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

Hector, sorry for correcting JS and raid4life all the time but, I can't let them bury the city of Lawrence with false and hateful facts. great blog, right on with all your point of views. The city of Lawrence and there new high school are really being a great host to the GLCT. It should be there forever. Hector you can't let Michael Muldoon off the hook for picking Andover to win the GLCT. Wouldn't you know the new star in the MVC is a kid from Central. Luis puello is unbelievable.

Don't mind $1. for a program or $5 for a tee. However, and perhaps a sign of a weak ecomony, Christams Tourney players are charged to watch games when they are not on the floor. A shameless money grab. They need to watch their competiton. I was behind a couple of players denied entry and short a few dollars. Pretty sad, especially when they lay their bodies out to entertain the crowds.
A few chippy moments out there on the floor, hopefully the refs keeps raps on the physical stuff when the scores get lopsided.
Finally, doesn't appear anyone will get close to Central
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

OK David. We concede the point. That stampede you hear is people from all over the northeast rushing to buy their little slice of heaven in Lawrence so they can avail themselves of such a safe, clean, ethical, and well-run city that does not need state or federal help and is overflowing with economic opportunities for all. There, feel better? Enough.

We do agree, however, that LHS has been a great host for the tourney, as they were last year. Hec, it is the first year for a buck-a-program. If Luis Puello puts the clamps on Larosa, who steps up for Salem? And how do the Devils D-up on CC? If they go a lot of zone look for Michael Alvarez to step up. I think they'll have to slow things down and go deep into shot clocks. Sounds like Andover-LHS will be a track meet.

John Strak, you just can't help your self. You just can't comment on the great basketball games that are happen in the city of Lawrence without putting the city down. I do like Lawrence in that game with Andover. CCHS with there new star Luis Puello and the rest of stars on the team will win it all. Just to tough of team. I just don't understand the hype Andover was getting. Above Avg. team at best and alot of people was saying this is the team to beat CCHS. Never believe it for 1 min.

Think it is time Pinkerton gracefully leaves this tournament. They are the weakest team it is basically like a bye for which ever team draws them. Rosinski and the Astros have yet to win a first round game.

If you focus your defense too much on LaRosa, the three guys that will hurt you for the Blue Devils are Joe Gallant, Matt Cannone and Jeff Meisser. You've probably never heard of Meisser, but he's one of the most underrated players in NH, and is also one of the state's best shooters. Gallant is a tough player and a decent shooter. Gallant is a good inside player, but I can't see him doing anything against Central with Carson and Zenevitch down low. Salem had 3 good shooters with LaRosa, Meisser and Cannone. They're only chance to make it a game with Central if those 3 get hot shooting the ball. Also, they'll have to press Central and hope to force some turnovers before the Raiders are able to set up their offense and pound the ball down low to their big guys.

Jeremy, Meisser doesn't even start for Salem. I don't think he hit a shot against GL.

Jayson883, How can you say pinkerton is the worse team in the GLCT, they pushed Lawrence for 4 Quarters. I put Lawrence against CCHS in the championship game. Jeremy_Leveille, To put a top 4 teams that you put together is crazy. We all know CCHS is #1. I do put Lawrence in the championship game and I still think the #2, #3 and #4 is all up for grabs. Lawrence, N. Andover, Andover Salem and Pinkerton, you take your pick or watch them play and these teams will will decide who is #2,#3,and #4.

David, like I said in my post, the four teams in this tournament that I've seen are Greater Lawrence, Central Catholic, Salem and Pinkerton. I was ranking those 4 teams. It was NOT a ranking of who I thought the top 4 teams in the Lawrence tourney were. Just the 4 teams in the tourney that I've seen. I thought I made that clear, but if not I apologize for the confusion.

Two points that stick with me:
1. To the Central coach – if you cheer on your kid's rough play, you look like an idiot when you cry about the other team giving it back.
2. To the Salem coach – when you're up 25-30 points late in the game and are having your kids still throw up several more 3 point try you show how much class you have – None.

jeremy_Leveille, No that is what you said. I read it wrong. Wait untill you see the other teams play. Great to see all these teams in the GLCT. Other than the CCHS games, games in the GLCT are really evenly games. A. Lincoln, come on. This is not 10 year olds playing here. Coaches are suppose to cry foul. As far as Salem throwing up 3's when there up by 20, don't like it, stop them. I'm sure Salem has been on the opposite side of it before.

