Andover eliminates English boys in OT

ANDOVER – English High boys basketball coach Mike Carr went into Friday night?s game thinking Andover is the best team in the Division 1 and the Golden Warriors lived up to expectations, defeating the Bulldogs 86-81 in overtime in front of a packed house at Andover. This one was a battle. English came out like a house on fire in the first quarter, but Andover made a few adjustments and the Bulldogs? 10-point lead evaporated in a hurry. From mid-way through the second quarter until the final buzzer in overtime, this was a war. “This is what basketball should be all about,” English coach Mike Carr said. “I?m so proud of my kids. They worked their tails off. Coming in I thought Andover was the best team in the tournament.”Fred Hogan Jr. had 20 points for English and, but none bigger than the two free throws he hit with 42 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. Hogan kept the Bulldogs in the hunt in overtime when he hit a jumper to bring English to within a point, 82-81, with 23 seconds left, but Andover didn?t buckle.The Bulldogs had to foul down the stretch and Andover went 4-for-4 from the line to keep English from making any headway. Every time the Bulldogs looked like they were getting something going, Andover had the answer.?Andover had so many big shots. They were shooting the heck out of the ball,? Carr said. “They kept on coming. We only go five or six deep. I was going to win or lose with those guys. They were all cramping up at the end of the game.”English had big performances from all five of its starters. Danny Lukanda led the team with 25 points, with 13 coming in the first half. Erick Rosario had 19 points and was a force at both ends of the court all night. Stevie Collins finished with eight and Johnny Hilaire with four.Andover was loaded. David Giribaldi (28 points) and E.J. Perry (5 threes, 25 points) were deadly.?We?ve played a lot of teams that shoot the basketball well,” Carr said. “It wasn?t just the three-pointer with them. Every kid stepped up. There were the mid-range jumpers. That?s a lost are. It was an outstanding basketball game.”Two other Andover players, Ben Brown and John Pisacreta had 10 each and Conner Merinder had 11 to make it five players in double figures.The score was 24-14 English after the first quarter, but by the half Andover was in the driver?s seat with a 41-38 lead. Andover converted on two quick steals to go up 49-44 and from that point on, English was found itself chasing the lead. Lukanda tied the game at 54 late in the third quarter and the fourth quarter was a battle. English found itself down 68-60 at the four-minute mark, but a Rosario three, and a Lukanda had a put back put the Bulldogs right back in the hunt.English finishes its season 15-7 and Andover is 18-4 with Everett up next in the semifinals. The Bulldogs were 12-19 from the free-throw line and Andover was 11-for-16.?Certainly we were all disappointed today, but it was a very successful season all things considered,” Carr said. “I was very happy with the effort. “