DISQUS

Granitom · 11 months ago

Yeah, Hector, you're right. Central is a beast, but "...potentially the best of all time."? We're still only four games in. If Central beats Andover big it will be a statement, though it's still quirky that they play again four days after the final. It will be interesting to see how this game is called. If it's called tight, big advantage Central. If they let a lot go, Marsden will get pounded but the kid has demonstrated time and again that he's a warrior (no pun intended). And Raider fans will be more than content to watch him shoot free throws all night. Still, tough to extend the D on Billy while simultaneously accounting for Carson, et al. Lawrence High is a better venue than NA. I'll start taking Salem and PA (one of the largest high schools in New England) seriously when they advance to more than one tourney final, combined, in 13 years.

Hoop Fan · 11 months ago

Granitom you are so correct about Salem and Pinkerton. Salem plays hard but might not have the bullets in the gun this year. Pinkerton on paper looks great but on the court is another story. No defensive intensity, they don't get up on shooters and they don't seem to run an offense.
Not sure if you see alot of hoop in NH but realize the refs up in NH call a foul if you look at someone the wrong way. Also in NH there is no such thing as a blocking foul everything is a charge.
Down in Mass is a lot more physical and the NH teams definitely don't adjust. (better rmore consistent refs in Mass)
No excuses but Pinkerton amd Salem should represent NH better in this tourney.

Badcopier · 11 months ago

Lawrence is a GREAT venue. Perfect for this event. Folks are a little uneasy parking in the City at night. That's normal. But they are safe and will adapt... Uncanny thing about Marsden is that he never gives up. He gets his shot blocked and catches the deflection in midair and puts it home - all at once. Love the way Derosiers carries himself - he doesn't try to do anything silly. Just plays. Andover moves the ball as well as any team we've seen in while. They are better than the sum of their parts. The sophomore Miller needs to step up. Polanco and Arnold need 15-20 each and LOTS of help to have a shot.

Fib1106 · 11 months ago

Central 70
Andover 62

Hector Longo · 11 months ago

Badcopier,
Great call on Carson and his demeanor and attitude. i've never seen the kid question a call, something it seems is requisite with athletes these days.
The thing about Carson, whose offensive game is way past the 3-point line, is that he doesn't even need to score a point to be so darn valuable. Just think about the shots he changes. It's amazing.
Can anyone think of a high school shot-blocker like him around here?
I didn't see Matt Bonner enough at Concord, N.H., High, was he that adept at swattting shots?
Obviously Bonner was much more advanced offensively at this point, but did he block shots like CD?

Fib1106 · 11 months ago

Bonner had more offensive genes. But not the awareness and help- oriented awareness that Carson D has. Different styles for sure. The one thing Andover has going is how unselfish they are. You can't beat Central if you don't move the ball. So maybe they make Central sweat a little. Somebody else said it right though - they need Connor Arnold healthy.. All of this said, Coach Nault gets credit for taking the groceries and making it all work. Central has talent, but work ethic and smarts too. They aren't wasting their gifts.

Rougebleu · 11 months ago

High school hoops!! Just can't beat 'em.
Hector--forgot how much fun we all had writing and reading last year. Friday night brings two of the best coaches in Massachusetts. Great combinations of brains and pasion.

Can't wait.

No ice storms in NC · 11 months ago

Hec, I still havent seen your disclaimer about how "great" these teams are. Shouldn't it all be in context that they're all playing other scrub teams from a conference which has never produced a single talent to go onto the big time ?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to put on some shorts and go rake some leaves.

Granitom · 11 months ago

Two additional points about Carson. I agree with Hector in that he changes a lot of shots, but he also changes the entire game. This was on full display in last year's state tourney, especially the Charlestown and BC High games, when opponents could do absolutely nothing in the paint and were forced to alter their whole offense. When BC High's guards melted under Coach Nault's five-guard rotation, it was over. Second, he doesn't swat shots out of bounds, thus giving the ball back to the opposition. He blocks, controls the ball, and gets Central into the break, and does so all the way out to the arc. Should be a good one; CC by 15 and pulling away late in their closest game to date. As for Pinkerton, it was astounding how they essentially stopped playing late in the second quarter vs. CC. Their body language said: "Get us out of here."

Randy from Methuen · 11 months ago

Prediction for tonight:
Andover 57, Central 55
Polanco scores 22 for the Warriors and hits a three at the buzzer to seal it. Goes down as the best game in tourney history.