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

Wow that is all good news for CCHS-I would rather play Andover a fourth time (IF they make it) than St Johns again. Cambridge could be a real tough game-I don't know anything about them except the gave Brockton their only loss who beat LE by 15.
Hope Methuen can pull off the upset of Ctown.

FYI… FOX 25 is doing a preview of the tourney during their 6pm news broadcast.

Four times are too many to have to play a team in one year. This is why I'd like to see Central in a Christmas Tourney out of state. Back in the fifties Central played in a NYC Christmas Tournament and although we got our butts kicked most time it was a learning experience going up against some of the best ballplayers in the East coast. One of the teams we played was St. Anne's Academy which was coached by Louie Carnesecca at the time. You won't see that competition in the MVC. Playing two regular season and one State Tournament game a year is enough to keep rivalries alive and kicking.

Thanks Hector. Some really interesting matchups. Central-Andover IV is a scary thought- familiarity breeds contempt. Some on the court and even more on this forum! Can't see a way in which Central doesn't end up in the North finals for an epic battle against LE/SJP. Lawrence is a different team right now than the one that lost to Eastie way back when so that will be interesting. I'd love to see them pull off an upset. Same for Methuen and Charlestown. And here's really hoping for a win or two for Coach Sipsey and Whittier and their great turnaround.

HL- think you're missing the boat on the draw for the NA Knights. Should they beat MC the 8-9 game is Lynn Classical vs Woburn. Ask around- that's a brutal draw. Both those teams started the season slow and are now playing very well. Classical lost to Lynn English 80-78 two nights ago and has the NEC MVP. Woburn played without its best player for a lot of the year and has been playing very well down the stretch now that he's back winning a bunch of games in a row to end the season. They return three starters from the team that lost a heartbreaker in the Garden last year. Both are better than Dracut and every bit as good as Belmont. They're both legitimate contenders to win the D2 EMass title. That's not something a 1 seed ever wants to see in the 2nd round. There are 10-12 teams in the section that aren't as strong as either of them, including 2 of the top 4 seeds- Masco and Chelsea. NA will have to play very well to have a chance against either.

Whatever the case though, it's the best time of the year for us fans. Best of luck to all valley teams and players!

LE's coach being suspended can't help their tourney chances…

Are the north brackets up anywhere? The Miaa only hass the south.

They are there now…

Should be a great couple of weeks of Hoop!

Hec…I was thinking of that Central/ Methuen tourney game a few days back. I think it was mid or late 90's. Maybe 95 or 96? A once beaten or maybe undefeated Central team played Methuen in the North quarters, and was upset. Forget who the main characters were (Hazelton?) but I remember the Methuen fans turning out in huge numbers that night. It was at a neutral site, somewhere down RT114 I think.
Don't really know why, but I wasn't really thrilled to see Andover waiting right below Central in the bracket. I guess I'm not crazy about giving Fazio a fourth shot at trying to get it figured out. I believe that team to be dangerous.
In the girls bracket Central caught a nice break, as they won't have to face Andover until the North Final. Seems that Andover is the only team that gives them trouble. Probably would have lost all three this year, if not for Boudreau's 1st half injury at Central.
It'd be a great night of hoops if the girls and boys North finals were on the same night, played back to back. Central/LE Central/Andover.

Kid, when you're ready to move to the land of fried okra and BBQ (wet, not dry rub), let me know. Still time for you to come down and cover a team like United Faith…front court goes 7-1, 6-9, 6-8 with a 6-9 Mizzou bound senior out with an achilles injury. And, of course, it's the 6-2 guard finishing off the one-handed ally oop who gets the press.

You say Kenny Muse, I say John Wall.

sp0rtsfan, the year was '97, central came into the game undefeated, ranked #1 in all of Mass. Central was led by Mike Dunn, Shaun Qualter and Mike Trovato. Methuen was led by Brian Bettano and Dennis Dube. I remember the game all too well, was a central senior, and friends with the entire Methuen team. Tough loss, but Methuen played their best game of the year, and Weymouth out-coached Licare that night. That was a tough one.

Without coach Buzzy Barton, Connaughton and SJP should beat LE. That would be CC/SJP in the final. With fans support in the last few games, JZ and CD played like the NBA Pros.

Busy week in RaiderLand. Hockey team made the Super Eight with a play-in game Monday night vs. Winchester. Wrestlers go today, and I think I heard something about some boys' and girls' hoops next week. Best time of the year for hs sports fans.

