OK, some late night fodder for your early morning digestion on Central’s 61-51 win over Andover in boys hoop Friday night.
Not sure where I can start on this, so maybe I will try the front door, which greeted me with a sign that read, “Central vs. Andover Basketball”
$8.
As in eight bucks a head.
Yikes, the power of the press feels pretty good when the alternative is an eight-spot. Good thing Ollie sat this one out.
Hmmm. Eight bucks for a regular season hoop game, and I’m told the gym was cleared out after the freshmen game.
Hmmm. How expensive are lawyers anyways?
The place was mobbed, A+ to both crowds, who seemed under control.
Again, I stood in the opposite corner, away from the student sections, to cover the game, since there were no seats for me.
Not complaining either, I got there right at 7:30, tipoff time. No seat was expected. However, for the folks who paid eight beans and stood in a corner with me?
That’s a different question.
All right, now to the floor.
Very interesting tactics, tonight. Obviously, Andover’s David Fazio was watching over at the Christmas tournament. The coach saw:
1. What Tyler Nelson can do to a basketball game when he takes it over.
2. What happens when the Raiders run into a tough zone.
So he went what Raider coach Rick Nault called “about 60 percent box and 1 on Nelson.”
And the tactic worked for one half. For that half, the first, Central played what I like to call “dump and chase” hoop – which was a lot of threes and tough shots and attacking the offensive glass.
Central needed a spark and found 2.
First, there was the incredibly amped up defensive effort in the third quarter. In six minutes, Andover had three “shots,” no points.
Nault said, “We caused turnovers on seven straight trips.”
That got the Raiders running, injecting Joel Berroa into the offense.
And when the Raiders were forced into the halfcourt, it was junior Lucas Hammel wreaking havoc by busting into the lane and breaking the Warriors down. Suddenly, Raiders popped open everywhere, starting with Doug Gemmell who made a handful of big shots in a 22-point monster night.
So much for the box and 1, and every other defense Andover could throw at Central, which remains on its seemingly endless conference roll.
Interesting to see the pieces fitting in for Andover. Four of the five are back with the big freshmen finishing up his details with the miaa and returning next week.
What does this make the Warriors?
If I had to say it looks like a familiar situation with them and Lawrence battling to be a solid No. 2 behind the Raiders.
Andover’s just missing that one element, which is that trusted and reliable point guard.
Fazio has had to use both his stars, Sam Dowden and James Costello, to bring the ball up the floor. Clearly, this takes its toll on these guys and limits their offense.
Great event, great atmosphere, and a pretty solid job by the two guys in stripes. Yeah, the teams shot 50 free throws, but it seemed like the game had flow, and that’s what mattered most.
