Tue, Feb 13, 2018
07:00 PM @
Lowell
| Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
Final |
| Lawrence |
15 |
10 |
18 |
26 |
6 |
75 |
| Lowell |
23 |
10 |
22 |
14 |
3 |
72 |
Lawrence storms back from 13 down late, earns share of title
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Tuesday, February, 13
By Jeff Hamrick
LOWELL — Looking to secure at least a share of its first conference title since 2007, Lawrence didn’t mind working overtime Tuesday night. Actually, the Lancers had no choice in the matter.
After trailing by as many as 18 in the second half, Lawrence didn’t even the score with Lowell until 35 seconds were left in regulation. The Lancers didn’t take their first lead until more than a minute had elapsed in overtime.
But with Juan Felix Rodriguez and Jaden Castillo scoring Lawrence’s final 11 points, the Lancers capped off their furious rally for a 75-72 victory over the Red Raiders. The win secured at least a share of the Merrimack Valley Large Division title.
A win over either Haverhill or Methuen will clinch the regular-season crown.
“We haven’t been in that position too many times,” Lawrence coach Raymond Nunez said of the large deficit. “But I think it’s a great position to be in going into the States. It shows what the group of guys has within them.
“And doing it against a quality and talented team like Lowell, who has been tough in the MVC and the state of Massachusetts, is a good sign for us.”
The Lancers (12-1 conference, 16-2 overall) looked overmatched as Lowell turned an 8-point halftime lead into an 18-point advantage fewer than two minutes into the third. The Red Raiders (11-3, 14-3) controlled the boards in the stanza, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds in the period.
“That’s one of the things we’re going to have to improve,” Nunez said of the discrepancy that resulted in Lowell taking 20 more shots than Lawrence during regulation. “We came out with a victory, but we know there are things we must improve. And I think the guys understand that.”
Lowell took a 65-52 lead with 5:40 remaining, and a minute later, the Lancers began the comeback. Five consecutive points by Chris Ruiz sparked a 15-2 run capped on a scooping layup by Rodriguez for a tie at 67 with 35 seconds left.
Alex Rivera’s two free throws put Lowell back up with 19 seconds remaining. But a Lowell foul sent Castillo to the line, where he had converted each of his first eight to that point. The junior calmly added two more with 9.1 seconds left to force the extra frame.
“I’ve been in that position before, but it was way, way back in eighth grade,” said Castillo, who finished with 15 points. “It just felt the same. It was easy, and I didn’t feel any pressure. That’s it.”
A three-point play 61 seconds into OT on a driving layup by Rodriguez not only gave Lawrence its first lead, but one it would not squander.
“My teammates told me to take the ball and they trusted me,” said Rodriguez, who had a game-high 22. “So, that’s what I do. I listen to them ... I always thought (we could come back). We wanted that win, and we won it.”
Castillo added a free throw while Rodriguez, last year’s Eagle-Tribune MVP, had another drive while Lowell was missing its final five field-goal attempts.
“They started coming up with the 50-50 balls,” Lowell coach Bob Michalczyk said. “We let them back into it with a couple mental mistakes here and there. And (the Lancers) made their free throws.”
Win One Baby
Lawrence has to win just one more game to win the MVC Large outright:
Date Opponent
Friday, Feb. 16 at Andover
Thursday, Feb. 22 host Methuen
Lawrence 75, Lowell 72 (OT)
LAWRENCE (75): Juan Felix Rodriguez 10 1-1 22, Cristian Kinsley 0 0-0 0, Jaden Castillo 2 11-12 15, Sebastian Dilone 0 0-0 0, Luis Reynoso 6 5-5 20, Chris Ruiz 5 1-1 11, Miguel Camacho 2 1-2 7, Angel Vasquez 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 19-21 75
LOWELL (72): Carlos Nunez 4 0-0 11, Justin Villanueva 4 1-1 9, Alex Rivera 4 9-10 19, Jaren Cruz 3 0-0 9, Marvin Kimani 0 0-0 0, Nathan Siow 2 1-2 6, Ty Chan 5 0-1 11, Daiquan Durham 0 0-0 0, Deven Okowuga 3 1-2 7. Totals 25 12-16 72
3-pointers: LAWRENCE: Reynoso 3, Camacho 2, Rodriguez; LOWELL: Nunez 3, Cruz 3, Rivera 2, Siow, Chan
Lawrence (12-1, 16-2): 15 10 18 26 6 — 75
Lowell (11-3, 14-3): 23 10 22 14 3 — 72
Game Statistics:
LAWRENCE (75): Juan Felix Rodriguez 10 1-1 22, Cristian Kinsley 0 0-0 0, Jaden Castillo 2 11-12 15, Sebastian Dilone 0 0-0 0, Luis Reynoso 6 5-5 20, Chris Ruiz 5 1-1 11, Miguel Camacho 2 1-2 7, Angel Vasquez 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 19-21 75
LOWELL (72): Carlos Nunez 4 0-0 11, Justin Villanueva 4 1-1 9, Alex Rivera 4 9-10 19, Jaren Cruz 3 0-0 9, Marvin Kimani 0 0-0 0, Nathan Siow 2 1-2 6, Ty Chan 5 0-1 11, Daiquan Durham 0 0-0 0, Deven Okowuga 3 1-2 7. Totals 25 12-16 72
3-pointers: LAWRENCE: Reynoso 3, Camacho 2, Rodriguez; LOWELL: Nunez 3, Cruz 3, Rivera 2, Siow, Chan