Looking at a Central-Cambridge north semi, while SJP and LE are on the other side of the bracket. Then again, upsets do happen. Madison Park is the top seed in the south but it's tough to get a good handle on them. But first things first. Could somebody weigh in on how an 8-12 Methuen team is in? I'm sure it's an administrative 'guideline', but…

Nice to see CC make 1A (the old Super 8 Tourney) play-in game. But it should not have happened that way. Gave up two goals in last three minutes of final game of the year. I think winning that game would have given them a regular seed…maybe. Anyway, I think if they lose their play in game, they are seeded in the regular d1 tourney.
Can someone tell me about the suspension of the LE coach? Is it related to the late season accusation of recruiting? And, what does a suspension in High School even mean? Can he coach practice? How about be in the building on game day?

Word is he is gone for the entire tourney as well as the first 10 games next year. The Assist coach was suspended from day 1 of the complaint– supposedly some recruiting violations and the MIAA feels the head coach knew about it or is responsible for his assist coach's actions. I don't think the kid ever got the waiver to play either. Not good for LE.

That was a tough loss for CC-too bad for Mike Dunn cause he was a real good player and a great kid. The guard play let them down that year-was never impressed with SQ-no bball IQ.

He was suspended due to the MIAA finding that they are actively recruiting players. Some four players transfered in this year alone and all see significant minutes. One player was basically told that if he transferred, he would be given a starter's role and a chance at a division 1 scholarship.

hey hector- in your article today you discounted woburn because they struggled with 4-16 haverhill. did woburn struggle any more with haverhill on its home court than north andover did on its home court in 4 ots??? how does that make woburn less of a threat to north andover? watch out for haverhill in the future!

Methuen got in at 8-12 due to its 2nd place finish in MVC II. That's an MIAA rule in most sports… .500 win % or 1st/2nd place finish in your division/conference.

Two of them students did not play at all this year for LE. One from East Boston and one from Salem. The East Boston student will be eligible to play next season. The student from Lynn Classical and a student from Brookline both played this year though.

I agree about the Haverhill program. Mike Travato is working hard to bring that program back to where it should be.

Woburn is tough and well-coached by Sully but I don't know if they can get by the Grassa brothers and Lynn Classical. One drawback for LC is depth though. Either way, either Woburn or LC will be a tough matchup for NA if they get by Malden Catholic

Mike Travato does have the Haverhill basketball program going in the right direction. As I watch towns like Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford going in the wrong direction. It all starts with there youth basketball programs. The Haverhill youth basketball program has Brain Bourdon Jeff Duchemin, Craig Shirley and Jeff Nelson all true basketball coaches. This is were Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford lack. There are no true basketball coaches in these towns. They are just parents coaching to make sure there kids get on the high school team. Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford are going down hill fast. I think one of the places to be is in Haverhill. Basketball will be back at a very high level there were as Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford are going to be at a very low level in the next few years.

david – not sure I agree about the Methuen program. I know some of the folks involved in the program and specifically, there aren't many better advocates of the game and the program than Rick Gorman. A true bball nut, a good coach in his own right, and just a quality guy.

And from what I am told Methuen loses a lot of students and athletes to CCHS and other private schools.

I can't comment on Tewksbury or Chelmsford.

I was waiting for this point to be made, since the minute my fingers hit the keyboard on Saturday afternoon.
Look, all I was saying that if NA has a chance … maybe ever … that this is the year.
The school is making huge strides, refer to the baseball breakthough last spring for some evidence. I just think there is no beast in D2 this year. There is no Evan Smotrycz or a player like that, it's just a good time.
Woburn's struggle with the Hillies was evidence of that. For that matter, so was NAs.
So your point is well-taken. I'm just saying NA is in the mix, and I happen to have a good feeling about them.

redstorm8, Not to jump on Methuen but, all towns and citys are in the same boat as Methuen. Look at Methuen right now and look at there program. It doesn't look good at all. Rick Gorman runs the program but does not coach. Take a good look at who coaches in there youth basketball programs and who are involed with the Methuen program. Than you will see what I'm talking about. Tewkbury and Chelmsford coaches are like the one's in Methuen. These towns need true basketball coaches in there youth basketball programs to help there high school programs. Methuen is not alone about losing kids from there program to other high schools. Not every kids leaves. You have to have good youth programs and Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford just don't have good programs and it shows with there high school team.

I agree about the NA program – they are well coached and have a good nucleus that plays well together.

No Evan Smotrycz this year but Grassa can be a game changer if you let him shoot from anywhere.

I'm sorry we will have to agree to disagree…there are some good coaches at the youth level in Methuen. My kids have played in the program and although they aren't aspiring Coach K's or even Coach Hammel's, they do have acceptable basketball IQ's.

