Gary Larrabee

The streaking Danvers High boys basketball team welcomed junior standout Devonn Allen back into the lineup after a two-game layoff with an explosive three-point performance in the opening quarter en route to a 65-31 rout of Revere in the DHS field house Friday night.

The Falcons, 11-3 and now riding a six-game win streak, scored their first 15 points on three-pointers, keyed by Tre Crittendown’s trio of treys as part of a 5-7 long-range skein and the game was pretty much over then and there. The Falcons, now 8-0 at home awaiting a showdown here with Lynn English Tuesday, led by 15-2 at the time and widened their cushion the rest of the way.

The Falcons’ feared man-to-man, nose-to-nose defense never gave Revere a chance to get started. Revere had two points after the first 3:30, was shut out the first 5:33 of the second quarter and did not score until 4:40 had passed in the third.

In enjoying a second straight solid three-point night, a critical part of their offense, the Falcons hit eight of their first 14 launches from behind the arc and finished 15-for-31, led by Crittendon’s four, Rashad Francois’s three and two each from Mike Nestor, Justin Roberto and Sean Rooney.

Five Falcons had eight points or more, starting with the left-handed shooting Crittendon (14) and followed by Francois’s 11 and each each from Nestor, Roberto and Rooney.

Allen, after taking two games off to nurse a sore shoulder, was understandably rusty in his return, hitting one of three three-point attempts and finishing with five points. His floor game was so-so, much below his typically high-level play.

He’ll need to be at his best Tuesday when Lynn English comes to town. English edged Danvers by two points in their first meeting in Lynn, where the Falcons blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead and Allen fouled out halfway through the quarter.

It may be up to the Falcons’s always reliable man-to-man defense (30 Revere turnovers to Danvers’13) and rejuvenated three-point consistency to turn back English and put them in position to move into first place in the Northeastern Conference Large division with another win at Lynn Classical on Monday February 8. The Falcons need to win out in the NEC, including wins at Peabody and Beverly to have a shot at a fifth consecutive NEC title.  Salem is destined to win the overall NEC title which Danvers has won an unprecedented four straight years.

Classical has one loss in the NEC, English and Danvers two each with four NEC games remaining.

DHS junior Nina Perel did another superb job singing the national anthem before the tap.

Back-up big man Isaiah Clark had a rough go of it, getting whistled for four fouls and not scoring during his second half stint. I have to believe coach John Walsh is bringing the all-star football lineman along slowly, hoping he’ll be polished enough to make a positive contribution come the two final regular season games in the Holliston Invitational before the defending Division 2 state champs begin their title defense.

Sophomore Justin Roberto, a key factor off the bench with five treys in Friday’s 51-48 comeback victory at Marblehead, was in an even better groove Tuesday night in Danvers’ 73-42 rout of Swampscott in the DHS field house.

Roberto, after missing his first three-point shot, made his next six, finished 6-for-7, and sparked the Falcons to their fifth straight victory and their 10th in 13 outings overall.

With junior ace Devonn Allen sitting out his second straight game with a bruised shoulder, sixth man Tahg Coakley came up big in Allen’s spot, adding 15 points, while Tre Crittendon added 14 (3-4 in threes) and Rashad Francois had 12.

A team that had been shooting abysmally from the arc was vastly improved in this one, hitting 11-for 19, 8-for-10 in the first half, during which the Falcons made an astonishing seven straight threes. It was 46-19 at the half after it had been 9-8 with 1:26 left in the opening quarter.

The big story emerging from these last two wins has undoubtedly been the 5-11 Roberto, who has been labeled a future long range shooter deluxe for the varsity for some time.

Desperately needing him to deliver at Marblehead, Roberto delivered, making 5 of 11 threes. Then he topped that showing with a stunning 6-for-7 against Swampscott, thrusting him into the sixth man role until Allen returns, most likely next Tuesday at home against Lynn English. When Allen gets back in action, Roberto will be the second man off the bench and locked into the regular rotation.