Wow D97, You are cold. Stop them??? Honest Abe was way off base, but you are cold.
It's not like it was Cannone and LaRosa tossing them up, it was the younger kids and you can't tell kids who don't usually play not to shoot.
As far as the coaches begging and pleading, it's nothing new.
The officials get steamrolled every time a coach steps on the floor.
They take it and take it without a reaction, the coaches – all the coaches – go miles past “pushing the envelope.” It's too bad, but it's the Valley way. And since the officials – all the officials – mercilessly absorb it, it's never going to change.
HL

Hector, Great points on the Coaches of the MVC. As far as Salem putting up 3'S, you said it better than me. Still, this is high school basketball were kids coming off the bench really want to make a name for them selfs. Hey look at this kid from CCHS Luis Puello, he shuts down one of the best basketball players in the MVC Michal Gorman and he becomes a star overnight. Who ever heard of him before he shut down Michal Gorman. In all fairness to Michal Gorman playing with all football players and 2 of his best basketball players getting hurt during the game did give Luis puello a upper hand. Still, Luis Puello is unbelieveable.

I don't think Pinkerton is the worst team in the tourney, and probably not the second or third worst. But according to this morning's paper they've won two first round games in 14 years! In hoops, they are an annual enigma. They have nearly twice the enrollment of any other school in the tourney and yet bring annual emotionless mediocrity. It's almost like they walk into the gym and feel intimidated. Couldn't close the deal vs. Lawrence, and they've never been in a tourney final. btw: How many finals has GL been in over the same time? And how many first round wins?

Last year, Luis Puello was doing the same things defensively but Billy Marsden got much of the backcourt ink, understandably. Luis is now a little bigger, stronger, and faster and a nightmare for any opposing guard. Agree that Salem will have to press and probably change up defenses a lot so that CC doesn't get too comfortable on the offensive end. CC had better get used to it, though, because they're going to be pressed for the next three months. At some point, some team is going to pack in a tight 2-3 (Methuen was extended) and force CC to beat them by hitting 17 footers. Enter Michael Alvarez. LHS is, by far, the tourney's best venue.

John Starks, I really don't think Pinkerton was intimidated. I don't know if you saw the game, but it was a great game. Up and down action. Just to let you know Pinkerton did play fall ball with Lawrence. They new how the game was going to be played and they played with them untill the end. As far as Salem goes, they are just like every other team that plays CCHS. Say 3 hail marys and hope they could stay close for it's fans. There is no beating this team. The team is full of all stars.

Interesting stuff everyone. I wish NA could have hung on but was proud of their effort. Pushed Andover to the limit. I think Andover beats Lawrence in a close one that finishes around 6-8 point difference. Plan on a lot more points from Andover than they did the other night. I read that one post that was down on Pinkerton but I actually was very impressed the other night. Proulx is an excellent player- can do everything: score, pass, rebound, defend. Rest of the team has good size up front and the point guard handled Lawrence's pressure well. I actually think they're a tougher matchup for NA than Andover was. That's not to say they're better than AHS- I think Andover would handle them. But high school hoops is often about matchups and I think Pink's size is going to give NA problems tomorrow. They'll have to shoot it well because points in the paint will be few and far between. Should be another close one. I think actually think this tourney has a clear #1 and then a bunch of teams that will play each other close. And in the end it's high school hoops so just about anything can happen. Except probably a Central loss! Let's hope for a great day of basketball tomorrow.

I was a ref for about the last decade. The abuse the coaches give out in the MVC is far worse than any other league I have worked (CAL, GBL, Commonwealth, Middlesex, Northeastern, Catholic Central…)

The worst part of it all, it permeates down through the sub varsity ranks. The freshmen and jv coaches are worse in a lot of ways and it really ends up hurting the kids because you have young officials trying to work their way up and they are dealing with this stuff and they are unable to concentrate on the game. People want to blame the officials for putting up with it, some of the blame has to fall on the AD's. We once tossed a valley coach and the AD came up to my partner and I after the game asking not to file the prerequisite paperwork with the MIAA. The AD's do not hold the coaches accountable for their actions and there are no consequences. In the end, the officials are the bad guys.

Perhaps I'm a tad critical of the Astros. But historically, you have to look at their early round games and say “Huh?” Yes, quite a few of those were against Central. Still, you'd think they'd be the beneficiary of an occasional statistical freak of nature and reach at least one final. The fact that they have not, ever, says something. Understand, it's a school the size of Brockton that has had considerable success on the football field in the last twenty years, and relatively little success on the hardcourt over that time.

