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

Amazing…just amazing…..Sunday morning, 8:50, and I still can't believe what I saw. CD took the beating of a life time last night, and all it did was piss him off! When he missed the front end of the 1 and 1 with 26 to play, I lost faith for a minute…I really thought they were gassed and beaten up. But there was something left in the tank…thank Christ! CD…YOU TRULY ARE THE MAN!!!!!!!!
This kid/guy should never have to pay another dinner check in the Salem/Widham/Methuen/Lawrence/Andover area. If I ever run into in a restaurant his money will be no good…that's for sure.
Certainly a team effort…no question…but we need to give it up for CD. Nothing came easy last night. SJ came to rough them up down low…and it really paid off a bit for them. I read thru Hec's live blog just now…and at one point he says CC is on the ropes…and I agree. It looked “iffy” at best when they were down 6, but that whole team “cowboyed up”…what a year.
Alverez 3 was clearly the spark that lead to the finish…God bless him for having the nerve to launch it.
I guess I could go on and on. Thanks guys…you gave us quite a ride this winter.
d1997…yes…the best ever. Every great MVC team in the future now has a measuring stick.
Huge shout out to Nault as well…needs alot of the credit. Found the right rotations at the right times all year. I'm sure his kids staying level headed in the face of the many Andover battles was a result of his coaching. Thanks coach. Thanks students for the entertainment all year.
Big Jim…wish I could have said hi after the game, but it was too crazy. Congratulations…enjoyed both of your kids this year…two class acts…both have even bigger and better things coming.

JZ, Peullo…onto to next year.

An instant classic. Haven't looked at the blog yet but the game had a similar feel as the first SJP game; nip and tuck all the way. Virtually every shot in the second half was a big shot. I kept thinking about Dave Fazio's comments: “We pushed him, pulled him, kicked him, bit him…” Welcome to Carson's world. Truly a great game and great win over a very, very good team.

hector, I just wanted to say thank you for all the fun I had here during this high school basketball season. sp0rtsfan, John Stark, raider4life, redstorm8 and ronaldo2010 you guy's were great. I loved blogging here and it was because of you guy's. Unless there is a debut about what was the greatest team of all time that came out of CCHS you will not hear from me until next year. I will tell you this I will not be a CCHS fan like I was this year. Let's hope that a Lawrence or a Methuen team can do something that I can cheer for, like I cheered for CCHS this year. Again you guy's made this bloggoing page fun. Thank you.

Andover girls and Central boys were superb wire to wire.
Who says old school team work and fundamentals are dead?
We don't have to travel far to see the best hoops.
Hector – you have walked the walk too. Thank you for the depth you provide, and the passion. You do not mail it in!
Fellow bloggers, same to you. It gets heated sometimes but almost inevitably you are insightful and helpful (speaking of fellow bloggers, a shout out to my buddy Jim Arnold who fell and broke his back in Florida).

So let's let the floods recede and get baseball started. Best to each of you, til next season.

Hope Jim feels better.

R2010-I have been waiting for the answer-I know 4 of the 5 easy but the 5th???-I looked it up on Rally North yesterday–and only came up with 4 losses–you plan on sharing the answer?

Some of his classmates know, CD like to sit down and listen to the poem and poetry written by his classmates. To CD, education at CCHS is more than just basketball.

Many years ago, Wake Forest University Demon Deacons recruited another skinny kid like CD – He is TD.

http://www.watchmojo.com/index.php?id=6095
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan

In the 1997 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs would draft TD first overall. He helped capture a championship by defeating the New York Knicks in the 1999 NBA Finals.

Best of luck to CD – he will shine at Wake Forest and NBA!!

Oops–Sorry, Raider.

I've been cruising in some kind of never-never land where Central Catholic almost never loses and where one sits and tries to figure out what the “real” time is after the clock switch ahead of Saturday night—add in a few beers—I may never come down!

The five teams are:

1–The politically incorrect Lowell Red Raiders where you use 495, 2 years ago.

2–The NFL Patriots of American Heritage (the magazine) of Plantation , FL where you have to fly, last year.