“He’s got the touch going right now,” says Coach John Walsh. “It’s great to see. Justin’s had the potential to make an impact and he’s doing that right now. I’m very happy for him. He’s got to keep looking for his shot, though, whenever the opportunity presents itself.”

Roberto’s thrusting himself into the Falcons’s offensive equation is important, since the three-point shot is an integral part of their success.

He joins Francois, Crittendon and Allen as three-point threats every time they bring the ball down the floor.

With five Northeastern Conference games left in the regular season, the Falcons project to be anywhere from 15-3 to 13-5 after this stretch, followed by a two-game tourney at Holliston before beginning defense of their Division 2 state championship.

The two tough games left are versus English and at Lynn Classical February 8. The return match at Beverly could be a challenge on the 11th, but the Falcons should be able to triumph.

One other positive factor surfaced for the Falcons Tuesday night with the season debut of big man Isaiah Clark, the all-star lineman on the football team. He could prove to be a major plus in the middle in future weeks.

Fact is, with a team comprised of five scoring guards, small forward extraordinaire Mike Nestor and inside man Kieran Moriarty, this team has been a marvel. Small as they may be, they are capable of beating anybody because of their quickness, defensive proficiency and offensive versatility.

Walsh’s six-year record at Danvers is now 115-22, the best such cumulative record by a North Shore coach, boys or girls, in histiory.

Despite the nausea, I am compelled to make a few observations about the Patriots’s disastrous performance Sunday in Denver, a 20-18 defeat.

• As I feared in sending out a well-circulated e-mail an hour before kickoff, the stage was set for another terrible effort by the Pats’s offense after everyone, including the man in the moon, predicted a Patriots’ victory.
• The offense, just as in its two most recent Super Bowl losses, stunk the joint out.
• One legitimate touchdown drive the whole bleeping game.
• Tom Brady was a shell of his usual Hall of Fame-playing self.
• The offensive line needs to be blown up and rebuilt from scratch. Vollmer was the biggest disappointment.
• Brady had little breathing room from start to finish.
• At the same time, even though forced to throw away several passes because his receivers didn’t have time to receive his throws, he was off the mark more than on.
• Ron Gronkowski was the only Pat to legitimately earn his paycheck. He is one amazing gamer.
• Coach Bill Belichick will come under fire for passing up two field goals in the final 10 minutes, but he had confidence in his quarterback and took his chances, despite the atrocious play of his offensive line.
• Guess who threw two TD passes and who threw only one??
• The defense was superb, giving up only one TD on a long drive. The other Denver TD came after an idiotic Brady pass into heavy traffic that I could have intercepted.
• Outcome would have been different — I think — if played at The Razor. Imagine not being able to win either of their two regular season games to clinch home field. Next year Bill might look at the same situation differently. I thought pros played for the here and now, not what might be happening a month later.
• All-Pro Stephen Gostkowski?? Missing his first extra point this season cost the Pats a second straight 20-20 regulation deadlock in Denver and another chance to win in OT.
• This one will take a long long time to recover from.
• How could they play so poorly and still have a chance to win the game if they convert their two-point PAT bid with 12 second left? By being the Patriots.

Now we’re finding out just how good this Danvers High boys basketball team can be.

Playing for the first time without junior guard-forward Devonn Allen (bruised shoulder), arguably their best all-around player, the Falcons turned to their other top all-around player, senior forward Rashad “Rudy” Francois (16 points, 11 in the second half) to key them at both ends of the floor, and sophomore bomber Justin Roberto (15 points on five threes) broke through offensively. Combined with a terrific inside game against much bigger opponents from Mike Nestor (10) and Tahg Coakley, the Falcons rallied past Marblehead, 51-48, Friday night on Brad Sheridan Court in the MHS field house.

“These kids have been through these kinds of games before,” coach John Walsh (114-22 at Danvers) said after the Falcons rallied from an early 10-3 deficit to lead 26-25 at halftime, then charged again after trailing 39-31, keyed by  clutch three-pointers midway through the final quarter from Francois, Nestor and Roberto, the latter’s making it 50-43 with 2:35 remaining.

