All right, you have to shake your head and wonder what the schedule makers were thinking.
From now on, Central-Andover boys is a Friday night game, folks. Friday, not Tuesday, Friday.
Expect the crowd to be down for this one, because of the night, but that doesn’t diminish the game.
Tough to figure what happens when these teams meet for the second time in four days.
Neither team looked fluid Friday night. Maybe, Andover’s physical play had something to do with that, but let’s hope the officials take charge early, cut out the clutch, grab and tackle tactics on both sides, and allow these guys to play hoop.
I think we’ll see better offensively from Andover, which didn’t run a ton Friday night.
I just think the Bramanti’s and Fazio’s and Polancos will be better suited scoring in the running game.
I’m anxious to see the adjustments made on both sides.
If i had to make some here’s the moves I’d make:
Andover
1. Run, run and run. Carson’s an athlete, but he can’t keep up with the Andover guards on the break, meaning few chances to block or alter shots. Also, Ricky Nault went with a big lineup a lot of the night, using CD, Jimmy Z and either Wheeler, Garcia or Pena all at the same time. Attack those guys on the run.
2. A little more Miller time. Sophomore Brian Miller didn’t play the Christmas tourney final like it was his first. He looked comfortable in the spotlight. This is a kid who had 11 in the Andover win vs. BC High earlier and 18 against Haverhill. The kid looks ready for prime time.
3. Maybe a gimmick??? I can hear Dave Fazio scoffing right now at the thought, but until somebody proves consistently they can do damage, is Central a candidate to be box-and-1′d or triangle-and-2′d? This might smack a little of desperation, but why not try the move in January and see if it works as opposed to a state tourney game in March?
Central
1. Find that medium … Ricky Nault has done the right thing, he’s empowered his role guys, the Wheelers, Fernandezes, Garcia, Pena, et al, to look to score. That’s a good thing. That will pay huge dividends later this year, again when state titles hang in the balance. But, there are certain times in games when the first open 16-footer that presents itself as the first option is not always the right shot. Remember, this is a team with a soft-touched 6-foot-10 center and one of the most lethal scorers in region history. CD and Big Shot Billy should be the first option, 90 percent of the time.
2. Pressure … Call me crazy, but if memory serves correct, Central went all 32 minutes of halfcourt straight man. There was no trademark switch to the 1-3-1 halfcourt trap, no token zone. I digress here, but remember when everyone played 2-3 zone on inbounds plays under the hoop? Anyways, you have to figure the Raiders to put a little heat on Andover’s guards, at least to make them work a bit more in the backcourt.
Oh well, just a couple thoughts. Unfortunately, Chuck Frye draws the Raiders and Warriors tonight.
I’ll be North of the border, where Pinkerton Academy attempts to make an early Class L statement at two-time defending state champ Salem, which (and prove me wrong Blue Devil student body tonight, I’ll retract this statement) is one of the worst home-court advantages you’ll find surrounding a championship program.
Let’s start with Salem.
Talk about a team suffering an identity crisis. 1-2 at a Christmas Tournament many figured would include a trip to the finals.
Oh, Salem’s got offense, plenty of it, with Jones, kimball and LaRosa combining to score 47.0 points a game.
The Devils gave up 78 to Andover and 87 to Lawrence, both of whom savaged Salem on the glass.
And it wasn’t just the layups surrendered by the still-a-work-in-progress Salem press, it was the second and third shots on those missed layups.
Who’s it going to be Coach Perry.
Adamson, Gallant, Bergeron???
Somebody has to sacrifice and hit the glass and do the dirty work.
Someone has to step up in the paint, or this team will struggle against big teams.
I like the kid as a kid a lot, so I’m biased, but I see my man, Kyle Henrick, down the end of the Salem bench.
Kyle has been known to toss an elbow or two around in the paint. Is he a potential answer?
Yes, Henrick is undersized, he’s not long at 5-11 or so, and his offense won’t be found in Springfield at an exhibit. But, he’s tough and will fight for the basketball.
Again, i admit i like the kid, so I may be jaded. But the losses at Christmas exposed Salem, which at some point is going to need to find a way to win a big game when those 3s aren’t falling.
And finally, we’ll address the Astros, who righted the ship after a beating at the hands of Central to win a pair of consolations at the Christmas tourney.
I want to say, I saw the comment on this blog flogging Pete Rosinski. I was repulsed. I thought about pulling it for a lack of class, after all it’s an anonymous, gutless post.
But Pete’s a grown man, not a kid, he can defend himself.
I’ll treat that rant on the coach like i treat most of them.
Stop the whining.
Let’s look at Pinkerton.
Zach Mathieu is a 6-foot-7 athlete with post moves and the reflexes of a top baseball catcher.
Ben Proulx is a 6-foot-4 all-state sack machine with toughness, a soft lefty touch out to the arc, a post presence with heart to go in and grab tough rebounds.
Beau Cassidy is one of the best pure shooters in the region with range out to J. Michael’s parking lot (did I mention how good the wings are there?).
And Colby Verge is a totally reliable point guard who wreaks of the terms athlete and gamer, complete with toughness and the penchant to create offense when it matters most.
Now, Pete could be a tactitian like Coach K or he might not be. At some point, that doesn’t matter.
These boys are big boys now.
Suck it up. Push yourselves. Have a little bit of pride. Get together, play defense, rebound and have fun. This is basketball, not a battlefield in downtown Fallujah.
What I’m saying folks is, it’s up to the players, not the coach. If they want to be a title contender, the pieces are in place. Get together and fight for it.
Tonight at Salem would be a great place to start. Make a statement to the rest of the Granite State.
Whining about the coach is only a crutch that holds teams back. An excuse and a lame one at that.
