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After sitting out the majority of the game with back trouble, North Andover’s Leah Chittick felt something special as she knocked down the first bucket of the fourth quarter.

“Abbie (Karalis) swung me a great pass and I hit a 3-pointer,” said Chittick. “After that basket, I could tell that there was something there. It felt really good.”

ANDOVER — As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Alyssa Casey and her fellow Andover High starters sat comfortably on the bench, exchanging hugs and preparing to charge the court and celebrate with their teammates.

North Andover's girls tightened its defense after the first quarter to hld off pesky Methuen 47-43. Megan Collins led the Knights (14-5) with 13 points and nine rebounds while Tyra Ann Scott had 17 points for the Rangers, who had a 19-18 lead after the first quarter. 

Leah Chittick delivered another monster night with 28 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as North Andover avenged an early-season loss by beating undefeated Whittier 79-71. Megan Collins added 20 points and Abbie Karalis had 15 for the Scarlet Knights.

 North Andover's girls had a big third quarter (23-10) to surge past Tewksbury on their way to a 62-55 victory that qualified them for the state tournament. Megan Collins had an impressive shooting night for the Knights (10-4) with 22 points while Abbie Karalis chipped in with 12 points and 5 assists and Nirel Lougbo had 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 6 assists and 7 points.

Abbie Karalis and freshman Emily Sifferlen, a freshman, each scored 20 points while Megan Collins added 15 points and 12 rebounds against 6-3 Alexi Schecter as North Andover girls won 60-52 over Lowell. 

NORTH ANDOVER — North Andover scored the final 17 points of the first quarter to take a 22-8 lead and Andover never recovered. The Knights won 62-56.

With Andover unbeaten (9-0) and ranked No. 3 in all of Eastern Mass., this will go down as one of the great wins in North Andover girls basketball history.

Abbie Karalis poured in a game-high 30 points to lead North Andover girls basketball 63-56 over Central Catholic in girls basketball action. 

Abbie Karalis poured in a game-high 30 points to lead North Andover girls basketball 63-56 over Central Catholic in girls basketball action. 

NORTH ANDOVER — As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Andover co-captain Rachael Cormier did everything she could to subdue her excitement.

“Once we stole the ball with about 30 seconds left and were just passing it around I was trying so hard not to smile, but I was just so happy,” said the point guard. “We were down, but we just had to play the best five minutes of our lives, and once we finally put it together we pulled it off.”