“Danvers kids are tough kids. They can handle adversity. And the way they responded tonight, well, I’m very proud of them.”

Missing their first nine shots from the floor and hitting only two of 16 three-point shots the first half, the Falcons learned quickly what is was like to play without the injured Allen, whom many considered the MVP of their Division 2 state championship run last winter.

Combined with an effective box-and-1 defense on Tre Crittendon and a big edge in offensive rebounding, Marblehead felt it should have been in better shape instead of down one at intermissions.

But once again the Danvers nose-to-nose defense and ball-hawking strategy paid off. The Magicians committed nine turnovers by halftime to Danvers’s five, and at the final horn the difference was 19-6 in turnovers, a major credit to the Danvers “Dee.”

The Falcons also overcame another dismal three-point shooting performance team-wise, finishing this night making only 8 of 36. But the ones they made came at critical junctures, helping them get back in the game the first half and helping them pull ahead down the stretch.

For the super value that Nestor and Coakley delivered, what with Crittendon held to four points, the suddenly sensational Roberto and the eclectic Francois were the difference makers in the Falcons’ fourth straight victory.

Walsh has been saying all season that Roberto is going to break out with a big shooting night and tonight the backup guard delivered after missing his first three long rangers. He then proceeded to make three straight, all swishes from the left baseline, and Walsh had long last found himself a seventh man.

“Everyone on the team knows Justin can shoot it,” Walsh said. “Tonight he finally broke through. We’re happy for him and hope he can take it from here. We can always use another good shooter.”

Roberto now gives the Falcons, boasting a rotation of five guards, forward Nestor (and inside man Kieran Moriarty), six potential game-changers from beyond the arc.

Francois, meanwhile, endured a shaky first half (5 points) with a masterful all-around second half featuring timely offensive plays and several big rebounds and/or steals, the last theft the biggest one in the closing 30 seconds when Marblehead came down the floor trailing 50-47. Rudy’s steal led to a clinching Nestor foul shot.

The Falcons also need work at the foul line (5-for-12), as well as at making shots early in the two halves. They missed 6-of-7 field goals to open the second half.

All in all, though, a magnificent win — on the road — without the invaluable Allen. And after shaky starts to both halves. This group grew a foot taller collectively tonight and now look ahead to what should be easy wins next week, with or without Allen, at home against Swampscott and Revere, before hosting its third straight game the following Tuesday against Northeastern Conference Large leader Lynn English with first place in the Large on the line. The Falcons are still smarting from a two-point loss at English, during which they blew a 48-37 lead entering the final quarter.

Lots to look forward to in what has evolved into a fruitful 2015-16 season.

After Tuesday night’s 48-23 victory over Gloucester, the four-time defending Northeastern Conference champion Danvers High boys hoopsters have little to complain about. With an 8-3 record that very easily could be 10-1, even 11-0, the Falcons have much to be thankful for, but also much to shoot for, as they continue the second half of their regular season Friday at 4-8 Marblehead.

The two overriding issues for coach John Walsh, who has guided the Falcons to an extraordinary three state titles the last four years, center around the team’s disappointing three-point shooting, a staple of their championship runs, and finding help off the bench beyond sixth man Tahg Coakley.

Walsh, in his sixth season at the helm (an incredible, but true, 113-22), has three reliable three-point bombers in Tre Crittendon, Devonn Allen and Rashad Francois, but they have been frustratingly inconsistent, i.e. streaky like you wouldn’t believe. When on a roll, their long-range accuracy can carry the Falcons to big leads or overcome major deficits. But when they get cold, like at the end of the three narrow losses (by 2 at Lynn English, by 1 versus Malden Catholic, and by 6 at Salem last week), kaboom, they can’t make up for this significant shortcoming.

Another example: They were 6-for-11 from three-point land at one stage of the first half at Saugus last week, then shot an abysmal 7-for-43 at home against Gloucester last night.

Coakley and Mike Nestor can knock down threes, too, such as Coakley’s huge pair at Salem and Nestor’s clutch baseline “trey” in crunch time against Malden Catholic. But overall, so far in the three tight games, Danvers’s three-point marksmanship has not delivered.

