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

Hector, You are right. I would like to talk about the record that AHS is going to own and will never be broken. Losing 4 games in 1 season to CCHS. Everyone on AHS basketball team that are going to own this record must be proud. There is stopping this record. Just think. Having a team like Andover has and because of CCHS it's going to down as a bust. At least the 2009-2010 team will be in the record books.

David- if CC is as good as you say they are and I believe they are, where is the shame in Andover losing to them? Why call Andover's season a bust? The way I see it if they lose they'll be frustrated, but it won't be a case where they lost to someone with less talent. They'll have lost to one of the best teams in the state, maybe the best. In the end just about every team ends with a loss. The question for Andover is how they play. I agree with Hector's point a couple weeks ago: I'd like to see them go in with a nothing to lose attitude and try to be David knocking off Goliath. Certainly a very tough task. But it's still high school basketball and crazier things have happened. I am sure that CC would rather be playing someone else at this point. Say what you want about the games between these teams so far but there's been nothing easy about it. Andover knows them inside and out. I don't think that it will be enough to beat them, and I see CC moving on, but that won't reflect badly on the kids or program at Andover. It will be absolutely crazy over on Hampshire St!

NAFan, You a right on when you say that the kids and it's program at Andover are one of the best. AHS vs CCHS basketball games in this part of the woods are the best games to attend. This game should be moved to Lawrence high school to get as many fans as they could to watch this game. I don't think anyone would say a word about that. CCHS vs AHS is the biggest draw around and should be moved to LHS. No fan should be turned away. High school basketball fans from all over would like to see this game and if it is not moved to LHS than this will be a shame.

Hec…I went to the game last night, and although I may agree that there were many legit foul calls…it got plain foolish! Up the floor, whistle. Back down, whistle. Going the other way, whistle. Back up the floor, whistle. Christ…take this three ref system and stuff it.
I watched close to 20 MVC games this season, and what I watched last night was very different.
Assuming a win on Thursday, Carson and JZ will have to tread lightly on defense vs. Andover. We don't need foul trouble. And it will be easy for Central to find themselves there.
Bramanti could be hot, and DJ Faz could find his three stroke early, and Central could very easily find themselves in a position they don't want to be in.
It's too bad the L-S kid that goes 6' 10″ can't play a lick, or last night couls have been a tad bit more interesting.
I still can't believe the MIAA is going to turn Central aroung on just one days rest (Andover 4 days rest), but still can't believe they are going to get a second tourney home game. Fair trade off I guess. Place will be an absolute nut house.
D1997…don't be too overconfident. This next match up will be no 20 point blow out. None other than coach Nault told me last night he is less than thrilled at giving Fazio a fourth shot at them.
Best case scenario, I think, is Central is able to cruise Thursday, and sit whoever they can in the fourth…saving and bumps and bruises that they can.
Andover is about the last team I want to see coming into the gym Saturday night. Yes, Central is more talented, and probably the better team. But with Andover, there will be no “awe” factor. They know what the gym is like, they know what the fans are going to do, they've see Carson et all several times. Everything will be familiar to them. Add in the extra three days rest…nothing easy about this one.

HANDS DOWN…THE MOST FOOLISH THING YOU HAVE EVER POSTED!!! SAVE NONE! ARE YOU COOKED???!!!
If there was ever a legit home court advantage in my 30/32 years of watching high school basketball, it is at Central right now. Those students have created a very real, very legit, very tangible home court advantage. I thought you were a Central fan D1997?
Move the game????!!! Yeah, OK. I'm sure Nault will agree, no problem. And, while we are at it, let's ask Fazio if he wouldn't mind giving the Central kids a day or two extra to rest…just to even things up a bit.
You play all year for the higher seed…AND YOU JUST WANT TO JUST GIVE THE ADVANTAGE AWAY???!!!
Christ d1997…rethink what you wrote and retract it. Noone is ever going to take you seriously again. Ever!

Hec, When you going to give Whittier Tech some respect. They seem to one of the better athletic programs in this area, for all sports. I challenge you to name me a more consistance schools as a whole with there sports!!!

This is not the first time CC has had 2 home games in the tourney. I thought thats what the number 1 seed gets is two home games-am I wrong?
Don't like the one day turnaround at all–why not have CTown with a one day turnaround and have CC play Ctown on Wed night?–must be a girls game at CC on Wed.
D97 move it to Lawrence High? I think plenty of people (all of Central) would have an issue with that-not to mention CCHS earned the two home games. There is plenty of room in the Memorial gym-it isn't as small as Andover & Haverhill-people will be hanging from the balcony-that second level of fans above the court makes for such a great atmosphere especially from the players perspective on the court–when was the last time Central had to turn away fans because of capacity issues?

