RallyNorth.net

CAMBRIDGE — One elbow, Wednesday night in the tourney-opening win over Charlestown, sent Central Catholic staggering.

The second, early in the third quarter of last night's Division 1 North quarterfinal, finished the Raiders for good.

NORTH ANDOVER — As the crowd filed out of the Crozier Field House, Andover head coach David Fazio could be seen standing in the hall that overlooks the court, comforting emotional senior David Giribaldi, breaking only to give another hug to fellow senior Connor Merinder.

ANDOVER — Despite the Merrimack Valley Conference Division 1 title, and the 15-5 regular season record to go with it, the Andover basketball players heard the questions as they prepared for the state tournament.

"We had some doubters questioning us coming into the playoffs," said Golden Warrior forward Connor Merinder. "We wanted to come out and show them that we are here to play and that we have what it takes go out and make a run."

David Giribaldi scored his 1,000th career point, sticking a 3-pointer in the second quarter, but Andover fell to Franklin 66-60 in the Comcast Tournament. Giribaldi now has 1,005 points.

Andy Henriquez scored a game-high 14 points and Dantae Neal netted 13 points as Lawrence downed Andover 59-41.

NORTH ANDOVER — In a game heavy on star power, it was E.J. Perry IV who turned hero with a prayer of a shot.

With the shot clock winding down and leading by one, the Andover sophomore drove the right side of the paint with Wabissa Bede draped on his left arm. Perry managed to scoop up a lay-up attempt that trickled over the front of the rim with 18 seconds remaining for the game's final points in the Warriors' 49-46 victory over North Andover in a packed Crozier Fieldhouse.

E.J. Perry IV scored 21 points and Andover downed Lowell 65-52. The Golden Warriors improved to 12-3.

David Girbaldi scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half, and 13 of those in Andover's 28-point third quarter as the Golden Warriors rallied to best Billerica 62-56.

Joboun Forman scored 28 points as Chelmsford stunned Andover 81-68. E.J. Perry IV had 28 in defeat. The Lions improved to 4-9 and AHS fell to 9-3.

E.J. Perry poured in 22 points and Connor Merinder added 16 points but Andover lost to MVC foe Tewksbury 63-61.

Perry scored on a drive to the basket to make it 61-60 with 15 seconds remaining.

Tewksbury missed a shot on the ensuing possession but Tewksbury's Henry Roberts collected a rebound and Alex DiRocco converted a 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left to make it 63-61 Redmen. 

DiRocco then made a steal to win it for Tewksbury.

Andover trailed 22-13 after the first quarter and trailed by 10 points at halftime.

But a 22-8 run in the third quarter put the Golden Warriors on top. 

The fourth quarter went back and fourth with DiRocco playing the hero in the end.