RallyNorth.net

Ugly win suits Knights just fine

Saturday, March, 01 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Over his 26 years on the North Andover High bench, Mike McVeigh has seen a slew of potential hoop Picassos end in heartbreak at the hands of Middlesex League foes.

An ugly Friday night for North Andover? McVeigh and the Knights, survivors by a 44-37 score over Winchester in the Division 2 North quarterfinals here at Crozier Field House last night, will take it just fine.

McVeigh said, "We held our poise during the tough stretch in the second half. And down the stretch we did what we needed to do. We're very, very pleased anytime we beat a Middlesex team."

Indeed, the Middlesex League, which boasts several Division 1, hasn't always been kind to the Knights ... or to the rest of the Division 2 North teams, for that matter. The previous three years the Knights were ousted by a Middlesex team including Winchester in 2006.

It looked like it might be four straight.

The resilient Knights, however, overcame scoring just 15 points in the second half, which included a stretch of just over eight minutes without a point. No. 3 North Andover, which advanced to the North semis for the third straight year, will next face 13-9 Reading with 6-foot-7 standout Evan Smotrycz. The day, site and time still are to be determined.

As for last night, seniors like Steve Boudreau know that come tourney time, a win is a win.

"You're playing for you life right now," said Boudreau. "Every win means so much."

Boudreau opened the contest like he was worried about it being his last.

The 6-foot guard had 15 first-half points as the Knights built a 29-18 advantage at the break. Two of the hoops were exceptionally painful to the guests | an off-balance 15-footer to beat the first-quarter buzzer and an off-the-dribble pull-up 3-pointer just ahead of the halftime horn.

Any rhythm the game might have had was sucked away at halftime, leading the final 16 minutes to become a war of attrition.

"Most of us saw their Beverly game (a 72-64 win)," said Boudreau. "We knew they'd be tough. In the second half, we kind gutted it out. We didn't play our best offense."

Outscored 10-6 in the third, North Andover was in danger of an early exit. But Will Enright's layup with 3:40 left in the game pushed the lead to 7 (37-30) and the Knights' stingy defense was too much for the No. 14 Sachems to overcome.

"They got us on the glass in the third quarter, but we held our own in the fourth," said McVeigh.

The visiting Sachems certainly didn't help themselves, hitting just 1 of 7 from the line late in the game.

Boudreau finished with a game-high 19 points, and McManus chipped in 10 with seven assists.