RallyNorth.net

Fri, Dec 28, 2007 06:00 PM @ Neutral Location

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Greater Lawrence Girls Christmas Tournament Semifinal
Lowell	7	11	19	8	45
Andover	6	16	18	19	59

Down goes Lowell

Saturday, December, 29 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

METHUEN | Meghan Thomann knows it won't be this easy again. But hey, it was fun while it lasted.

The Bentley College-bound senior guard scored 24 points | including 18 in the second half | to lead Andover over Eastern Massachusetts No. 1 Lowell, 59-45, in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament semifinals last night at Klimas Memorial Field House.

Thomann, back after a quadriceps injury forced her to miss the Golden Warriors' first-round win over North Andover, found her jumper after intermission.

She sank four second-half 3-pointers (6 overall) to spark Andover, which began the fourth quarter on a decisive 13-2 run.

"Making a few shots helps get the whole team going," said Thomann, who swished two free throws to cap the spurt and give the Warriors (5-0) a 53-39 lead over the defending champion Red Raiders (5-1).

At the half, Andover coach Jim Tildsley gave Thomann instructions.

"Just shoot the ball," he told her. "Don't even bother with the triple-threat position. Just shoot it."

"Then," added Tildsley, whose team will face Pinkerton in the tournament final tomorrow at 7:45 p.m., "(Lowell) would have to play out on her."

While waves of defenders dedicated themselves to Thomann on the perimeter, senior forwards Camille Fantini (10 points) and Lauren Hughes (10 points, 13 rebounds) cleaned up inside.

"We need them," Thomann said. "They were awesome. They took charge."

Admittedly, Andover benefited from the absence of Whitney Wilson, Lowell's 6-foot-1 center who sprained her ankle Sunday.

"That made it a little easier," said Hughes, who still had to face Whitney's twin sister Brianna, a 6-3 center. "They're both really good."

Lowell, like usual, was no pushover.

After falling behind 32-26 midway through the third, Lowell went on a 6-0 run to tie the score at 2:26 in the frame. The Warriors, who fell to Lowell in the Division 1 North semifinals last March, refused to budge. After a Hughes bucket made it 34-32, Fantini scored on three straight possessions to give Andover a 40-37 lead and set up the fourth-quarter run.

"Last year," Tildsley said, "we would've folded up our tents and started feeling sorry for ourselves."

But, he added, "We have (at least two) more battles with (Lowell) left this year."

The Golden Warriors will next face the Red Raiders Jan. 11. "We'll have the same mindset then," Hughes said. "It's Lowell."