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Natick 52, Andover 37

ANDOVER – After an 80-minute bus ride from Natick early Tuesday morning, the Red Hawks were ready for prime time much earlier than their hosts – none of whom had to drive farther than across town.

With Monday’s ice storm forcing a 17-hour delay to the White championship and a change of venue at the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic, Natick responded by taking a quick 12-point lead and never relenting in a 52-37 victory over Andover in a matchup of top-20 programs.

“It was worth the drive up,” Natick coach Dan Hinnenkamp said. “This was a very well run tournament with good competition. I was impressed. It was the first year we were invited and hopefully we’ll come back.”

Looking to claim its fifth Classic title of the decade and first since 2016, Andover used a three from Shea Krekorian on the game’s first possession to grab the quick lead, but then watched Natick reel off the ensuing 14 points. It was a run the Golden Warriors were unable to answer.

“Natick did a good job of being ready to play,” Andover coach Alan Hibino said. “Their athleticism and length certainly gave us some issues early. (Yale commit) Brenna McDonald (Division MVP after a combined 32 points) is great, but she did a great job of trusting her teammates and her teammates responded early and often.”

With McDonald scoring 11 of her 15 points in the two middle periods, Natick (3-0) opened a 16-point lead with 25 seconds left in the second, and then erased all doubt with an 11-0 run early in the third, taking a 42-17 lead with 3:02 remaining.

“We missed some easy box outs and we didn’t get back in transition as fast as we wanted to,” said Andover junior guard Tatum Shaw, who had a game-high 21 points. “I think we definitely have to work on pushing the ball up the court faster and getting in that mood quicker next time.”

Shaw did her best to keep the Warriors (3-2) in the contest with six steals and had three three-pointers among her 13 second-half points.

Andover starts freshmen Amelia Hanscom and Anna Foley while fellow classmate Marissa Kobelski is first off the bench. Those three combined for 19 points in a semifinal win over Londonderry but managed seven against Natick.

“Our upper classmen (Shaw and seniors Shea Krekorian and Brooke Hardock) have been there,” Hibino said. “Now we need them to take the next step. Not only with their game, but in communication and trying to help bring these freshman along.”

One thing the Warriors need to improve will be shooting after making only 16 of Tuesday morning’s 58 field-goal attempts (27.6%). They were five for 29 from beyond the arc (17%). Andover had three scoreless stretches of at least 4 minutes.

“I hate to use the term learning experience, but it definitely was today for our team. We’ll look at the film, and I think we’ll be able to fix everything. We hope we’ll start off 2020 with a bang right away (Friday) against Lawrence.”

White Division All-Tournament

Shea Krekorian, Andover

Tatum Shaw, Andover

*-Brenna McDonald, Natick

Maya Stopka, Natick

Courtney Shay, Londonderry

*-MVP