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Swampscott High basketball coach Paul Moran didn't have to be coaxed into a comment when Mike Clifford's name was mentioned prior to a recent game.

"Beast of the Year," Moran said of Clifford, the 6-foot-7 junior center at Bishop Fenwick.

Despite a game-high 19 points for Drew Smith, Timberlane fell to Keene 60-56. Erik Hatton added 13 points and Mike Donovan knocked down three 3-pointers for the Owls.

The St. John's Prep basketball team couldn't be blamed for sleepwalking in the first quarter last night while playing its fourth game in six days.

"But we answered the ring of the bell," Prep coach Dan Letarte said after the Eagles overcame a 16-point deficit and took out Malden Catholic, 75-66, on the road. St. John's won all four games in the six-day span and is now 9-5.

LAWRENCE — In a rare in-game meeting between opposing head coaches, Andover's Dave Fazio smiled and gave Central Catholic's Rick Nault a playful shove.

"I thought I had you," Fazio said.

One more to go.

That seems to be the adage for team's in the same position as the Newburyport's boys basketball squad (9-6). Last night at the Newburyport high school, a well rested Clipper team out-worked the visiting Lynnfield Pioneers when it mattered most and came away with a hard-fought 66-56 victory, pushing them to the threshold of tournament eligibility.

Beverly High boys basketball coach Scott Lewis can't complain about the way his team closes out a game. In fact, he can't complain about too much these days.

With the issue in doubt late in the game, Beverly went on a 12-2 run to finish off Peabody, 50-41, in the Northeastern Conference.

Mike Clifford, Bishop Fenwick: The Crusaders' 6-7 junior center was immense against Austin Prep, finishing with 26 points and 17 rebounds in a 74-55 win. Clifford averages nearly 24 points for the season

1.Central Catholic (11-1): Win over Lowell silences critics

2.Salem, N.H (12-1): Devils keep rolling

3.Masconomet (10-3): Chieftains made it 10 wins in 11 tries with dramatic 67-66 win over North Reading

One thing about the Beverly High boys basketball team has become abundantly clear: no matter how dire the situation, it doesn't back down against anybody.

Moreover, the Panthers seem to be at their best in crunch time.

Some might consider a full week of preparation the ideal situation before playing Catholic Conference power Catholic Memorial.

But not St. John's Prep coach Dan Letarte. The extra time only gave him more opportunity to agonize over three straight losses.