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LYNN — The Lawrence High boys basketball team gave it the old Merrimack Valley Conference try. But it wasn't enough. Not in Lynn. Not against a team built to contend for a state championship. Top-seeded Lynn English High, 19-2, finally broke away from the Lawrence High, outscoring them by 13 points in the fourth quarter en route to the 82-63 win in the Div. 1 North quarterfinals. "I knew they'd be tough," said Lynn English coach Antonio Anderson. "I told our team, they will be around for 32 minutes so be ready to fight. Our key guys Alonzo (Linton) and Jarnel (Guzman) came through for us in the fourth quarter. And some of our other guys did, too. They had to or we could've lost this one." Other than a quick 2-2 tie just 40 seconds into the game, the Bulldogs never trailed. In fact, they jumped out quickly to a 16-8 lead, ready to run. But through three quarters, the Lancers never wavered. Trailing 33-31, they had two chances to go ahead, but both 3-pointers were short. Thanks to a technical foul at the end of the first half — a Lynn English player threw the ball at a Lawrence player — the Lancers made both free throws and closed the gap to 38-37, with the ball. Slowly, though, the 6-foot-6 Linton, who had no physical match on Lawrence, scored five straight points, opening up the lead. He was aided by a pair of driving Guzman lay-ins and two 3-pointers by Joaquin Crespo. Lawrence's Brandon Goris (16 points), Brian Martir (22) and Jaden Castillo (13) all made key shots through the first three quarters to keep it close. But after Lawrence closed it to 60-57 in the fourth quarter after a Jeremiah Melendez 3-pointer and Martir free throw, it missed an open 3-pointer to tie the game. The Bulldogs answered scoring 11 straight points, including a 3-pointer and two three-point-plays, to put the Lancers away. "We just couldn't get over the hump," said Lawrence coach Jesus Moore. "We played them tough for so long. But our immaturity showed, not making the extra pass when a guy is wide open, late on our rotations leaving a guy wide open, and then fouling their 3-point shooter. "We had one guy who played a decent amount of varsity last year, Jaden Castillo," said Moore. "Their veterans made the big plays, they're crafty, slashing to the hoop." Underneath the beads of sweat after the game, Moore, in his first year, was beaming with pride of his 15-7 Lawrence team. "We have bigger goals down the road and this was a great start," said Moore. "I remember seeing these guys at Hoops For Home in Andover and seeing how far they came, without much experience. But we fought all year. We play in the best conference, top to bottom, in the state. We thought we could beat these guys, but tip your cap to them."

LAWRENCE – Any observers from Lynn English who were on hand Tuesday night scouting its quarterfinal opponent left knowing the top-seeded Bulldogs will be facing a team more dangerous than they probably anticipated.

For the second Friday in a row, Lawrence won on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. North Andover hit the first of two free throws but missed the second. Eric Garcia got the rebound and after a timeout made a long pass to Brandon Goris who nailed the 22-footer at the buzzer for the 63-62 win. Brian Martir, last week's hero, led LHS with 14 and Goris had 12. Jake McElroy was immense with 26 for the Knights including five 3's. He went over 1,000 career points (1,019; 995 at North Andover and 24 at Brooks as a freshman).

LOWELL — Carlos Nunez scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, and Lowell held on to beat Lawrence, 72-65, Tuesday night.

"Lowell is a very good team," said Lawrence coach Jesus Moore. "They're very tough and scrappy, and they play well together. They're a tough-minded team."

LOWELL — Carlos Nunez scored 15 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, and Lowell held on to beat Lawrence, 72-65, Tuesday night.

"Lowell is a very good team," said Lawrence coach Jesus Moore. "They're very tough and scrappy, and they play well together. They're a tough-minded team."

North Andover held a 47-40 lead after three but Luis Reynoso answered the bell in the fourth, scoring 13 of his game-high 22 points en route to a 61-55 Lawrence win.
North Andover coach Paul Tanglis said, "Reynoso was a little too much for us in the fourth. We did a good job on him until the fourth."
Tanglis said it was a 3-point game in the final minute "and we had some decent looks but couldn't knock them down."
Jake McElroy (16), Gabe DeSouza (14) and Kyle Moore (13) combined for 43 points in the loss.

North Andover held a 47-40 lead after three but Luis Reynoso answered the bell in the fourth, scoring 13 of his game-high 22 points en route to a 61-55 Lawrence win. North Andover coach Paul Tanglis said, "Reynoso was a little too much for us in the fourth. We did a good job on him until the fourth." Tanglis said it was a 3-point game in the final minute "and we had some decent looks but couldn't knock them down." Jake McElroy (16), Gabe DeSouza (14) and Kyle Moore (13) combined for 43 points in the loss.

Lawrence (9-2) snapped a two-game losing streak, both losses with Reynoso on the sidelines.

Andover handed prevously unbeaten Lawrence it's second straight loss, 64-59. Kyle Rocker (19), Stephen Shaw (16) and Colin Kirkpatrick (14) led the 6-2 Golden Warriors. Eagle-Tribune MVP Luis Reynoso did not play for Lawrence. According to coach Jesus Moore, he hurt his back during Sunday's practice after landing awkwardly after a dunk, but "will be back on Friday."

Luis Reynoso scored 24 points and Brandon Goris added 10 as Lawrence beat Methuen, 67-54. The Lancers salted it away with a big 25-6 advantage in the third quarter, fueled by the Lancers' stifling press. For Methuen, Mitchell Crowe had 16 and Tyler Carrien 12.