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Zach Karalis dropped in a career-high 26 with six 3-pointers in North Andover's 64-37 win over Ipswich.

Zach Karalis dropped in a career-high 26 with six 3-pointers in North Andover's 64-37 win over Ipswich.

NORTH ANDOVER — So much talk centered around the North Andover High boys basketball team has focused on who isn't or hasn't been in the lineup. Zach Karalis would rather focus on the fellas inside the lines.

NORTH ANDOVER — So much talk centered around the North Andover High boys basketball team has focused on who isn't or hasn't been in the lineup. Zach Karalis would rather focus on the fellas inside the lines.

Junior forward Isaiah Nelsen scored a career-best 24 points, with half of those points coming from long range, to lead North Andover past Amesbury, 80-56. Zach Karalis added 16 points for the 6-1 Knights.

North Andover's Zach Karalis is known for his scoring.  But in last night's 74-51 win over Pentucket, Karalis had nine assists to go with his 24 points. Mike Maroney added 12 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Scarlet Knights.

LAWRENCE — Isaiah Nelsen had a double-double in the first half alone and North Andover bounced back from its heartbreaking semifinal loss with a convincing 65-38 win over Pinkerton in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney third-place game. The Knights went on a massive 19-0 run in the third quarter and beginning of the fourth to put the game away. Brendan Miller led all scorers with a career-high 20 points.

By Michael Muldoon

mmuldoon@eagletribune.com The Eagle Tribune

Thu Dec 29, 2011, 02:16 AM EST

LAWRENCE — North Andover harassed Salem into some poor luck and poor shooting in a 51-31 win on Day 1 of the 37th annual Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney. North Andover’s swarming defense was led by Colby Smith, who on a couple of occasions left some skin on the Lawrence High gym floor. “His hustle is contagious,” said North Andover coach Mike McVeigh. “When you see another kid do it, you think, we have to do it. He puts everything into it.” It wasn’t Salem’s night. In the first quarter, the Blue Devils had back to back shots lodge between the rim and the backboard. North Andover (2-0) advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals vs. Lawrence, which whipped Greater Lawrence 69-43 in Game 1 of the tournament. Salem (1-3) got off to a rocky start, trailing 15-2 early in the second quarter. But the Blue Devils impressively regrouped. Joseph Dube and Daniel Salvo confidently nailed late jumpers and Salem cut the margin to a very workable 23-17 at the half. Ben Slepian’s corner trifecta cut it to 23-20 and the Knights appeared to be in trouble early in the third. The hosts answered with an Isaiah Nelsen hoop, a Zach Karalis steal and dunk and a Brendan Miller floater. Nelsen’s corner three with two seconds left in the third pushed the lead to a comfortable 38-22 margin. Karalis, as is usually the case, was the best player on the floor with a game-high 18 points (3 of 4 on 3-pointers), 5 assists and 4 steals. Miller, a 6-2 sophomore, came out on fire, scoring the game’s first seven points and finishing with 13. “We were bigger and more experienced, but they made it tough,” said North Andover coach Mike McVeigh. Karalis had some problems with a box-and-1 defense but eventually got rolling. “He just opens up things for everybody else,” said McVeigh of the returning Christmas Tourney All-Star and Eagle-Tribune All-Star. Miller, who was already dunking last year, had to pay his dues as a freshman. He obviously learned his lessons well and is opening eyes this season. “He has a great attitude. He’ll just get better and better,” said McVeigh.

NORTH ANDOVER — For the opening four minutes of the second half last night, North Andover played like it was the first game of its season, turning over the ball on four of its six possessions. For the other 28 minutes, however, the Scarlet Knights appeared to be in midseason form, successfully kicking off the year with a convincing 66-44 victory over Cape Ann League rival Masconomet. “We had a great summer,” said forward Isaiah Nelsen, who scored 18 points and added 10 rebounds. “We just have great team chemistry. We just moved the ball real well. And as a unit we played really well tonight.” With all five starters and another five lettermen back from a Division 2 North quarterfinals squad that finished 17-5 last year, North Andover faces high expectations from both inside and outside the program. “When you play fall and summer ball, it certainly helps, but we’ve had great scrimmages,” said Mike McVeigh, in his 30th year at the North Andover helm. “I try to tell them I don’t like it when an outside force or even a coach makes high expectations. I think the magic is for them to have high expectations themselves,  not to be listening to other’s expectations.” They could be even better later on as high-scoring guard Derek Collins (back surgery) and veteran guard Jimmy Warden (school suspension) will be out until at least the new year and Collins could be longer. Last night’s first half though just might have raised those hopes. The Knights connected on nine of their 12 first-quarter field-goal attempts and were 15 of 23 at the half. Nelsen, Zach Karalis and Brendan Miller each scored nine points by intermission while Mike Moroney added 8. North Andover scored the final 11 points of the half to take a commanding 37-20 advantage. The Knights had assists on 15 of their 25 field goals with Colby Smith (four) and Karalis combining for seven of them. When the rout was over, Karalis had scored a game-high 22 and Miller and Moroney each had 10. Stonehill recruit Adam Bramanti led the Chieftains with 17 points. “Right now we have to get our defense down,” Nelsen said. “Last year, that was the only thing that held us back from being a state contender. Everyone knows about our offense. We can all run the floor and we can all shoot the ball. We just have to play better defense than we did (last year).” The Knights next play Salem in Friday’s Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament quarterfinals. North Andover hopes to finish a few points better than last year when it dropped a tough 63-60 decision to Andover in the tournament championship. “We’re so excited,” Nelsen said. “Last year, we were so close. We were just one shot away. This year should be a lot of fun.”