Tue, Feb 02, 2016
07:00 PM @
North Andover
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Haverhill |
12 |
8 |
16 |
16 |
52 |
| North Andover |
12 |
13 |
13 |
23 |
61 |
For Knights Watson, the future is now
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Tuesday, February, 02
By Hector Longo
NORTH ANDOVER — At 5-9, the future is now for the North Andover High boys hoop team.
Clearly, the state tournament appears out of reach, even after last night's 61-52 win here at Crozier Fieldhouse over Haverhill. There is the back door with the Sullivan Rule, but No. 5 New Mission, whom the Knights must knock off later this month, is guarding that gate.
While senior guard Robbie Couyoumjian continues to rip it up at an all-scholastic caliber pace, it is the silent Knights' freshman guard, Darren Watson, who has hoop folks buzzing in Turkey Town.
Similar to his early arrival in football — where Watson stepped into the backfield and ran for 170 yards and a pair of TDs in the near upset of Andover on Thanksgiving — Watson has sped right onto the hardwood and impacted immediately.
"We saw him in the summer and the fall, and we knew we had something," said Knights' coach Paul Tanglis. "We just didn't know he'd get here this fast. He's got the speed and quicks to be a great one. He's a two-sport stud."
Having played in a dozen games so far, Watson, who scored seven last night in the win over Haverhill, averages 11.3 points per night.
"He's had some huge games for us. (In the upset of MVC large-leading) Lowell, he showed he belongs here (with 22 points)," said Tanglis. "He's going to be a tough guard to stop in this league for a long, long time.
It's been a while since North Andover pinned such high hopes on an underclassmen like this in two major sports. And this is from an athlete, who despite such amazing athletic skills, has spent much time in the shadows.
On the gridiron, he's always played second fiddle to his older brother, Knights' junior TeShaun Watson. And on the hardwood, there was his longtime backcourt running mate, Brooks School freshman point guard Jake McElroy.
"As I got older, I learned how to overcome that," said Watson, assuring that he is absolutely set for prime time.
"Darren continues to exceed expectations," said Tanglis. "He's definitely ready (for stardom)."
Oddly enough, it is Couyoumjian, the senior, who has gone out of his way to welcome Watson into the fold. That unselfishness is so huge, not only in games like last night, where Couyoumjian looked for Watson to take over with the basketball late in the game, but for North Andover's future.
"It's just a huge confidence builder, when he does something like that," said Watson. "The coaches continue to teach, and the players have too. The captains, the seniors, everyone has helped me out."
BIG NIGHT FOR ROBBIE
Haverhill coach Mike Trovato threw just about all he could at North Andover's Robbie Couyoumjian, but the Knights' senior still owned the floor, scoring 25 points in the North Andover win. Junior Connor Rogers dropped 8 of 11 free throws in his 14-point night for North Andover.
HILLIES SHORTHANDED
Haverhill fell to 4-11, playing without a pair of starters, Navin Cruz and Avery Cerow.
"I was told by the administration that they couldn't make the trip," said Hillies coach Mike Trovato.
Marcus Downer scored all 20 of his points after halftime for Haverhill, which also got 10 points from senior Mike Battaini.
Game Statistics:
Haverhill (52): Sylus Kitchings 0 0-0 0, Daejon Pendelton-Mills 0 0-0 0, Peter Orfanos 0 0-0 0, Josh Wojtas 0 0-0 0, Jack Pettis 0 0-0 0, Brett Robart 0 0-0 0, Mike Battaini 4 0-1 10, Declan Davis 2 0-0 4, Joey Fenderson 3 0-0 8, Eddie Cardona 3 1-3 7, Seamus Roche 1 0-0 3, Marcus Downer 8 4-6 20, Totals 21 5-10 52
North Andover (61): Ben O'Connell 0 0-0 0, Nick Martin 0 0-0 0, Darren Watson 1 5-10 7, Connor Rogers 3 8-11 14, Wade Whipple 1 0-0 2, Colin Lee 3 2-3 9, Robbie Couyoumjian 11 2-2 25, Alex Romano 1 2-4 4, Totals 20 19-30 61
3-pointers: H — Battaini 2, Roche, Fenderson 2; NA — Lee, Couyoumjian
