Tag Archives: Kevin Fernandez

(North Andover MA) For a quarter this looked like a duplicate of the January 5th game.  The rest of the way…………not so much!

Central Catholic (15-4) took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back defeating North Andover, 73-59, on Tuesday night in Merrimack Valley Conference play.

In January’s 68-65 win at Central Catholic, North Andover had the shooting to match the Raiders.  The Knights’ John Enright connected six times from long range and teammate Spencer Reeve added twenty points.

John Enright (13 points) clicked three times from long distance in the first quarter this time around and carried NA to an 18-14 advantage.

Credit the CC defense thereafter.  They didn’t cause turnovers (NA only had four in the game) but they forced the Knights into low percentage, contested shots.

Nick Cambio (6-6) covered John Enright (5-11) and the good looks for John were out at NBA distance.

Spencer Reeve (twenty points in the first game) was held scoreless.  The 6-3 junior got into foul trouble early and was a non-factor.

Not only was the Raiders’ defense better but their offense was too.  CC’s big men, Nick Cambio and Aaron Hall (both 6-6) ran plays together that turned up layups for both of them on numerous occasions.  Nick finished with thirteen points while Aaron had nineteen.

Tyler Nelson (15 points) was his usual self.  He made shots and set up teammates.

The Knights (12-5) had a four-point lead (22-18) two minutes into the second quarter.  After this, the visitors from Lawrence put nine straight together over the next 3 1/2 minutes and NA never recovered from the 27-22 deficit.

The damage in the 9-point run was done by Tyler Nelson (two free throws & runner from the right), Aaron Hall (jump shot), and Nick Cambio (old-fashioned 3-point play.)

Central Catholic led, 31-26, at the half.

The Raiders were able to get the lead into double figures (40-29) 2 1/2 minutes into the third quarter.  Consecutive 3’s (AJ Pettway & Tyler Nelson) keyed the separation.  Tyler’s trey was off an open look from the corner on an inbounds play.

The Raiders kept their advantage at double figures the rest of the way.  On this day, NA was overmatched on both ends and no comeback before a sizable home crowd ever materialized.

The icing-on-the-cake shot for CC was freshman Kevin Fernandez’s buzzer beater from very long range as the third quarter ended.

Sophomore Wabissa Bede (21 points) proved to be an adept ball-handler for NA.  He was not shy about taking the ball toward the basket against taller opponents. Wabissa ended up at the foul line fifteen times.

Certainly a strength for Central Catholic in this one was their free throw shooting.  After missing 3-of-4 in the first quarter they went 19-for-21 thereafter.

Central Catholic is undefeated (8-0) on the road.  The Raiders have won eight straight and twelve of their last thirteen.  Their last state title was in 2008.

Central Catholic box

North Andover box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge significantly if you click on them.)