RallyNorth.net

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.

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.

Andover tripped Lawrence, 62-60. Joe Bramanti led the way with 24 points. D.J. Fazio had 13 points and Brian Miller added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Lawrence, which scored a hoop in the waning seconds to pull within two points, was led by Jesse Hiraldo with 22 points.

LAWRENCE - Vulnerable? Sure, as a runaway steamroller.

Unbeaten Central Catholic, with top scorer Jimmy Zenevitch limited to spectator status by an ankle sprain, throttled upset-minded Lawrence, 73-60, before about 800 fans last night.

Jaylen Alicea pumped in 25 points and Yadoris Arias added 15 as Lawrence nipped Monument 74-72.

LAWRENCE - If doubts lingered, 13 games into the season,as to whose basketball team this really was, Joe Bramanti swept them away in the fourth quarter last night against Lawrence High.

Andover's captain, just a junior, dropped in 13 of his game-high 25 points in the final eight minutes, seizing control of a 52-51 nail-biter and carrying the Warriors to a 72-66 decision.

One of the smallest players on the floor, Lawrence's Dawrin Pereyra - at 5-foot-7 - tipped in a miss at the final buzzer, giving the Lancers a 62-60 win at Lowell. Michael Calzetta powered the Lawrence attack with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Alicea added 13 points and seven assists.

Distributing the ball effectively, five assists from Jaylen Alicea helped Lawrence's offense roll to an 82-49 destruction of Tewksbury. Alicea also finished with 17 points, just below Dawrin Pereyra's game-high 19-point effort.

LAWRENCE – After opening the season with eight straight ho-hum pars – all solid, comfortable wins – Central Catholic had to scramble to close out a spotless front nine.

Dawrin Pereyra was on fire from deep, hitting 7 for 11 from deep, as Lawrence drubbed Haverhill 76-32. Jaylen Alicea added 14 points and seven assists. Alison Cueto led the inspired defensive effort.