RallyNorth.net: High School Sports - Merrimack Valley and Southern NH

1. The countdown to Central Catholic-Billerica has officially begun. Yes, those two don’t play for two weeks, but the MVC large has thing to two teams with Andover’s loss to Dracut. The Raiders and Indians are on a collision course.
2. Let’s say this about Central, the Raiders are resilient. Facing adversity, Central rallied like the U.S. Marine Corps. The adapted, improvised and overcame, in the process stamping themselves as a clear 1A to Billerica’s 1. Can’t wait for that one.
3. Had a quick conversation on the CC sideline with recently-appointed Raider coach Tom Sipsey, who took a verbal pounding from his Methuen High students for the mug shot in Friday’s Eagle-Tribune. “Sweet bangs, Tommy.”
Seriously, he’s young, ambitious and upbeat. Love to hear the first words out of a coach’s mouth like his, “How do we get into the Christmas Tournament?”
Now, that’s a kid with high hopes for his program. And why not? Whittier is red-hot athletically. It’s become a pretty darn tough school to get into as well. Good luck Tom.
4. Quote of the night: “I think they’ll go with the waggle.”
That was Central hoop coach Rick Nault. With all due respect, Rick, do you have any clue what a waggle play really is? I’m calling your bluff here.
5. Central’s Zack Lattrell plays the game of high school football on a different plane than everyone else. His hits just sound menacing, the kind of collisions on every play that are rate in the high school game.
6. Nice to see Lawrence keep its hopes alive in the MVC small as the banged-up Lancers knocked off Haverhill. Remember, this is a team that played without its two bigplay guys in Devin Montanez and Francis Nova, not to mention starting left tackle Lance Thigpen. That’s a big chunk.
7. Heard some great news out of Haverhill tonight on the radio as I was driving to Chelmsford. Hillie AD Garin Veris wasn’t going to be able to phone in updates from the game to this show because he was busy, showing some business types interested in investing in the school athletic program around Haverhill Stadium. Kudos Garin. The new AD is trying. He is innovating. He has my support.
8. Manchester Central over Pinkerton, 21-10??? To think a Pinkerton parent, whom I knew, was whining about giving the Stros a little more respect. Mr. Astro, I give you one stat. Won-less record for Pinkerton’s five victims: 13-32. Please, do not even try to beg for a spot on the Fantastic Four unless you win the Division 1 state title.
9. Gritty effort by Londonderry Friday night, surviving South and locking the defending state champs out of the playoffs. Now the Lancers need Salem to take care of one of their nemesises (nemesi????) Manchester Central next week. Hmmm. thinking about South for one second. The state champs returned 9 defensive starters and a quarterback who threw for nearly 300 yards on one of the coldest November days that have ever chilled my bones. Yet, they miss the playoffs? Man, I knew David Zocco was great, but this great???
10. I hit the pillow a tired man with one thought. Do I have the energy to wake up by 9:30 and drag my bootie up Route 110 to Whittier where Kev’s Cats host unbeaten Chelsea at 10:30? Give Bradley’s boys credit, they run a heck of a concession stand there on Amesbury line Road. Yes, I want to catch a glimpse of Bradley’s “K gun” offense, but I make no promises.