RallyNorth.net

Knights are off and running

Wednesday, February, 25 By Alan Siegel

NORTH ANDOVER — This is a stressful time for high school seniors like Nicole Zahoruiko. The college letters are slowly trickling in.

“I have to calm her down,” her sister Erika said. “I’m the only one who can.”

Basketball is the perfect diversion for the pair of North Andover forwards. Nicole (25 points) and Erika (10 points) led the charge in the No. 7 Scarlet Knights’ 56-32 win over No. 10 Boston Latin Academy in the first round of the Division 2 North tournament last night.

Coach Sue Breen’s club jumped out to a 17-0 lead at Crozier Field House and never looked back. It was, Breen said, relieving to have the game in hand so early.

“Good,” she remembers saying to herself. “We look OK. We’re going to be OK.”

For Nicole Zahoruiko, who’s already been accepted to UMass Amherst and Ithaca and is still waiting on Bates and Syracuse, watching her sister grow as a player has been a great experience.

“It’s really a relief to have her here,” said Nicole, whose team visits No. 2 Arlington Catholic in the North quarterfinals Monday at 7 p.m.

Erika, a sophomore, knows her sister could’ve made it difficult on her on the court.

“She’s such a good player,” Erika said. “But she makes it comfortable for me.”

Nicole challenged just about every shot Latin Academy attempted last night as North Andover dominated from wire to wire.

“It’s a good win,” Breen said. “It gets rid of the nerves.”

Junior Jackie Sullivan chipped in seven points for the Knights and Katie Moroney and Hillary Fonseca each chipped in four points.

Erika played well in the post, displaying the kind of moves that impressed her older sister.

“I don’t feel guilty leaving,” Nicole said, “knowing we have her here.”

For now though, the Knights hope to keep rolling.