LAWRENCE — Central Catholic senior Michael Alvarez and Central Catholic alum Roger Damphousse (Class of '58).
You see them together and, well, they couldn't look more different.
One is 18. The other is 69.
One is Dominican. The other is French Canadian.
One is just starting out. The other is close to retirement.
But don't be fooled by skin color and a few gray hairs. When Alvarez and Damphousse look at each other they might as well be looking at a mirror.
They each grew up near the projects in the Tower Hill section of Lawrence — Alvarez on Marble Ave. and Damphousse on Essex Street.
They each spent most of their childhoods at the Lawrence Boys Club.
They each were honor roll students at Central Catholic. And, both have played key roles as part of the best basketball teams of their respective eras in the Merrimack Valley.
Basketball was at the center of Damphousse's universe growing up at the Boys Club. He went on to guide Central to one of its greatest seasons ever (27-1) in the winter of 1956-57, as a junior, in winning the Eastern Mass. title before losing in the New England championship. As a senior Central went 22-2 before being upset by Somerville by a point in the Eastern Mass. semifinals.
Basketball was at the center of Damphousse's universe growing up at the Boys Club and later at Central. He was a part-time player when Central (27-1) made it to the New England Champioinships, when Central lost, as a junior in the winter of 1956-57. As a senior, Damphousse led Central (22-2) to the Eastern Mass semifinals at the Boston Garden, when they lost a heart-breaker to Somerville, by a point.
That's one award Alvarez will never win. He's 6-foot-1.
But Alvarez's future is bright. Alvarez, who's averaging 8.8 points per game, has been accepted at Southern New Hampshire University, Endicott College, Clark, Emmanuel and ... you guessed it ... Merrimack College.
Like Damphousse, who received a full scholarship, Alvarez will probably have most of his college tuition paid for because of his grades, his need and his ability to play basketball. He's looking at playing as a recruited walk-on.
"I met with the (Central) freshmen and sophomores over the Christmas break and that's exactly what I told them," said Damphousse. "I said I doubted anybody in that group was going to make the NBA, that it's an unrealistic goal. They have to figure out what to do when basketball is over. I was fortunate that basketball gave me the opportunity to get into college and later get a good job."
Damphousse was an honors student while majoring in electrical engineering at Merrimack. He turned that into a long career with a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin. He was president of the company, which had about 1,000 employees and sales of $400 million.
He retired in 2000 at age 60.
Alvarez and Damphousse were together at the Boys Club of Lawrence's Hall of Fame induction ceremony last fall.
"He's an incredible person. He's someone I'd like to be like," said Alvarez, who lives at home with his mom (Maria) and sister (Irkania, 21). "His story is a lot like mine. I lived at the club when I was a kid. At the club, Raymond Nunez really pushed me to go to Central to become a better student and play for a great basketball program. And then when I got to Central, I learned the importance of studying and education."
Damphousse and his wife, Mary, live half the year in Nashua, N.H. and the other half in Bonita Springs, Fla. It's the one regret he has, missing the Central and Merrimack games.
"Some of my fondest memories in basketball were playing at Central with the huge crowds at the Boston Garden," said Damphousse. "I've heard about their games leading up to this one, for the state championship (tomorrow) in Worcester. I really wish I could be there to see (Michael Alvarez) and the team."
The irony is that Alvarez and Damphousse have similar styles on the basketball court.
Both are slashers and long-range shooters.
You talk to either one for just a few minutes and you immediately pick up the confidence of winners and the quiet intelligence of born leaders. Ambition also is a big part of their lives on and off the court.
"I want to have my own business some day," said Alvarez. "I like being in charge. I like being the leader."
He's already a leader as a co-captain of the Raiders.
Alvarez has done a good job emulating the Hall of Famer by helping Central win a championship two years ago as a sophomore and now it is just one win away from a second title.
Spaced apart by a half-century, Alvarez and Damphousse really are brothers.
And lest we forget, champions, too.
E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.
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