LYNN — It doesn’t get better than it got Thursday night in the Lynn Classical gym.
It was big shot after big shot; surge after surge; pressure-packed moment after pressure-packed moment. But someone had to win it, and on this night it was the Rams, in overtime, riding some late-game heroics by junior Ava Thurman to defeat Saugus, 53-51.
The win avenges an early-season loss by Classical to the Sachems.
“It’s a game of runs,” said Saugus coach Mark Schruender. “Unfortunately for us, they made the last one.”
Thurman finished the game with 18 points, got her last two baskets on twisting, acrobatic layups. The first came with 1:08 left in overtime, the second with 25.4 seconds left. The Rams needed them both because Saugus, which answered every Classical run, got one with time running out by April Aldred.
“One thing you can say for Ave,” said Classical coach Tom Sawyer, “is that she is a competitor. She’ll do anything to win. Both in games and in practice.”
Classical opened the game up with an 8-3 advantage and led 16-8 after a quarter. But Saugus’ defense smothered the Rams in the second period, holding them to a single point — a Thurman foul shot with two seconds left. However, the Sachems only led by a point, 21-20.
Classical recovered in the third period in a big way, parlaying a 10-2 run into a six-point lead after three, 36-30. Saugus was able to climb to within six thanks to eighth-grader Peyton DiBiasio’s three-pointer from just inside the center line, after which she walked triumphantly back to the bench.
It looked as if Classical would hold on in regulation, as Lauren Hennessey’s three-pointer with 2:13 to go gave the Rams a 47-41 lead. But Samantha Shea hit a foul shot, Ashleen Escobar scored a bucket, and then Aldred practically scraped the ceiling with a three-pointer with 21.3 seconds left in regulation, forcing overtime.
And there it went, back and forth, until Thurman took over.
“I told the kids they were going to be the death of me, but right after that I told them what a great job they did. I’m proud of them for hanging in the way they did. It was just a great high-school game,” said Sawyer.
Classical raised its record to 15-4. Saugus fell to 11-8.
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Tuesday, the Rams defeated Swampscott, 47-41. Thurman led the way with 16 points and Reese Brinkler had 10.
Classical trailed the whole game, but a 15-4 fourth quarter helped to put the Rams over the top.