RallyNorth.net

Wed, Dec 27, 2017 06:00 PM @ Neutral Location

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Andover	16	23	14	12	65
North Andover	10	10	6	8	34

Andover earns first win in Christmas Tournament rout

Wednesday, December, 27 By Kyle Gaudette
Staff writer

LAWRENCE - Caroline McDonald knows as well as anyone that this year's Andover team is vastly different than the one that won the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic a year ago.

They're younger, without their two top scorers and under a first-year head coach. Even worse, they were off to an 0-2 start heading into yesterday's opening round of the tourney.

But that didn't mean the Warriors were going to give up their title so easily. 

Behind a dominating performance on the glass (41-22) and balanced scoring, Andover not only earned its first win of the season but is now just one win away from the Christmas Classic championship game yet again with a 65-34 handling of crosstown rival North Andover.

"We really wanted this one," said McDonald, Andover's lone senior and sole captain. "There's nothing like playing in the Christmas Tournament."

McDonald nearly tallied a double-double, finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds. A key reserve on last year's team, she has averaged 6.0 points thus far in a starting role while being a vocal leader on the court.

Thanks to hustle plays and second-chance opportunities, Andover (1-2) erupted for 23 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 39-20 lead at the half. The Warriors put the clamps on with defense after the break, holding the Knights to just 14 points in the second half.

Juniors Taylor Landry and Gia Bramanti each had 15 points to lead Andover offensively. Sophomore Shea Krekorian added eight points and freshman Tatum Shaw scored eight points on two 3's coming off the bench.

North Andover (2-3) will play No. 8 Londonderry in the consolation round today at 2:30 p.m. Emily Sifferlen had 13 points and Emma Liporto added seven with eight rebounds for the Knights, who struggled to get anything going against a hungry Andover team.

"It's extremely exciting," said McDonald. "The first win is always one of the best wins. We just wanted to get that one under the belt and now we can continue the streak just like we did last year."

She is referring to Andover's 22-game winning streak last year that spanned from its second game of the season all the way to the state semifinal.

To pull off that type of streak again, the Warriors (1-2) will have to start by beating top-seeded Bishop Guertin in the semifinals today at 6 p.m.

"They're the two-time defending New Hampshire (D1) state champions," said Andover coach Alan Hibino with a smile. "But we'll be ready.

"Our girls are definitely not going to give up the crown without a fight."

 

 

Andover 65, North Andover 34

Commonwealth Christmas Classic First Round

North Andover (34): Caitlin Panos 0 1-2 1, Emma Liporto 2 3-7 7, Emily Sifferlen 3 6-14 13, Julia Daigle 1 2-2 4, Kelly Corrigan 2 0-0 4, Mary O'Connor 0 0-0 0, Norah Connors 1 0-0 3, Gabrielle Dadiego 0 0-0 0, Julia Silk 0 0-1 0, Katherine Davis 0 1-2 1, Nina Testa 0 1-2 1. Totals 9 14-30 34

Andover (65): Shea Krekorian 3 1-4 8, Taylor Landry 5 4-6 15, Caroline McDonald 6 0-2 12, Gia Bramanti 5 2-4 15, Megan Zalanskas 1 0-0 2, Sarah Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Tatum Shaw 3 0-0 8, Alexa Pacy 1 0-0 2, Brooke Hardock 0 0-0 0, Christine Reardon 0 0-0 0, Concetta Archambault 0 0-0 0, Libby Pustis 1 0-0 3. Totals 25 7-16 65

3-pointers: A - Bramanti 3, Shaw 2, Pustis, Krekorian, Landry, NA - Sifferlen, Connors

Andover (1-2):     16 23 14 12 - 65

North Andover (2-3):     10 10  6  8 - 34