I had to restrain myself when commenting on his idea to move the game–I didn't want to start another battle with him. But Fan, you said it the way I wanted to.

I agree – no more youth sports talk – I just had to make sure d1997 knew he had no basis for his foolish statement about local youth programs. I think he just proved it by suggesting CCHS move to LHS for their Saturday tilt?? Really?? I don't think CCHS will be the only team with two home games – Lynn English should have two also, as well as North Andover boys.

But I agree to stop as long as we can give it a rest on the 3-ref system. It's not going away guys and as Hector said himself – a lot of the fouls last night were of the poor judgement variety.

sp0rtsfan, A legit home court advantage. Come on it's AHS they are playing. It doesn't matter were they play. Am I over overconfident, no way everyone is going to see the real CD. repodepo21, Stop it with the giving Whittier Tech some respect. You asked ( I challenge you to name me a more consistance schools as a whole with there sports!!! ) My answser ( CCHS ). redstorm8, Methuen 8 and 12 and 1 and out in the tourney. No your right when you say Methuen is on the right track.

Whittier does deserve respect. Former CCHS cagerTom Sipsey at the helm of this year's team doing a great job.

The CCHS gym is an advantage …period. It is silly to even suggest it – just get there early and it's a non-issue.

And please, don't quote me because I never said anyone was on the right track – or the wrong track…except you with your argument about youth programs. And since I did squash your foolish argument that it is the coaches in the youth programs that are causing these schools to have down years it is time to move on. But enough of that, because I did promise the creature that I would stay away from the prior debate which was already won. By me!

Hector – don't worry about the weather – just think Santarpios!

redstorm8, You did promise the creature no more youth basketball talk, than why are you bringing up Whittier Tech. I though you weren't going to bring up youth basketball. We are talking D-1 basketball not youth basketball. When we start to talk about youth basketball, we will talk about Whittier Tech.

sp0rtsfan, just curious where did you hear the potential CC vs Andover will be Sat? do we know this to be fact? just wondering the source of the info?

Right on about Sips-add him to the list of CCHS hoop alum coaching & spreading the winning ways of CCHS to other area schools. Its amazing when you think about how many other schools have hired CCHS hoop alums to help their team in some sort of coaching position.

Hector,
Any tourney win for A PROGRAM LIKE WHITTIER. What does that mean? Any tourney win for any program is a good win. Whittier is
a great school with a excellent athletic program.

r4life
Heard whispers about it before the Andover game last night, and then, it was actually announced at halftime.
I asked coach Nault about the start time, and he said he was not sure…also telling me he could not believe the one day turnaround.
Am I the only one who thinks this is foolish????
Also, I noticed today the MIAA web site bracket has been updated and now includes a date and site location for the D1 Boys and Girls North Finals. Friday night, the 5th, in the TD Garden. That could end up being a pretty cool double header if things play out well for both the CC girls and boys.

All he meant was for a program that was down last year-it was a big win. It was a compliment.

As a former coach at Whittier Tech, nobody is a bigger friend of the Cat than myself.

That's cold.

Wierd that the MIAA would announce it BEFORE Central even plays.

1 day turnaround is foolish indeed…no one has ever accused the MIAA of being logical in their decision making.

WTfan, Good school program is coming alive but, Whittier Tech football team won the superbowl and even Hector couldn't put them in his Fan. 4. I think you know were I'm going with this. All nice things going over there. It's all about D-1 here.

It means a program that had missed the tournament with four straight losing seasons, six of the last seven.
A program that went 17-43 the last three seasons.
Any other questions on what kind of program deserves a salute for winning a tourney game after turning things around in such a short time?
Please learn how to accept compliments.

Wrong bro.
The teams in the Fantastic Four belonged there.
I believe you and the boys savaged me in fall of 2008 when I put Pelham, then a Division 5 football team in NH, at No. 4 in my Fantastic 4.
Last time I looked, North Andover, a Division 2 team, gets pretty good run in these parts.
Sure, D1 hoops is a hot-button topic, but don't paint me into any corners.
Thanks.
H

bighec711, Didn't mean to do that.

Final Four in North:

I like Central's team and coach.
But Central's fans are a bit zealous.
Here are my guaranteed Final Four North Div 1 boys teams:

Lynn English eliminates Lexington.
East Boston takes out St John's Prep.
Cambridge edges Acton-Boxboro.
Andover bounces Central.

