EHS Survives and Advances
Clutch free-throw shooting, defensive stops, and physical rebounding propelled the Everett Crimson Tide to an elusive sectional semifinal victory over Lowell Tuesday night at Salem High School.
The 71-68 triumph earns Everett a trip to Saturday’s Div. 1 North Final vs. Lawrence, which beat two-time defending state champion Cambridge in Tuesday’s other semifinal game. The game will be played at Tsongas Arena in Lowell (tip-off TBA).
Everett led 64-62 with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter when Caleb Jacobs hit the first two of seven free throws the Tide made in the closing seconds of the game to withstand a ferocious effort by Lowell and its senior sensation, Alex Rivera. The UMass-Lowell-bound guard scored a game-high 35 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter.
Lowell had four chances to tie the game in the final minute of the game, but Everett resisted and improved to 22-1.
The Crimson Tide received clutch performances from Eric Thompson (eight points in the fourth quarter) and Isaiah Likely, each of whom pulled down some crucial rebounds in the waning stages of the game. Ghared Boyce had 21 points for Everett, including nine in the third quarter when the Tide built a 50-43 lead. Jacobs (17 points) continued his excellent postseason play.
Everett had lost five consecutive sectional semifinals games and seven since 2008, including two previous losses to Lowell (2016, 2008).