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By Dave Haley, Posted 07-08-2010

Alex Burt will try and help New Hampshire end a two game slide

 There is a great scene at the end of the movie ‘Pulp Fiction' where Harvey Keitel's character Winston ‘The Wolf' Wolf receives a call from Quentin Tarantino telling him he has a major crime scene in the back of his car and only an hour to get it cleaned before his wife gets home. Wolf asks "Where do you live?" and after Tarantino gives him the address he replies, "That's thirty minutes away. I'll be there in ten."

 Ten minutes later Wolf is at the door and introduces himself, "I'm a man who solves problems."

 Head basketball coach EJ Perry is going to Vermont this weekend to solve what is fast becoming a problem for the New Hampshire Twin-State basketball team. A game in which victory has historically seemed like a right of passage for New Hampshire seniors has now seen two straight losses against Vermont. One loss is simply a defeat, two losses are a trend. Three losses and we'll have ourselves a bona fide losing streak in a rivalry (NH holds an 18-11 lead in the series) we once owned. 

 Perry won two Class L basketball titles at Salem high school during his tenure, oversaw one of the most successful volleyball programs in the state and may be best known for a victory that didn't even win him a title; a 2004 semifinal upset of a Trinity team that featured four Division I players.

 If you had your pick of any coach in the state to send for a game you absolutely/positively had to win then Perry is near if not at the very top of the list.

 This is not to take anything away from the previous two coaches who have left Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington, Vermont without a win. Dave Chase of Hopkinton fielded a team two years ago that was missing four of the top six seniors in the state and last season Sean Young of Wilton-Lyndeborough had a solid team that happened to run into what many local reporters were calling the best Vermont edition in years.

 The 2010 edition has had two mini-camps (one at Salem high school and another at St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover) to help bring what is essentially an All-star team together as a cohesive unit. The twelve players have had a pool party and a steak dinner put on by parents as they become familiar with one another and their styles of play. Perry clearly see's these team building activities as a priority.

 Jake Nelson of Nashua South and Shawn Henriquez of Campbell will serve as alternates on the 13 man team. Dalton Scott of Colebrook Academy was named to the team but chose not to play. Henriquez replaced Scott on the roster. A quick look at the rules; NH and Vermont have to set up two teams of six players each and substitute 5 players at a time for the first 30 minutes of the game. Each player has to play a minimum of 8 minutes. In the final 10 minutes of the game teams can play anyone they want.

 EJ Perry is leaving Salem high school this fall to pursue football coaching in Massachusetts and he wants one last victory to be remembered for. Saturday afternoon at 3 pm he gets that chance. Today we take a look at every member of the team that will represent New Hampshire in the 30^th annual event with insight into how each player has looked in practice from Coach Perry.

 The New Hampshire team;

 Alex Burt of Dover

http://www.nhsportspage.com/basketball/player.php?player_id=679&team_id=16&team_type=hs_bb&sport=

 The second leading scorer in Class L is going to be asked to handle the ball on Saturday. An injury to Jake Nelson (whose availability is still up in the air after an ankle injury) put Burt in the role of ball handler and it's a role he is comfortable with. Burt and Kenaan Al-Darraji made up one of the best backcourts in the state last season but neither is a true point guard. Burt has played well in practices and gives N.H the ability to have a guard leading the fast break who can pull up from long range and keep the Vermont defense honest. Perry's pick and roll offense is a perfect fit for Burt's abilities. "(Alex) has played remarkably hard on defense and has worked to understand the offense," noted Perry.

 Shelden Benson of Pembroke Academy

 Benson is perfect for a team like this because of his versatility. Sure he can shoot it but what the four year starter was known for at Pembroke was his ability to rebound well for his size, guard multiple positions and handle the ball against pressure when the guards were overwhelmed. Benson is a player you can plug into any lineup and he'll fill the role you need. He's an above average defender and after playing for four seasons under Matt Alosa he's well schooled in the fundamentals. He also played five tournament games on the big stage at UNH in his career. The scene at the University of Vermont Saturday is not going to faze him one bit. "Sheldon can do a little of everything," echoes Coach Perry. "He can shoot the rock. He can get to the rack and he can defend well. He will run the two guard on one of the (teams)."