People connected with the Whittier program can take a compliment but you are unable to give a compliment. You wrote “I realize Pentucket won’t be confused with the Celtics.” Why the comparison? Why would a High School team be playing the Boston Celtics? Does any high school team around here play the Celtics? My money is on the Celtics by the way. Afraid your boys will ridicule you for complimenting these kids? Afraid that a 17 yr. old basketball player from Whittier would dare to go to school this morning feeling pretty good about himself after a win in a packed house with family, friends and classmates watching? So, to enlighten him you feel the need to write in a blog basically “Hey kid relax you didn't exactly beat the Celtics!”

Andover over Central just isn't going to happen…neither is East Boston over Prep…you must not have gone to the CC-Prep game cause they both showed why they are the 2 best teams in the North, with L.E. in the discussion as well

Hopefully you are right and East Boston does not even get past Lawrence tonight. But East Boston is very good.

As for eyewitness accounts, in fact I have seen the Prep four times, including their losses to Central and Catholic Memorial (speaking of CM, they are a dangerous contender, having moved up to D1 in the South).
SJP played terrific at Central, but that will prove to be the high point of their season.
As for Andover, it's the law of averages. They are just due to hit shots. Eventually, every dog has his day and Andover is due.

And in D2 I want to root for North Andover but worry they don't have a true scorer when it comes to crunch time.

Look at the number of fans who attended the D1 North Boys and Girls. By playing these 2 final games at the TD Garden, it sure will generate lots of revenue for the MIAA. Other games will be at the Emmanuel College that has the size of CCHS/AHS.

CC_fan I suspect it is more than that. People with clout who want to see their kid play at TD Garden?

Last night, SpOrtsfan made a good point about Andover crowd – what is that about? Last year they were rabid. This year is weak. Demoralized by Central? Or turned off by team?

i am a part of the Whittier football program and I'd like to say a few things. 1. hector has always given credit when it was due to the WT programs. i'm pretty sure we ended up in the Fab 4 at the end of the year anyway…and david1997, let's not be ignorant. you'll be the first to jump off the bandwagon or 'blame the refs' if central loses this year. let's relax with the “youth-basketball” talk…they play just as hard as anyone else.

i am a part of the Whittier football program and I'd like to say a few things. 1. hector has always given credit when it was due to the WT programs. i'm pretty sure we ended up in the Fab 4 at the end of the year anyway…and david1997, let's not be ignorant. you'll be the first to jump off the bandwagon or 'blame the refs' if central loses this year. let's relax with the “youth-basketball” talk…they play just as hard as anyone else.

dan h., Your wrong. It will take more than the refs to stop CCHS. Look I know your part of the Whittier football program and it's a good little program but, that about it. Same with the basketball program. That is it, a good little program. I am not ignorant, I just tell the truth. Methuen went 8 and 12 and was 1 and out in the tourney and with no future. Also Tewkbury and Chelmsford with no future didn't even make it. I think I know what I'm talking about.

Relax with the good little program. Every high school is a good little program. Add a 6'7'' kid (Hazleton) you like everyone else become an excellent program for their time. Add a 6'11″ kid (Carson) and you become an excellent program. Division 1 athletes are rare and enjoy them when you have them and in Massachusetts you generally have no more than one. So get off the high horse enjoy the ride but please and Hector would agree you're not the Celtics!

Thank you for that…david – normally people might like your passion about local sports but when you say and act like this it turns people the wrong way. It is okay to be a fan, but this silliness about degrading other programs and student athletes is absurd and the act is getting tired.

Bring something to the table of substance. At times it sounds like you are just pulling things out of the air about other towns and programs that really is not justified. I am a fan of no one with the exception of my own sons in their youth programs so I don't come on here to cheer for one and completely denegrate the rest.

As Hector has said in the past, “this is a Varisty blog, not JV” And I will add my own cliche but it fits – act like you've been here before – let's have some substance…

Just looked on the miaa site – it looks like Andover's next game is on Sunday at 6 – not Saturday.

Wow, You tell the truth around here and everyone gets mad. One blogger ask for some respect for a what D-4 program. OK, I gave it. But, when I'm talking about CCHS, I'm not putting a D-4 program in the same sentence. I'm not cutting them down, there football and basketball program is a good little program. It's D-4.

That's the problem – it is an opinion and you are entitled to that but your constant bashing and homersim is exhausting. Are you a CCHS grad or just a groupie?

For the last couple of years CC has had two home games to start the tourney. Think about it, it was two wins prior to the neutral court at Reading. And thank the Good Lord the neutral court is no longer that hideous ride to Salem. It also makes sense to give CC more than a 48 hour rest. I recall a home tourney game on a Sunday afternoon vs. Southie a number of years ago. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. These are kids. Central will not have played in over a week, Charlestown is athletic and has nothing to lose. Throw in some early foul trouble and we've got issues.

