Spent the night above the border, taking in Salem’s demolition of Pinkerton Academy. Here’s a list of random hoop thoughts as the stretch run awaits.
Clutch effort of the night. Easy. Easier than McCain’s domination of Romney. How about Methuen’s Romeo Diaz with the king-sized triple-double, 51 points, 17 boards and 11 assists and the absolutely-needed 98-96 overtime win over Dracut.
It was a victory the Rangers had to have, against a tough Middies squad and Diaz simply willed them to victory.
The dream lives.
Honestly, I had thoughts that Pinkerton Academy was ready to put a shocker but Salem seems to be impervious to the opposition.
Give EJ Perry’s club credit. The Blue Devils know how to win. They play with confidence and a little bit of a swagger. And right now, they are playing an unselfish brand of ball that is yielding an awful lot of layups.
Big props to point guard Josh Frederico for setting the tone for his team. He distributes and gets his club up and down the floor.
And when is someone going to realize that there is more to this offense than Mike Kimball and Josh Jones. The big guys, Shawn Stoodley and Dan Kinney, own the basket areas on both ends.
ONE Giant gripe, though. Where the heck are the Salem High students? Your team is an enjoyable defending state champion, unbeaten in Class L play. The time to get behind them is now.
What are the kids in Salem doing with their Friday nights that they can spend two hours of fun supporting their classmates?
Speaking of knowing how to win games, how about Todd Kress’ Pelham Pythons.
Sometimes you get fooled by the run-and-gun style, the high-scoring numbers, and let’s be honest, the blowouts against some of Class I’s weaker foes.
But the Pythons have rolled off 10 straight, including three tight, one-possession decisions.
Tough night for Andover and coach Dave Fazio, denied for a third time win no. 300 with the Warriors.
Chelmsford is no easy out and might be a sleeper come tourney time.
Wake up call over at Central, where the No. 3 Raiders survive struggling Haverhill in a six-point night.
By the way, they are tip-toeing up the ladder, and actually were missed in our most recent Fab 5 poll, but how about londonderry High, with one loss (to unbeaten Salem) in Class L play.
Ryan Griffin ripped off a 25-point night in the win over alvirne, and if the big guy plays like that, look out.
Two vows right now. In the final two weeks of the season, I will get out to see Georgetown’s Jaymie Spears and Timberlane’s Drew Smith.
The best is yet to come, though.
Some great late regular season matchups are out there, and the tourney is coming.
Is Central Catholic-Lowell III on the horizon for the Division 1 North crown?
And is a repeat in the offing with Salem in Class L?
Can North Andover duplicate last year’s magic?
Who’s the surprise team?
Let me know your thoughts.
