Cranston Uses Press to Cruise Past Classical

Cranston East opened up league play against Classical in a Friday night home game for the Thunderbolts. Classical had only two leads in the game, at 3-2 and 5-2. The Bolts cruised from there, ultimately winning 64-56.

In the opening moments of the game sophomore captain Ismael Batista drove to the lane and found fellow sophomore Ariel Batista who laid it up and in, giving Classical a 5-2 lead. East responded as John Razzino drilled a three tying the game.

A few plays later, junior center Patrick Marchand found Razzino who nailed a jumper giving East a 9-5 lead, capping a 7-0 run for the Bolts. Razzino finished with 16 points on the night, and knocked down three shots from beyond the arc. Classical fought back and a lay up by sophomore Jose Leon trimmed the deficit to one, at 13-12.

Both teams fought hard the entire night and throughout the rest of the half they traded baskets. The Bolts went on a 10-3 run during the last four minutes of the half, as junior Christopher Kpahn's runner in the lane made it 23-15 Bolts. Heading into halftime East led 25-18.

During the first few minutes of the second half, neither team took complete control of the game, as they both were scoring. Marchand, who led the Bolts with 18 points and 14 rebounds, made a lay up to push East's lead to 35-26.

The Purple would not go down without a fight, as they went on a 6-0 run cutting the lead to 35-32 with about ten minutes left in the game. The Bolts responded with their own 5-0 run, capped by a Razzino three.

A big play by Leon, a three point play, cut Classical's deficit to six points with about six-and-a-half remaining in the game. However, they would not get any closer throughout the rest of the game.

With about three minutes remaining, East used a quick 6-2 run to take their largest lead of the night at 59-45. The last play of the drive came on the fast break as Razzino dished to Robert Bell who finished the play with the lay up.

Classical cut the lead to 59-53, with an 8-0 run, but it would not be enough. East hung on for the victory, winning 64-56.

The Purple's Ismael Batista led the team in scoring, pouring in 18 points, and Leon added 15 points.

Marchand felt effective teamwork was key in the game.

"We really worked as a team," he said, "When they cut the lead to three, we did not put our heads down. We got out and ran a lot. We are one of the quickest teams in the league."

Bill Coughlin, the head coach for the Bolts, said he was proud of his team.

"I thought are kids played hard and played together," he said.

John Kavanagh, Classical's head coach, praised the Thunderbolts.

"East had a good game plan," he said, "They have a lot of weapons."

Kavanagh said he was not happy with his team's defense down the stretch.

"We gave up 35 points the first 26 minutes of the game, and 29 points in the last ten minutes," he said.

Classical drops to 0-2 on the season (0-1 in league play) and East improves to 1-1, 1-0 in league play.