Trailing Lynn Classical and Lynn English by only one game in the loss column in the NEC Large division, the Falcons can still win a fifth straight NEC divisional title. They still play at Classical and host English. A fifth straight NEC overall title (for best NEC record in both divisions), may be difficult since Salem reached the midway mark a perfect 10-0.

As for the Falcons’ other prime issue – getting more out of the bench players – Justin Roberto showed some progress in the Winthrop game, hitting three of four three-pointers in mop-up time. But other than that episode, he and Jordan DeDonato, the other likely relief off the bench, have not quite shown the efficiency Walsh needs to make them regular members of the playing rotation.

Walsh would love to give more of his regulars some rest time since they play such an intense form of man-to-man defense. But he’s not ready to make that commitment to playing time for his Nos. 7 and 8 men. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

The most beautiful aspect of this John Walsh-coached team, like all of his DHS teams: the boundless energy with which every player competes, be it a nailbiter or a blowout.

Now, a breakdown of how the “Super Six” and the Coach have fared after 11 games.

Devon Allen – Clearly the best all-around player on the team and unquestionably one of the top players in the NEC…he even jumps center on the opening taps and has won most of them…Streaky but almost always accurate (on the rim) three-point shooter, phenomenal penetrator, steady passer, superb defender and rebounder…capable of scoring 40 points in any kind of game, but not necessary based on the offensive support he has been getting from his teammates, especially Francois and Crittendon…He may on occasion try and do too much on his own offensively, but it appears Walsh designs those 1-on-1s much of the time and often they work out nicely.

Rashad “Rudy” Francois – The most athletic player on the team, capable of making a spectacular play anywhere on the court, offensively or defensively, on the floor or in the air…just hoping he is more consistent with his offensive play the second half of the season….capable of taking over a game single handedly…capable of making acrobatic plays when you least expect it… Won’t soon forget the off-balance, flip shot, three-point-play he made in heavy traffic in the lane with 12 seconds left giving the Falcons a one point lead against Malden Catholic.

Kenneth “Tre” Crittendon – Arguably the most improved player and currently, inarguably, the team’s most reliable long-range shooter filled with confidence from practically any distance beyond the arc…such a fitting description for a young man nicknamed “Tre.”…Deftly takes over the point for Allen when Walsh moves Allen to wing on offense…Has a great eye for finding the open teammate…Joins Allen and Francois in giving the Falcons a feared three-prong front line when zone or halfcourt trap pressing…the make a ton of steals or force a similar number of turnovers.

Mike Nestor – Another Falcon who has made major strides from a year ago when he was primarily a defensive stopper and rebounder…This year he is also a viable offensive option for powering his way to the basket or canning the jump shot, medium range or beyond the arc, as evidence by his 17-point showing at Lynn English that sparked a third-quarter surge and gave DHS an 11-point lead after three quarters…Continues as a terrific defensive player and board man.

Kieran Moriarty – Jumping into the middle of the fray as a starter this year, after seeing sporadic service a year ago, Kieran has done a commendable job as an inside defender and rebounder and has shown a soft touch with his mid-range jump shot, especially from the baseline. He is often the player replaced by Coakley when Walsh wants additional quickness in the lineup or when the Falcons are going to apply some form of defensive pressure from halfcourt or beyond.

Tahg Coakley – A multi-faceted sixth man who can play big or small, Tahg often comes in initially for Moriarty, Nestor or Francois. His quickj start and long strides serve him well at both ends of the floor. He can mix it up with the big men and hold his own and boasts the necessary quickness to pester effectively the opposition in “man” or “zone” situations.

Coach John Walsh – There is very little to quibble about regards Walsh’s coaching. Considering he’s dealing with a six-man rotation for the most part, his flexibility is limited but he’s found ways to give his offense and defense different looks. He is using his players’ quickness and high energy levels to full advantage. His conditioning program to get his players in peak shape and keep them there, sans injuries, has worked miracles. Check out how few injuries or missed games his regulars have experienced since he came on board. Remember that Vinny Clifford’s knee injury that kept him out his entire junior season occurred in the summer. My only wish: that John would yank his frontliners earlier in blowouts. He tends to keep his starters in the game far longer than necessary. Bottom line: As I have written before, Walsh is our Bill Belichick. The Patriots were lucky to acquire Bill’s services, just as DHS was lucky to acquire Walsh’s services.

