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Central Catholic scored over 100 points in its win against Dracut 102-54. Jimmy Zenevitch scored a game-high 23 points and Tyler Nelson hit five 3-pointers en route to 18 points.

LAWRENCE — Pressure you into submission.

Ravage you on the offensive glass.

Force-feed a heaping helping of All-Scholastic Jimmy Zenevitch on the block.

LAWRENCE — You had to wonder how the Central Catholic boys hoopsters would react to Andover's Christmas tourney semifinal victory over the defending state champion Raiders.

Matt McDermott and Tyler Nelson came off the bench for 21 combined points in Central Catholic's easy 90-52 romp over Chelmsford. Jaycob Morales was strong for the Raiders with 13 points, 8 assists and 3 steals.

Central Catholic rolls

Central Catholic jumped out to a 54-19 halftime lead and rolled to a 90-53 win over Greater Lawrence Tech in the third-place game. Evan Sheehan, who is rounding into shape nicely from an early-season injury, led all scorers with 24. Donald Celestin had 13 for the Reggies.

LAWRENCE — As the seconds dwindled down, Andover assistant David Giribaldi implored the Golden Warriors, “Act like you’ve been there before.” Uh, coach, they haven’t been. Neither has pretty much anybody else in the state. Andover pulled out a pulsating 55-52 win over three-time defending champion Central Catholic to move onto the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney finals tomorrow night vs. North Andover. If you bleed Blue and Gold, it doesn’t get much sweeter than beating the defending state champions, who are again ranked No. 1 in the state. To be the first MVC team to beat the Raiders in almost three years — Lowell did it on Jan. 16, 2008 — was going to take a little magic. Unsung senior Van Caraviello, making his first career start, made like Larry Bird by draining two free throws with 12.3 seconds left as Andover snapped a 14-game losing streak to CCHS dating back to Jan. 6, 2006. “I did it for everybody before me,” said Caraviello. Was he cool, calm and collected? “I was peeing!” He didn’t tell Andover coach David Fazio he might be having bladder problems, though. When Fazio asked if he was going to make them, he said nonchalantly, “Yeah, I got it.” “Van the Man’s” 1-for-3 free throw shooting on the season prior to last night, notwithstanding, his coaches and teammates claimed they knew he’d deliver. He knew he had to. “They had to go down. There was no option,” insisted Caraviello. They went down and so did Central. Bedlam ensued 12.3 seconds later as Andoverites stormed the court. Caraviello, who hit his two earlier free throw attempts last night, said, “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to start a big game and I wanted to hit a big shot.” Well, scratch two very important items off Caraviello’s bucket list! Andover’s 2-3 zone was giving Central fits but it looked like the Golden Warriors might be fried when their star guard, Joe Bramanti (20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), was whistled for his fifth foul with 2:10 left. This close to getting the monkey off their back and it was going to slip away, worried the Andover faithful. Not a 15th straight loss to Central! Not a 10th straight Christmas Tourney loss to those hated Raiders! Not so fast. A few thousand spectators might have thought Andover would cough up that 51-47 lead (51-49 after Central’s Luis Puello hit the two free throws.) But Joe Bramanti, he believed. “You gotta believe!” he said he told his teammates. When asked if he feared the dreaded Central jinx would continue, the Brama Bull turned deadly serious. “Nope. Nope,” he said shaking his head. Somebody would have to take the game over still, though. Central doesn’t hand over games. Enter talented sophomore Sam Dowden, who had been quiet until that point. “I knew I had to step up,” said the 6-4 forward. But to score, he’d have to go through 6-7 senior Jimmy Zenevitch, a strong candidate for Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. “I don’t really care who I go up against,” said the soft-spoken Dowden, in a case of uncharacteristic bravado. “Even Jimmy Zenevitch. I know what I can do.” He took it right to the reigning Christmas Tourney MVP and sank a pretty runner. Lucky shot? Hardly. “It’s just a lot of hours in the gym,” said Andover coach David Fazio. “I bet he made that move a million times at 6:30 a.m. at Andover High’s gym.” But never before with the hopes and dreams of a program riding on his shoulders.

The mighty have fallen Central Catholic had: Beaten Andover 14 straight times dating back to Jan. 6, 2006. Never lost to a conference foe since falling to Lowell on Jan. 16, 2008. Won the last three Christmas Tourneys and 11 of the last 14. Beaten Andover nine straight times in the Christmas Tourney dating back to 1987, when former coach Tom Ryser’s club beat the Raiders in OT.

LAWRENCE — Jimmy Zenevitch won't lie.

Unlike the pros, who at least claim they don't read the papers and websites, he reads everything.

And he doesn't like some of the stuff he was reading about himself. So he did something about it.

LAWRENCE — A pair of defending state champions squared off last night at Central Catholic High School. Unfortunately for the squad from Utah, only one team featured any returning starters from its title team.