Seniors Mike Battaini (17), Marcus Downer (17) and Eddie Cardona (10) combined for 44 points and Haverhill dropped Billerica 60-52.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 02/11/16 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
NORTH ANDOVER — At 5-9, the future is now for the North Andover High boys hoop team.
Clearly, the state tournament appears out of reach, even after last night's 61-52 win here at Crozier Fieldhouse over Haverhill. There is the back door with the Sullivan Rule, but No. 5 New Mission, whom the Knights must knock off later this month, is guarding that gate.
While senior guard Robbie Couyoumjian continues to rip it up at an all-scholastic caliber pace, it is the silent Knights' freshman guard, Darren Watson, who has hoop folks buzzing in Turkey Town.
Similar to his early arrival in football — where Watson stepped into the backfield and ran for 170 yards and a pair of TDs in the near upset of Andover on Thanksgiving — Watson has sped right onto the hardwood and impacted immediately.
"We saw him in the summer and the fall, and we knew we had something," said Knights' coach Paul Tanglis. "We just didn't know he'd get here this fast. He's got the speed and quicks to be a great one. He's a two-sport stud."
Having played in a dozen games so far, Watson, who scored seven last night in the win over Haverhill, averages 11.3 points per night.
"He's had some huge games for us. (In the upset of MVC large-leading) Lowell, he showed he belongs here (with 22 points)," said Tanglis. "He's going to be a tough guard to stop in this league for a long, long time.
It's been a while since North Andover pinned such high hopes on an underclassmen like this in two major sports. And this is from an athlete, who despite such amazing athletic skills, has spent much time in the shadows.
On the gridiron, he's always played second fiddle to his older brother, Knights' junior TeShaun Watson. And on the hardwood, there was his longtime backcourt running mate, Brooks School freshman point guard Jake McElroy.
"As I got older, I learned how to overcome that," said Watson, assuring that he is absolutely set for prime time.
"Darren continues to exceed expectations," said Tanglis. "He's definitely ready (for stardom)."
Oddly enough, it is Couyoumjian, the senior, who has gone out of his way to welcome Watson into the fold. That unselfishness is so huge, not only in games like last night, where Couyoumjian looked for Watson to take over with the basketball late in the game, but for North Andover's future.
"It's just a huge confidence builder, when he does something like that," said Watson. "The coaches continue to teach, and the players have too. The captains, the seniors, everyone has helped me out."
BIG NIGHT FOR ROBBIE
Haverhill coach Mike Trovato threw just about all he could at North Andover's Robbie Couyoumjian, but the Knights' senior still owned the floor, scoring 25 points in the North Andover win. Junior Connor Rogers dropped 8 of 11 free throws in his 14-point night for North Andover.
HILLIES SHORTHANDED
Haverhill fell to 4-11, playing without a pair of starters, Navin Cruz and Avery Cerow.
"I was told by the administration that they couldn't make the trip," said Hillies coach Mike Trovato.
Marcus Downer scored all 20 of his points after halftime for Haverhill, which also got 10 points from senior Mike Battaini.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 02/02/16 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Billerica rode a 40-point from Josh Bradanese to knock off gritty Haverhill, 67-60.
Joey Fenderson paced the Hillies with 24, and Navin Cruz chipped in 14 for Haverhill.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 01/15/16 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
LOWELL — After letting victory slip out of its hands not once but twice, the Haverhill High boys basketball team finally closed out Bishop Guertin of Nashua in double overtime, 76-70, in the opening round of the Lowell Spinners/IAABO Board 95 Christmas Classic.
The Hillies will play in the semis against Lowell or Westford, Tuesday night (6:15) at Lowell Catholic.
Point guard Navin Cruz (16 points) was huge in the extra sessions. The junior had two huge rebounds, drew a charge, scored on a drive and
had a key dish to Marcus Downer, all in the second OT. Downer, who finished with 14 points, iced things with a pair of late free throws for the Hillies, who were just 14 of 27 on the night from the line.
Joey Fenderson paced the Hillies with 20 points, including six 3-pointers. Mike Battaini had a dozen and Declan Davis chipped in eight for Haverhill.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 12/27/15 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Central Catholic stared down the barrel of an 0-2 start, trailing by 11 halfway through the fourth quarter at Haverhill before rallying to knock off the Hillies, 62-54.
"They outplayed us for about 28 of the 32 minutes, but we came up with some big plays late to grab this one," said Raider coach Rick Nault.
Tanahj Pettway (team-high 14 points) and Steven Hajjar (10 points) came up with game-turning baskets late, Hajjar's being a traditional 3-point play.
"The two sophomores were huge," said Nault, whose club played without senior George Grillakis, who has a heel injury.
Ian Carmichael had 14 points for the Raiders, while spark plug Victor Mwaurah added 9, playing all 32 minutes while harrassing Hillie guards all night long.
For Haverhill, freshman Daejon Pendelton-Mills had 11 points and Avery Cerow added 10. Mike Battaini chipped in nine.
"We played hard and we certainly had our chances," said Hillies coach Mike Trovato. "The kids played hard, but we just made too many mistakes late."
Both teams are now 1-1 in the early going.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 12/18/15 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Haverhill rallied in the final four minutes for a 56-51 win over Dracut. Joe Fenderson pumped in 17 points with five treys, Eddie Cardona added 14 points while Marcus Downer dominated the backboards.
Read More »
Boys Basketball, 12/15/15 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