Andover by 8; more balance
Central by 18; if it's closer than that, CC is vulnerable in the final
Pink by 10; pts. in the paint decide it
Methuen by 15; GL simply not very good outside their conference

the_other_side, Come on. To say something that you just said, you have to name names. If it is that bad than go to the MIAA and have it come to a end. I think lawrence beats Andover and that will kill the hype about this team ( Andover ) could beat CCHS. Pinkerton will show that there program is on it's way up, I like them big time. Methuen is hurting and short handed, game will be close and this is the upset game of the day. I like GL. CCHS, well what can I say that I haven't said already. They make it look so easy.

teams that dont play tough and with a chip on their shoulder will never make in the MVC…. the central coach knows this and i think his record shows that he is right. if you cant compete with an attitude that shows you are not going to take crap from anyone then you can just go watch the Catholic Conference play

D97 and BigHec
- When you're beating a team , you show class, you take your starters out and don't try to run up the score. Salem's coach showed no class. Hec, that's not 'way off base', that's just the way it's done. If Salem's coach had pulled that against a chippy team Salem's shooters would been hard fouled every time they launched another three.
- I repeat: When you coach a rough playing team like Central, you look like a idiot crying when the other team gives it back.

We followed protocol, let the state board know and our assignor. However, once it is in there hands, it is out of ours.

I wasn't there last night but from what I heard the officials in the Andover/Lawrence game didn't get steamrolled. Things MAY be different this year? Coaches need to stay in the “box” and they can't be on the court – especially berating an official. I agree with the comment below to some degree – it is evertone's fault, the coach, the AD, the official for not addressing it over the years, and the assignors not backing the officials.

chippyraider, I don't think teams in the MVC come with a attitude when they play CCHS. I think the players from other teams in the MVC play CCHS physical because they think that is the only way to play them and win. If you watched Methuen play physical with CCHS, than you saw that Methuen got the worse of it. redstorm8, I think you have to go to the games to know what we are saying. the_other_side, Your right about that. A.Lincoln, This is high school basketball. I'm sure Salem high school has been on the other side of this. Did you watch them play CCHS last night. What did you want CCHS to do, stop playing. Like I say before, don't like it, stop them.
WOW, That is all I can say about all the games played yesterday at Lawrence High school. Come on, were could you have gone for that much entertainment for 5 bucks. I did like Lawrece in the game against Andover. Lawrence has a lot of problems that nobody knew about. No excuse. Andover rolled all over them from start to finished. Michael Muldoon and other got there chrismas gift, a CCHS vs Andover match up. I hope Andover lives up to the hype. I don't see it but, I hope Michael Muldoon and other are right. If not, it's a long season for all of the MVC. Other games, I did like Pinkerton high school over North Andover. North Andover is the real deal. Pinkerton is a tough team from NH and played well in the GLCT. Methuen is hurting and will be short handed for awhile. Every game will come down to the end.

David: Pinkerton “…played well”??? They'll finish without a tourney final for the 15th year in a row, will beat a weak GL team for seventh place in an eight team field, and will be blown out by at least five Class L teams in NH. They remain low average, at best.

Good for the officials for T-ing up Faz 2 minutes and 9 seconds into the game. As a previous poster said, perhaps officials simply won't take it this year, at least some of them. Is it a tourney first to have father-son techs? In the first quarter?

Alex Larosa is a nice player for Salem and you can see how he leads that team. But Puello, Morales, and Ouellette completely took him out of the game. Salem scored four baskets in the first half (!) and I'm not sure that Alex got off more than three shots as Salem consistently spent 20-25 seconds of the shot clock 35 feet from the basket. Salem's first made jump shot came three minutes into the second half. It was a defensive statement by Central. Looked like some stat-padding by Salem as Larosa, who again is a nice player, remained in the game late into the fourth quarter.

You can see why Andover ran over BC High. Very balanced, hard-working, solid team. And there can be no doubt that Andover and Central are the two best teams in the MVC, even at this early stage. Question for others: When is the last time Andover was in a D1North final?

John Stark, Slow down. They had Lawrence on the hook. They played a very good team in North Andover. Which took Andover, the 2nd best team in the GLCT to the very end. To me they could have been the 3rd maybe the 4th best team in the GLCT. Look, Lawrence, N.Andover, Andover and Salem, everyone new about them. You knew they were going to be right there. I don't want them to leave like other teams had. Pinkerton plays fall ball with these teams. They know what MVC basketball is all about. Put them in the MVC league and they would win more than there fair share of games. I believe they know this and that is the reason they keep coming back, just like Salem. Wait you will see.

Pink the “3rd or maybe 4th best team” in the tourney? They'd lose big to Central. They'd lose big to Andover. They lost to Lawrence. They lost to NA. That makes them the 5th best team, at best, assuming you think they're better than Salem which is by no means a given. Perhaps if I “wait”, I'll see. But we've all been waiting for close to two decades for the Stros to show up.

