WOBURN - Breaking the school’s all-time boys scoring record was nice, but Alex Rivera put it second on his bucket list last night.
Rivera scored 27 points as Lowell (16-3) went on a 16-1 run in the fourth quarter to defeat BC High, 70-59, in the opening round of the 30th annual Comcast Dvinci Energy Basketball Classic at Woburn High School. His three-pointer in the second quarter allowed him to surpass Ramon Rivera’s previous standard of 1,459 established from 1981-85.
“At the beginning of the season, I was thinking about it a little bit,” said Rivera, who ended the contest with 1,476 points. “But it was much more important for us to win this game (last night) because of the tournament seedings. We don’t want to have to play a tough game on the road.”
While Rivera was outstanding, the Lowell supporting cast was the difference down the stretch. Nate Siow (13 points) and Rashawn Settles (seven) each had seven points in the fourth quarter, while Justin Villanueva battled his way to 12 rebounds.
“It’s all about them having confidence,” Rivera said. “I just tell them to keep shooting, don’t worry about anything else.”
BC High (12-6) was led by Travis Evee with 20 points (13 from the foul line) and Mike Vasil (19).
Lowell will play Needham (15-3) for the Div. 1 crown. Thomas Shaughnessy’s 3-point basket with 30 seconds left in overtime put the Rockets ahead for good and they went on to defeat Arlington, 78-74. Shaughnessy finished with 33 points, 11 coming in the extra session.
Arlington (15-4) forced the extra session when Ben Wasco (21 points) hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Bensley Joseph led the way for the Spy Ponders with 32.
In Div. 2 boys first-round action, Danny Yardemian scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and added six assists as Belmont (14-5) defeated Brighton, 72-69. Will Ellet came off the bench to add 16 for the Marauders.
Brighton (11-6) was led by its two big men in the paint. Jerrod Clark tallied 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Quincy Taylor added 21 points and 17 rebounds.
Belmont will play St. Mary’s (15-2), which defeated crosstown rival Lynn Classical, 69-62. Jalen Echevarria scored 16 of his game-high 22 points, while Joseph Abate-Walsh added for 19. Jaylen Johnson tallied 19 for Lynn Classical (12-7).
In the Div. 2 girls consolation game, Andrea Schiavone scored 16 points to lead Woburn (17-2) to a 53-40 win over Fontbonne. In the Div. 1 consolation game, Adriana Timberlake scored 11 of her 14 points in the first quarter as Braintree (17-3) jumped out to a 24-4 lead and coasted to a 60-36 victory over Bishop Feehan.
COMCAST DVINCI BASKETBALL CLASSIC
At Woburn
BOYS
DIVISION 1 FIRST ROUND
Lowell 70, BC High 59
Needham 78, Arlington 74 (ot)
DIVISION 2 FIRST ROUND
Belmont 72, Brighton 69
St. Mary’s 69, Lynn Classical 62
GIRLS
DIVISION 1 CONSOLATION
Braintree 60, Bishop Feehan 36
DIVISION 2 CONSOLATION
Woburn 53, Fontbonne 40
