RallyNorth.net

At age 7, Gabie Polce belted out the Star Spangled Banner at a Lowell Spinners game.

She claims neither the tryout process nor the actual performance frayed her nerves.

"After, it was a huge rush," she said. "I ran to my mom crying."

The sneakers are fire-truck red. Adidas high-tops with patent leather trim, to be exact.

When Camille Fantini laced them up before practice Monday, something happened.

"I'd never run so fast," she said.

The third time may be a charm, but it's hardly what lifted Andover to a convincing 44-34 victory over a flustered Lowell team last night in a much-anticipated Division 1 North semifinal clash.

The Golden Warriors (21-3), who fell to Lowell in the semis the last two years, beat the Red Raiders at their own game, right around the basket, as well as all other facets of the game. As a result, they advance to Saturday's 5:45 p.m. sectional championship game against archrival Central Catholic at the Tsongas Arena.

The high-octane offense and outside shooting of Andover basketball were on display again last night as the Golden Warriors moved on in the Division 1 North tournament with a 71-37 win over Malden.

For the Warriors, their attention now turns to their semifinal matchup with Lowell, which advanced with a 61-45 win over Methuen. In three contests this season the Warriors have a 2-1 edge over the Red Raiders, winning the last contest 36-34, and a similar defensive battle is anticipated.

One might wonder what the Andover girls basketball team gained from last night's 61-32 first round Division 1 North rout of Medford.

After all, the Golden Warriors (19-3) zoomed to a commanding 26-5 lead in the first quarter, forcing 13 turnovers, and never had a problem with the Mustangs. After that, the starters only played in spurts and they were far from sharp in the second half as head coach Jim Tildsley substituted freely.

LAWRENCE | Andover overcame a seven-point halftime to defeat Central Catholic 55-42. The win moved Andover to a 12-1 league record and gave the Golden Warriors a share of the Merrimack Valley Conference championship with 12-1 Lowell.

ANDOVER | Andover High coach Jim Tildsley was quick to note the key to victory last night.

"We played great defense," said Tildsley. "To hold a team to 16 points through three quarters is pretty impressive. And they scored eight points right away."

After splitting a pair of battles this season, Andover and Lowell, the two brightest lights in the Merrimack Valley Conference galaxy, hit the Dunn Gym last night and threw massive amounts of defense at each other.

ANDOVER | Natalie Gomez-Martinez knew she messed up. With Andover putting the finishing touches on a 69-61 win over Central Catholic, she committed a foul she shouldn't have.

Arms up and incredulous, she turned to face Andover coach Jim Tildsley, who seemed to share the same emotion.

Andover senior Laura Renfro will attend Williams College, a NESCAC school noted for its high academic standards.

"We're very, very happy she's going there," said Tildsley, whose daughter Kaylan, a former Eagle-Tribune basketball and lacrosse All-Star, also attended Williams. "She really wanted the academics. She's had a great year for us."