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Eastie Jets past turnover-prone Lawrence

Tuesday, February, 23 By Hector Longo

LAWRENCE - Much like the entire regular season, Paul Neal expected just a little more out of his basketball team.

Neal's Lancers accomplished a lot of good things in last night's Division 1 North tourney opener at No. 6 East Boston.

Turnovers and no control on the defensive glass denied Lawrence, seeded 11th, the upset as Eastie survived, 75-71.

"I think we really did some good things," said Lawrence coach Paul Neal. "I know we played with effort."

Call it East Boston's quickness, the Jets' pressure or the simple heat of the tourney, Lawrence neglected to take care of the basketball, turning it over 37 times on the night, 22 in the first half alone.

Still, Lawrence hung around, trailing 30-28 at the break and 54-52 after three.

"We turned the ball over, but we made shots and made plays," added Neal. "Cut back a couple of those turnovers, it's a different game."

But Eastie simply unleashed leaper Dimitry Coronel on the offensive glass, and the Lancers had no answers.

Coronel delivered 22 of his 23 in the second half as the Jets rolled up 30 second-chance points.

A Yadoris Arias steal and layin knotted things at 58-58 with 5:15 left, the last time Lawrence would sniff the lead.

Coronel worked the offensive boards for two free throws then pulled up from 15 foot, landing a killer jumper to make it 62-58.

Lawrence fought, with Jaylen Alicea, Dawrin Pereyra and Arias all knocking in threes, but the Jets, who spent the better part of the night on the foul line (21 of 36 compared to the Lancers 4 of 9) made them when it counted, locking up the win.

"I truly believe this team is talented," said Neal, who was forced to alter his starting lineup due to disciplinary reason. "As a coaching staff, we're going to have to take a look at ourselves, because we didn't get the best out of them. Whatever we did, didn't work.

"I'm not sure the kids believed me that discipline off the court carries on to the court and vice versa. It's our (21st)game of the season, I should be starting my best players. I should be playing my best players. Instead I'm still trying to instill discipline."

Alicea led the Lancers with 16 points, eight assists and five steals. Pereyra chipped in 14 points, including back-to-back triples that gave Lawrence its largest lead at 34-30 early in the third. Senior Michael Calzetta closed out his year with 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Jesse Hiraldo came off the bench to drop in a dozen.

Additional stories:

• Eastie Jets past turnover-prone Lawrence