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Welcome to hoops 2008-2009 … now somebody stop me from chuckling as I conjure up the first Longo Top 10 of the boys hoop season, plus make my preseason prognostications

Dec 12th, 2008 by Hector Longo

OK, it’s not the kind of evidence that would convict, hell I’m not even sure of hearsay is admissable, but an Eagle-Tribune staffer relayed the story to me that Ricky Nault, yes Central’s Ricky Nault, picked his team fourth in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Fourth!!!
Folks, I’m only going to chastise Ricky and his unfathomable humility once for this.
Here it goes.
Sorry Ricky, you’re the clear-cut, 1-to-9, lead-pipe, Red Sox over Royals in a seven-game series, lock to win the MVC, Division 1 North and the Division 1 state title.
Fourth in the MVC??? I wouldn’t pick you lower than third in New England.
Hmm. You have the most heavily recruited player in history, this side of Scott Hazelton, who happens to be a potential triple-double guy every night you need to play him more than 16 minutes.
Carson Desrosiers was a nice little secret as a freshman. He was the perfect complementary force as a sophomore.
Now, he is a 6-foot-9 shot-swatting, game-changing terror with three-point range.
Oh, by the way, he’s not your best player.
Your best is the returning Eagle-Tribune MVP, Billy Marsden, already an absolute legend for the shots he’s made when it matters most.
Remember the baseline drive plus the foul, how about the three to topple Lexington?
Any other blue-chip stock?
Hmm. Let’s see. Tim Wheeler’s a three-year starter and the region’s top shutdown forward.
Jimmy Zenevitch, is he only a soph?, yeah, but he’s 6-foot-6 with touch and a drive to rebound.
Michael Garcia? 6-foot-3 scholarship football player.
Zak Adamopoulos? What’s he on his 9th varsity letter?
Michael Alvarez? Benny Fernandez? Both varsity performers last year.
Fourth in the MVC?
That said, Ricky’s a heck of a nice guy and has already proven to be one dynamite head coach in his short spurt, so we’ll cut him some slack and hope that his comments were at the very least misconstrued.
So guess who I’m picking as my No. 1 preseason team, yes its, the Raiders, by a Reagan over Mondale style landslide. (Central couldn’t carry Andover or Salem, N.H., but dominated the vote everywhere else.)

Here’s my entire preseason top 10

1. Central … Potentially the greatest team of all-time.
2. Andover … Like his players bought have bought into the team-first strategy, I have bought into what David Fazio is cooking. I believe in the W.I.N. strategy.
3. Salem … Let’s see, two first-team All-Class L types return. Is a three-peat in the works? Not unless E.J. Perry finds the 20 points and 20 rebounds lost to the graduations of Shawn Stoodley and Dan Kinney.
4. Lawrence … Paul Neal is playing coy, but I get the feeling this will be a more typical Lancer squad, much better in February than it is right now.
5. Pinkerton … The “show-me” squad of the winter season. Yes, the Astros go 6-foot-6, 6-foot-6, 6-foot-4. Yes, they return four starters from a team that had Salem reeling in the Class L quarters. But, they also found ways to lose 11 games last year. 11!
6. Pelham … If someone in New Hampshire had the intestinal fortitude to name a true all-state dream team, Justin Hojlo would be in the starting backcourt. The supporting cast has made the proper offseason strides. A venture deep into the Class I playoffs has to be in the works.
7. Georgetown … Jaymie Spears is a superstar.
8. Methuen … Love the G-men in the backcourt.
9. Londonderry … If any coach in the region can coax and cajole a team to 12 wins, it’s Jimmy Zorbas.
10. Greater Lawrence … Sleeper team here. I just recognize a lot of names returning, starting with Teflon Don Celestin.

Here are my thoughts on the upcoming races?

MVC large
1. Central
2. Andover
3. Lawrence
4. Lowell
5. Haverhill
Lowell’s down, but the big three are again up

MVC small
1. Methuen
2. Dracut
3. Chelmsford
4. Billerica
5. Tewksbury
Two-horse race in my eyes, hinging on how the Middies retain some of their on-the-fence types.

CAL large
1. Wilmington
2. Masco
3. North Andover
4. Newburyport
5. Pentucket
6. Amesbury
7. Triton
Kind of like football, the large isn’t very deep again.

CAL small
1. Georgetown
2. North Reading
3. Lynnfield
4. Manchester
5. Ipswich
6. Ham-Wenham
7. Rockport
Hoyas over Hornets in a tight race.

NH Class L (not going to number 1-52)
1. Salem … Stop Jones and you get a face full of Kimball … Stop both and LaRosa is raining triples on you.
2. Trinity … C’est L’eguere mon ami. (I have no idea what that means, it’s French, but Jordan Laguerre leads the Pioneers).
3. Pinkerton … Class L semis or bust for Beau’s boys.

Early thoughts on the Greater Lawrence Boys Christmas Tourney??? Let me have them.
I’ll get deeper into that when the holidays approach.

Posted in Basketball, Hector Longo, Uncategorized | View Comments

  • Rick Nault

    Hector,

    Just to clarify what I said to the staffer – My exact quote was ” Lawrence and Andover were to the two most improved teams and that Lowell and Central lost a great deal and that it could be a four team race”

    That was my exact quote. Now your comment of greatest team of all time is a little over zealous on your part. It’s all in good fun , love the coverage and work that you put in the High School hoops season.

  • L

    Scott Hazelton team would destroy this team, and I take last year team also, this team has no point guard, a athletic team would trap this team all day long. Lawrence will upset them in the second round of the X-Mass Tourney.

  • Randy

    L,
    you’re nuts. please, please, please seek medical attention immediately.