Fresh off their melee-marred 47-34 victory at Saugus, the Danvers High boys took a while to show interest in their Gloucester High guests Tuesday night in the DHS Field House. But once they snapped to, they methodically disposed of the Fishermen, 47-23, to improve to 8-3 on the season.

The Falcons were clearly out of synch at the start, missing their first 12 shots, including their first nine three-point attempts. But as is often the case, their smothering man-to-man defend made up for their offensive indiscretions, forcing Gloucester to comitt five turnovers in their first five possessions.

Devonn Allen finally broke the scoring ice, swishing a three-pointer from the left side for the game’s first points nearly four minutes in. Gloucester actually gave the first quarter a hint of suspense when it closed within 5-4 and had the ball, but after that it was all Danvers, despite the fact the Falcons finished for the game an astonishing 7-for-44 from three-point land.

Thankfully, Tre Crittendon, after missing his first six threes in the first quarter, canned his seventh attempt in the final minute, giving DHS an 11-4 lead and the home team coasted from there.

Crittendon led the Falcons with 15 points on five threes, Rashad Francois added 11 (after his smashing 24-point performance at Saugus) and Allen finished with 10.

It was 24-6 at halftime, 36-12 after three. “Nuff said there. Odd about the Falcons three-point misfires, because they shot the ball quite well from beyond the arc at Saugus (7-14 at one stage). They’ll need to shoot a lot better to defeat host Marblehead Friday night (7 p.m. tip)

The Falcons’s defense continued to shine, leading to 21 Gloucester turnovers to Danvers’s seven.

The win improved Coach John Walsh’s out-of-this-world record at Danvers over 5 1/2 years to 113-21. Pinch me. And the Falcons potentially could finish around 15-5 by the end of the regular season, But first they must beat Marblehead.

Good to see the bandage off Allen’s left thumb. He’d been protecting the appendage for the last few games.

Returning to the scene of a heartbreaking, buzzer-beating 61-60 loss to Malden Catholic in the Saugus Christmas Tournament, the Danvers High boys basketball team was back in the SHS gym Friday night for its lone meeting of the season with the Sachems and suffered another unpleasant experience.

Not a last-second winning put-back basket by their opponents, but an unnecessarily chippy confrontation with the home team that, thanks to the poor job from the officials, led to a brawl early in the fourth quarter, with Danvers in charge 47-34, that involved players against players and fans against fans.

The Falcons (7-3) had the game reasonably in hand, thanks to Rashad “Rudy” Francois’s spectacular 24-point effort, keyed by 18 first half points and dazzling 5-for-6 marksmanship from three-point land, even though Mike Nestor and Tre Crittendown each was playing with four fouls. At that juncture a shoving match ensued while the Falcons had possession at their offensive end of the floor (directly in front of this observer).

A couple shoves, with a couple players hitting the deck, led to a full-scale, but short-lived, donnybrook first among players on both teams, then adult fans. Led by Coaches John Walsh and Paul Moran, order was restored within 90 seconds of the start of it, but not before Moran was shaken up by presumably a stray elbow or knee.

Worst of all, adult fans on both sides shamed themselves by their irresponsible actions. A large segment of male fans convened on the court in the most malicious fashion, ruining a game that could have been saved. The players to that point on both sides had shown admirable restraint in light of the fact the officiating stunk and the two refs were not properly controlling the game.

Initially, after both teams retreated to their locker rooms, the coaches and referees decided to resume the game, but not until the gym was cleared of all fans. But after the building was pretty much cleared, the two coaches decided to call it a night right then and there.

Final score: Danvers 47, Saugus 34 with 5:44 remaining.

