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METHUEN — Andover freshman Devon Caveney didn't receive much playing time in the second quarter after she netted three 3-pointers in the first to give her team a 16-point lead yesterday.

But Caveney took advantage of the minutes she did play.

The freshman came off the bench late in the second quarter and drained another 3-pointer. She then forced a steal that led to another basket and an 18-point halftime lead for the Golden Warriors over Methuen in the semifinals of the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament.

Caveney scored 14 points in the first half. She poured in 17 points for the game on 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. She also had four steals.

She helped Andover to a 89-67 victory over Methuen and a berth in the title game against Central Catholic, which won its semifinal 70-49 over Pinkerton.

"I just came ready to play," Caveney said. "And I just felt it."

Andover star shooter Nicole Boudreau finished with 24 points and netted six 3-pointers.

She and Caveney combined for all of Andover's 11 3-point baskets.

But Boudreau struggled some in the first quarter, scoring just four points.

Still, Andover gained a comfortable 16-point lead thanks to Caveney's 11 first-quarter points.

She hit two consecutive 3s in the first to put Andover ahead 26-10.

"I knew we needed to score there," Caveney said.

Teammate Alyson Fazio added: "She takes really good shots and gives us a kick of energy."

Caveney comes from a basketball family. She said her dad and uncle played for Tewksbury High School.

"I started shooting when I was old enough to hold up a basketball," she said. "He (dad) had me shoot all the time. We have a really nice court in our yard that my family put in when I was young."

"I remember her from the first game," Methuen senior Rashidat Agboola said, referring to Andover's 75-42 victory over Methuen on Dec. 17 when Caveney netted three 3-pointers. "She's solid. She's going to be a good player for them. Basically, their whole starting lineup is a threat. It makes it hard because you think you've stopped one person but they have so many threats."

Agboola scored 27 points and Ashley LeBlanc scored 17. But Methuen turned the ball over 38 times.

Andover made 29 steals after forcing 23 against the Rangers the first time the two teams played.

Boudreau had a whopping 10 steals. Fazio was one of six Andover players to have more than one steal.

"We just tried to pressure the guards and then when (Agboola) got the ball, we just dropped down and tried to pressure her," Fazio said.

Andover's Dianna Bill scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.

"I can't really finish in practice and I get yelled at but when it comes down to the games, I don't know what is different but I can always finish better." Bill said, smiling.