Fifteen and zero.
What’s not to like about the undefeated Danvers High boys basketball team after Friday night’s 77-39 laugher of a win at Swampscott?
Vinny Clifford had his second straight game hitting five three pointers, finishing with 21 points, the same scored by Devan Harris, and Devonn Allen added 11 with six assists.
Now comes the daunting home stretch of the Falcons’ regular season before securing their likely No. 1 seed in the Division 2 North tournament.
- Monday night’s non-league game at Rockland (likely to be snowed out based on current weather forecasts). The game could be rescheduled one final time to Tuesday February 17 or Thursday February 19, the last day before the tourney pairings are announced
- Tuesday hosting Gloucester…should be a blowout, as was the case when the teams met in Gloucester earlier in the season
- Thursday at Marblehead…a stern test after Danvers barely got by the Headers in Danvers back on January 7, 46-43
- Saturday and Sunday the Woburn Invitational, pairings and starting times yet to be announced, although it is believed Danvers gets Bishop Feehan and Woburn hosts Malden Catholic Saturday, the losers to meet Sunday, followed by the winners
- Wednesday the 18th at Lynn English, the winner of the NEC Large, once again, and a serious contender to win Division 1 North
So where do the Falcons, a mind-boggling 93-19 in five years under coach John Walsh, stand?
In great shape, with a few qualifiers. Clifford, Harris and Allken are operating in high gear, in top form. Pivot Peter Merry continues to be a monster force on defense, but hopefully his offensive potential will be reached again, a la the Lynn Classical masterpiece (36 points; see earlier blog). Rashad Francois has been deftly moved to the sixth man’s role by Walsh, with Mike Nestor currently the fifth starter and Tre Crittendon the backup point guard off the bench.
Here’s hoping Nestor breaks through shortly as a starter and shows the potential Walsh and the coaching staff sees in him. If he doesn’t break through, here’s hoping Andrew Dunn gets a chance in Nestor’s role.
Bottom line: The Falcons have been incredible, winning close games and coasting in the routs. It is unlikely they can win out and finish an unprecedented 21-0. I’d be happy if they match the two-loss regular season of the 2012-13 Division 3 state champs.But I hope they prove me wrong. It’s just that the two Woburn games will be mighty tough to win, as will the game at Lynn English, which should attract a full house and a zillion Division 1 and 2 coaches scouting the two teams for the tournament.
May they simply give it their best effort and let the chips fall where they may leading into the tournament. They will be terrific tests for the tourney, win or lose.