Name them

The first thing Mike Travato did was to first admit there was a problem. Starting with the Haverhill youth basketball program. The first thing he did was get true basketball coaches. Which he did. ( Brain Bourdon, 5th grade, Jeff Duchemin, 6th grade, Craig Shirley, 7th grade and Jeff Nelson, 8th grade. ) By the time these kids reach high school they already have been coached the proper way. The kids from Haverhill are leaning the game of basketball from true basketball coaches not from parents trying to teach the game of basketball like they do in Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford. Haverhill starts to teach the game of basketball from the 5th grade. By the time they get to high school they are ready. They will lose kids from there program just like Methuen to other schools. Again not everyone will leave. You say that Methuen have good coaching in there youth program please tell us who.

Bill Pare former collegiate player and current official, Rick Gorman – former player and director/coach of New Engalnd Storm AAU, Kevin Bradley – former player and current coach of Whittier Girls program, Miguel Lopez former 1970's and 80's player from Lawrence – who played with guys like, if I remember correctly Freddie Colon, Victor Martinez, and Osiri Casado? (and he did a great job coaching my kid), Colleen Lennon former player and high school coach. And now stepping into the ranks of coaches from Methuen are legends like Bert Hammel who now lives in Methuen and will be helping coach his boys during his off-seasons. Not a bad list if you ask me….

I don't know all of the names of all of the coaches in the youth program in Methuen but from one father's opinion, I think they have done a good job and put a lot of time and effort into coaching.

How's the youth program for Central Catholic david1997? Oh yeah, it's a private school that attracts great kids from youth programs all over – in NH, Lawrence, Boys Clubs, Lowell, Tewksbury, Methuen, North Andover, Andover, etc., etc….and even Haverhill.

Your criticism of the youth programs is w/o merit in my opinion.

and yes – Rick Gorman does coach kids from methuen and has for a long time…Maybe now he is coaching just AAU, but that doesn't mean he's not involved in the Metuen program.

redstorm8, Your last 2 blogs are way off. Not 1 of the people you said in your blog that you posted coach Methuen youth basketball today. Not 1. That inclues Rick Gorman. You must be a friend of Rick Gorman. I'm not attacking Rick. I'm attacking the program that he runs. OK you don't think Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford are going down hill fast. Wait you will see. Methuen was 8 and 12 this year. Remember the first thing Mike Travato did in Haverhill was to first admit there was a problem. Until Rick and the people running the youth programs in Tewkbury and Chelmsford have a problem, the High schools in Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen are on a down hill path. This is fact.

Good to see so many past Central players coaching with great success at all these other schools. Maybe that is what some of these other underachieving programs need to do…hire Central Catholic alums as their head coaches.

Rick coaches the high school team during the entire off-season and he coaches in the Storm program which has Methuen kids in it. Bill Pare runs the rec department and basketball programs until the 4th grade so you are wrong there. And I believe he coaches his kids – Miguel Lopez – just saw him yesterday at the gym – doing what – coaching a team! Kevin Bradley was coaching and so was Colleen Lennon – maybe they aren't now – I'm not sure.

You didn't comment on my other statement about all the great kids that are attending CCHS – they come from youth programs in all of these towns!!! They don't just find their talent once they step foot on Hampshire Street!

Imagine if the Zenevitch kids stayed in Methuen? Imagine if Carson stayed in Windham and went to Salem High and played for EJ. Or if the kids coming out of the Lawrence programs stayed at LHS? Come on man – they came from youth programs in their towns – not through or at CCHS.

Mike must be a freind of yours – which I think is great, because I think a lot of the guy. He works hard and will continue to do so. But please don't go down the road of blaming the youth programs – the issue is whether or not parents choose to keep their kids in the system through high school which is a difficult and personal choice.

raider4life, If that is what it takes to make Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen get to a high level of basketball than so be it. As far as I can see Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen are going down hill fast. Just take a look at there high school teams and there youth programs. Until they admit they have a problem, they will continue down hill.

david – define success? And do you have a child that has gone through these programs? What is the basis for your theories?

redstorm8, Relax. First of all in all your blogs you keep saying ( I believe, maybe they aren't now, I'm not sure ). Don't you know. Why are you attacking CCHS. You posted a blog first about what Mike Travato was doing in Haverhill. Mike Travato is not a friend of mine, but I do know how he is changing the program around in Haverhill. He is starting with his youth program. Look you think Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen youth and high school programs are going in the right direction than so be it. Now I see why Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen will never get to a high level. 8 and 12 with no future. Blame it all on CCHS.

