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Final rematch on tap for Devils

Friday, March, 14 By Alan Siegel
Staff writer

When Salem boys basketball coach E.J. Perry thinks back to the outcome of last year's Class L final, he smiles. The game itself, however, was absolutely draining.

"I really have one fond memory of it," he said.

Perry of course, was referring to Stephen Savage's last-second, fall-away 3-pointer at the buzzer that gave the Blue Devils a 54-51 victory over Trinity.

A year later, his club is back in the championship game (tomorrow, 3 p.m.), against the same opponent, at University of New Hampshire's Lundholm Gymnasium, the site of last year's clash. The last time No. 2 Trinity met No. 1 Salem | in the season opener Dec. 18 | the Blue Devils prevailed, 49-45, in overtime.

"That game was like a boxing match," Perry said.

As grueling as another potential barnburner might be, make no mistake: Perry is cherishing the run his team is on. After all, the Blue Devils came back from 12 down to defeat Manchester Central, 46-42, Wednesday. They have now won 31 straight Class L games.

"People say this is tough, but at the same time it's exciting," Perry said. "Just to see kids in that situation, down 12, to respond the way they did, is pretty amazing. I'm proud of them."

That said, don't expect the Pioneers to cave under pressure.

"They have excellent guard play," Perry said. "They're going to look for '3's' and look to drive and kick. And they're going to defend."

The Pioneers are coming off a 46-31 win over Spaulding in the semifinals in which they held Southern New Hampshire University-bound Lucas Croteau scoreless. Led by 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Jordan Laguerre (16.0 points per game) and 5-7 senior guard Ryan Bourgeois (15.0 ppg), coach Dave Keefe's club rolled to a 16-2 regular-season record in Class L.

Senior point guard Josh Frederico will likely be assigned to Bourgeois.

"He's got a huge challenge coming up," Perry said of Frederico. "He's just been such an unsung, unheralded guy. A guy who takes his role to the maximum."  

Keefe, a Merrimack College graduate, was complimentary of Salem, a club he described as unselfish and disciplined.

"Boy, I heard someone the other day say they weren't that great a team," Keefe said. "But until somebody beats them, they're a great team."

Salem sharpshooter Josh Jones (15.9 ppg) scored only two points Wednesday. Expect him to come alive tomorrow.

"Josh was only 0 for 4," Perry said. "He didn't force anything. He got everybody the ball. He played 31 minutes. It wasn't like I was going to take him out. He was playing well."

Once again, senior guard Kevin Sledge will get a chance to reprise his role as super sub. When he gets in the game, Perry said, "Something's going to happen."

"The steal he got (Wednesday)," Perry said in reference to the lunging pick he made in the second half of Salem's win over Manchester Central, "he had just missed a rebound. You pull your hair out when he misses the rebound, you're elated when he makes the steal."

Sledge and the rest of his teammates will be prepared tomorrow. Said Perry: "It's another battle."