RallyNorth.net

Nieves, Lawrence light up Andover

Friday, February, 13 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

LAWRENCE - Maybe Lawrence High needed this one a little more.
The Lancers certainly played like it. With a sense of urgency and a captain saving what might have been his career best for Senior Night, Lawrence picked up a victory and a slice of credibility ... at just the right time with the tourney approaching ... knocking off Andover, 62-53, in a spirited Merrimack Valley Conference finale.
"We needed this bad," said Lancer guard Justin Nieves, who backboned the Lancer charge. "This is our first (quality win). It sets the tone. We beat Andover. They've beaten Lowell and a bunch of good teams. To beat them, it's just important. It's a start."
Nieves, 9 for 21 from the field, led all scorers from the field with 25 points and added nine boards, five assists and three steals.
"He shot it well in the first half and we needed it," said Neal of the senior, an Eagle-Tribune All-Star a year ago. "We haven't had that."
It was Nieves' toughness when things got a little testy in the second half that set him apart on his night.
Down 29-28 at the half, Andover took brief 41-37 lead deep in the third period, threatening to spoil Lawrence's upset ideas.
Nieves was there, though, to blunt the visitors.
A sweet reverse finish sliced the margin to 41-40 and two free throws put Lawrence up 42-41. No hoop on the night was bigger than Nieves' three from the foul-line extended right, seconds before the third quarter buzzer, making it 45-41 Lawrence with eight minutes left.
"I feel like my shooting is coming," said Nieves, sporting a green hoodie and matching cap from Proctor Academy, where he hopes to take a post-graduate year. "Hopefully, it's the beginning of something for me at just the right time."
The Lancers would never give up the lead.
Both teams chewed up the paint offensively.
Lancers Jesse Hiraldo (13 points, 15 rebounds) and Anthony DeJesus (11 points, 12 boards) worked the backboards mercilessly.
Warriors Kevin Polanco and Connor Arnold were unstoppable on the other end as well.
But Polanco went down with what looked like leg cramps midway through the third with 17 points - never returning - and the Warriors simply got away from Arnold, who had 21 points on 8 of 15 shooting.
With this win and potentially another at 6-9 Charlestown (Monday), Lawrence could possibly slide all the way up to a 12 or 13 seed in Division 1 North and avoid a dreaded play-in game.