Kevin Cressy of Merrimack Valley

 With Pinkerton's Zach Mathieu choosing not to play the 6'7 Cressy becomes the man in the middle for New Hampshire. Cressy has been labeled by many coaches whose opinions I respect to be the best big man in the state. Yet Merrimack Valley never made it past the first round and never had a winning record in Cressy's three years as a starter. So which is it? Is Cressy as good advertised or overrated? Well there is a very good chance he is just like a lot of players out there, someone who plays much better when the talent around him improves (The Miami Heat just bet about 80 million dollars that that is the case with Chris Bosh). Cressy has never played with players this accomplished and on Saturday he has wing players who can extend the defense and give him entry passes to help make him effective on the block. Cressy seemed more comfortable shooting spot up jumpers around the key in his career but against Vermont he'll have more room to operate and less attention on him than he had at Merrimack Valley. His coach for one believes he's benefited from the cast around him. "Kevin has been one of the most pleasant surprises in training camp," noted Perry. "He has shown great touch to 17 feet out and can get to the rack. He has been a tough defender (for us)."

Cormac Fitzpatrick of Manchester Memorial

http://www.nhsportspage.com/basketball/player.php?player_id=266&team_id=24&team_type=hs_bb&sport=

 I'd love to see the scouting report Vermont has on Cormac, "When he comes down on the wing stay out on him...keep going...I mean really...stay all the way out on him." Fitzpatrick can and will shoot it from beyond NBA range. Think Eddie House range. What that does is open up a lot of floor space for his teammates; it gives players like Alex LaRosa and Tommy McDonnell more room to get into the lane and keeps the defense from doubling in the post. Fitzpatrick is off to play at Plymouth State next season and has been playing with his future teammate Alex Burt in the BST summer league. Those two have built up some familiarity since the season ended and you can expect to see them on the floor together Saturday. "Cormac comes to camp as advertised," says Perry. "He is one of the best shooters in the state and his range starts when he enters the gym and he has played great defense." Look for the Players lounge member to play the shooting guard spot on one unit while Benson plays the position on the other unit.

Cam Heffron of Kearsarge Regional

 Heffron was a key reason why Kearsarge was one of the surprise teams in Class I in 2010 and he is another talented shooting guard on the New Hampshire roster. The Granite State team has struggled shooting from the outside the past two trips to Vermont so you can never have enough guys who can fill it up. Perry noted that Heffron has really come on of late as the game with Vermont nears. "Cameron has really played well (lately). (He's) showing that he can shoot the ball with anyone on the team." Heffron also has the advantage of playing for his coach Nate Camp, who is one of Perry's two assistants along with Mike Dunham.

 Alex LaRosa of Salem

 We noted in our season ending column that if you had to choose one guy to take the last shot of the game in the entire state LaRosa was the pick. The reasons behind it were two-fold; one he has several game-winners on his resume and two he has the ability to get his shot off under intense defensive pressure. Look for LaRosa to be the main point guard for the New Hampshire team Saturday. LaRosa hooks up with coach Perry for one last run and has the ability to run this offense to a T. " He has picked up where he left off, hitting some big shots in our games," said his high school coach. " He has also been very tough on the defensive end." If you're talking about your best five guys out there at the end of the game LaRosa is another good bet to be out on the floor

 Sean Martin of Conant

 We've been singing the praises of Martin for three years at NHsportspage and he was even my pick for WGAM's Player of the Year, a call I was in the minority on. You see the talents and abilities of Class M players are often met with great skepticism by players & coaches from the bigger divisions. Well you can now count EJ Perry as one of the converted. "Sean Martin has impressed the entire coaching staff. He is a great player," lauded Perry. "He can get to the rack, shoot the three and he passes like Larry Bird. He is also the best defender on the team!" And yes Perry himself ended that last sentence with an exclamation mark.

 Martin might be the go to guy for New Hampshire if this game is tight late. He, like Alex Burt, can create for himself by putting the ball on the deck and he is a 80% foul shooter. A coach can never predict who he'll have on the floor at crunch time, the flow of the game dictates that, but I'd count on Martin being on the floor. He has too much experience winning close ball games to be on the bench when it is all being decided.

Tommy McDonnell of Oyster River

http://www.nhsportspage.com/basketball/player.php?player_id=3812&team_id=83&team_type=hs_bb&sport=

 McDonnell, like Burt, is a shooting guard who is often times asked to run the offense. He's more than capable but with good size for a guard and the ability to shoot from 20' he will get more of a chance Saturday to utilize his skills and play out on the wing. McDonnell will try and get into the paint and use his 6'2 height to shoot over smaller guards. The son of UNH head football coach Sean McDonnell will play a big role in New Hampshire's attack. "He brings a great attitude onto the floor with him. He has played well and will be used at both point guard and shooting guard," said Perry.

