RallyNorth.net

Sat, Dec 22, 2007 04:15 PM @ Neutral Location

Team	Final
Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament
Greater Lawrence	22
Methuen	39

Methuen holds Reggies to record-low scoring output

Sunday, December, 23 By Mike Muldoon
Sports editor

On a day in which Methuen had one of its lowest scoring games in years, the Rangers' defense saved the day.

Methuen held Greater Lawrence Tech to 22 points, a record-low in the 33-year history of the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney. The previous mark was 23 by Pinkerton against Salem in the 2003 semifinals.

The Rangers, who improved to 2-2, trailed 9-7 after one but posted a rare shutout in the second quarter en route to the 39-22 victory.

"Every team would like to do it (hold a team scoreless in a quarter)," said Methuen coach Rich Barden. "The shots just didn't fall for them. That happened to us against Lowell (an 86-49 loss on Tuesday)."

The Rangers coach almost blushed when he noted he went to a 1-2-2 zone defense in the second quarter. That might not sit too well with his college coach, Merrimack's Bert Hammel.

"It just happened to work and we stayed with it," said Barden. "Coming from Coach Hammel, I'm a man-to-man guy. But you need something else to fall back on."

Nine times out of 10, that something for the Rangers is Romeo Diaz. But the silky-smooth senior was harassed into a ice-cold day from the floor (3-for-18 shooting). He made up for it by grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out four assists and blocking four shots to go with his hard-earned 13 points.

Unsung heroes Roudy Marcelin (6 rebounds, 5 offensive), Sean Gallagher, Jim Cote and Chris Murach (2 steals, 2 charges) raised their games.

"Murach was huge," said Barden.

Methuen was 13 for 47 from the floor, and that was no accident.

"They made us miss shots," said Barden.

All 22 of the Reggie points were scored by underclassmen with highly-touted freshman Donald Celestin tossing in 10 points and junior Kelvin Correa adding seven.

The Rangers will get another crack at Lawrence in the semifinals Thursday. On Dec. 14 the Lancers prevailed 86-74.