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February 27, 2018 · 11:16 pm

Newburyport gets past Lynn Tech 67-63 after twenty-four lead changes

The Clippers begin to celebrate their win over Lynn Tech

Casey McLaren led all scorers with thirty points.

(Newburyport MA) A year ago, in the same gym and on the same date, the Clippers led Lynn Tech 30-5 at halftime and won easily, 70-36.

Believe me, that was then.

Tonight, the Lynn Tigers did everything but win versus the same Clippers.

The final was 67-63 and there was little to choose between the two teams in this first-round battle in Division 3 North.

Both teams were 13-7 coming in and it took a coin toss to determine where this game would be held.

How close was the game itself? How about seven ties. How about TWENTY-FOUR lead changes! There were at least five lead changes in every quarter.

Both teams had high-scoring weapons. Casey McLaren (30 points) and his brother Parker (17 points) paced Newburyport while Robert Wallace (25 points) and Belmin Berilo (22 points) led the Tigers.

The last tie was 63-63 with 2:22 left in the game.

Casey McLaren stretches the NHS lead to four points with this jump shot in front of the student section.

The Clippers pulled in front, 65-63, on a George Coryell layup set up by Parker McLaren. After an empty LT possession, Casey McLaren nailed a jump shot from the foul line area with 1:27 to go that sealed this one for the home team.

No doubt Lynn Tech was exhausted down the stretch. In the final minute the Clippers ate the clock on two different occasions with LT unable to foul to stop the clock.

“Casey played terrific,” said Coach Dave Clay afterwards. “He has incredible instincts for the game.”

Casey had six three’s, getting at least one in each quarter.

His top crowd-pleasing moment? A steal in the final quarter that he turned into the only dunk of the game.

Plenty of defense played by both squads.

Robert Wallace led the Tigers with twenty-five points

“We needed to get the ball to the middle of the court and then look opposite,” explained Coach Clay on how to handle the press. “However, Lynn Tech was so well-coached that it was hard to do.”

The Clippers (14-7) will next face top-seed St. Mary’s on Thursday.

Newburyport led 21-20 after one quarter. Lynn Tech led 35-34 after two quarters. Newburyport led 53-52 after three quarters. There just was no true separation!

LT coach Stevie Patrick took his team to the locker room after the game without having his team participate in the normal post-game hand shaking. I’m not sure what that was about.

The Clippers had been 3-4 in February before tonight’s win.

Lynn Tech was 7-14 last season. You talk about improvement!

Lynn Tech box

Newburyport box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge when you click on them.)

Casey McLaren blocks a shot

Belmin Berilo

Tre Baldwin guarded by Casey McLaren

Belmin Berilo (22 points) gets free

George Coryell

Jama Aroni chases Casey McLaren

Parker McLaren (17 points tries to drive on Tre Baldwin

Jama Aroni

Ryan Archie looks to pass

Newburyport drubs Lynn Tech 70-36 in D3 North First Round

Casey McLaren (18 points) had good looks most of the night.

Nick Rogers (14 points) guarded by Dantai Robertson

(Newburyport MA) Disappointing performance by Lynn Tech.

#2 Newburyport trounced #15 LT, 70-36, on Monday night in First Round action in the Division 3 North tournament.

The Clippers (18-3) scored the first eleven points of the game before the Tigers (7-14) finally made a basket (John Marino) six minutes into the first quarter.

The second quarter followed suit. Newburyport started it with a 14-1 run as the game reached the embarrassing level (30-5) with 3:40 to go until halftime.

The Clippers were very impressive all over the court.

The Tigers (winners of four straight coming in) tried to zone the Clippers but instead of shutting down the inside there were opening galore to the basket. Newburyport made sixteen layups in the game.

I saw the Newburyport game against Lynnfield and Casey McLaren struggled early but ended up with double figures. No struggles early this time for the talented sophomore. Shots from all levels seemed available and, versus Lynn Tech, Casey led all scorers with eighteen points.

LT coach Stevie Patrick had Marcus Taylor denying the ball to Casey in the second half but by then the game was well out of hand.

Noah Van Schalkwyk in the lane for Newburyport

In Lynn Tech’s disastrous first quarter the Newburyport man-to-man defense forced seven turnovers.

The Clippers usually take and make many three’s during a game but versus Lynn Tech the inside chances ruled the day. The Tigers had as many 3’s (four) as the Clippers did.

LT had three brutal scoring droughts. I have already referenced two of them. Here’s the third: in the final 6 ½ minutes of the game, Lynn Tech was held scoreless while Newburyport collected thirteen points.

Put those three droughts together and during sections of this game Lynn Tech was outscored, 38 to 1!

Belmin Berilo paced the Tigers with eight points.

Lynn Tech won the Commonwealth Athletic Conference Small division.

Good crowd of Newburyport enthusiasts in the house. Forget just being the sixth-man. Before the game, they turned into some type of choral group as they performed the National Anthem.

Newburyport box

Lynn Tech box

(All pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)