I'm with Coach Nault. Central is a better team than AHS and should win the game. But nobody likes trying to beat their rival four times in a season.

redstorm8, I'm not a CCHS grad or a groupie. If this team was a LHS team I would feel the same way. I just love great teams and this team is a great team. We all know how this story ends. Badcopier picks AHS to beat them. Do you know how he thinks there going to beat them ( it's the law of averages ). Believe me AHS is going to need more than math to beat CCHS. I love winners and CCHS team is a winner. Now I told the truth and everyone here will get mad at me. This is basketball, a team needs a inside game. Every team that CCHS plays is not going to have a inside game. CD is going to play every game as if it was his last and to me that is a bad thing for the teams he meets on the floor. The story ends with CCHS winning it all. I'm sorry I told the ending.

In a three ref system..CD could pick up 3 in the first half. If they are facing LE, say good-night.
Come on d1997…you must know better! This will be no-cake walk.
Look at the NCAA's every year. Guard play rules the tourney. All hard core hoop jukies know this.

sp0rtsfan, This is how I feel. To me, this is the best team ever to come out of CCHS. Others don't feel this way. I don't want to go by, this could happen or that could happen. CCHS will play who ever is in there path and will handle one game at a time. To me, there is no team that could beat them. Unless the team comes from RI. I will be there from the record breaking game for AHS.

david – in your earlier post you are basically admitting that you are a bandwagon guy. So you only route for the best teams?? That seems odd to me. So if Hec's prediction is correct about Lawrence next year, you are going to say bye bye to CCHS and cheer for the Lancers. David, my friend, that is a groupie!

redstorm8, I really don't know what your problem is. I said that I love great teams. This years CCHS is a great team. LHS 2010-2011 team is not going to be a great team like the 2009-2010 CCHS. Not even close. You will not see a team like this CCHS team in a long time. In 4 years when you see CD on a NBA team your going to say, I saw him play on the greatest team CCHS ever had. You won't see a team like this one in a very long time.

Well d1997, I said they would struggle a bit without JZ, and probably lose a game or two. You jumped ugly on me, explaining how wrong I was. And who was right?
And now you say no one can beat them “unless they are from RI”. You'd have a bit more credibility if you said it BEFORE it happened.
But just spewing forth “…..wow, neat, THEY ARE THE BEST TEAM EVA!” is pure nonsense. Sort of like the ramblings of a 6th grader.
You just have no credibility.
I love this Central team too, but can see the potential flaws.
If you want to be taken seriously, d1997, you should say, “Central will not lose a single game, and here's why…” and them explain to us how they are going to handle LE and their guards…or whatever.
But stop with “they are just so friggen' great” stuff.
Obviously the are fantastic…a blind man could see this.

LE and St. John's Shrewsbury stand in CCHS way of a state title. They say that St John's has most of their nucleus back from last year's championship team. LE is a great team and when they are clicking they are qucik, tough, and can score in bunches. They are on a mission right now because of the coach situation.

d1997 – I have to agree with sportsfan on this – the best ever talk is a little strong right now – hold off for a couple of weeks and let's see how this plays out. There is a lot of hoop left.

sp0rtsfan, Your right, I do have to work on my jokes. There only loss was to a RI team, get it. I see they you don't. Let's see, when you said that they would 1 or 2 games, they were going to play LHS, HHS and BH from RI. I new LHS or HHS wasn't going to beat them. I did say they were going to win all 3 without JZ. I wouldn't say you were right because you did say 1 or 2 losses out of 3. You needed LHS or HHS to beat them and I knew that never was going to happen. I'll give it to you because I know it means a lot to you. I never said they were the best team eva ( I think you mean ever ). I said they were the best team ever from CCHS. You keep saying CCHS has flaws. Does LE have flaws. As far as CCHS being fantastic…a blind man could see this. I don't think so, get it. You think there fantastic, I think there great, the best ever from CCHS. They will win it all. Take it for what it is worth.

David – we know what you meant about CCHS being the best team ever in their school's history. But trust me – as a member of Valley nation since 1975 there have been a number of CCHS teams that rank right up there with this team. Even last year's team and the team the year before that won the STATE Championship!

redstorm8, I don't see why everyone gets mad at me by saying that this is the best CCHS team ever. I also think CD is the best player ever to play at CCHS. Does this make me a bad person. That is what I believe. You say you have been in valley nation since 1975. Isn't it sad that CCHS will always be king. I know that AHS or a LHS will win in between CCHS down years, but what about the other teams in the MVC. The MVC is all about the large school Div.. HHS is on it way up but, the MVC will always be about CCHS. I think something has to be done.