The coaches will have to make out reports to their athletic directors, principals and to Larry McIntire, commissioner of the Northeastern Conference. The two officials will, too, and when the dust has cleared, some players may be suspended for one or more games and, from this humble perspective, the two officials should face disciplinary action as well. The game was being taped, so there will be access for all parties to review the incident and take proper– and fair — action.

Hopefully no players were injured. During the game action, the smaller Danvers team seemed to get the worst of it from Saugus’s physical play inside and out, but not to such a degree that it should have led to the mess that was created.

On a positive note, powered by Francois, the Falcons at one stage were 6-for-11 in threes, later 8-for-16, and finished 8-for-20. Danvers led 10-0 at the start, 16-7 after one quarter, 33-21 at the break and 45-27 after three. Fifteen turnovers didn’t help. The Falcons’s grinding man-to-man defense paid dividends as usual. Francois had 18 points at the half.

The Falcons host Gloucester Tuesday then play at Marblehead Friday.

On the evening highlighted by the unveiling of their 2015 Division 2 state championship banner, the Danvers High boys basketball team got some of their mojo back, pounding Winthrop, 70-37, in the DHS field house.

In improving to 6-3 overall, 5-2 in the Northeastern Conference, the Falcons, coming off a  gallantly played 69-63 setback at Salem, left no prisoners in this one, surging to an 11-2 first quarter lead. It only got worse for the visiting Vikings after that. It was 37-11 at halftime, the margin being that close only because the Falcons shot an ice cold 3-for-22 from three-point land.

At the same time the Falcons asserted their defensive superiority all over the floor, their jersey-on-jersey man defense leading to 15 Winthrop turnovers to Danvers’s two by the half. A balanced offensive attack helped as well, with Rashad Francois scoring 11 of his 13 points by the break and Devonn Allen adding 10. Allen finished with 18, Francois 13, Tre Crittendon and sophomore Justin Roberto (3-for-4 in threes) each with 11.

Allen did not show the effects of a bandaged thumb, but everyone, Allen included, needs to improve their three-point accuracy as the Falcons dig into the midsection of their regular season schedule. They have a great chance to fatten up their record over the next five games before Lynn English comes to town February 2.

The one major surprise in this one was Roberto coming off the bench and hitting three straight three-pointers, an asset the Falcons surely could use in future games.

Next up — Friday at Saugus, followed by Marblehead here Tuesday and at Marblehead next Friday.

Olivia Perez delivered a beautiful national anthem solo.

In a brief pre-game ceremony, your truly was honored to emcee a brief  event marking the unveiling of the 2015 state championship banner, the third such banner to be hung on the fieldhouse wall in four years. Last year’s three captains, Devon Harris, Vinny Clifford and Peter Merry did the honors along with Coach John Walsh, with all members of last year’s team at the wall as well.

Trailing 10-0 and later 20-3 in a disastrous opening quarter at Salem High Friday night, the Danvers High boys basketball team displayed the kind of heart that makes a champion the rest of the way. Overcoming all but two points of that gigantic deficit by the third quarter and staying with the undefeated (now 8-0) Witches the rest of the way, only an ice cold final three minutes prevented the visiting Falcons from coming all the way back, the result a 69-63 defeat in the SHS field house.

Now 5-3, 4-2 in the Northeastern Conference, the Falcons could not completely make up for a nine turnover first quarter that included a frightful 2-for-10 inaccuracy from three point land. Combined with an 18-point first half by dynamo Salem senior guard Alex Sanchez (18 points, 29 for the game) and 11 of his 14 for sophomore Ricky Arias, the pair of lightning quick Salem guards were simply too tough for Danvers to contain, whether they played their vaunted chest-to-chest man defense or floating zone.

For all the quickness the Falcons show against most teams, they were outquicked in this one, although they had every opportunity to pull out the game in the second half.

From a 24-9 hole after one quarter, the Falcons offense got back in synch at least partially in the second quarter, keyed by three (of his 6 for the game) three-point bombs from Tre Crittendon and 11 points from Devonn Allen, the Falcons drew within 40-32 at halftime.

