RallyNorth.net

The third time may be a charm, but it's hardly what lifted Andover to a convincing 44-34 victory over a flustered Lowell team last night in a much-anticipated Division 1 North semifinal clash.

The Golden Warriors (21-3), who fell to Lowell in the semis the last two years, beat the Red Raiders at their own game, right around the basket, as well as all other facets of the game. As a result, they advance to Saturday's 5:45 p.m. sectional championship game against archrival Central Catholic at the Tsongas Arena.

Amid her teary-eyed players, Methuen High girls basketball coach Karen McLaughlin dispensed a small nugget of wisdom. "This is the hardest part," she said. "I always said, to get here, you had to be successful."

The Swampscott girls basketball coach, Jack Hughes, couldn't call it heart-breaking, even if the NEC south champs nearly pulled off the upset of the year against a Lowell opponent that literally and figuratively had an all star at all five positions.

After splitting a pair of battles this season, Andover and Lowell, the two brightest lights in the Merrimack Valley Conference galaxy, hit the Dunn Gym last night and threw massive amounts of defense at each other.

LOWELL | This one didn't quite live up to the high standard Andover and Lowell have set over the past few seasons.

But the Red Raiders will take it. They pounded the Golden Warriors inside down the stretch, pulling out a 51-42 victory last night in front of a crowd of about 300 at the Riddick Field House.

METHUEN | Meghan Thomann knows it won't be this easy again. But hey, it was fun while it lasted.

The Bentley College-bound senior guard scored 24 points | including 18 in the second half | to lead Andover over Eastern Massachusetts No. 1 Lowell, 59-45, in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament semifinals last night at Klimas Memorial Field House.

Salem gave undefeated Lowell its best shot in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament | but for only a little more than a quarter in a 60-43 Red Raiders win.

The Blue Devils, behind senior guard Danielle Stoodley (team-high 15 points) and junior forward Amanda Saab (14 points, 16 rebounds) led 8-7 after a drive down the lane for a basket by sophomore forward Olivia Connors. That came just moments after talented Lowell center Whitney Wilson went down with an ankle injury and left the game for good.

Ashley Rivera admitted it: She came into last March's Division 1 North final too cocky.

"We played like it was going to be handed to us," the Lowell point guard said.

Central Catholic walked away from Tsongas Arena with a victory. Rivera walked away with a headache. "It was definitely painful," she said. "Everybody thought it was our year."