3–The Bulldogs of Lynn English (animal on all four's) where you almost can't get to, last year.

4–The Falcons of Bishop Hendicken (the clergyman) where you use 93 (to start. at least), this year.

5–The Eagles of BC high, (named after BC which NEVER should have left the Big East), using 93 2 years ago.

74-5 in 3 years–you'll not see that again any time soon—The Derosiers Era—what a time it was!!!

By the way, you have to love Asst Coaches, Kevin McCarthy and Rob DeBernardo—very skilled tactitions and communicators–beloved by their players. Hard workers and gentlemen.

And, of course, the Bald Boy—Ricky has raised coaching to a new level in this area—if you think all you need is a CD and 13 other guys to throw the ball to him, think again. He started this year w 2 full -time players, CD and JZ—and 12 role players. In November, Jaycob and Luis couldn't throw a pea into the Merrimack River, Evan was ineligible, Drew was a too skinny QB (ended up doing anything and everything for this team), Chris Conlin couldn't play D to Ricky's standards (but how about his 0 point, 5 minute defensive gem of an effort through the 17-0 run) ,Mike A's hign ankle sprain has still not fully healed but his quiet confidence exemplified the personality of thisteam, Par Rooney was a very good defensive tackle (didyou love his fumble recovery against MP), Bardwell nevr could get any minutes (watch out for this undersized but very tough rebounder next year), Matt Curley just couldn't get minutes but would have played anywhere else, McCoy who shone so brightly last summer as a rising soph suffered a horrific ankle injury but watch out for this fine shooter next year, Jose Battastine, he of the great song from the Red Sea, had great games against Andover (No 4) and SJP (No 1), Joel Beroa, the wonder boy freshman, whose picture graced every newspaper on the east coast the last few days–huge upside–son of a preacher man—I hoe I didn't forget anyone–agai, Hector–let me oin in and thank you for the huge fun we all had.

Alright, now that I have had some time process what has transpired over the last few months, as well as Sat night I will share my 2 cents.
First I want to thank Hector (who made the best hotdogs and orange punch at Licare's camps back in the day) for providing an open forum to talk HS hoops. He is in a (dammed if you do/dammed if you don't) situation when it comes to CCHS reporting… Definitely a great job this year with all the coverage.

and the game…CD had a monster game and CC needed him to. He has played as the ultimate team player all of his career but it was his time to be the team on Sat night. He stepped up and carried them in the most difficult time and in the biggest game.
Gotta give credit to SJS they played a great game and without their big man (2pts & foul trouble) but the missed free throws were the difference for them. Thankfully we don't have to talk about the free throws we missed. Again Rick's substitution pattern payed great dividends-on a night when the offensive contributions were scarce (save for CD and MA) he found the right guys at the right times.
Tough night for JZ, BUT the most critical play of the game and he makes (almost unnoticed-except when I watched the slow-mo replay) a GREAT entry pass to CD with three guys around him. I want acknowledge JZ for making the most important pass of the season-and for the a great year he had. JM should also garner praise for his incredible poise under pressure. He calmly brought the ball up each trip down the floor in some pressure packed final minutes-I was going nuts/the crowd was going nuts and under a minute to play and down 1 in the state championship and he was cool as cat- great job running the point! MA, just doing his thing banging down that monster 3. Lightning LP, AO & ES all chipped in a few key buckets and kept the defensive pressure up the entire game. A story book ending to a fantastic season.

As for the best ever debate… amazing to think we sit here with 2 out of the last 3 state championships and we were only a David Tyre catch away (a stretch I know) to winning 3 in a row. I cannot think of a better team in my life time. So D97 from me you will get “this CCHS team is the best I have seen in the last 30 years” and probably the best of all time- but what matters to the kids is they were THE BEST in 2010!
This is a special groups of kids and if they take the skills they have learned on the basketball court and apply them to their life after hoops they will be champions at all that they do.

Hector always says “its about the kids”-as a new father I understand that to mean much more now as my 2year old represents all that is pure, happy and joyful in my life.
In that light there is one moment from Sat night that stuck with me–as the State Championship medal was being hung around JB's neck he was overcome with pure tears of joy and uncontrolled raw emotion-sure the other guys shed tears too but they were pretty quick to wipe the tears away but not the frosh-he was just so so happy and after all he is just a kid. A pure moment I will remember forever.

