DERRY, N.H. — For two-and-a-half quarters Salem and Pinkerton Academy hooked up on a basketball teeter-totter, bouncing the lead back and forth.
Enter the schoolyard bullies, Ben Proulx, Zach Mathieu, who simply muscled Salem off the ride.
"Class L is pretty much up in the air," said the senior Mathieu, the biggest of the Astros at 6-foot-7. "I think we have the size and the physicality to match up with anyone."
The lefty Proulx knocked in a game-high 17 with 11 boards and Mathieu, who netted all eight of his points in the final nine minutes, powered Pinkerton past the Blue Devils, 53-35.
Tied 20-20 at the break, neither team looked in synch — perhaps due to the post Christmas tourney break. But all the pounding in the Pinkerton paint finally began to pay dividends.
Proulx kickstarted an 11-0 barrage with a stickback 3-point play. Kevin Colbert, Alex Patrikis and Stephen Curry followed with hoops before Mathieu crashed the glass for a banker, as the Astros jetted to a 35-25 advantage.
"Ben is a player, I mean he's a great shooter, and I'm just a pounder," said Mathieu. "(The 6-foot-3 sophomore) Patrikis brings so much. Instead of just looking for Ben, he's another threat, a strong player who finishes."
Salem, which got some sweet shooting from Mike Lorenz (12 points), wouldn't get any closer. The Blue Devils, now 0-2 in Class L, look to get in gear Friday night against Dover. Pinkerton bumps to 2-0 and hosts Memorial.
Mathieu to play baseball at Franklin Pierce
Eagle-Tribune All-Star catcher Zach Mathieu of will play baseball next year at Division 2 power Franklin Pierce.
The senior had received looks from Division 1 schools like Bryant but ultimately chosen Franklin Pierce, both for exposure and opportunity.
"They have a great program, a beautiful turf park and the chance to play under the lights," said Mathieu, who hit .389 last spring. "Plus they have the second highest draft rate in the Northeast (to Boston College). I want to get to the next level, and that's important."
Mathieu says the opportunity to play could come immediately at Franklin Pierce, most likely at first base, a position he played two seasons ago at Pinkerton.
Pinkerton 53, Salem 35
Salem (35): Matt Cannone 1 0-0 2, Mike Lorenz 6 0-0 12, Alex LaRosa 2 3-4 9, Jeff Meisser 1 0-0 3, Joe Gallant 2 1-4 5, Kyle Henrick 1 2-2 4, Totals 13 6-10 35
Pinkerton (53): Ben Rees 1 0-0 3, Alex Patrikis 5 2-2 12, Chad Park 2 1-2 5, Ben Proulx 5 7-10 17, Brendan Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Kevin Colbert 1 0-0 2, Stephen Curry 1 2-2 4, Zach Mathieu 4 0-0 8, Totals 20 12-16 53
3-pointers: S — Meisser, LaRosa 2; P — Rees
Salem (1-4, 0-2 Class L):âÇ6âÇ14âÇâÇ7âÇâÇ8 — 35
Pinkerton (3-2, 2-0 Class L):11âÇâÇ9âÇ15âÇ18 — 53
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