SLIDESHOW: Central Catholic Lady Raiders Win MVC Cup
CARL RUSSO PHOTOS: Central Catholic freshman Ashley Dinges of Haverhill gave her senior teammates a perfect going away present Thursday afternoon.
Dinges, who led all scorers with 16 points, hit three straight free throws at the end of regulation to tie the game, then drilled a 3-pointer in overtime as the Raiders rallied to beat Andover 36-33 to win the MVC Cup Division 1 title and finish the season at 10-0.
The win also somewhat made amends for last year when Central defeated Andover twice during the regular season only to lose in the state tournament to the Warriors, who went on to become Division 1 co-state champions.
“That was tough to lose last year and this is 100% redemption,” said Raider senior Adrianna Niles, whose nine points were second on the team to Dinges. “This feels really good.”
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's captain Adrianna Niles raises the cup in celebration along with Claudia Porto, right and Maggie Smith. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in overtime in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's captain Adrianna Niles raises the cup in celebration with Maggie Smith. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central Catholic captains, from left, Claudia Porto, Adrianna Niles and Lily Angluin accept the cup. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central Catholic captain Adrianna Niles holds onto the championship ball while celebrating with her teammates. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Cailyn Scharneck ,45 and Ashley Dinges celebrate. Ashley Dinges scored the three point jump shot to take the lead 36-33 with seconds left in overtime and eventually winning the game. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Ashley Dinges scores the three point jump shot to take the lead 36-33 with seconds left in overtime and eventually winning the game. Andover's Marissa Kobelski defends. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Ashley Dinges is fouled with seconds left in the game. She sank three free throws to tie the game 31-31allowing the game to go into overtime. Andover's Marissa Kobelski, left and Tess Gobiel defend. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Ashley Dinges drives to the hoop against Andover's Amelia Hanscom. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's captain Adrianna Niles drives under handed to the hoop against Andover's Amelia Hanscom. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Maggie Smith defends as Andover's Amelia Hanscom fights to make the layup. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's captain Tatum Shaw fights to the hoop against Central's Maggie Smith. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom fights to the hoop for the layup as Central's Cailyn Scharneck, left and Claudia Porto double team on defense. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's captain Tatum Shaw makes the layup as Central's captain Lily Angluin, right defends. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom goes down fighting for the loose ball against Central's captain Adrianna Niles. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom goes down fighting for the loose ball against Central's captain Adrianna Niles. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's captain Adrianna Niles sails to the hoop against Andover's captain Tatum Shaw. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Maggie Smith and Andover's Amelia Hanscom fight for the loose ball. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Ashley Dinges and Andover's captain Tatum Shaw and others fight for the rebound. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Anna Foley, head coach Alan Hibino and assistant coach Kerry Cashman watch a Central player shoot her free throws after Foley fouled her and fouled out with minutes left in regulation. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central Catholic's captain Adrianna Niles hugs the championship ball and teammates while the Raiders celebrate. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover Warriors can't watch as Central Catholic Raiders celebrate the overtime win. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central Catholic's captain Adrianna Niles hugs the championship ball and teammates while the Raiders celebrate. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo The Central Catholic Raiders celebrate with a team photo. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Anna Foley drives to the hoop despite hair interference. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's Ashley Dinges chases Andover's captain Tatum Shaw as she hustles to the hoop. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Hailey Doherty drives to the basket. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom is caught in between Central's captains Claudia Porto, left and Lily Angluin. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom shoots over Central's captain Lily Angluin. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom and Central Catholic's captain Adrianna Niles fight for the loose ball. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom goes airborne while passing ball as Central's Arlenis Veloz chases her. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Marissa Kobelski makes her move towards the basket. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Marissa Kobelski struggles to make the layup. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Andover's Amelia Hanscom and Morgan Shirley, 22 trap Central's Cailyn Scharneck. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central's captain Adrianna Niles raises the cup while running over to her teammates to celebrate. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in overtime in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
CARL RUSSO/staff photo Central Catholic teammates cheer from the bench. Central Catholic defeated Andover 36-33 in the girls Merrimack Valley Conference basketball championship game Thursday afternoon. 2/18/2021
