RallyNorth.net

Central Catholic Raiders Girls Basketball '17-'18

Sun, Feb 18, 2018 03:30 PM @ Central Catholic
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Andover 7 14 14 10 45
Central Catholic 11 17 11 15 54

Kirsch, Central hold off Andover

  • Currently 0.0 with 0 votes.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Sunday, February, 18 By Dave Dyer

LAWRENCE — Her numbers don’t jump out at you, but there is no questioning Katie Kirsch’s value to the Central Catholic girls basketball team.

Kirsch, a 6-foot senior who will be playing next winter at Trinity College, definitely played a key role Sunday afternoon as the Raiders improved to 17-2 with a 54-45 victory over arch-rival Andover.

She scored a team-high 13 points, which is four more than her average, while pulling down nine rebounds and blocking two shots.

“She does so much for us by posting up, making screens and getting us the ball,” said Central coach Casey Grange. “We probably need to get her the ball more. She could score more.”

Kirsch was a problem for Andover early with her defense, forcing the Golden Warriors to take shots from the outside, often as time was running out on their possession.

With Kirsch under the basket, and the Raiders playing tight man-to-man defense, it looked early like Central would stifle the Warriors much like they did back on Jan. 12, when it prevailed 52-35.

Central held an 11-7 lead after the first quarter with Tatum Shaw’s two 3-pointers the only field goals for Andover.

With Maura Smith scoring eight of her 12 points in the second quarter, Central widened its lead to 28-21 at halftime. But led by Gia Bramanti, Andover was starting to get in the offensive flow.

Bramanti scored 10 of her game-high 21 points in the second quarter and paced a third-quarter comeback that got the Warriors to within one, 36-35, and kept them close until midway through the fourth quarter. But Central, led by Kirsch and Kaylee Thomas (12 points), scored nine of the final 11 points to pull away for the win.

“We knew it was a rivalry game and they weren’t going to lie down,” said Grange.

For Andover coach Alan Hibino, whose team dropped to 10-9, the performance was encouraging, especially since they were missing three players because of a pair of concussions and an ankle injury.

“I told the girls that we want to be building toward the tournament and I think we are,” said Hibino. “I thought our effort was terrific. ... I think we should have everyone back by the tournament.”

Both teams are in action today at Central with Andover facing Wachusett Regional of Holden at 2 p.m. and Central taking on Cambridge Rindge & Latin at 3:30.

Central Catholic 54, Andover 45

Andover (45): Krekorian 0-0-0, Landry 4-0-8, McDonald 2-1-5, Shaw 3-0-8, Pacy 1-0-3, Bramanti 8-2-21. Totals 18-3-45

Central Catholic (54): C.Porto 0-0-0, Bridgewater 2-0-4, Smith 4-1-12, Bradley 2-2-6, Thomas 4-3-12, Niles 1-0-3, Quinn 2-0-4, Kirsch 4-5-13. Totals 19-11-54

3-pointers: A — Shaw 2, Pacy, Bramanti 3; CC — Smith 3, Thomas, Niles

Andover (10-9):      7 14 14 10 — 45

Central Catholic (17-2):     11 17 11 15 — 54

 

 

 

Game Statistics:

Andover (45): Krekorian 0-0-0, Landry 4-0-8, McDonald 2-1-5, Shaw 3-0-8, Pacy 1-0-3, Bramanti 8-2-21. Totals 18-3-45

Central Catholic (54): Porto 0-0-0, Bridgewater 2-0-4, Smith 4-1-12, Bradley 2-2-6, Thomas 4-3-12, Niles 1-0-3, Quinn 2-0-4, Kirsch 4-5-13. Totals 19-11-54

3-pointers: A — Shaw 2, Pacy, Bramanti 3; CC — Smith 3, Thomas, Niles

0 Story Comments