Let’s start with the baseball, where the news out of Andover is that interviews for the job stripped from coach Ken Maglio were held this week.
According to sources, six candidates were involved in the mix, including Maglio, who interviewed Wednesday.
As late as a week ago, names like former Warrior coach Dave Bettencourt, ex-Warrior and current AAU mentor Dave Blank, JV coach Dan Grams and ex-Warrior and former North Reading assistant Ben Gibson had been in the mix.
Can’t confirm any of those others interviewing, though.
Sprinted over to the Hillies and Andover Wednesday night, right after Ollie Longo’s masterful performance at the Christmas Concert held at the Silver Hill Horace Mann Charter School in Haverhill.
My immediate thoughts? First, David Fazio is in a tough spot. The Warriors are playing more than a handful of odd nights, like this one, so Faz can watch his daughter Aly on court with the Andover girls.
Fazio has to be a dad first, so he’s done all he could to alter the slate. Still, that sets him up for some tough matchups as teams like BC High, which had ample opportunity to scout on Wednesday. BC High played Tuesday, while Fazio was supporting the Warrior girls.
Noah Vonleh, who had an assistant coach from Providence stop by Haverhill this week just to check in, continues to draw rave reviews from the folks who watch this 14-year-old Hillie grow with every minute on the floor.
The only problem is that he is a 14-year-old go-to guy as coach Mike Trovato deals with some injuries and a couple of painful suspensions.
Trovato is attempting to do things the right away, refusing to relent and that takes a lot of guts.
And, oh by the way, the Hillies are by no means the only club with a fab frosh in the mix. Andover started 6-foot-3 Sam Dowden to go with the anchor front four of D.J. Fazio, Joe Bramanti, Brian Miller and Jimmy Johnson.
“He works hard, I can tell you that,” said Fazio of Dowden.
OK, finally, it seems like an eternity, but our first real winter Friday night, with a full slate of hoops, has arrived.
Where you going tonight?
That BC High-Andover clash looks to be solid as the Warriors take a step up the competition ladder after two cruises.
How about a little matinee action, well at least a prelim for the night card, with the 5 p.m. tap of Whittier Tech and Greater Lawrence. How can new coach Tom Sipsey and the Cats deal with Teflon Don Celestin and the Reggies?
North Andover and Masco collide in a matchup of CAL powers. If I’m not mistaken, though, this one goes own as a non-leaguer. But I’m not sure of that one.
Schizophrenic Lawrence, which one MVC coach told me is better than Andover, heads to Methuen. And up in the Granite State Alex LaRosa and Co. host Nashua North in what will surely turn into a football game on the hardwood.
Central Catholic doesn’t play, but hosts Lowell Saturday. We have tipoff at 5 p.m. I would hope someone in the Raider camp could chime in and straighten me out if the info is incorrect.
Before I get to my first Fantastic Four of the winter, can I just state for the record that I am:
a. Against the Christmas tournament splitting the first day of action into two nights. It wreaks of a cash grab.
b. Against the Christmas tournament beginning before Christmas. This is a holiday tournament and it’s supposed to be played on the holiday vacation. I realize with Christmas on a Friday that kind of douses the schedule for a prime night,but there’s no reason this can’t be played the 27th, 28th and 30th.
That said, I love the Christmas tournament, everything about it. And I can’t wait for it to open Tuesday night.
OK, here’s the first Fantastic Four. I’ve thought long and hard on this one, lamented too.
Since it’s the first poll of the year, I’ll go backward.
4. Lawrence – Maybe some think the Lancers are better this year. I look at the guy who graduated, Justin Nieves, and what he poured into this program. Has to take a hit. That said, until I learn to spell Yadoris Arias correctly, I have to respect the group Paul Neal has assembled. Sources out of the city of sin tell me the Lawtown-ers slugged it out with English in a scrimmage favorably. That’s good enough for me.
3. North Andover- To tell you the truth, the sting of them in football, with me overrating the Knights and picking them to win the league, only to see Masco cruise on Turkey Day, hurt me a lot. That said, I like the Knights a lot, especially with the emerging frosh, Derek Collins. A win in the Christmas opener with Andover would go miles on the respect-ometer.
2. Andover – Speaking of the Warriors, they are just a smidge off the lead in what clearly, at least to me, looks like a two-horse race. One slipup and this team could claim the conference, the Christmas tourney, even the North.
1. Central Catholic – Carson Desrosiers. Wake Forest. Enough said.
League picks
MVC large – Central, Andover will win once if they meet twice, once if they meet three times and twice if they meet four times.
MVC small – I know they lost a tough one to Lowell and Dracut absolutely rolled over Groton-Dunstable, but I’ll take Methuen’s grit.
CAL large – Just think it’s NA’s year, now don’t let me down.
CAL small – Casey’s Hornets with Manchester.
NH Class L – Trinity to repeat even without Laguerre. The Pioneers have the one marquee athlete in the class in Madol. Local interests: I’d rank them 1. Londonderry (as long as Matt Sanborn returns to the fold); 2. Pinkerton – Two solid big guys and an enrollment the size of your average Midwest town; 3. Salem – Who else can put the ball in the hole besides Amazing Alex; 4. Timberlane – baby steps for the Owls.
Upcoming slate:
Friday, Dec. 18
Boys Basketball
Whittier at Greater Lawrence, 5 p.m.; Timberlane at Spaulding, 7 p.m.; North Andover at Masconomet, 7 p.m.; Londonderry at Keene, 7 p.m.; Pinkerton at Concord, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Salem, 7 p.m.; Lawrence at Methuen, 7:30 p.m.; B.C. High at Andover, 7:30 p.m.; Lynnfield at North Reading, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Boys Basketball
Lowell at Central Catholic, 5 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 21
Boys Basketball
Mystic Valley at Fellowship Christian, 3:30 p.m.; Greater Lawrence at Greater Lowell, 4:45 p.m.; Minuteman at Whittier, 5 p.m.; Georgetown at Amesbury, 6:30 p.m.; Pelham at Monadnock, 6:30 p.m.; Lynnfield at Pentucket, 6:30 p.m.; North Reading at Newburyport, 6:30 p.m.; Rockport at North Andover, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 22
Boys Basketball
Greater Lawrence vs. Salem, at Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney at Lawrence High School, 6 p.m.; Hopkinton at Sanborn, 7 p.m.; Haverhill at Dracut, 7:30 p.m.; Methuen vs. Central Catholic, at Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney at Lawrence High School, 7:45 p.m.
