As balanced and dangerous – with three of the top six rated teams in the MIAA’s final regular-season Division 1 power rankings – the Merrimack Valley Conference took a back seat to nobody last year.
This time around should be no different, in spite of what some around the state might have you think.
When the Boston Globe’s preseason Eastern Mass. rankings came out recently, only Central Catholic (No. 1) and Lowell (No. 12) represented the Valley in the top 20.
Expect that to change.
“The league is deep, and it looks pretty balanced – after Central,” said veteran Andover High coach David Fazio, now in his 37th year with the Warriors.
“I think when February comes around, people are going to know just how tough things can be in our league night in and night out.”
Star Power
When it comes to big guns, the MVC is well-represented with a pair of returning Eagle-Tribune Super Teamers – Central’s Javi Lopez and Andover High junior Josh Roux.
Lopez, a senior who earned Eagle-Tribune Player of the Year honors last year, is, according to one sage Valley hoop aficionado, a modern-day version of former mid-1990s Everett High guard Shannon Crooks, who went on to star at UMass.
Like Crooks, Lopez is lethal in the mid-range and carried the Raiders to a 20-3 mark and a state final four appearance a year ago.
He and the Raiders, who should see Elkin Pena make an expansive freshman-to-sophomore year leap, are hungry for one more step.
“There’s a lot of excitement about this year’s team. We have a lot of experience coming back from our final four team,” said Raider coach Mark Dunham, who went out and put nationally-ranked Brewster Academy on his non-league schedule.
Roux takes a back seat to nobody as far as shooting goes.
The three-year starter will need to be at the top of his game early as Fazio welcomes a relatively new cast around him and his returning sophomore backcourt mate Charlie Tutwiler.
“It’s the least experienced team I’ve had an in a long, long time,” said Fazio. “We have two very talented guards and 13 very green players. We’re young and spunky. I think we’re going to be good. We have to play fast, fast, fast.
“It’s so nice to have Josh back. He’s a great shooter and an even better leader. And now with all these young kids, we will get there.”
New League Format
The Merrimack Valley Conference has altered its format a bit this year, still with two divisions but with each team playing 10 league games (everybody once).
The MVC1 is Andover, Central, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen and North Andover. MVC2 is Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Haverhill and Tewksbury.
At the end of the regular season, the top four finishers will face off in a two-game tourney, as will the middle four. The bottom three will play a round-robin.
Coaches seemed a bit divided on the new format. Fans of the home-and-home rivalry type games – Central-Lawrence, Andover-North Andover, etc. – will miss those special Friday night collisions and savor each opportunity.
But it does force teams to go out and find non-league games that will help in the MIAA power rankings.
In the end, Haverhill High coach Sean Bryan might have summed it up best.
“I’m a believer that you just show up and play whoever is on your schedule,” said Bryan.
Odds and Ends
Bryan’s Hillies got a nice boost when dynamic football receivers George Papanikolaou and Jathian DeJesus decided to hit the hardwood this winter.
Talk about an instant injection of athleticism.
Haverhill was already going to be an up-and-down the floor group with its dynamic backcourt of Jonzel Contreras on the point and scoring machine Alejandro Iraheta at the off-guard.
Now, the Hillies will be looking to run teams off the floor.
“We have a good backcourt and expect a lot from this team,” said Bryan, who thinks his club could be a 10-to-13 win team if things break right.
“We are excited for some of the new faces we have and what they can bring.” …
While on the subject of football, one of the league’s dominant players, Collin Christiansen of Lowell, a returning all-conference choice in hoop, suffered a collarbone injury that has him on the shelf. Lowell looked dynamite this summer, reaching the finals of what was a deep and talented NECC Summer League. The Red Raiders should stay right there in the MVC championship mix. …
Second-year Lawrence High coach Mike Isola is enthused about the athleticism and the identity his crew is piecing together after a tough, 5-15 campaign.
“The team is led by (MVC All-Star) forward Aiden Torres,” said Isola. “We are a young team, but we are quickly establishing as a physical group. We are looking to use our quickness, by defending and getting out and running.” …
In a similar vein, Methuen High second-year coach Ryan Middlemiss likes what he sees on the defensive end from his Rangers, who reached the finals of the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic, falling to Andover, and made the Division 1 state tourney a year ago.
“We’ve got athletes. We’ll be playing a lot of defense, much more of the brand of basketball that I want to be coaching,” said Middlemiss.
“I’m a defensive-minded coach, winning on that end is a priority. This group plays with a chip on its shoulder, with something to prove.”
The Rangers will be led by Niles Scott, a 6-foot-4 big man with a penchant for putting the ball in the hoop
The backcourt could change games with its speed and quickness. Ravi Kungu, a 5-foot-6 ball of energy, and football standouts Alex Santiago and Jeyvien Deleon are top-level defenders.
Methuen had a monster tryout with over 100 kids looking to join the program.
“Our freshmen class is very good,” said Middlemiss. “The future is bright.” …
Coming off a solid season and a round of 32 tourney win in D-1, North Andover looks to reload with a new cast of characters.
Opportunities abound, making for a spirited offseason and preseason.
“We are young team with only one senior and not a ton of experience,” said Knights’ coach Paul Tanglis. “With that being said there are spots to fill. Right now we are looking for guys to compete every day at practice. Our focus is on what is in front of us and not looking ahead.”
Angel Sanchez, one of the region’s top, all-around role players a year ago, is that senior. He spent last year doing all the dirty work and anything necessary for Knight success.
An expanded scoring role for him and sharp-shooting junior Trey Martin are likely in the works. …
Returning MVC2 champ, led by one of the league’s premier coaches in North Andover’s Steve Boudreau, will again sit near the top.
Returning MVC2 Player of the Year Jonny Sullivan heads up a strong cast of characters that includes guard Gabe Keskinides and super sophomore Nick Colametta.