Pink in the MVC would likely have to play in the Small division. In the Large, they'd get steamrolled by CC, Andover, Lawr, and Lowell twice every year. Probably competitive vs. Haverhill, which would result in a school with 3800 kids playing in a “small” division. But they're not an MVC school. They're a NH Class L school, where they won't be higher than a #6 seed, assuming the big guys stay healthy. I do agree that they should continue to play in the GL tourney because it brings additional regional interest. But don't you wonder why they can't, just once, bring it? Pink and Salem did little to elevate the perception of NH hs basketball.

Should be a great game on Tuesday- Central is the better team but Fazio will have the troops ready to go and believing they can win. Perimeter defense for Central will be key in slowing the Andover backcourt. Time for Central to rise to the next level and clear the first hurdle of the season…beating Andover in never easy and all the pressure is on CCHS.

John Stark, You are a hard man. I could only go by what I have seen in the last 2 weeks of High school basketball, inclueing the GLCT. If they were in the small school division with Methuen being short handed and hurting they would win the Small division. If Methuen was heathy they would be fighting them for the Small division. If you put them in the large school division your right they would get smoked just like every other team in the large school division by Andover and CCHS. They would not get smoked by Lawrence and they just proved it. That game was very winable for them. So they prove to me they can be very competitive with them. Lowell I think they would be very competitive also. So chances are they could be fighting for 3rd or 4th in the large school division. Hey if they would have gotting to play GL in the first round they would be playing for the 3rd and 4th postion in the GLCT.

David1997 – I do know what you are talking about – for purposes of full disclosure I am also an official and have been for the better part of the last 20 plus years. I have officiated many games in each of the leagues listed previously by the “other_side” – especially in the MVC. I dont have to be at every game to know what you are talking about because i have already been at my share working the game. So I speak as a participant and not as a spectator. I am suggesting that maybe last night was a sign of things to come if the coaches and players refuse to toe the line. In other leagues they still “work” the officials but it not necessarily seen as grandstanding or as abusive. It is part of the game but it doesn't have to be in such an egregious manner.

bighec- where is yiour blog on the GLCT semis?

Pinkerton does not play fall ball with Lawrence, At least not with close to their full team. The reason Pinkerton is not good has to do with coaching and the ability to keep players on their roster. Their starters played together for the first time this december. Their two best players are going to be college athletes in other sports. (Proulx football and Mathieu Baseball) The coach is a good guy but just can t keep all the right kids playing hoop every year. The kids just don't play hard for him. You put any of the coaches from Lawrence, Central, Andover, Salem or N. Andover and they would be a different team.

Pinkerton grad, Slow down. Pinkerton does play fall ball with teams from the MVC. Don't know who is playing or not but, they are in the fall league. That is a fact. They played Lawrence hard from start to finish and could have won that game. I know you don't want to hear what I am saying but, that is what I saw. Than they played a really good N. Andover team and lost by 8, and your telling me that the kids don't play hard for there coach. You and John Starks do have a problem with this team and it's coach. What I have seen is a team of players, playing hard for it's coach. It look like someone kid didn't make the Pinkerton high school team or quit it. Redstrom 8, You said in your 1st blog that you heard about the games. If you went to the Lawrence vs Andover game, you would know what you heard was wrong.

You must mean summer league and not fall ball. I really don't think you have seen the Pinkerton teams play enough then. Not to take anything away from the kids but out of the first round twice in 14 years in GLCT and one playoff win in eight years with the athletes they have? Look at the results…embarassing…great athletes and great kids but no adjustments by coach. Sorry the numbers speak for themselves.

So, one more point (although the horse has long since died, so why beat it?!) about Fazio re-scheduling the 1/7/2010 Central game. I recently realized the game now conflicts with the National Championship (Alabama/ Texas), and as this is a major event for myself and several friends every year, I will be forced to miss the hoop game. Thanks Dave. I hope Central takes your boys in all three this year!

Hector, Help me out here. Now I'm defendimg Pinkerton High School basketball program. First it was the City of Lawrence, now this.

Stormy,

Sorry I was laid up on a hospital bed the last two days and didn't get to the semis.
All is well, though, and I will be there and on here for the finals.
HL

So David – are you telling me that firsthand discussions with the officials that actually did the game are wrong? I know what was said, why T's were given and how they were administered. I didn't need to be there. Trust me – it is nothing different – well, wait a minute, yes it is different in the way it was handled this time – and that's why people are in shock.