 James Peard of Conant

 The second member of the Conant four time championship teams. Peard is one of the better back to the basket players in the state, he isn't going to out-leap you but he is very good at getting position under the basket and is tenacious going after rebounds. He has also shown the ability to execute the high pick and roll and that is a staple of EJ Perry's offensive philosophy. "He is a solid (power forward) and he has played well in camp," said Perry. "He brings that Conant enthusiasm to the floor and he rebounds hard." Peard will line up next to either Poitras or Cressy on one of the six man teams.

 Tom Poitras of Bow high school

 Poitras is pulling double duty as he has the distinction of being named to both the basketball team and the shrine football team to face Vermont. Poitras is  along with Cressy the only real big men on the New Hampshire team (Scott St. Lawrence is more of a wing player) and he'll be playing opposite Cressy on one of the two six man teams. At 6'6 Poitras gives this team size and strength on the block and his ability to rebound will be a key on Saturday. "Playing on both teams is quite an accomplishment. He rebounds hard and has solid inside moves," noted Perry.

 Alex Pratt of Nashua North

 With all the hype that has surrounded Javon Williams and before him Kyle Pederzani at North it was Pratt who was the rock of that basketball team. Perry loves the energy that the 6'3 small forward bring onto to the floor every day and Pratt is a player whose stock is rising as the team heads to Vermont. " He is a solid three point shooter, plays great defense and can rebound," said Perry. "He has played with a lot of energy and hit some big shots (in scrimmages)."

 Scott St. Lawrence of Bishop Guertin

 We joked in one column that St. Lawrence was the PG/SG/SF/PF/C for Bishop Guertin last season. Like all jokes there is a bit of truth in it. St. Lawrence was called upon to bring the ball up the floor after Jamie Zajac graduated and at 6'4 he handled the role exceptionally well. If you are talking about the perfect fit for the screener role in Perry's pick & roll offense here is your guy. St. Lawrence is a football player with the size to set the screen and the basketball ability to make the catch on the move and finish at the rim. In addition to all of those attributes it's on the defensive end that Perry see's his power forward being a difference maker. " Scott adds levity to every practice, but plays with a great sense of pride on both ends of the floor," notes Perry. " He will be a dominant defensive member of the team."

 The alternates:

 Jake Nelson of Nashua South

Coach Perry noted that Nelson was playing his best basketball of the year after an injury filled senior season at South. Alas another setback, this time an ankle injury suffered playing on WPI's summer league team, makes him questionable for Saturday's game. If he is able to go he will play the point on one of the six man squads and will take some of the ball handling duties off of Burt and McDonnell.

 Shawn Henriquez of Campbell

 Henriquez is another very versatile guard who can score and harass you on defense. He replaced Dalton Scott of Colebrook on the roster and Perry has noted he has played very well since joining the team. Henriquez never got the press that teammates Josh Morgan (who arrived on the scene with a big sophomore year) or Kiel Canada (one of the better athletes in the state) got. For anyone who watched Campbell play though it was fairly obvious all along that Henriquez was the best player on that team. He'll be a solid addition Saturday if he is able to play.

 Expect this team to play with the passion and personality of their coach. Perry stresses precision and defense and wants a unit that is going to scrape for every ball coming off the rim. New Hampshire's teams have been too reliant on outside shooting in their previous two trips to Vermont, if the shots weren't falling there wasn't a lot to turn to to stem the tide. The 2010 edition doesn't have a ton of size down low but they're an aggressive group. Expect them to be in the shirts of the Vermont's players and if they can control the glass and get out and run they have the players to finish in the open court.

 A gap that sat at 18-9 between the two rival states now sits at 18-11 and Perry brings a team to Vermont intent on bringing bragging rights back to New Hampshire. The two teams have several scheduled functions to attend to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of this game but on Saturday it will be ten guys on the floor with one basketball between them. Players only have one shot at this game and it's a game where the name on the front of the jersey means a lot more than the name on the back of it.

 The task at hand is that New Hampshire badly wants a win. The problem of late is that Vermont has not been allowing that to happen.

 On Saturday New Hampshire will have a coach who is there to solve those kind of problems.