To my fellow bloggers-thanks to you for keeping this fun and sharing your thoughts & reactions.

I almost forgot…the Central Student section-thanks for all the laughs and antics in support of the team. Your display of Central Catholic spirit was historical as well.

RAIDERS FOR LIFE!

Very well said…
I grown so attached to this team, I'm almost sad it's over.
Quite the winter.
Thanks guys!

changed my avatar for today-a tribute to the Creature.
Wanted to show you his good side while he interviewed the big man after the game.

Great run for the Raiders. Congrads on a great season, perhaps the greatest a CCHS team has ever seen, albeit a one point loss across the border. An undefeated season would have made this team legendary. Some say the loss was needed. No it wasn't!
To the Bandwagon, this is not the best ever CC team. Sure they had the best player and the best defense, but there were better all around teams. Crafted to play great defense with the big man as their “Central” focus, no pun intended, they stiffled teams. It worked with so many great athletes. A collection of speed, quickness, verticality and tougness unmatched all the way down the end of the bench. Several multisport athletes, but few basketball players. If you doubt that, watch the tape of that Championship game. This team gets beat by both Hazelton and Parent, both Div 1 players with better supporting casts and a singular focus…basketball. I will say, however the skies the limit for these great athletes, but boys, focus on one, the compettion is too tough! Should be interesting next year to see who steps up. It's going to take a lot of basketball abiltiy to succeed without the big guy. Sorry no more State Championships for the forseable future on Hampshire St. You'll be fortunate to win an MVC title. Time to focus on the AAU circuit and see how they line up. Carson good luck at Wake, we'll all be watching!

hshoopcritic, Wait a min. you say ( Several multisport athletes, but few basketball players. If you doubt that, watch the tape of that Championship game. ) are you kidding me. Your only bringing up 1 game that you didn't like. What about the other 25. You also said ( This team gets beat by both Hazelton and Parent, both Div 1 players with better supporting casts and a singular focus…basketball ). Again are you kidding me. This defense would have shut them down big time. This is what Hazelton had to say on his blog about CD. ( Desrosiers has not only proven himself to be the best high school basktball player to take the floor in the Merrimack Valley, but in my opinion, he has proven himself to be the most dominant basketball player in the history of Massachusetts high school basketball ). These 2 ( Hazelton and Parent ) basketball players that you talk so much about, were are they now. Again, This is the greatest team ever to come out of CCHS.

Hoopscritic…you missed the mark on this one…and seemed to argue against yourself. You say they need “hoops only athletes”.
OK..CD, JZ, LP.
What are you talking about? What other sports do these kids play?
Your thinnly veiled attempts at sarcasm reaks! It can be smelled from miles away.
Turn their attention to teh AAU circuit…sorry, they don't recruit.
Few basketball players???? Give me CD and JZ over any other big men in the MVC. This team had two legit out and out ballers, a young quick defesive freakin whizz (LP), and a supporting cast neevr before seen. At the end of the year, this team was legit 9 deep. NINE!
Anyway…whoever your team is, I wish you well. But save your praise and congratulations unless it can be delivered with no kidden quips.

critic, Interesting points. First, they did lose across the border. To a team that just won it's seventh consecutive state title by 23 in the final. Going forward, No, you don't replace Carson. But we're looking at a nucleus of JZ, LP, JM, and ES. Throw in a stronger and quicker JB and a couple of role players from this year's team + a JV team that lost to only Eastie and Hendricken. Did anyone see this jv team? Loaded. State champs? Time will tell. “Fortunate to win an MVC title”? Hardly. The Prep will be outstanding, but I'll say right now Central is a Top 5 EMass team to start next season.

