RallyNorth.net

NORTH ANDOVER — The last thing Andover's sputtering offense needed to see was a driven North Andover High club, still stinging from their last venture into the Merrimack Valley Conference.

LAWRENCE — A reporter hectored Franklin Martinez as to why he and the Lancers couldn't put four high-octane quarters of basketball together.

The honest answer was probably that true-blue,Paul Neal, Lancers basketball just takes so much out of you.

Freshman Dave Giribaldi scored 15 points and fellow ninth grader Connor Merinder added 10 points and 10 rebounds as Andover topped Billerica 66-54.

Andover suffered its third loss in the last four, but made things a bit interesting in a 66-64 defeat in Brockton. The Warriors down 20 to start the fourth, sliced it to a pair and had the ball late, losing it before a real shot to tie. Sam Dowden had 27 with 11 rebounds for the Warriors, while James Costello chipped in a dozen points and freshman Connor Merinder added 11.

Andover suffered its third loss in the last four, but made things a bit interesting in a 66-64 defeat in Brockton. The Warriors down 20 to start the fourth, sliced it to a pair and had the ball late, losing it before a real shot to tie. Sam Dowden had 27 with 11 rebounds for the Warriors, while James Costello chipped in a dozen points and freshman Connor Merinder added 11.

After trailing all game, Andover finally caught Lowell with nine seconds remaining on a Sam Dowden basket.  But a foul sent Lowell to the line for two free throws and both were coverted. The Golden Warriors could not score on its final trip down and lost 50-49.

Coming off the bench, Chris Dunn had nine points and Max Silveira added seven points in a 27-point second-quarter explosion that turned a nine-point Andover deficit into a 12-point halftime lead and a 58-51 victory over Chelmsford. James Costello paced the victors with 19 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals.

See plenty of highlights and interviews from Central Catholic's victory over archrival Andover.

ANDOVER — Five minutes and 48 seconds, just three field goal attempts,zero points and one legitimate upset bid obliterated.

Central Catholic's defense out of the locker room swept host Andover right off its own Dunn Gymnasium floor, turning a 27-25 deficit into a 42-27 runaway.

Four of the five athletes suspended for Andover's first six games for their involvement in the alleged offseason hazing incident returned to the lineup tonight in the 56-44 win over Tewksbury. Sam Dowden led the winners with 19.