NORTH ANDOVER — They played the first half in a Ferrari and the second in a cement mixer.
Both styles suited Central Catholic quite nicely.
The Raiders got 33 points from tourney MVP Javi Lopez, and Central never let Beverly High in it, leading every step of the way in a 76-62 Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic championship win.
“They have such good players over there at Beverly. The game in the first half was a little faster. The second half, we just said let’s get some stops,” said Central coach Mark Dunham. “We were really trying to make them work to score. And we did a really good job of that. They’re so good. They’re going to be there in the end. Hopefully we will be there, too.”
For Central, it’s the first Christmas tourney title since 2016 and the 21st for the Raiders in the 49-year history of the event.
Beverly, making its second finals appearance in four years but seeking its first title, just ran out of gas and in a one-man wrecking crew in Lopez.
The Central senior and returning Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year Lopez hit the first two hoops of the contest, dropping 17 first-quarter points in the Panthers and propping the Raiders on a 25-16 lead after the first eight minutes.
“Javi’s been through so much since his freshman year. Our whole team has confidence in him,” said Dunham. “We run a set get him the ball, and say, ‘Javi make a play.’ He’s been doing it since his freshman year. He’s a special player and even a better person.”
Beverly just kept fighting uphill all night long.
All-tourney teamer Jacob Klass dropped a three, and Danny Price had an offensive putback just before halftime to slice a Central lead that was in double figures nearly the entire second quarter to 44-36 at the break.
But that’s when the game turned – pace-wise – into a lower gear that suited Central.
And the Panthers just couldn’t respond.
“I watched some film from Javi’s freshman year. We had Markys Bridgewater, Marcus Rivera. Those games we used to muck up a lot on the defensive end,” said Dunham. “I think we went back to that in the second half.”
Klass finished his night with a team-high 27 to go with 9 rebounds. He went the entire 32 minutes. Danny Price added 14 points, and Domenic Panniello, who earned the Beverly Coaches’ Award for his three strong performances here, added eight.
“Look at Jacob, and you look at Javi, and those are two of the best players in the state,” said Dunham. “You knew it was going to be a battle.”
Central got giant supporting performances from Drew O’Keefe, who tossed in a career high 19 points, including a dozen in the first half Raider barrage. Sophomore Elkin Pena found the second half to his liking as he added 10 of his 12 points after the intermission, including a double-pump reverse layin that had the packed house gasping.
“What Drew O’Keefe did tonight in the first half, and then Elkin really picking it up in the second half, it was just great,” said Dunham. “It ended up being a really good team win.”
Central moved to 4-1 overall with the win, knocking off the No. 3 team in the state by the recent Boston Globe poll in the process.
Tuesday CMCC Consolations
Boys Third Place
Andover 59, Gr. Lawrence Tech 53
Josh Roux scored 20 of his 28 points in the second half to power the Warriors. Roux averaged 25.7 points a night in the three tourney games, placing him in a tie for 13th overall on the list of tourney leaders. Freshman Logan Sullivan had a dozen for the Warriors.
Amarian Lopes led the Reggies with 19, and Zay Goicochea added 13 for the Tech.
Boys Fifth Place
Methuen 61, North Andover 38
Niles Scott closed out a monster tourney with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the 4-1 Rangers. Alex Santiago had 13 points, and Dylan Sweetser added 11.
The 1-5 Knights got 11 from Trey Martin.
Boys Seventh Place
Lawrence 52, St. John’s Prep 46
Aiden Torres had 18 for the Lancers, who improved to 3-3 with the win.
Girls Third Place
Pentucket 46, Bridgewater-Raynham 37
Allie Gagnon had 14 points for the Panthers, and Amelia Crowe added 11.
Girls Fifth Place
Westford 55, Central Catholic 45
Lilly Phillips had 15 points for the Raiders in the loss.
Girls Seventh Place
Methuen 39, North Andover 32
Giuliana Decoq led the winners with 13 points. Courtney Fritts had 10 for the Knights.