Central Catholic won its second consecutive boys basketball Christmas Tournament by defeating Andover High School 59-51 at Lawrence High School. Andover coach Dave Fazio employed double team tactics on Central Catholic’s Billy Marsden and on Carson Desrosiers, and held Marsden to 3 of 13 shooting, although the 6-11 Desrosiers poured in 17. I thought that a critical part of the game was the superb passing ability shown by Carson Desrosiers in response to the double teaming of Andover. He set up easy baskets several times for his teammates by making great finds and beautiful passes. CCHS sophomore Jim Zenevitch was on the receiving end of a couple of those passes, and played a great all around game to help Central to the win.

In the third place game Lawrence defeated Salem High School 87-60 behind a 17 point effort by Reuben Nieves.

Methuen High School lost to Pinkerton 71-59. Methuen sophomore Michael Gorman lit it up for a tourney record nine three pointers and 32 points in the loss. Matt Richardson and Edwin Gonzalez each had ten points, and both threw in a pair of treys for Methuen. Zach Mathieu had 19 for Pinkerton, and Beau Cassidy threw in 15 in leading Pinkerton to the win.

North Andover defeated the Greater Lawrence Reggies 46-34 behind Evan Sheehan’s 15 point effort.

Congrats to Tourney organizer Bob Licare, who has done a superb job again in moving the Tournament from North Andover to Lawrence. Mr. Licare is a legend in local basketball circles, and has really done a magnificient job year after year in bringing a superb tournament to the Merrimack Valley.