John Stark, Pinkerton tonight. I'm just a fan and I won't be there but, I would love them to win it all. hshoopcritic, I did say that we will not see a team like this 2010 CCHS team again but, you really don't think anyone out there can compete with there team next year, AHS, LHS maybe. I do see them winning the MVC in 2011-2012 season but, that team will be not be anything like this team. I don't see anyone from the MVC winning the State Championship next year. If I hear anyone say that CCHS should not be in the MVC I going to scream. You don't throw out winning programs out of the MVC, you throw out losing programs out of the MVC. There are many of them in the MVC.

Hazelton was a McDonald's all American, ranked 35th in the nation and actually was recruited and attended Connecticut. I believe 1999 National Champions at the time he committed. Not a shabby resume. Central goes on to win back to backs if he's not hurt his senior year. Give me that 1999 CCHS team with a healthy Hazelton and this years team goes down.
10 or so years earlier, Leo Parent and fellow CCHS teamate Bob Licare combine for a Division II National Championship at Umass Lowell. Again quite a feat and two National players.
Carson may trump them all, and only time will tell, but his teamates will not. Willing to bet only JZ plays at the next level. Also willing to bet several of the others go on to play other sports in College(superb athletes)…remember the physical skills, most of which do not include verticality or basketball acumen. Several footballers, perhaps lacrosse, and from what I understand potential track stars;some of theses kids can flat out run, but basketball, ain't happening. I'll make it easy to understannd, take the big guy off the floor and you have what, deadly jumpshooter, crafty ball handler, slasher, dominant rebounder, floor general? It may get ugly next year boys, unless they recruit some basketball players. Remember, ugly for CC is a 5 loss season.

Haz's team was real good and might have won back to back but this team is better and was not too far from back to back to back.
Leo & Bobby were nasty but both were MUCH better college players than they were in hs (don't get me wrong these guys were my hoop Gods when I was growing up).
3 state titles in 10 years is awesome for CCHS probably won't be repeated again in our lifetimes. Hoopcritic your tone suggests that CCHS is headed toward a downward spiral-which is far from accurate.
Of course losing CD = not as good. My 2 year old daughter already figured that out but our JV team was real good this year and JZ, LP & co will no doubt be right there defending the MVC crown–and really after that its all icing on the cake–that is when you have 2 out of the last 3 state titles hanging in your gym.
Like you said time will tell for CD but his game is already better suited for college and pro than Leo's was when he came out of CC.
Like I said below-BEST IN 2010 is all these kids care about.
–and the 1pt loss to Hendricken takes nothing away from their season-nothing.

hshoopcritic, I do agree with you that the 2011-2012 team will not be as good as this team but, you will never see another CCHS team like this one. Next years team will still win the large school Div.. Who is going to challenge them next year. I don't see anyone. Please, you don't know if they would have won state's if he didn't get hurt. Hazelton, Leo Parent and Bob Licare would always do good no matter who they play against. This CCHS defense would have shut down the rest of the team that these players played on. This is what you don't understand. This defense makes this team the greatest team ever to come out of CCHS. Hector let the debate begin.

Two points: First, the loss to Hendricken came with JZ in street clothes, and it's a game CC should have won even without him. Second, the talk before the season was that CC would have a hard time going deep into the tourney “…without a point guard.” Remember? Next year's team will defend the perimeter even better than this bunch. They will also shoot it better with a bunch of young kids who can really stroke it. Critic, still not sure where you're coming from with the 'kids playing other sports' stuff. You mean like JZ and LP? Two starters next year who play nothing but hoops (regrettably). Much of the loaded jv team is nothing but hoopsters (again, regrettably). Still, the others who do play other sports…I'm just not sure how that's a disadvantage.

Hazelton could clearly do it all, but never faced a defense like the '10 Central team. Not all year. Not the physical mauling NA attempted in the GLCT fnal, not a very good Bridgewater-Raynham team in the garden with twins who went on to start at Stonehill, not even the Fingleton Holy Name team. This year's edition plays better D and, OK I'll say it, is better coached.

I think the coaching is the best in the state as well both head coach and assistants. Did anyone catch the SJS assistant freaking out on the sidelines all game–AND after when they lost? No way you ever ever see Rick's guys acting like that. I think there is much DL in RN but RN connects with this younger generation much better. I just love the fight RN instills in ALL his players doesn't matter if you can put the ball in the hole all-day…you MUST play defense or your out. Some will say it's easy to coach a team of allstars–those are the same people who say CCHS will be all done now that CD is gone–so which one is it?
RN already has more State Championships than DL give him another 15 years he might 2 or 3 more.

