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Desrosiers, Central fend off feisty Hillies

Friday, January, 16 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

HAVERHILL - Upset-minded Haverhill High stretched Central Catholic, at times extending the No. 1 Raiders to their limit.
"They spread it out offensively to try and keep Carson (Desrosiers) away from the basket," said a relieved coach Rick Nault after his Raiders fended off a furious band of Hillies, 78-60. "They forced him to defend on the perimete, and they were hitting everything in the first half. They have five guys who can shoot it and they make us play out on the perimeter and make our guys go out and play them."
The strategy reaped rewards like no other team has exacted against the unbeaten visitors to a packed and electric Mansfield Gymnasium on "Bobby Costello Night."
For the first time all year, Central trailed at the break, 37-35.
But there was a price to be paid as well, and Desrosiers punished the Hillies when it mattered most. The 6-foot-10 junior saw single coverage and chewed through the Hillies in the most devastating night of his young career. Desrosiers, unleashing an arsenal of dead-on turnaround jumpers, hit 16 of 23 from the floor in a 34-point, 19-rebound performance.
"When somebody plays you one on one, you have to make them pay," said Desrosiers. "Coach said I have to shoot more. I certainly did in this game."
How all-out? How hard did the Hillies push the reigning state champs?
Both Desrosiers and All-Scholastic guard Billy Marsden (20 points, 6 boards) played all 32 minutes for the Raiders, who'll get a night's sleep then head off to Springfield this morning for a 1:30 p.m. tip with one of the nation's top programs, American Heritage High of Plantation, Fla., in the Hall of Fame Classic tournament.
"We'll be fine," said Desrosiers. "It's a game we've been looking forward to for a while. We'll be pumped and we won't be tired at all."
Haverhill had the home folks rocking early. It seemed like the Hillies couldn't miss, knocking in 9 of 14 three-point tries in the first half alone.
"This was a good test for us. We haven't been down like that (32-23 with three minutes left in the half) all year," said Desrosiers. "It was good for us to have to fight back and win."
Facing the deficit, Central didn't panic, and Desrosiers, with his play of course, simply said, "enough of this."
In a statement-making third quarter, Desrosiers score eight of Central's 14 points, grabbed five boards and added a block and a no-look assist to Michael Garcia for a layin.
Almost as if he was summoned for the close, Marsden nailed all four of his threes in the final quarter as Central, up 49-42 with eight minutes left, went for and got the kill.
Haverhill coach Mike Trovato had to be pleased with the effort, even though the long-range onslaught ground to a halt in the five-point third.
"The kids fought," said Trovato. "They're a phenomenal team. I mean, look at a kid like Carson, he's going to be a pro. To beat them, you have to play a perfect game. We did for a half. In the third, we just didn't make any shots. We definitey got better tonight, though."
Josh Maisonett paced 5-4 Haverhill with 18 points, and Javier Bristol buried five triples for his 15 points. Gritty Charlie Roche added 14, despite a brush with some foul trouble, and Dennis Driftmeyer had 11.