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Andover downs Central

Energy abounds: A full house of about 1,000, electrified by a pair of buzzing student sections, tuned in for the regular season thrilled, making for a spirited Friday night on the MVC hardwood.

These guys defend, too: So much talk coming into the game centered around the shut-down defense being played by Central’s guard tandem of Victor Mwaurah and Jeremy Urena. And rightfully so. Aided with help from behind, those two held Andover’s E.J. Perry IV to only 13 points. But the Warrior guards can play some “D” of their own. You had to love the work of Devon Beasley, Brandon Witten, Timmy Kalantzakos and others, who helped hold Central slasher Tanahj Pettway to 11.

Balance is best: You had to love the way Andover spread the offense around as Devon Beasley netted a team-high 19 points. EJ4 chipped in 13 points, Ryan O’Connell had 11 and Brandon Witten tossed in 9. By the way, in the quiet but deadly category, the selfless EJ4 pulled in 11 defensive boards and dished out six assists.

The answer: Andover junior Devon Beasley simply refused to let Central get anything going in the form of a rally in the second half.

Up 34-31 early in the third, Beasley drained a 3 to double the advantage at six.

Later in the quarter, Raider George Grillakis got the steal and coast to coast layup, cutting it to 42-37, but Beasley again hit the jets and answered with a jumper of his own.

Raider Ian Carmichael scores on a layin, Beasley jumper, bang.

And so it went, right to the end.

Work to do now: Central, with two league losses, tumbles in the MVC Large, where Andover hasn’t been beaten in the league and both Lawrence and Lowell have just one conference defeat.

The Raiders got 13 points from sophomore Steven Hajjar, and another baker’s dozen off the bench from George Grillakis, but it wasn’t nearly enough.