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LaRosa's 40 lifts Salem in Double OT

Wednesday, February, 10 By Hector Longo

SALEM, N.H. - Alvirne's Caleb Donnelly and Joseph O'Hearn skipped into Salem High and buried a couple of early three-pointers.

Salem's Alex LaRosa not only joined them, he beat them.

The Blue Devils senior tossed in a career-high 40 points, smashing the school record with nine 3-point bombs and lifting Salem to a dramatic, 75-72, double-overtime victory.

"I was feeling it a little tonight. Not really at first, I mean I missed my first two or three," said LaRosa, who was 12 of 24 from the field, 9 of 13 outside the arc.

"It was almost like Caleb (team high 29 points) would hit a three, and there was some urgency to answer. The best way to answer is with a three."

Like the past couple Tuesdays for Salem, victory was never certain until the final buzzer.

As it was, the Broncos had three good looks to tie it from behind the arc in the final 20 seconds, all of which caromed away.

"The past three Tuesday nights, BG, Merrimack and now this," said LaRosa, who drilled a buzzer-beating triple at the buzzer to knock Bishop Guertin from the ranks of the unbeaten then led the Blue Devils with 19 in a 56-55 win over previously perfect Merrimack a week ago.

"Five wins in a row now, six in our last seven, this is exactly what we needed."

LaRosa set up Salem's only field goal of the second OT, a drive-and-dish to Mike Lorenz to put the Blue Devils up 75-72.

Earlier, he went to the bank for his ninth three of the night, putting Salem up 68-67 in the final minute of regulation.

Setting the mark made the victory that much sweeter.

"I went to the games when (Eric) Simm and (Mike) Dunham broke the records, so it's pretty cool to break the record myself," said the senior.

Joe Gallant added 11 points and Matt Cannone had 10 for Salem, which puts the win streak on the line in a tough one Friday at 8-3 Manchester West.

Salem's most 3-pointers in a game
Name%Number%Opponent%Season
Alex LaRosa%9%Alvirne%Last night
Eric Simm%8%Trinity%2005-06
Mike Dunham%8%Pinkerton%2003-04
Nate Stanton%8%Concord%2001-02
Chris Urquhart%8%Central Catholic%1998-99

Area 3-point leaders

Name%School%Number%Opponent%Season

Alex LaRosa%Salem%9%Alvirne%Last night

Michael Gorman%Methuen%9%Pinkerton%2008-09

Justin Hojlo%Pelham%9%St. John's Prep%2006-07

P.J. Panneton%Whittier%9%Shawsheen%2001-02

Brad Martineau%Pelham%9%Hollis%1998-99

Note: Eagle-Tribune records go through 1998-99 season