HAVERHILL – Kevin Bradley has worked the phones in the offseason. He’s pleaded his case.
“We tried to play them all last year. I called Methuen. I called North Andover. I called Andover. We want to play teams like this,” said Bradley after his Whittier Tech girls hung tough to the end before falling to North Andover, 42-33, in a non-leaguer on Tuesday evening.
Bradley wants a platform for his girls to state their case. And he’s shooting for the area’s grandest stage to do it.
“We’d like to get into the (Commonwealth Motors) Christmas (Classic) Tournament next year,” added Bradley. “Some of those teams that come from far away to play in it, we’re hoping someone drops out, because I would love to be in that. We have everyone coming back, and we’d love to take on that challenge.”
Bradley’s Wildcats, now 4-2, would be stepping up the ladder, for sure. But as his youthful troops showed against North Andover, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a team with more grit and heart.
“I love their effort and their determination. They just keep working. It’s something you don’t teach. They just want it. And that’s fantastic,” said Knights’ coach Jess Deveny.
“They’ve got two really good guards (sisters Yaki and Yami Ortiz), and they’ve got the big kids inside that just will work, will get rebounds, will battle till the ball goes out of bounds or gets rebounded and goes the other way. They’ve got a good little thing going for sure.”
Knights grinding through
Coming out of the rugged Christmas tourney and following it up with a trip to a top 10 team in the state (Central Catholic), North Andover has run through an early-season gauntlet.
The battle for survival continues, now at 5-3, despite injuries, illness and just about anything the hoop world can throw at the Knights.
“Without Meg (Daley) and Daragh (Bentley), we’re battling,” said Deveny. “Those are two experienced varsity players. And Alex (Rogers) is home sick.
“I’m really proud that we got this win. After playing four straight really tough games, it’s always important to get a win for the confidence.”
The Knights did what they had to do, taking charge with a 9-1 second quarter and holding off every challenge the Wildcats could muster.
Sydney Rogers led all scorers with 21 for the Knights, per usual.
“She does always play well. She’s had to battle triple teams for the past three games, and she’s a tough kid,” said Deveny of the returning Eagle-Tribune Super Teamer.
“I thought Courtney (Fritts) handled their pressure in the backcourt pretty well. Natalie Gonzalez has been stepping up for us. She just gets out there and she plays, which is really cool. She doesn’t think twice about it.”
The sophomore Fritts finished with 10 points, and her classmate Sophia Bowman added eight.
Odds and ends
Whittier’s Bradley challenged his sophomore Kelly Vigneaux with the assignment on the Knights’ Rogers.
The boss liked what he saw from his youngster.
“Kelly can run. She has long arms and she works at it,” said Bradley. “She did a good job. Rogers is just so good. She knows how to set her shot up. It was great watching Kelly on her. She grew up today. I saw it in her eyes. She wanted it. She was hungry because we called her out to stop one of the best players around.” …
North Andover was able to take this game and non-leaguers with Peabody because of the MVC’s new scheduling where each school plays everyone only once.
There are no longer “home-and-homes” in division as they have played in the past.
Whittier may not help when the power rankings come out this week, but Deveny was thoroughly happy to play the Wildcats.
“I’m less concerned about power rankings and more concerned about how we’re setting ourselves up to take care of our own business and do the simple things, be strong with the ball and enjoy the game,” she said.
“This is right down the street from us, it’s a different team, for us. Just getting an opportunity to play other teams, is always good.” …
Whittier was pretty balanced with sophomore Yami Ortiz leading the way with nine points and freshman Yaki Ortiz added eight. Vigneau, Azalea Sosa and Nevaeha Wilkins added five apiece.