BOSTON - Believe it or not, Central Catholic can take responsibility for igniting the basketball fire in Natalie Gomez-Martinez.
"I remember in fifth grade, I was a ball girl for one of the big games against Central," said Gomez-Martinez, the latest member of Andover High's 1,000-point club. "I felt the rush, the adrenaline. I was like 'Wow!' I wanted to be one of that starting five."
Last night, on the biggest of stages here at TD Garden in the Division 1 North girls title game, Gomez-Martinez displayed her passion on the parquet, netting 25 points and knocking off those same Raiders in overtime, 69-65.
The effort raised Gomez-Martinez's career point total to 1,001 with what she hopes is two more games and a whole senior season to go.
Last night wasn't about points, though.
The icy stares in layup lines, the vocal student sections ... Gomez-Martinez understood the meaning of this one even before the first silky-smooth pull-up jumper was launched.
"This means everything ... they want it, and we want it more," said the junior point guard.
"It's like the (Plain White T's) song with them. Hate is a strong word, but I really, really, really, don't like you. It's not hate, it's the rivalry that gets to us."
As she has done since the first time Jim Tildsley put her on the point as a freshman, Gomez-Martinez ran the show from the opening tap.
On the night, she hit 10-of-19 shots, tearing up the Raiders off the dribble in spite of the fact that Raider waterbug Courtney Williams hounded Gomez-Martinez all night long.
"We tried to tell Courtney, we don't need any steals, just keep her in front of you at all times so she doesn't penetrate," said Central coach Sue Downer. "But she penetrates and has a great step back move. She's a great player, a true point guard. She played phenomenal tonight."
Downer isn't the only one noticing.
Division 1 schools Delaware, UMass, Sacred Heart and Marist have already offered Gomez-Martinez scholarships.
Last night, Andover needed its junior co-captain in a big way. Central had, per usual, attempted to blanket Gomez-Martinez's backcourt mate, Nicole Boudreau, limiting her touches.
That meant the ball would stay in Gomez-Martinez's hands.
"She was incredible," said Warrior coach Jim Tildsley. "She hit some big jump shots. Give Williams credit, she was all over her, but Natalie was awesome. For her to do what she did, and to cover Gabie Polce on the other end was incredible."
To think she was doing this all on such a grand stage.
"Freshman year we came here (in the EMass title game), and I was very nervous," said Gomez-Martinez, only the second junior captain for Tildsley at Andover. "This is about growing up and maturing. I'm a captain. I want to be a leader. I want to carry the team."
Gomez-Martinez and the Warriors get a special reward for last night's win, which in past years was held at Tsongas Arena.
She and Boudreau will be back on the same floor, Tuesday night in the state semifinal with Mansfield.
"I knew coming in that coach Tildsley was a good coach, and his teams were always strong," said Gomez-Martinez, who moved from Lawrence to Andover at age 8. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting this."
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