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No premature exit for Andover this time

Tuesday, February, 24 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

MALDEN — A year ago, an Andover effort that could have been best described as listless resulted in a premature, first-round tourney exit.

There was no way seniors Kevin Polanco, Connor Arnold and the rest of the Warriors on the bench at Lynn Classical last February would let it happen again.

"It made us sick last year, but we've used it as motivation every since," said Polanco after the 13th-seeded Warriors strolled into Ray Finn Gymnasium and knocked off No. 4 Malden High, 61-48.

"Last year, we were flat. This time, we played with a lot of energy. It definitely showed."

It's first sectional shocker in hand, Andover now most likely will shoot for two if, as expected, No. 5 Everett takes care of Brighton tonight.

Unlike last year and even last week when Andover dropped a 72-69 decision to these same Golden Tornadoes in the Weymouth tourney, the Warriors actually made some shots, shredding the Malden 2-3 zone.

Sophomore Joe Bramanti, who had hit double figures just once in the last nine games, picked the absolute perfect time to awake from his scoring slumber, toasting the sagging Tornadoes for a game-high 20 points. And he wasn't the only sophomore rising (literally) to the occasion. Skywalker Brian Miller tossed in a dozen points off the bench.

With the game on the line, though, Andover relied on another one of those seniors, stung by the early elimination last year, to ignite the winning flurry.

An 8-0 Malden run had knotted the score at 33-33 with just under two minutes left in the third.

Enter the unstoppable Sean Ehlbeck, who yanked an offensive board and scored a traditional three-point play and then sandwiched long-range treys around the third-quarter buzzer. Eleven of Ehlbeck's 13 points came in the second half.

A tie game turned suddenly at 44-34, and the Warriors were rolling. Bramanti's third triple of the night and a Polanco layin had the road-tripping "Haak's Nest" gang dancing in the Warrior student section at 51-37 with five minutes left. That little party lasted through the final buzzer.

"They're great, aren't they?" queried Warrior coach Dave Fazio. "Hopefully, we'll have two fan buses for Everett."

Fazio cited one simple reason for his team turning the tide on the Tornadoes, who again played without suspended leading scorer Egi Gjikondi.

"Defensively, we were atrocious against them the first time," said Fazio. "After that loss, the kids had such a sour taste. They wanted a second chance and got it. Tonight, they were very good."