Dogged Lynn English dethrones Central
LOWELL - After losing in the first round of the state tournament last season, Lynn English began postseason play this year looking to make a statement.
Mission accomplished.
The Bulldogs shocked top-seeded Central Catholic, 71-60, in the Division 1 North final last night at Tsongas Arena.
English (24-2) will meet South winner Brockton in the EMass final tomorrow night at TD Banknorth Garden.
"[Last year] left a bad taste in our mouths," junior guard Ryan Woumn said. "This feels real good right now."
The Bulldogs set the tone at the beginning with a frenetic pace brought upon by their full-court pressure.
English forced Central Catholic, the defending state champ, to commit 30 turnovers, and the Raiders (23-2) never led.
English took control in the second period. Starting with a 3-pointer by senior guard Justin Young and capped by a jumper right before the buzzer by senior forward Eugene Turner, the Bulldogs ended the half on a 14-4 run that gave them a 33-22 edge.
"They made us play hectic, helter-skelter basketball," Central Catholic coach Rick Nault said. "For a seasoned group, we played sloppy tonight."
Refusing to allow Central a chance at a comeback, English remained in charge at the start of the second half. Layups by senior forward Charlie Rucker and senior guard Jeremy Suburvi and a trey by Woumn gave the Bulldogs their biggest lead at 40-22.
But Central responded by scoring the next 6 points and the teams traded baskets the rest of the period, which ended with English holding a 50-39 lead.
The Raiders refused to go down quietly in the fourth. Led by senior guard Billy Marsden (24 points) and junior center Carson Desrosiers (15 points, 10 rebounds), the Raiders cut the deficit to 62-57 with just more than two minutes remaining.
But English wrapped things up by scoring the next 4 points on free throws for a 9-point lead with 50 seconds to play.
"We got out early and we knew they were going to make a run, but we stayed with them," English coach Buzzy Barton said.
Woumn led English with 25 points, and sophomore guard Travone Berry-Rogers (13) and Rucker (11) also played well.
"We'd seen [Central] before, saw how they played, and didn't think they could handle our pressure," Barton said.
"We never thought they couldn't be beat."