I have a question for the MVC historians–has any other boys MVC head coach won multiple state titles or is RN the first?

Not that I can remember…and I go back to the 70's. As for other local non-MVC teams, I believe DL's Dad won two at North Andover (with DL at the point) in the early 70's.

David,
There is alot to be said about all these fine athletes. I think Carson is the greatest but I would also say you could make an arguement for Hazelton . I never seen him get shut down in a high school game. In fact he was the best scorer this area has ever seen. He tore through teams . I believe he posted 33pts per game in his junior year. Won a State Title against much better comp!

The Holy name team that Hazelton faced had about 5 scholarship players on it . Not to mention a 7'6 kid . Look at the schedule from 99, it was far superior to what this team played against. St.Johns prep, haverhill,andover,south boston,new bedford, medford high school, . If you do your research every team mentioned had a scholarship player (Div1 or2) Central faced one college player all year Pat Cod from the prep.

Also lets not what makes Hazelton's championship very credible is that he was the only college player on his team. Imgaine if a Hazelton had a Marsden,Gonzales,Carson,JZ, Cruz, . Hazelton plain and simple out scored the other team. didnt matter who he faced .
I find it funny that this team could shut down Hazelton , but couldnt shut down Pat C . come on wake up

I don't claim to know about any other team besides CCHS but isn't the kid from Anodver gonna play in college?
I believe the boys from Madison Park will play somewhere as well.
I have not done research-but you are wrong when you say CCHS faces on college player (D1 or 2) all year–just false.

Name them. I stand corrected the kid from newton north . The kid from Andover will not get a college scholarship. He's div3 and same for the madison kids! Div 3 . Lets face it the teams they play against are sub par at best. Pat C and the kid from Newton North are the best kids they faced . My point is if those two players faired well against Central , what makes you think Hazelton wouldn't?

mvcguy233, Hazelton was the best ever at CCHS until CD came to play there. Hazelton even said in his blog that CD was the best in all of MA.. That what he ( Hazelton ) said. I'm not saying Hazelton would have been stopped. The rest of the team would have had a tough time helping him score. Hazelton was the 2nd best player to come out of CCHS. He said it himself. You think the team that Hazelton played on would have stopped CD and company. This defense makes this team the best team ever from CCHS. I know everyone is sick of me saying that but, no CCHS team had this kind of defense. Offense, sure they was better. Defense, no way.

Like I said, I have not done research so I can't just name them off the top of my head. I think Haz would do just fine against this team–getting to rim would be difficult on CD but again like I said before SH can get his 25-30pts and the 2010 CCHS team still beats them.
(Pat C had 26 @ CC & 18 @BG) so you are right SH would put up points- his team would still lose-just my opinion.

mvcguy233, you could only play the teams that are on the schedule. They didn't avoid anyone. They even played the best team in R.I.. They went there to play them. MVC in basketball, I've seen better years. Is that CCHS fault. Again, you could only play who is on the schedule.

Im not debating who was the greatest . They were both great players and both dominated HS basketball and both won State championships. I believe CD and Hazelton are the only ones in the MVC to actually win the state championship. Hazelton and CD both went to top 20 programs in the country. What an achievement! John Stark made a comment that Hazelton would have been shut down . And I just find that hard to believe. Great players find ways to make plays . And both of these guys did. I believe Hazelton did it playing against much better teams and had less talent . Meaning he had a huge effect on the out come of the game. Central's front court that year was 6'7 hazelton, 6'4 randy Farris, 6'6 eric hall , and they had two very very tough guards in Bill Sherry and Matt Qulater . Both could really play D and also score . Eric Hall was a very good shooter at 6'6 and Hazelton was also on the perimeter . Who was JZ going to guard? Hazelton, Hall or Farris? Hazelton would have went by Carson at will from the perimeter. leaving who in the paint to contest shots? If you put CD on Hall he would have been out on perimeter guarding leaving openings for Hazelton, . Also lets not forget that Hazelton could bring the ball up so that would have relieved the pressure from the cchs guards . That 99 team was very versitile. So you would have to pick your posion. Also with farris and hazelton CD might run the risk of foul trouble . So I would take hazelton's team over this years CD team. However the team two years ago with CD,Marsden,adrian G, willfredo . Would beat all of these teams. They had size ,toughness,scorers, and athleticism.

