RallyNorth.net

Thu, Dec 22, 2016 06:00 PM @ Andover

Team	1	2	3	4	OT	Final
Lawrence	7	21	21	12	6	67
Andover	22	13	15	11	11	72

Andover downs Lawrence in OT in XMas opener

Wednesday, November, 29 By Mac Cerullo

METHUEN – As the seconds ticked down in the fourth, Andover saw its lead — once as big as 15 points — slowly chip away as Lawrence fought back with all the strength it could muster. Eventually, the Lancers finally caught the Golden Warriors, and the game wound up going to overtime.

But after two and half minutes of back and forth basketball, Andover senior E.J. Perry IV took the game into his hands. 

“When overtime came I thought about last year’s Christmas Tournament, we were in a close game and we blew it against Londonderry,” Perry said. “I didn’t want that to happen again.”

Perry knocked down a shot to give Andover the lead for good, and then after Lawrence hit one of two foul shots at the other end, he drained a dagger three to help deliver his team a thrilling 72-67 overtime win in the first round of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.

“What else can you say about that kid Perry? Just an unbelievable legacy,” said Andover coach Dave Fazio. “This is his last Christmas Tournament, and hopefully this will add to all the special things he’s done at Andover High School.”

Perry finished with a game-high 29 points, giving him 128 points in the Christmas Tourney in his career. Andover needed every one of those, because after jumping out to a 22-7 first quarter lead, Lawrence rallied and never relented. The Lancers outscored the Warriors in the second, third and fourth quarters before finally cooling off in the extra frame.

“Every time you play Lawrence, that’s what you get. You get an absolute war,” Fazio said. “Those kids have so much heart, so much desire, they’re so relentless, and if you don’t show up ready to play and rebound, play great defense and execute, they’re going to get you. We won against a heck of a team tonight, and I’m really proud of our kids.”

Lawrence’s rally culminated with 3:10 to play in the fourth, when junior Cristian Kinsley knocked down a 3-pointer for his first basket of the game to tie the score at 59-59. From there, Perry scored on a backdoor cut from Max Beati, and then Lawrence’s Luis Reynoso tied the game at 61-61. Andover had one last shot to win at the end of regulation, but Cedric Gillette’s shot from deep didn’t go.

Once in overtime, the two teams continued to trade baskets until Perry took over at the end.

“It’s always great to play in the Christmas Tournament,” Perry said. “All of my uncles and my dad played in this tournament, and there are so many great memories watching teams play in this tournament when I was little, it’s a great atmosphere here, Methuen is a great venue to play it in and it was fun to play a great team in Lawrence.”

In addition to Perry, Andover got 9 points from sophomore Emmett Kim and 8 points from Gillette, Brandon Witten and Max Beati. Lawrence was led by Luis Reynoso with 19 points, Ricardo Tejada had 17 points and Juan Felix Rodriguez had 16 points.

METHUEN BLASTS WINDHAM

Top seeded Methuen won its first round game against Windham easily, dominating the New Hampshire foe 66-35 in Thursday’s other first round Christmas Tourney matchup. 

The Rangers took an early lead and never looked back, pulling ahead 31-13 at halftime and 51-20 by the end of the third quarter.

Methuen wowed the home crowd with an impressive blend of defense, 3-point shooting and high flying dunks, including two by Andrew Marcelino and one by freshman forward Uriel Cirineo. By the end, the Rangers’ reserves got in on the action and had a chance to get some Christmas Tourney action of their own.

Kevin Fernandez led Methuen with 15 points, and Windham was led by Riley Desmairais (9 points) and Jake Byers (7 points).

Methuen and Andover will now face off in Tuesday’s semifinal at 8 p.m. at Methuen High.

Today’s Games

Salem vs. North Andover, 6 p.m.

Londonderry vs. Central Catholic, 7:45 p.m.

*All boys games at Methuen High

Andover 72, Lawrence 67 (OT)

Lawrence (67): Luis Reynoso 7 5-9 19, Cristian Kinsley 1 1-2 4, Juan Felix Rodriguez 6 0-0 16, Darryl Munoz 2 0-2 4, Ricardo Tejada 7 3-6 17, Ahian Rodriguez 1 3-4 5, Angel Vazquez 0 0-0 0, Miguel Camacho 1 0-0 2, Cheilin Castillo 0 0-0 0. Totals: 25 12-23 67

Andover (72): Cedric Gillette 3 0-0 8, Tim Kalantzakos 1 0-0 3, E.J. Perry IV 12 2-2 29, Brandon Witten 2 3-4 8, Max Beati 4 0-0 8, Emmett Kim 2 4-4 9, Michael Makiej 3 0-0 7. Totals: 27 9-10 72

3-pointers: L — J. Rodriguez 4, Kinsley; A — Perry 3, Gillette 2, Kalantzakos, Witten, Kim, Makiej

Lawrence (1-1):  7 21 21 12  6 — 67

Andover (2-1): 22 13 15 11 11 — 72