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Sports

Knights' Offense Silent Against Andover Golden Warriors, Lose 51-46

Losing skid extends to two; team falls to 14-4

The Scarlet Knights felt nothing but heartache in Andover High’s Dunn Gymnasium this Valentine’s Day.

The Knights played a tough defensive game against the Golden Warriors but came up five points short in the end. On the heels of a messy loss to Wilmington at home, Knights’ Coach Mike McVeigh said this time, the loss wasn’t the fault of the team’s performance.

“I don’t have any problems with the effort tonight,” said McVeigh after the game. “I thought we played sound basketball on both ends of the court. I thought we played with good emotion. We were close.”

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Late in the fourth, the Knights regrouped to pull the score within three. With 18 seconds on the clock, Knights' ball, and 15 seconds on the shot clock, both teams took a timeout. The Knights got the ball to goto junior captain Zach Karalis who took a shot from the three point line that bounced off the rim with two seconds left.  By then, Andover retook possession and ran out the clock for the win.

“I give Andover credit for their D,” said McVeigh. “Defense always has something to do with the opponent’s field goal percentage.”

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The game looked like it would be a decided by the defenses with both teams looking sluggish going to the net. Both teams got key threes to keep the score close including a three pointer by Andover senior Van Caraviello that put the Warriors ahead 13-10 with two minutes left to go.

In the second quarter, the Knights woke up and had a 14-0 run led by junior Zach Karalis who scored 10 that quarter with two from the three-point line. But the Warriors hung in there scoring nine and keeping the score within five at the end of the half. Still, Andover Coach David Fazio did not mince words when it came to his team’s offensive performance.

“Our offense was pathetic,” Fazio said. “we were running in quicksand.”

Fazio said his team is tired, and is looking forward to a few days rest before Thursday's game against Central Catholic. Still, his team managed to get it together in the third to come back against North Andover. The Warriors had a drive led by senior Joe Bramanti, who dunked one in to put the Warriors back in the lead, 31-29.

“Poor Joe, we ask Joe to do an awful lot,” said Fazio. “Joe didn’t have any legs tonight and he still responded.”

Bramanti scored nine in the third, and led all scorers with 27 points for the game.  In the fourth, neither team could find many scoring opportunities, except Bramanti who scored all seven of Andover’s points in the quarter including the key three pointer that kept Andover two scores ahead.

Coach McVeigh said his team has to put the last two losses behind them. The good news for him is that he saw a better effort this time around.

“I thought we made them take some tough shots.  I thought we did a good job on the glass.  I thought we attacked,” added McVeigh, “I certainly see an awful lot of positives.”

The Knights’ final matchup is against playoff bound Masconomet Regional High School. The Knights beat Masco at home 55-43 in December. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

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