RallyNorth.net

Scarlet Knights fall in semis

Thursday, March, 10 By Jeff Hamrick

BILLERICA — Once again North Andover found nothing charming in playing a Division 2 North sectional game against Arlington Catholic.

For the third straight year, the Cougars from the Catholic Central League knocked the Scarlet Knights out of the postseason with another convincing victory last night. Sixth-seeded Arlington Catholic ran away from second-seeded North Andover in the second quarter before finishing with a 59-40 semifinal victory at Billerica High School.

The Cougars, who defeated North Andover in the quarterfinals the previous two years, advance to their third straight North title game, this time against fifth-seeded Gloucester, which knocked off top-ranked Reading, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Lowell’s Tsongas Center.

“The other two times, we had to go to Arlington High School and take them in the second round, and in those two games I think we were clearly the underdog,” North Andover coach Sue Breen said. “(Last night) I think we were playing with a lot of confidence, having won 15 of our past 16 games. We just ran into a very, very good team ... (This year) I think was different because we dared to dream.”

The Scarlet Knights (18-5) might have entered with confidence, but after being held to only one field goal in each of the first two periods, they found themselves trailing 26-12 at intermission. Despite going 1 for 7 in the opening period, North Andover played Arlington Catholic (18-6) tough, trailing 10-8 after the first 8 minutes.

But The Cougars turned up the defensive pressure, forcing the Scarlet Knights into seven turnovers and holding them to 1 of 11 shooting in the second period.

“We had some trouble,” Breen said. “Usually we pass the ball off, but (last night) we were dribbling it up. But that’s a real good team. Erin Nee is a great little player, and she put a lot of pressure on (point guard Amanda) Foote. Arlington Catholic is a very good team. They’ve been in (the North) finals the past two years and won it two years ago, so they’re experienced and everything.”

In the three sectional games against Arlington Catholic, North Andover has scored double digits in only three quarters, including 19 in the fourth quarter last night.

Sophomore Morgan Lumb paced North Andover with 14 points, including six of her team’s nine in the third quarter while Erika Zahorouiko added 10 before fouling out midway through the final period.

Arlington Catholic, which twice led by 27 in the fourth quarter, got a game-high 23 points from junior Emma Roberson and 19 from junior Nicole Catizone.