    Hazelton was a beast, but this “team” is better than his. Marsden from the outside is the best in the state, and Desroisers is going to be an absolute FORCE down low. The kid was recruited by d1 schools as a friggin sophomore.

    Central repeats at conf. and state champs, and finishes with no more than two losses.

  • A huge Pinkerton fan!!!

    Randy, when are schools allowed to contact athletes? Clearinghouse rules are ambiguous at best… Sophomore year?

  • Herman Hermanson

    Gee, looks like nobody told Hector about Title IX.

  • Central Fan

    CCHS certainly has their weaknesses, but their strengths far outway these foibles. As long as Desrosiers wanders in the paint on defense, it’ll be very difficult to topple this juggernaut. You may be able to force a few turnovers from their inexperienced 1′s, but you also expose yourself to a flurry of quick hoops when the ball gets to the middle. On closer inspection though, and unlike the team of a year ago, they are vulnerable defensively. Undersized and athletically challenged in the backcourt, they may not be able to defend against quicker and taller guards…and as is pretty evident the scoring against Central has to be done away from Carson, either at the perimeter or on the fast break. This should not be a problem in the MVC, but may rear it’s ugly head in the State Tourney. That being said, beware of the man at the top, Rick Nault, in his short tenure as Coach, has shown an uncanny ability to motivate. He also posses the basketball acumen to take them deep again. His program is bottomless, as he always has the option of reaching down(JV or Frosh) and pulling something out of the hat.

    MVC title for sure, but a tougher time getting the “BIG”prize this time around

  • Granitom

    “Potentially the greatest team of all time”??? Come on, Hector, it’s a little early for such accolades. Central Fan captures it nicely, especially replacing the tremendous depth in the backcourt. Admittedly, they’re deeper up front than last year, and no one will out-work the Raiders, thanks to Coach Nault’s practices. Marsden proved last year that he’s a warrior. “Wouldn’t rank them lower than third in New England?” Keep in mind that Bishop Hendricken (RI) returns three starters, is extremely talented and deep in the backcourt, and comes to Hampshire Street in February for what should be a great game. Also, I wouldn’t overlook Hillhouse, Wilbur Cross, or Trinity Catholic in CT. Good analysis, Hector, just a tad premature.

  • Hector Longo

    Fellas a couple things:
    First, to Mr. Hermanson. I understand that girls basketball is a bigtime sport, probably better overall than boys in this region when you talk scholarships and stuff.
    My main beats, though, are football, boys hoop and baseball. I try to stick with them. Should someone on our staff pick up the gauntlet and attempt to blanket the blogosphere with thought-provoking insight?
    That is up to you, the readers and participants to demand.

    On the Central hoop talk, allow me to clarify, when I say potentially the best of all-time, I mean best from our region of the teams we cover.
    If I’m talking best of all-time, I will point to Don Bosco High in 1984, with Chenault Terry, Shawn Malloy, john Williams and I think, Shawn Hood.
    Of course, that team lost to another “best of all-time” candidate in the 1984 lowell team with Ramon Rivera, Scott Stapleton, Derek Oliver and Co. in one of the greatest games ever.
    And, of course, that team lost to Durfee and the Herrens in one of the greatest shooting performances ever.
    So , that was just a clarification.
    I do feel this team would handle the Hazelton title team, though. That’s just one man’s opinion.

  • Badcopier

    Last year’s Central team is the best ever from this area. I would like to see them against Pat Ewing’s Camrbridge teams and the great Don Bosco teams. This year’s Central is a different team, with a better Carson.
    Hector is right. Andover is a sleeper and dangerous to everyone else. They move the ball. Bramonte is terrific. Arnold is solid.
    Lawrence will improve by 6 wins over last year, at least. Great league.

  • matt

    ok so jamie spears is probably the best player in the CAL, but i mean he cant carry a team. hell get taken out of games, because teams obviously know whats comming, and i dont think his team can keep it up for him. He hasnt prooved to be a “superstar” yet so i think we can all relax. One day he will be but not yet. they beat Manchester essex by 1 and lost to cathedral by 1 with spears shooting a phenominal 2-19. congratulations. Jamie is good not great. and Gorgetown is decent at best. That is all

  • Granitom

    L’s prediction on 12/16 of a pending Lawrence upset of CCHS now appears laughable. The Lancers are very quick and should have been able to trap the heck out of Central, but Lawrence was never able to set up their press because they made so few baskets. Also, amidst all the well-earned conversation about Marsden and Carson, time for a few props to a largely unnoticed Fernandez. He has been solid, careful with the ball, and very dependable. Could Central struggle a bit against taller, athletic, experienced guards? Maybe, but there aren’t many of those around. Meanwhile, pretty clear separation between the cream of the MVC and that of NH. Andover/CC will be a war between two of the best-coached teams in the state.

  • Badcopier

    Pinkerton and Salem NH disappointed. But it’s good to see Methuen coming around in hoop. It’s been a rough ride in Ranger land in too many sports for too long. Rodriguez is very tough and very good.
    Andover has played Central enough to know Carson D will shots; the key to an upset is to not get demoralized and to create points off defense and the break. Andover’s Polanco is underrated. Arnold has been great. If he was healthier they’d have a chance.

  • Granitom

    The big difference between the MVC and NH schools is that, in the MVC, there are few cupcakes. Central plays Andover, Lawrence, Lowell, and emerging Haverhill twice. Plus non-leaguers vs. at SJP, Hall of Fame vs. American Heritage, and Bishop Hendricken; all tough outs. A week after getting blown out by Central by 40, Lowell beats Londonderry by 15. MVC schools are used to nightly wars. Andover will need to shoot the lights out and rebound like maniacs on the defensive glass. I agree they’ll need to get points off D, but how often does Central turn it over? And Carson changes a game like one one in this area, perhaps ever. A bit screwy that they play again four days after the final.

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