RallyNorth.net

Fri, Dec 14, 2018 07:00 PM @ North Andover

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Methuen	4	14	9	12	39
North Andover	13	17	19	20	69

Knights shake off rust, roll past Rangers

Friday, December, 14 By Dave Dyer

NORTH ANDOVER — As the rust was wearing off on the rest of the team, North Andover dipped into the paint Friday night.

And that’s where 6-foot-5 senior Garrett Murphy was stationed for the Knights, and he was ready. As many of his teammates were gradually acclimating themselves to the hardcourt against a young Methuen squad, Murphy showed why he was a leading contender for MVP in the North Andover Fall Ball League.

Murphy scored nine of the Knights’ 13 points in the first quarter and had 13 points by halftime as North Andover held a 30-18 lead,

Then, in the second half, the Knights completely shook off the rust and rolled to a season-opening 69-39 victory.

“We were definitely rusty and careless with the ball at first, looked like we had the nerves, but you kind of expect that in a first game,” said North Andover coach Paul Tanglis.

“We tried to get the ball to Garrett early and that worked out, and then Jake (McElroy) and Darren (Watson) started doing what they do.”

McElroy, Watson and Gabe DeSouza, of course, were mainstays on the Knights’ Division 2 state championship football team and they came on strong in the second half.

McElroy showed his usual court savvy and finished with 15 points, including seven in the third quarter, while Watson — who was a menace on defense the whole game — and DeSouza had eight of their combined 10 points in the second half.

“I’m still not in basketball shape, but I’m getting there,” said McElroy. “It’s all about the conditioning.”

McElroy tied Murphy, who had 13 rebounds, with 15 points, but it was junior sharpshooter Kyle Moore who led the scoring with 21 points. After a scoreless first quarter, he drilled four 3-pointers and was 8 of 11 from the floor.

15 for Crowe

Methuen, which has only two seniors on its roster, also struggled early, making 12 turnovers in the first quarter against the Knights’ pressure defense and getting only four shots off, making two.

But the Rangers took much better care of the ball the rest of the game.

Junior center Darwin Oleaga showed some good moves under the basket in the first half for Methuen, during which he scored all nine of his points. Sophomore Mitchell Crowe opened some eyes in the second half by sinking three straight 3-pointers and finishing with a team-high 15 points.

 

North Andover 69, Methuen 39

Methuen (39): Santana 0-0-0, J.Lopez 0-0-0, Chibuogwu 0-0-0, Palmer 0-1-1, Crowe 6-0-15, E.Lopez 2-1-6, Mejia 0-0-0, Lussier 2-3-8, Tejada 0-0-0, Oleaga 4-1-9. Totals 14-6-39

North Andover (69): Watson 2-0-4, DeSouza 3-0-6, Moore 8-1-21, McElroy 7-0-15, Niejadlik 1-0-2, Gorgoni 0-2-2, Wolinski 1-0-2, Dunham 0-0-0, Morin 1-0-2, Murphy 6-3-15. Totals 29-6-69

3-pointers: Meth — Crowe 3, E.Lopez, Lussier; NoAnd — Moore 4, McElroy

Methuen (0-1):      4 14  9 12 — 39

North Andover (1-0):     13 17 19 20 — 69

 

*****

No rest for the weary

Basketball starters Jake McElroy, Darren Watson and Gabe DeSouza were instrumental in leading North Andover to the Division 2 state football championship on Nov. 30. Three days later, they were on the basketball court reporting for practice.

“I was ready to go,” said McElroy. “I’d get bored if I wasn’t doing something.”

“Actually, they all wanted to practice the next day (Saturday), but I told them to take a couple of days off to relax and enjoy it,” said Knights’ coach Paul Tanglis.