redstorm8, I will define success. The first thing is you have to admit is that there is a problem. In Haverhill, Mike Travato admitted that there is a problem. The first thing he did was he started with his youth program. He went out and got real basketball coaches. ( Brain Bourdon, 5th grade, Jeff Duchemin, 6th grade, Craig Shirley, 7th grade and Jeff Nelson, 8th grade ). All top notch coaches. Now starting from the 5th grade every kid that makes a Haverhill travel team will get high level coaching. When they reach High school they will be ready to play high school basketball. This is what I see as success. See, Mike Travato gets it. You got to start with your youth system. Again Haverhill is on it's way up and teams like Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen are failing and it's people like you that look the other way and won't admit that there is a problem. You need basketball coaches to coach basketball not parents that can't coach and just wants to make sure that there kid makes there high school team.

Many (15?) years ago, the coaches at Tewksbury and Chelmsford High were also fans, their kids were in their high schools. Now their kids graduated from colleges. Interests have diminshed. When Chelmsford High won the Football champ, the coaches also mentored the winning Wrestling team.

Times and superintendents have changed these schools. MCAS and AP exams are more important at these schools.

OK…enough of this…
Andover is thru to the next round. Just left there, and they were up 12 with 2 minutes to play. Several thoughts on the 3 ref system, the game, and the 62 Andover students who showed up for the game…but gonna post that stuff in the morning. But for now…..GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS!!!!!!
First the bad news… the MIAA is going to turn Central around in just one day, and put the Andover game on Saturday (no time yet).
The good news??? It will be a Central home game. I was surprised and am not sure if the one seed gets two home games as a rule…but they do this year. So…mark it down…CENTRAL/ANDOVER at Central, on Saturday. Probably best to go the girls game on Friday night, and just stay the whole night. My guess would be that building will be sold out an hour before tip.
Glad I found this out tonight, as I planned on leaving for a ski weekend on Friday night, but not now.
The one day turnaround still sucks big time, though.
I'm sure the students will be ready for this one.

I haven't worked a Methuen Youth travel game in some time. However, I will say that I am glad that some of the people you mentioned are involved in the program there. I had so many problems with coaches of their travel leagues I had to stop taking games. I spoke to Rick on a number of occasions but nothing had been done so I just stepped away. It was a bad situation for me. Methuen has a lot of good people in the program now, good for them.

Stop with the telling me to relax david – I'm a grown man and don't need to be scolded out here like you normally do when someone disagrees with you. Having said that, my point is not to bash CCHS at all – my point is that a lot of these kids from “bad” youth programs are going to Central which is great and a family choice. I have no problem with that. It is a great school. My point is that if the youth programs in these towns are so bad, are you telling me that they only excel when they hit hampshire street or when they go to Brooks, Lawrence Academy, Phillips or GDA for that matter.

I can answer that – the simple answer is no they don't. My point is that there are plenty of parents out there who take pride in coaching their kids and do a good job. The list you keep reciting from Haverhill is great, but it is not the be-all and end-all of local area basketball.

redstorm8, I did not say relax to insult you and if I did I am sorry. The point is that if Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford had good programs the kids would have a reason to stay. I think this was proven with the Methuen football program. What kid would want to stay in a bad system with no future. Why go to a Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford when other schools from other areas have good systems like a Haverhill. Really good basketball players from these areas leave to a school like CCHS because the system is broken in Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford. Really good basketball players learn from other systems other than Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford and that is why they leave. Like I said before you have to admit that there is a problem and I think the people that run the programs in Methuen, Tewkbury and Chelmsford haven't admitted it yet. Haverhill has and is dealing with it. I'm sorry I added Methuen to the blog that I posted but I felt they were one of the programs that is failing.

I'm not from methuen originally, but I will tell you that this is not about sports david. This is also about academics and that's the point you are missing. That's why parents send their kids to other schools that are private most of the time – their aren't that many spots on varsity teams. The entire school doesn't play a varsity sport in most instances. yes, for some sports is a factor and for some it is a way out of a situation that may not be as desirable for future success but those aren't the only reasons a kid goes from their home town school system to a private school situation.
Your statement should read that really good students go to CCHS or other private schools because their parents think that's what is best for them.

I'm not sure you are a parent, but that's why most parents do it.

redstorm8, You and I have been going back and fouth about this for a long time. I feel very strongly that the youth basketball programs in Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen are broken and it does effect the high school level. I feel that until the people that run these programs in Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen admit that there is a problem, kids will leave these schools to go to other schools and the high schools will never be at a high level. You really think that there is no problem in Tewkbury, Chelmsford and Methuen than we will see.