Will Sherrill ’07 made a clutch lay-up with only a few seconds remaining on the clock last Friday, pulling Andover ahead in an exciting 55-54 win against Roxbury Latin. On Wednesday afternoon, Andover won yet again, beating Deerfield 48-46 in another game that went down to the wire. The win kept Andover’s post-season hopes alive, and set the stage for its biggest game of the season this Saturday against Exeter. Although it was not Andover’s best game of the season, the team was able to hold on for a one-point lead over Roxbury Latin. Matt Silva ’07 led the team with 17 points, including four three-pointers, and he was supported down low by Sherrill and Jelani Floyd ’07, both scoring 12 points. For Andover, the offensive play was not as strong as they would have liked. On defense, the team’s many fouls forced it to be conservative in the crucial minutes late in the game. “We allowed [Roxbury Latin] to push us around,” said Coach Modeste. “Offensively, it was one of our sloppiest games of the year.” Despite the poor play, Andover stuck together and gritted it out for the victory. “This last game was a real test for our team because we overall didn’t play our best game,” said Silva. “I think we stuck together and grinded out the victory, unlike other teams that might fall apart when in the same situation.” Roxbury Latin came out of the locker room firing, quickly building a 12-3 point lead within the first few minutes. Andover was not down for long, however, as it was able to build a 27-20 lead by halftime. In the second half, both Andover and Roxbury Latin exchanged blows back and fourth until Andover pulled away in a dramatic finish. With Andover down by one, it brought the ball up the court with under a minute to play. Captain Chris Bramwell ’07 passed it down low to Sherrill, at which point Sherrill made a spinning underhand lay-up with just a few seconds left in the game. Although the team did not play as well as it hoped, Andover welcomed a tough road win. As Silva put it, “After the game, we all seemed to agree that an ugly win was much better than a glorious defeat.” On Wednesday, Andover won in a defensive battle with Deerfield, 48-46. Andover had a balanced offense, led by Captain Bramwell, who had 13 points, ten of which came in the crucial second half. Andover’s true strength, however, was its defensive effort. It was able to limit Deerfield to just 10 points in the first half, giving Andover a nine point lead. But Deerfield would not go down easily. Down the stretch, it closed within two, but Deerfield was never able to complete their comeback. Wednesday was Andover’s third win in as many games against Deerfield this season. Andover defeated Deerfield back in December in the Loomis Tournament, and again at home four weeks ago. “It’s very hard to beat a team three times in a row at this level,” said Coach Modeste. Clearly, Andover was up to the challenge. On Saturday, Andover squares off with its arch-rival. “Exeter is a fantastic team,” said Coach Modeste. “It is always a great game.” This year, however, this game has post-season implications. With a 13-6 record, Andover has a good chance to continue its season beyond Saturday if it is victorious against the Red.
