Fri, Dec 29, 2017
07:30 PM @
Central Catholic
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Final |
| Methuen |
13 |
8 |
11 |
26 |
58 |
| Central Catholic |
23 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
69 |
Central holds off inspired Methuen but ejected star will miss title game
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Friday, December, 29
By Michael Muldoon
METHUEN — Central Catholic was in danger of losing the game to an inspired Methuen squad.
The Raiders did lose their big man for tonight’s (7:45 p.m.) championship game against St. John’s Prep in the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
In a strange contest at the Klimas Field House, Methuen fell behind 16-2 just 3:55 into the semifinal contest on a slam dunk by Kevin Constant (team-high 17 points).
While Constant was joining the Raider Rim-Wreckers Club, Methuen seemed to have no chance.
Missing two starters again (injury, suspension), this figured to be too big a task against the vaunted Raiders.
But funny things happen when Central and Methuen square off.
The Rangers actually led 53-32 after three but then there was a dramatic 180.
All-Scholastic forward Colin Bradanese (16 points) lost his cool 25 seconds into the fourth quarter and kicked a player. He was ejected and he’ll have to sit out Saturday’s finale, too.
Central went into a funk and the Rangers, well, weren’t going to be kicked around any longer.
Senior guard Dante Rivera (10 of his 20 points in the fourth) and unheralded but talented freshman guard Onyeraluobu Chibuogwu (4 points) led a big comeback in Friday’s nightcap.
The Rangers could never quite get it to the point where the Raiders were shaking in their high-tops, but the hosts certainly got their attention.
Jamyl Fricas soared to the hoop for two and Chibuogwu, who is related to ex-Central girls star Jennifer Chuks, added two free throws.
Improbably, the lead was just 8 at 57-49. But Constant went to the rafters for a block and Vanderbilt-bound catcher Dom Keegan (12 points), who had three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and UNH-bound QB Bret Edwards (14 points) cashed in at the line.
That gave Central some breathing room.
First-year Raider coach John Walsh was disappointed in his star’s mental lapse but otherwise was thrilled at his team’s resiliency.
“The incident changed things,” said Walsh. “We have to keep our composure. But I’m so proud of them. They persevered when it got tough. Bret was a leader. Dom was a leader. Kevin Constant played unbelievable.”
Game Statistics:
Commonwealth Classic Semifinal
Methuen (58): Fricas 4-1-10, Chibuogwu 0-4-4, Rivera 6-7-20, Majed 1-0-3, Ovalles 0-1-1, Scott 3-0-8, Clark 4-2-10, Nherisson 2. Totals 18-15-58
Central Catholic (69): Smith 4-0-8, Constant 8-1-17, Edwards 3-7-14, Peguero 0-0-0, Keegan 4-1-12, Lara 0-0-0, Sanchez 1-0-2, Downer 0-0-0, Bradanese 8-0-16, Marienz 0-0-0. Totals 28-9-69
3-pointers: CC — Keegan 3, Edwards; Meth — Scott 2, Rivera, Fricas, Majed