And as far as the Fall League played in NA – Pinkerton DID NOT play in that league. The only NH teams have been Londonderry and Salem.

Redstorm8, Your right the ref's in the MVC put a end to all, not all, most of the coaches from getting in there face. I'm not going to go back and forth with you. NA was not the only sight that was holding fall ball, but I know you knew that. Pinkerton did play fall ball and again I'm not going to go back and forth with you. I do like CCHS tonight and I just can't see Andover staying with them. Who do you like.

I'd rather not offer a prediction – probably not appropriate. I will say that I think it will be a heckuva series this year between the two. Tonight will be a hard fought affair and I think Anover will pick up the Central guards full court to see is they can shake them up. It will be physical – Jimmy Zenevitch has been having a good year so far and I wouldn't ecpect that to change tonight. If Andover can bury some threes, force turnovers, and keep their heads – it could be more interesting than one might think. No predictions though – only good luck to the refs who will try to make this about the kids and not everyone else – if you know what I mean.

Hector – hope you feel better and don't miss too much of the action. Should be a good final and I agree with you that CCHS doesn't sweep AHS this year. Also agree that Muldoon has outdone himself with the Brama Bull – a very fitting name for a tough player and kid.

t is not about us – it is about the kids – from what it sounds like – Faz asked for the game change for all the right reasons.

To PinkertonGrad's point, last year we all watched a very highly regarded Pink team come into the tourney and find itself down 31 at halftime to CC in the first round. CC went on a 16-0 run and the Pink coach sat and watched like an bored fan. Pink guards were stripped three trips in a row, then stood at midcourt and watched the CC guards go in for layups. The Stros lost by 26 to Alvirne in the '09 state tourney. David, spin it anyway you want, but a school with 3800 kids will finish 7th in an 8 team tourney. Again, their track record is simply odd.

I will be stunned if Andover does not stay with the Raiders tonight. In fact, I can see CC being down a bit at halftime. But if the game is called close (likely given Sunday night's theatrics), and Miller gets in foul trouble it will be all over. Also, I think Andover's point (no names) needs to do a better job of keeping his composure. The kid plays with great passion but does his team no favors sitting on the bench. This is the kind of game in which Carson needs to have a 32-16-10 night. Look for Andover to mix in quite a bit of zone. CC by 8.

David, your defense of Pink's hoop program and the city of Lawrence is admirable. I hear Tiger Woods, Inc and the Detroit Lions have immediate PR openings.

Andover by 5.

Johnson, Spencer Rose, Riemer give Andover healthy depth. Dowden and a year of experience make Miller, Bramanti and Fazio more formidable.

Bramanti is already the best point in the region – prediction here is that Bramanti is Globe and Herald Super Team his senior year.

Zenevitch and Derosiers both must have big nights for Central to win.

redstorm8 and John Stark, On this one, Andover doesn't have a chance. CCHS and Carson is all about winning. A team like Andover or anyone in the MVC can't win. With zero inside game. No way. This is basketball. We all know it's about the inside game and CCHS has it and no one else has. No way can Andover slow CCHS tonight. CCHS can and will slow down Andover. This GLCT is all about MVP Luis puello. John Stark, Come on. All you want to talk about is years past. Pinkerton had a good showing this year in the GLCT. The City of Lawrence were great host for the GLCT. To stick up for someone or thing you have to know a lot about them. In this case I know a lot about the City of Lawrence and I watched Pinkerton play hard in the GLCT. Thank you anyway,

Hahaha. CCHS demolished Andover and they didn't even have a good offensive night.

tht is rediculios luis did not get his name by shuting down Michael Gorman.Luis is a hardworkin kid and you think he is good at basketball i laugh cause i seen this kid ncrush baseballs when he was 14. to bad at central basketballs year round this kid would of been even better at baseball i meen he could really crush a ball

fergiethedutches, I sorry but, shutting down Michael Gorman did put this kid on the map. It was a start of something big. We all know now how great this kid ( Luis Puello) is and how great this ( CCHS )defense is. It all started with shutting down Michael Gorman.

Hector, I would like you to see what I have as a Fan. 4. #1) CCHS, That was easy. 2,3 and 4 are up in the air. I don't see a solid 2,3 or 4. Lawrence has 0 defense. Andover only beat N. Andover by 2. Salem N.H. really did not impressed me. I know a lot of people are not going like what I'm about to say but, Pinkerton played hard in the GLCT to be part of this wide open Fan. 4. They play Salem N.H. tomorrow night in a game I think they will win to prove my point. Methuen is hurting. N. Andover is another team that played hard in the GLCT to be part of this wide open Fan. 4. What do you think.