Zach Zaniewski | McClelland Miscellanea

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February 18, 2011 · 11:15 pm

North Andover Controls Adam Bramanti and Defeats Masco 55-48

Colby Smith (#12) tries to prevent a pass to Adam Bramanti (#3).

Colby Smith hits two free throws near the end.

(Boxford) Plenty of denial defense was on display as North Andover defeated Masconomet, 55-48, at Masco on Friday night in Cape Ann League play.

A full house was on hand, partly to honor Masco’s three seniors, and partly to see if their Chieftains could grab a share (with Wilmington) of the CAL Division 1 title. Well, one out of two, ain’t bad!

With the victory, North Andover (15-4) will have a chance to be co-champs with Wilmington if they can get by Hamilton-Wenham in a rescheduled game at home on Monday. HW coach Doug Hoak was in the house for the Masco/North Andover contest.

Derek Collins (16 points) hit a couple of three’s early in the 4th quarter to give the Knights a 47-41 lead with 4:45 to go and Masco (11-7) was kept at least one possession away thereafter.

An Adam Bramanti (13 points) layup with seventeen seconds left narrowed things to 51-48 but two free throws by Colby Smith gave the Knights the cushion they needed for the win.

Normal Knight high scorers (Zach Karalis and Derek Collins) were on the “two” end of Masco’s triangle-and-two defense.

Derek Collins hits a three over his “shadow” Ben Panunzio.

It worked against Zach as he was limited to seven points. Derek, however, reached his average and hit from long range three times. One of those 3’s in the 4th quarter was a real backbreaker (for Masco). Derek ended up forcing a shot from closer to midcourt than the top of the key that went in as the shot-clock buzzer went off.

Adam Bramanti averages twenty but was held to thirteen. He was shadowed by an assortment of Knights. NA did not allow him to use screens to get open by switching every time one was set for him.

Adam Bramanti saw tight defense everywhere. This time from Collin Hubbell.

Adam got off twenty shots (made five) but the looks he had against Hamilton-Wenham (scoring 28 points) were not available versus North Andover.

There were nine lead changes in the first half with NA getting the last one with a run of six straight points (Zach, Derek, and James Warden two points each) as the Knights closed out the first half in front, 30-25.

The Knights never trailed in the second half. The Chieftains did tie the score (38-38) on a layup by Alex Brown (11 points) to start the final period.

James Warden (16 points) and Michael Moroney (8 points) found opening for baskets against Masco’s 3-man zone defense especially in the first half.

Masco’s student section was out in force. They did make the mistake of chanting, “We can’t hear you,” in the direction of NA players from the JV game. Sporting a lead late, the players responded with the obvious, “Scoreboard, scoreboard,” which silenced the Masco kids. Memo: Chanting, “We can’t hear you,” works best when your team is AHEAD.

Masco is on a 4-game losing streak and has two non-league games (Revere and Malden Catholic) at home next week left on their regular season schedule.

NA had lost two in a row before defeating Masco. The Knights also won over Masco in December. They have Hamilton-Wenham left.

Hamilton-Wenham Boys Defeat Masconomet In Overtime 69-61

Stephen Tam (25 points) sends Hamilton-Wenham ahead in overtime with a 3-pointer.

(Boxford) Hamilton-Wenham (13-2) defeated Masconomet (11-5) in overtime, 69-61, on Monday night but the luster of the victory may be dulled by the loss of Pat Hendrickson to a severe knee injury.

Pat Hendrickson on the floor with what looked to be a severe knee injury.

Pat went down in the last minute of regulation on a drive to the basket. The game was delayed for some time as Masco’s trainers examined Pat and decided that outside medical help was required. Help arrived and Pat was put on a stretcher and given a rousing sendoff by the spectators from both sides.

Pat’s drive resulted in two free throws. Colin Kenny made both and the Generals were up by three (56-53) with 35 seconds left. You didn’t have to watch this game for very long to know who would be taking the shot for Masco (Adam Bramanti). You just didn’t know where he’d shoot from. He got open on the right side and tied the game in front of the Masco student section.

Hamilton-Wenham had plenty of time (28 seconds) and after a timeout seemed intent on running the clock down to just a few seconds before shooting. Unfortunately, Stephen Tam dribbled the Generals into a five-second violation.

Adam Bramanti (28 points) forced overtime with this late 3-pointer.

That left Adam now with a chance to win the game with eleven seconds to do it. He got over on the right side again but this time missed and Colin Kenny got the rebound to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, a Ben Panunzio layup on a rebound tied the score at 58-58 early but the Chieftain offense went south over the last 2 ½ minutes getting just three points. The Generals, on the other hand, were very productive. Stephen Tam hit a three and on seven of the next eight possession HW was at the foul line. They hit on just eight of fourteen attempts but that was more

Jake Lindland (13 points) hit five-of-six free throws in overtime.

than enough to stay ahead of the suddenly cold-shooting Chieftains.

One of Stephen Tam’s 3-point attempts.

The willingness of both teams to put up 3’s was an eye-opener for me. I’d seen Salem connect on fifteen on Sunday night but in this game both teams were at it. Masco and HW combined to launch sixty 3-point attempts which was more than half the shots attempted in the game.

Adam Bramanti (eight 3’s and 28 points) and Stephen Tam (six 3’s and 25 points) made long ones in every period as well as overtime. They never seemed to be out of range.

The Chieftains used their size to get second-chance baskets in the first quarter and led 15-10. HW rallied at the start of the second quarter with eight straight points (3’s by Pat Hendrickson and Stephen Tam plus two Chris Hamilton free throws) to jump ahead 18-15. However, Masco closed on an 8-2 run (3’s by Ben Panunzio and Adam Bramanti plus two Zach Zaniewski free throws) to lead at the half 34-27.

It took Masco three minutes to score a point in the second half and by then HW had connected three times from long distance (Pat, Jake Lindland, and Stephen) to surge in front, 36-34. The Chieftains would end up chasing HW the rest of the way before finally tying the visitors, 58-58, very late in regulation.

Thereafter, both team had a chance to win in regulation, which they didn’t, and then HW took charge in overtime.

The loss had to be troubling for Masco coach Frank Shea. His team had all sorts of size advantages but after the first half were far too content to try and get three points per possession.

Zach Zaniewski had a big first half (12 points).

Zach Zaniewski collected twelve points in the first half and then the 6’6” inside threat disappeared from the score sheet.

Pat Hendrickson had fifteen points while Jake Lindland added thirteen for the Generals.

If HW had lost this game the culprit would have been easy to spot – free throw shooting. The team made just 23-of-38. Do kids practice that shot anymore?

All five of Masco’s losses have been at home.

The crowd size surprised me considering the records of the two teams.

(I collect my own stats and take my own pictures. My captions and commentary are original. Mistakes are unintentional.)