Dante Rivera scored a game-high 19 points and Methuen beat Andover 49-37. Nick Clark added nine points for the Rangers, who last beat the Golden Warriors almost exactly one year ago (Jan. 3, 2017).
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Boys Basketball, 01/02/18 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Luis Reynoso scored a team-high 24 points and reigning Eagle-Tribune MVP Juan Felix Rodriguez was right behind with 23 points as Lawrence downed Methuen 83-62 in the Commonwealth Classic third place game on Saturday.
Chris Ruiz added 10 points for the Lancers (5-1), who bounced back strong from its heart-breaking 97-92 loss to champion St. John's Prep in the Christmas Classic semifinal on Friday. That is Lawrence's lone loss on the young season.
Leading Methuen (1-3) was 5-foot-7 star Dante Rivera, who tallied a team-high 27 points. Jhamyl Fricas and freshman Onyera Chibuogwu chipped in with 10 points each for the Rangers.
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Boys Basketball, 12/30/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
METHUEN — Central Catholic was in danger of losing the game to an inspired Methuen squad.
The Raiders did lose their big man for tonight’s (7:45 p.m.) championship game against St. John’s Prep in the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
In a strange contest at the Klimas Field House, Methuen fell behind 16-2 just 3:55 into the semifinal contest on a slam dunk by Kevin Constant (team-high 17 points).
While Constant was joining the Raider Rim-Wreckers Club, Methuen seemed to have no chance.
Missing two starters again (injury, suspension), this figured to be too big a task against the vaunted Raiders.
But funny things happen when Central and Methuen square off.
The Rangers actually led 53-32 after three but then there was a dramatic 180.
All-Scholastic forward Colin Bradanese (16 points) lost his cool 25 seconds into the fourth quarter and kicked a player. He was ejected and he’ll have to sit out Saturday’s finale, too.
Central went into a funk and the Rangers, well, weren’t going to be kicked around any longer.
Senior guard Dante Rivera (10 of his 20 points in the fourth) and unheralded but talented freshman guard Onyeraluobu Chibuogwu (4 points) led a big comeback in Friday’s nightcap.
The Rangers could never quite get it to the point where the Raiders were shaking in their high-tops, but the hosts certainly got their attention.
Jamyl Fricas soared to the hoop for two and Chibuogwu, who is related to ex-Central girls star Jennifer Chuks, added two free throws.
Improbably, the lead was just 8 at 57-49. But Constant went to the rafters for a block and Vanderbilt-bound catcher Dom Keegan (12 points), who had three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and UNH-bound QB Bret Edwards (14 points) cashed in at the line.
That gave Central some breathing room.
First-year Raider coach John Walsh was disappointed in his star’s mental lapse but otherwise was thrilled at his team’s resiliency.
“The incident changed things,” said Walsh. “We have to keep our composure. But I’m so proud of them. They persevered when it got tough. Bret was a leader. Dom was a leader. Kevin Constant played unbelievable.”
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Boys Basketball, 12/29/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
METHUEN — A week after being denied a victory when North Andover blocked a last-second layup attempt, Methuen used a little extra work last night to get its revenge.
The Rangers rode the offensive boards in overtime, using the extra possessions to eke out a 66-62 victory over the Scarlet Knights in the final quarterfinal outing of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic.
"We just played these guys ... and it was a one-point game and we couldn't pull it out," Methuen coach Anthony Faradie said. "But I say it all the time, eveytime we play North Andover I think like seven out of the last eight games has come down to the last possession. Pulling out the close games is going to be important in this league because everyone is so competitive."
Last night, the Knights needed a last-possession shot to force overtime as Garrett Murphy turned a delicious driving dish by Jake McElroy into a layup with 6 seconds remaining. That layup negated a pair of long-range threes by Dante Rivera and another by Jhamyl Fricas with the shot clock winding down that provided Methuen 55-51 lead with 1:28 remaining in regulation.
But a pair of free throws by Kyle Moore and Murhpy's field goal erased that deficit.
In overtime, North Andover grabbed a 60-58 advantage with 2:22 left on a three from the wing by Moore, who finished with 15 points. Methuen fought back to grab a 62-60 lead on a drive by Rivera (19 points) and a pull-up jumper by Fricas (16).
An offensive rebound by TJ Clark resulted in a pair of free throws by Nick Clark for a 64-60 lead.
"TJ had a huge offensive rebound," said Faradie, whose squad had four overtime offensive boards. "That was a game-winning play."
Another driving layup by McElroy brought North Andover back to within 2 but a pair of Rivera free throws secured the win with 8.1 seconds left.
Methuen's passing powered the Rangers after intermission as they had assists on seven of their first 10 second-half field goals. Clark was the recipient of many of the feeding tosses, scoring 17 of his game-high 21 after intermission, including 10 on layups
"We tried to get it inside and get more ball reversals," Faradie said. "We felt in the first half we were able to draw fouls and get into the bonus pretty early. Getting to the free throw line was an emphasis."
Murphy paced North Andover with 20 points.
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Boys Basketball, 12/27/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
Up 43-42 with time winding down, North Andover's Colin Lee blocked a Methuen layup attempt out of bounds with just under two seconds left. The Rangers got a good look off the ensuing inbounds pass, but the potential game-winner missed, and the Knights held on for the season-opening victory.
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Boys Basketball, 12/19/17 » 0 Comments & 0.0 Stars