David,
I agree and im not trying to take away anything from this Central Team. They did an awesome job!!! I think the fans also added to that . Bottom line it was fun year of HS Hoops. Central will always have good teams. Talented kids want to go where you have a chance to win. Hazelton inspired kids like CD,John Cruz, and many of the Central greats after him. CD will also do the same. Right now there is a kid who watch CD play and wants to be just like him . And if anyone knows these two like I do you would know they are very good friends, and they work out together frequently . CD also plays for the mass rivals (the same coach that Hazelton played for) and the same program hazelton coaches for . So maybe a little bit of Hazelton's greatest rubbed off on CD !!!!! Either way both were a pleasure to watch

mvcguy233, Well said. You know, I'm not a CCHS fan. This basketball team made me a fan of them. I could only wish that a MHS team could get to a high level. When your on top everyone is trying to knock you down, and that is were CCHS basketball team is. There are alot of people out there that would like to get CCHS to leave the MVC. Well, I'm not one of them. You don't ask a winning program to leave, you ask losing one's to. School programs got to get better so a player in any sport will stay with there town or city school.

JZ is a much better player than EH. More complete inside game/can shoot from outside-great footwork-always hustling–same cannot be said for EH. I'd take my chances with JZ over EH all day everyday. You are spot on in that both SH & CD have inspired many youngsters to want to play for Central.
I think we are splitting hairs at this point but have some good points in there.

Are they the best ever? It is tough to compare to even the past 20 or so years. Nowadays most players of CD's level go prep. St John's lost the Canty kid to prep school. If he stays does Central beat St. John's? Not sure about that. Look at 20 plus years ago when the Parent/Licare team loses to Rumeal Robinson and Cambridge by 1 in the North finals. If it is in the present I am guessing Rumeal would have been at a prep school as well. Would that team have won the states if the best comp is at a prep school? Again who knows but the level of competition now is definitely watered down compared to 20 years ago because of the prep school thing.

Well said…………………..

mvcguy, Now hold on a second. I never said Hazelton would get “shut down”. I said “…he never faced a defense like the Central '10 team.” I watched Scotty enough to conclude that nobody ever shut him down. In a head to head, I'd have CD cover SH, and JZ cover the catch-and-shoot Hall. Hall would not have been able to cover JZ on the other end, however, as JZ would out-muscle him. Plus, Hall never saw perimeter D like this bunch brings. The entry passes to SH would have been difficult with Luis and Jaycob on the perimeter. Farris, the tight end, was a banger who would be handled by some of the present CC role players. Hazelton gets 24 but it's not enough as CD blocks five of his shots and the current edition wins by 4.

2010 Division I State Champion “Raiders”
Great win for the Valley, the Conference and CCHS. We all should revel in the fact that Valley Baskets are the best in the State. Two State crowns in 3 years. Congrads to the coaching staff and the boys for all the hard work.
Absurd the notion that this team does not have great basketball players. Too many victories, too many chances. The results tell the story. hoopcritic your psychotic. If not the best team ever, they are certainly in the discussion with a select few.
Time for baseball!
Can anyone compete with LHS this spring? CC, North Andover, Methuen…not likely

I amy be late joining this fracas, but I just read this post and have to comment on one thing…

Which kid from Andover are we referring to? If it's Bramanti, mvcguy233, you are WRONG. he will get a college scholarship in my opinion and he will play D2 ball. His makeup his made for the NE10! tough, gritty, skilled, can shoot and play defense.

I was talking about Bramanti.
Calling CCHS's schedule “sub-par at best” is laughable-their schedule this year stands up to any team in MA-probably one of the hardest actually.

His real point was SH's team was better–I don't think that is accurate either.