But it was evident that Allen, considered one of the very best all-around players in the Conference, was struggling with his offense and Rashad Francois, an electrifying offensive presence when he is “on,” was off (5 first half points, zip in the second half).

Nonetheless, the proud Falcons kept digging, forcing bad Salem shots or Salem turnovers (each team finished with 15 for the night, Danvers committed only 3 after intermission). Moreover, the Faklcons came out firing ICBMs in the third quarter. draining four three-point attempts in five shots (by Allen, Mike Nestor and Crittendon’s 2) and trailed only 45-43 three minutes into the session. Cruttendon hit his sixth of game later in the quarter to draw Danvers within 49-46y, but he would make no more.

Trailing 57-50 heading into the closing eight minutes, the Falcons kept climbing uphill, closing within 66-61 with 2:55 left on a dazzling penetration drive by Allen, finished off with a scoop shot, but then the visitors went stone cold, missed their next five shots, three of them good three-point bids, and Salem had survived.

At one point Danvers was 10-for-21 in threes, but finished 13 for 32, making only three of their last, forced up in some degree because of the inside shot blocking presence of Salem’s No. 35, Jhonel Roberts (10 points, 5 blocks, 8 rebounds). Joel Nunez (No. 10) who did an outstanding defensive job all night on Allen (though Devonn finished with 22, he shot 8 for 21 from the floor), was the other SHS double digit deliverer with 10. Nunez also influenced Allen into a significant number of turnovers and forced shots.

Because of Salem’s extraordinary quickness and leaping ability, Danvers coach John Walsh played virtually five men all night after the early Salem surge, Tahg Coakley taking over the No. 5 spot, and he did a commendable job, mixing it up with all of the Witches at one time or another on defense and hitting a big three in the second half.

Close but no cigar has been the tune in all three Danvers defeats, by two at Lynn English, one versus Malden Catholic in the Saugus Christmas tourney and now Friday night at Salem.

Playing such an intense game for 32 minutes from one end of the court to the other, the Falcons could easily have staggered to larger margin defeats in all three cases, but instead battled to the final second in each one and could have won all three.  The Falcons are dealing with a fine line between victory and defeat in these tight finishes. But don’t be surprised if they figure the winning formula out in quick order.

I see the defending Division 2 state champs winning their next six, then entertaining Lynn English on February 2 and knocking the Bulldogs off as the Blue and White enjoy a terrific second half winning streak.

But first, Winthrop comes to town Tuesday at 7p.m., with the state championship banner being unveiled in  special ceremony before the tipoff, probably around 6:55. See you there to support a wonderfully exciting and dedicated group of Falcons whose best is yet to come.

Special achievements deserve special acknowledgments. Thus the unveiling upcoming Tuesday night, prior to the game with Winthrop, of the third state championship banner the Danvers High boys’ basketball team has won in the past four years.

The program’s achievement, under the guidance of head coach John Walsh, represents an unprecedented achievement for a Danvers High varsity sports program.

Equally remarkable, the team’s accomplishment ranks among the greatest in Massachusetts high school basketball history. The Falcons, after defeating Marlborough in the state title game last March in Worcester, became only the fourth school to win three state titles in a four-year span. The others have been Charlestown (winners of four straight, in fact, a feat that may never be matched), Springfield Commerce and Avon (the most recent, 1997-99).

This new standard is astonishing on another level when one considers, before Walsh’s arrival for the 2010-2011 season, the Falcons had never won more than one tournament game in a post-season. Now, they have wiped out the field of challengers three times, reached a Division 2 North final Another year (2014) and won two tourney games in Walsh’s first year on the job.

All of which sets the stage for Tuesday night’s ceremony in the DHS field house, which should begin shortly before the start of the varsity game with Winthrop, most likely around 6:55.

Your truly will serve as host, with Walsh and last year’s captains, Devan Harris, Vinny Clifford and Peter Merry, teaming up to official unveil the latest MIAA state championship banner.

In a way Winthrop is a fitting opponent for this night, since for many years in the 1960s and 1970s Winthrop often battled the Falcons for Northeastern Conference basketball superiority.