RallyNorth.net

Thu, Dec 29, 2016 08:00 PM @ Andover

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Central Catholic	13	20	21	19	73
Andover	18	11	12	15	56

MVP Lara lifts defending champ over Andover in finale

Wednesday, November, 29 By Mac Cerullo

METHUEN – They all kept saying the same thing: “They counted us out.”

“This one is pretty special; last year we were the one seed and this year a lot of people were counting us out,” said Central Catholic guard Dom Keegan Thursday night moments after his team finished up a 73-56 win over Andover to capture the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic championship. “This one feels a lot better to prove a lot of people wrong and show what this team is made of.”

“They counted us out early and we made it happen,” said Central big man Sam Lara, who was named MVP of the tournament after tallying 14 points and 12 rebounds in the final. “One through 15, we all wanted it just as bad.”

Central’s second straight Christmas Tourney title — the 20th in school history — was a sweet victory for a team with a healthy chip on its shoulder.

The team spent the offseason listening to speculation it would take a step back after Kevin Fernandez and Tanahj Pettway, projected to be two of the top players in the region, transferred out. Since then, they’ve been determined to prove they’re still one of the top dogs in Massachusetts.

Now they have a trophy to show for it.

Early on, it didn’t look like it would be so easy, as Andover jumped out to a quick lead and led 18-13 after the first quarter. But midway through the second, Keegan knocked down one of his five 3-pointers to tie the game at 25-25, and the Raiders pulled ahead for a 33-29 halftime lead.

After that, Central just kept its foot on the gas, and eventually Andover simply couldn’t keep up. 

“We knew we had them, we felt that we were in better shape than them, we were kind of beating them up the floor and we wanted to get in transition a lot, but they played well and it was a good battle,” said Keegan, who led Central with 19 points. “It’s always a good game when we’re playing Andover.”

Andover’s last gasp came with about 6:30 left in the fourth quarter, when E.J. Perry IV (16 points) knocked down a three and Brandon Witten followed that with a steal and a basket to cut the deficit to 54-47.

But that’s as close as the Warriors got. Keegan hit another 3-pointer shortly after, sparking a 15-4 run over the next five minutes to all but put the game away.

Central Catholic (4-0) is at Lowell on Tuesday and Andover (3-2) is at Methuen. Both games tip off at 7 p.m.

FANTASTIC PERRY

With 16 points, Andover’s E.J. Perry IV finishes his career with 173 points in the Christmas Tourney, which is tied for 10th all-time with Central’s Mike Dunn, and one point behind former Andover great Joe Bramanti. Perry is also the 11th ever three-time All-Tourney selection, and the first since Tyler Nelson of Central between 2011-13.

BACK IN ACTION

Methuen’s Kevin Fernandez has always appreciated the Christmas Tourney, but getting to play this year was extra special after missing last year’s tournament with a foot injury.

“Growing up as a kid I’d always wanted to play in these types of tournaments, I watched my older brother and a couple of my cousins play, so it was a dream come true,” Fernandez said. “I played my freshman and sophomore years, and last year it was devastating that I couldn’t play.”

Having one more opportunity, Fernandez made the most of it, averaging 20.6 points to make the All-Tourney team and help his team to a third-place finish.

BIG BEATI

Usually you don’t notice when a player sets a good screen, but Andover’s Max Beati set one of the most impactful screens you’ll ever see in the first quarter of the final. The 6-8 senior center planted himself near the mid-court line as Central Catholic was bringing the ball up, and one unfortunate Raider wasn’t looking and got leveled when he ran into Beati.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD

After a few quiet showings in the early rounds, the student sections really came out in force for Thursday night’s Christmas Tourney games.

Andover and Central’s crowds in particular were excellent, giving both teams a lot of support as they battled for the title.

One of the highlights was the guy from Andover who dressed up like Greenman from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

The lowlight was when someone threw a water bottle on the court while E.J. Perry was trying to take a free throw for Andover.

Not cool.