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Andover survives Lawrence barrage

Friday, February, 11 By Hector Longo

ANDOVER — The league race already decided, both Andover and Lawrence's boys hoop teams used last night and probably every minute the next two weeks as preparation tools for the upcoming Division 1 North tournament.

That said, there was clearly frustration in one locker room and satisfaction in the other after the Warriors survived, 67-66, in yet another MVC Friday night classic.

"I'll take win and learn over lose and learn, every time," said Andover coach David Fazio, who watched Lawrence erase a 16-point fourth quarter deficit and nearly pull off the stunner before Yadoris Arias' 25-footer carom away harmlessly as the buzzer sounded. "This one was just like one of those state tournament games. You get out to the lead, get a little comfortable, turn it over a couple times, they hit a couple of threes, and look out, you're playing for your life."

The Warrior coach had to be reliving a wild fourth quarter in his mind, a quarter that saw the Lancers bury 5 of 8 threes to shoot their way back into it.

A Joe Bramanti triple, less than a minute into the final frame made it 54-38 Warriors.

The next seven minutes were an exhibition of how lethal Lawrence can be.

"That's a very good basketball team," said Fazio, whose club locked up the runner-up spot in the MVC large behind Central. "We couldn't stop their big guy (Jesse Hiraldo, 19 points, 12 rebounds), they have Jaylen (Alicea), a couple of very good shooters, and they play good defense."

Dawrin Pereyra knocked down a pair of wing threes to kick-start the free-for-all, midway through the fourth. He and Yadoris Arias added two more bombs to cut things to 65-62 with just over a minute to play.

The final verdict was ultimately decided on the line. Warrior Van Caraviello showed the same nerves of steel that helped lock down the Christmas Tourney title, drilling a pair with 19.6 seconds to go.

Arias took that one a notch higher, slicing a four-point lead to one with three freebies as the clock read :09.7.
Bramanti, immense all night long with 22 points and seven assists, was human, and missed a pair from the stripe with seven seconds left, setting one last Lancer shot.

After a timeout, Arias came off a pair of screens rolled above the key from about 25 feet and let one fly but the shot drew only backboard, and Andover hung on.

"Some losses you can't be unhappy about, and this is one of them," said Lancer coach Paul Neal. "Our kids kept fighting, and that's all you can ask, right to the very end."

Alicea had it in high gear for 11-6 Lawrence, scoring 18 points. Pereyra finished with 13.

Sam Dowden had 10 of his 13 in the third quarter for Andover. Craig Luschenat had 10 points, and Jack Kieckhafer finished with nine, including four straight points in a pivotal spot in the fourth that kept Andover from spiralling completely into the abyss.

Expect Dunn Gym to be rocking again next week as Andover hosts North Andover in a Christmas rematch Monday night then tangles with the Raiders for the third time of the year on Thursday.

Additional stories:

• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage
• Andover survives Lawrence barrage