LAWRENCE — Greater Lawrence singed the nets in the first quarter last night with Bryan Centeno (3) and Oscar Reynoso (2) combining for five 3-pointers.
But the Reggies cooled off and Pinkerton’s talent-laden frontcourt came up big in a 65-43 Astros victory.
Pinkerton (1-2) will take on Lawrence Thursday in the semifinals of the 38th annual Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney.
The Astros got 22 points from 6-foot-4 Cam Welch, 16 from 6-5 Scott Bradley and 13 from 6-7 Justin Scott against a Greater Lawrence team whose tallest player is 6-2. The Astros have 12 players 6-2 or taller!
The height disparity could have been even more pronounced. The Astros were without another young giant as highly-touted 6-6 freshman Luke Rosinski, the coach’s son, was home with a 102-degree temperature.
The 220-pound Welch isn’t your typical big guy. But he is typical in that he doesn’t always listen to his father.
“My dad always taught me to shoot down low,” said the senior from Hampstead, “but I found 3-pointers more fun!”
Last night was a fun night as he nailed four treys.
“I was just feeling good,” said the big guy. “It was flowing early.”
Coach Peter Rosinski said, “Welch had a great shooting night. He got a lot of open shots. If he’s open, he’ll make them.”
Justin Scott didn’t see much time last year but that’s changed this winter.
“He’s stepped up,” said Rosinski, whose club put the game out of reach with an 18-0 run late in the first half and early in the second half. “He’s really worked hard. And Addie Wood gave us good minutes off the bench.”
The Reggies (3-2) came out on fire and Reynoso ended with five threes, but other than that it was a tough night at the office. They scored just six points in the second quarter and just two in the fourth.
The sweet-shooting Reynoso, a 6-1 junior, finished with 19 points. Javier Franjul, a quick-leaping 6-2 center, added 11 points including a dunk.
The Astros will be playing in the semifinals for the second year in a row after making it only once from 1996-09.
“This is pretty big,” said Welch.
On this night, big was the operative word.
Pinkerton 65,
Greater Lawrence 43
agateText:Greater Lawrence (43): Bryan Centeno 3 0-0 9, Oscar Reynoso 7 0-0 19, Frankely Estrella 2 0-0 4, Javier Franjul 5 1-2 11, Ellicen Pena 0 0-0 0, Anthony Almanzar 0 0-0 0, Alexis Estrella 0 0-0 0, Maikel Guerrero 0 0-0 0, Cristian Rivera 0 0-0 0, Marcos Maldonado 0 0-0 0, Grismaldi Martinez 0 0-0 0, Stanley Martinez 0 0-0 0, Luis Gonzalez 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 1-2 43
Pinkerton (65): Jeremy Dietzel 0 0-0 0, Luke Testa 3 1-2 7, Addie Wood 1 2-2 4, Mike Thomson 0 2-2 2, Cam Welch 8 2-4 22, Scott Bradley 7 2-2 16, Ryan Burke 0 1-2 1, Justin Scott 6 1-2 13, Danny Courter 0 0-0 0, Andrew Lechner 0 0-0 0, Thomas Lennon 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 11-16 65
3-pointers: P — Welch 4; GL — Centeno 3, Reynoso 5
Greater Lawrence (3-2): 21 6 14 2 — 43
Pinkerton (1-2): 14 17 20 14 — 65
Boys Christmas Tourney LAST NIGHT'S RESULTS Central Catholic 76, Salem 31 Pinkerton 65, Greater Lawrence 43 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 Game 5: North Andover vs. Salem, 2 p.m. Game 6: Methuen vs. Greater Lawrence, 3:45 p.m. Game 7 (semifinal): Andover vs. Central Catholic, 5:30 p.m. Game 8 (semifinal): Lawrence vs. Pinkerton, 7:15 p.m. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 Seventh-place Game: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 2 p.m. Fifth-place Game: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 3:45 p.m. Third-place Game: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 5:30 p.m. Championship Game: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7:15 p.m.
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