METHUEN – Owen Crowley went from arduous travel all over the region to face the nation’s top prep talent to quick bus rides into hostile Merrimack Valley gyms.
The Andover High junior seems to be assimilating quite nicely.
“Other than Josh (Roux), he was our best player on the floor tonight,” said coach Dave Fazio of the Bradford Christian Academy transfer after the Warriors held off a scrappy Methuen bunch, 63-59.
Andover hits the holiday at 3-0 with the Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic opener vs. Beverly up next on Friday.
For Crowley, it’s still a matter of getting used to the new surroundings.
“I’m feeling good. I’m new to this team, and I think we’re starting to figure this out,” said Crowley, who had 14 points and added a fierce floor game on both ends for the Warriors in the win.
“It’s a completely different style of basketball here. I miss (prep school ball), but I’m just trying to learn this. It’s a different kind of basketball.
“I definitely have more. I’m still trying to find my role on this team, but I’m still trying to find more.”
He certainly adds a different dimension of toughness and grit to the Warriors, who capitalized on it against the Rangers.
Methuen actually led 29-25 late in the second quarter, before the Warriors took over with an 8-0 flurry to end the half, and a 12-0 start to the third quarter.
Isaiah Andino (25 points) did all he could to keep the Rangers, who were without injured big man Nethaniel Clemente, in it.
But the four-point final margin was as close as the Rangers got after trailing by as many as 17.
“After a war against Brookline (this weekend), we’re mentally exhausted,” said Fazio, who laughed when asked if it was a good thing heading to the Christmas tourney undefeated.
“I want to be undefeated the whole year, so yeah, it’s nice. We just have to learn from it.”
Josh Roux and Sam Concemi each had 15 points for Andover.
Methuen, now 1-1, got 10 from Lennon Abreu De La Cruz. Quinn Vuylsteke had eight.
Andover 63, Methuen 59
Andover (63): Roux 5-0-15, Foley 2-2-7, Tutwiler 3-3-10, Gath 1-0-2, Concemi 7-0-15, Crowley 6-0-14, Totals 24-5-63
Methuen (59): De La Cruz 3-4-10, Andino 8-5-25, Vuylsteke 3-0-8, DeLeon 2-0-5, Figueroa 2-1-7, Santiago 2-0-4, Totals 20-10-59