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Central fends off Lawrence in overtime

Saturday, January, 14 By Jeff Hamrick

LAWRENCE — If the first two games between the two are an indication of what’s ahead, fans might want to circle Feb. 7 on their calendar right now.
That’s when Central Catholic, the top ranked team in the entire state, and 22nd-ranked Lawrence square off for the third and final time of the regular season.
Game 2 in the series turned into an overtime thriller yesterday that Central won by a 69-67 count in front of a standing-room only crowd at Central’s Memorial Gym.
Using a 15-0 run that began in the third quarter, Central appeared in control, holding a 56-45 advantage with 5:52 left in regulation. But Lawrence, which dropped a 10-point decision to the Raiders in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament finale, then scored 14 of the period’s final 17 points to force overtime.
The Lancers (7-2 overall, 5-1 conference) tied the score at 59 on a steal turned layup by Yadoris Arias, who had 19 points. The teams then combined to miss three field-goal attempts the final 77 seconds.
In overtime, Central (9-0, 5-0) broke a tie with 2:15 left on a little hook by Nick Cambio that provided a 63-61 lead the Raiders would not lose. Central, which made all 18 of its fourth-quarter free throws in the holiday tournament win, converted six of eight attempts in the extra period. Henry Rodriguez made five straight to help secure the victory.
Rodriguez was part of a Central bench that scored 28 points, including a team-high 16 by the sophomore Cambio. Rodriguez has been one of the guards making up for the loss of senior playmaker Luis Puello, who has missed each of the past four games with a sprained ankle.
“I think it just makes us so much better down the road,” said Raider coach Rick Nault whose club has beaten the Lancers 13 straight times since Lawrence’s 64-57 win on Feb. 6, 2007.
“When you win without your best players and you see guys step up … Henry Rodriguez might not be in the game if Luis were there and he’s dropping (free throws). It makes us so much better because it makes everyone raise their game.”
Lawrence was paced by sixth-man Franklin Martinez, who poured in a game-high 22 including 12 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“We made some silly mistakes,” said Lawrence coach Paul Neal. “It was a game where it could have gone either way. We played hard, but we came up short again. I think at this point it’s more of a mental thing than a physical thing. We’ve just got to find a way to overcome that, but I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

Central Catholic 69, Lawrence 67 (OT)
 Lawrence (67): Leonny Burgos 2 0-0 4, Yadoris Arias 7 2-2 19, Argenis Reinoso 1 2-4 4, Tre’von Farley 3 8-12 14, Roberto Speing 0 0-2 0, Franklin Martinez 8 2-2 22, Denny Gonzalez 0 0-0 0, Esmelin Romero 1 0-1 2, Jorge Soto 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 14-23 67
 Central Catholic (69): Lucas Hammel 0- 3-4 3, Tyler Nelson 4 2-2 11, Joel Berroa 5 1-1 12, Shawn McCoy 2 1-2 5, Doug Gemmell 5 4-6 14, Nick Cambio 7 2-2 16, Henry Rodriguez 0 7-8 7, Matt McDermott 0 0-0 0, Mike Barry 0 1-2 1. Totals 23 21-27 69
3-pointers: L — Martinez 4, Arias 3; CC — Nelson, Berroa
Lawrence (7-2, 5-1):    19 14  8 18  8 — 67
Central Catholic (9-0, 5-0):    19 12 14 14 10 — 69