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Seniors Mike Kimball and Josh Jones had 16 and 14 points respectively to lead Salem past Merrimack 63-40. Joe Gallant had a huge night for the Blue Devils with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and four steals.

LONDONDERRY - Admittedly, the Salem High press hasn't yielded much all year. There's a reason E.J. Perry had his boys stick with it. And Londonderry High found out why last night. Salem cranked up the full-court heat in the third quarter and suffocated the host Lancers on their home turf. The 20-6 eight-minute burst turned a 50-50 matchup into a Blue Devils' runaway, 55-46. "We converted an awful lot off the press and it felt good to do it in a big gam like this," said Salem's returning Eagle-Tribune Super Teamer Josh Jones. "If we can get points off the press like that it's huge. And it's something we haven't been doing." Both Mike Kimball (game-high 21 points) and Jones (18 points, 6 boards, 4 assists)feasted in the frontcourt, cashing in off nine Lancer turnovers in the quarter alone. Back-to-back Kimball hoops, Alex LaRosa's (30 minutes, 0 turnovers) rainbow triple and a Joe Gallant layin pushed the advantage to 12, 40-28, headed to the final quarter. The eight-minute third might have been Salem's best period of the season. "I think we showed how good we can be when we play defense in that quarter," said the junior captain LaRosa. "The defense made it happen, finally." Londonderry went long-range in the fourth, trying to scrap its way back behind Matt Sanborn's three-pointers. But the Lancers, now 4-6 and 3-4 in Class L would get no closer than six in the waning moments. "This one was a team win," said Salem coach E.J. Perry, whose club after a slow start has moved to 6-2 in the Granite State. "To play that kind of defense, everyone has to be involved. And they did that tonight." The sophomore Gallant continues to make strides for Perry's club, chipping in eight points. David Feinstein paced the Lancers, who had won two straight coming into last night.

Sophomore Joe Gallant had a breakout performance in Salem's 75-46 win over Winnacunnet. The 6-4 sophomore forward scored 12 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Blue Devils. Salem also received outstanding efforts from Josh Jones (20 points), Mike Kimball (13 points) and Alex La Rosa (17 points, 5 3-pointers).

Senior Josh Jones single handedly turned Salem's game with Spaulding around in hurry. The 6-3 guard exploded for 15 straight points — all on 3-pointers — turning a nine-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead and an eventual 71-60 win for the Blue Devils.

Salem senior guard Josh Jones received his 1,000th-point commemorative ball, but Manchester Memorial spoiled the festivities by beating the Blue Devils 72-55. Mike Kimball led the way for Salem with 22 points.

The Salem boys basketball team beat Dover, 67-57, behind the fine play of Mike Kimball, who racked up 31 points and 12 rebounds. Josh Jones, who will be receiving his 1,000-point ball before Tuesday's game against Manchester Memorial, dropped 16 and pulled down eight boards.

SALEM, N.H. - If Beau Cassidy has his way the Pinkerton Academy senior will hit bigger shots on bigger floors in bigger games before this season is done.

None will ring quite as loudly, though, at least to the competition.

Jorge Escoto scored 14 points to lead Lawrence's balanced scoring attack, which saw five players scored in double figures during an 87-60 win over Salem, in the consolation game of the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney. Justin Nieves scored 17 while Jessie Hiraldo added 13. Jose Berroa and Jason Pimentel each had 10 for the Lancers (4-1).

LAWRENCE — After every game, the Andover players give out a figurine for the player of the game to hold onto for a day.

After blitzing two-time defending New Hampshire Class L champion Salem, 78-64, last night in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney semifinals, the Golden Warriors were perplexed.

LAWRENCE — After every game, the Andover players give out a figurine for the player of the game to hold onto for a day.

After blitzing two-time defending New Hampshire Class L champion Salem, 78-64, last night in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tourney semifinals, the Golden Warriors were perplexed.