By Jerry Liptak
SALEM – Their perfect season intact, the boys of Salem basketball let out an almighty roar in the home-team locker room after overwhelming Nashua North on Friday, Jan. 18, 72-57.
Coach E.J. Perry had just given them the weekend off.
Josh Jones, the team’s junior sharpshooter, said Saturday, Jan. 19, was Salem’s first day off since the season began.
The Blue Devils earned it.
Ahead 35-29 at halftime against North, Salem increased the speed and intensity of the game, scoring 20 straight points in the first 5 minutes, 49 seconds of the second half with a relentless full-court press, squashing any chance of a Titan upset.
That Salem effort – if only a glimpse of what Perry wants for a full 32 minutes – followed a 27-point shellacking of Keene on Thursday, Jan. 17.
And that Salem venture succeeded a most improbable win: down five points with 28 seconds remaining while facing the 2-3 Dover Green Wave, Perry said Kevin Sledge sank a pair of three-pointers to give the locals a 62-61 victory on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
“I told him I can’t stand this ‘green’ place anymore. Either hit the three and we win it, or we go home (with the loss),” said the coach.
The recent stretch – three wins in four days – prompted the energetic Perry to ease off a bit. Of course, it was back to work on Monday, Jan. 21, the first of four straight practice days during which Perry said he’ll continue to pound home this idea: his talented charges must play defense – spirited defense – for 32 minutes.
“We’re a funny team,” said Perry. “When the offense is clicking, the defense starts coming up. Most teams work in reverse – the offense feeds off the defense. We’re the opposite.”
That was clear against North. Salem coasted to a six-point lead at the break, but North scored 24 of its 29 points on very easy shots, and the hosts’ attack sputtered in turn.
Perry said he couldn’t repeat some of what he told the team at halftime. Jones, standing nearby during the post-game discussion, smiled knowingly at this.
But fine interior passing from the 6-foot-4 Dan Kinney to the 6-foot-2 Shawn Stoodley produced a deuce to open Salem’s second half.
Then Michael Kimball and Jones unloaded. Three-pointers, wing shots, assists and layups kept coming … and coming.
The Blue Devils’ frenetic full-court pressure induced numerous North miscues.
When Sledge fed Kinney for another easy bucket, it was 55-29 Blue Devils.
That means North outscored Salem the rest of the contest, 28-17.
Yes, Salem’s bench players were usually on the floor. Still, expect Perry to use that late-game lull as motivation in coaxing the group to reach its lofty potential.
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Five players reached double figures in scoring for the Blue Devils. Jones netted 17 points. Kimball, who made eight of 12 free throws, added 14.
Sledge came off the bench for 12 points, hitting three more three-pointers. Kinney produced 11 markers, and Stoodley, who selflessly drew a charge with his team ahead 21 points, added five field goals for 10.
Mark Adamson banged in a late-game three-pointer, point guard Joshua Frederico made three free throws, and Alex LaRosa also hit a charity shot.