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Knights topple unbeaten Andover

NORTH ANDOVER — North Andover scored the final 17 points of the first quarter to take a 22-8 lead and Andover never recovered. The Knights won 62-56.

With Andover unbeaten (9-0) and ranked No. 3 in all of Eastern Mass., this will go down as one of the great wins in North Andover girls basketball history.

“It’s tremendous. It’s huge,” said Knights coach Megan Pinksten Ryan, a former Andover High great who also was an assistant on a couple of Golden Warrior state championship teams.

The Knights (7-4) trailed 8-5 early but the devastating run had the Crozier Fieldhouse buzzing.

Abbie Karalis had 11 points in the quarter and Leah Chittick had six. Andover never got closer than six the rest of way.

Of the big early lead, Ryan said, “It was huge, huge. But with Andover you are never really safe.”

The Knights know that well as Andover rallied late to capture the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.

“We were really excited with our showing in the Christmas Tourney,” said Ryan. “Megan Collins was in only her second game back (from injury) and three freshmen were playing. We talked about it’s a marathon not a sprint. We learned from it and grew.”

The Knights’ athleticism may have been the difference.

“We have five players (Karalis, Chittick, Collins and freshmen Emily Sifferlen and Nirel Lougbo) who can bring the ball up the court,” noted Ryan. “We’ve really focused on pushing the ball.”

Collins had 18 points and 8 rebounds, Karalis had 16 points and 5 assists and Chittick contributed 14 points and 4 rebounds. Andover’s Alyssa Casey led all scorers with 22 points including four trifectas.