cana and Michaelena Teague, Sophia Medina, and Stephanie McLean qualifying for sectionals.
The all-male team of Roman Bukhovko, Jack Frithsen, Jonathan Atwood, and William Connolly took home the win in the 200 freestyle relay. Bukhovko and Atwood were accompanied by Anthony Minichillo and Jared Alphen to win the remaining 400 freestyle relay.
Individual event winners include Connolly (200 IM and 100 Fly), Minichillo (50 and 100 Free), and Michaelena Teague (100 Breaststroke). Teague’s time of 1:12.56 qualifies her for sectionals and states, in addition to her sectionals-qualifying 200 IM (2:25.02). Cana Teague will join her at sectionals, individually qualifying with a 1:06.26 in the 100 Fly.
Marblehead 94, Salem 68
It was a big day for the Magicians in their season opener on Tuesday, including for double-winner Meagan Hathaway, who won the 200-meter individual medley (2:12.30) and the 500 freestyle (5:18.91). Other winners for Marblehead were Theo Chemel in the 100 backstroke (1:03.91), Amanda Wager in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.78), Lucas Perez in the 100 butterfly (1:06.07), Mae Caldwell in the 100 freestyle (1:00.01) and Brian Coleman in the 200 freestyle (2:00.53). The Magicians also grabbed a relay win when the team of Chemel, Wager, Perez and Coleman took the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:51.23.
Marblehead (1-0) will swim again on Tuesday against Swampscott.
Bishop Fenwick 91, Arlington Catholic 77
The Crusaders started the season on the right foot with a solid win. Fenwick had three double-winners on the night, with Catherine Christuk taking the 100 backstroke (1:00.75) and the 200 freestyle (2:02.81), Rowan Emerson winning the 100 breaststroke (1:05.22) and the 200 individual medley (2:23.63) and Sophia Lumino winning the 50 freestyle (25.53) and the 100 freestyle (55.10). Other winners on the day were Sabrina Botthof in the 100 butterfly (1:09.37) and Sarah Long in the 500 freestyle (6:46.47).
The Crusaders also swept the relay portion of the meet. The team of Christuk, Lumino, Long and Rebecca Leeman won the 200 medley relay (2:01.72), the team of Botthof, Lumino, Emerson and Syd Topel won the 200 freestyle relay (1:54.41) and the team of Long, Leeman, Emerson and Christuk won the 400 freestyle relay (4:17.41).
Fenwick (1-0) won’t swim again until next Thursday when the Crusaders travel to Lowell Catholic.
TRACK
St. John’s Prep 56, Catholic Memorial 39
The Eagles are now 1-0 after opening the season with a win over a Catholic Conference opponent at the Reggie Lewis Center on Tuesday.
St. John’s won’t run again until Dec. 26 when the Eagles will take on Xaverian at Reggie Lewis.