IT'S MIDTERM EXAM time at many Granite State high schools and testing fun extends to the hardwood court for the Trinity of Manchester hoop team. The Pioneers host Exeter in a battle of unbeaten squads tomorrow and then head across town to face rival Memorial on Sunday afternoon.

At the end of December, coach Chris Coleman knew his Mt. Pleasant High School boys basketball team had the potential to do well this season. In a two-week span, the Kilties hit the road and defeated three Massachusetts powerhouses; Springfield High School of Science and Technology, 82-77; West Roxbury, 59-56, and Madison Park, 70-67.

SOUTH YARMOUTH – By the time a brief power shortage dimmed the Dennis-Yarmouth gym last night, Nauset Regional High had already turned out the lights on the host Dolphins. A thundering outburst in the third quarter propelled the Warriors to a 56-42 boys basketball victory, improving their Atlantic Coast League record to 4-1 (5-4 overall).

Longtime St. Joseph boys’ basketball coach Vito Montelli is going to try and treat tonight’s game like any other regular-season contest during his 47-year coaching career, even if others around him may not.

Corey Kimball and Shawn Marcelle scored 14 points apiece as the Mount Abraham high school boys basketball team collected a 53-43 win over Middlebury Monday evening.

Cheverus didn't waste any time establishing its superiority over Westbrook in their Western Maine Class A schoolboy basketball showdown. As the Stags' leading scorer Mick DiStasio said: "We like to get off to a quick start. When we do, we're tough to beat."

Lowell boys basketball coach Scott Boyle knew this was going to be a seasonlong work in progress. Judging by yesterday’s result, the Red Raiders might be inching closer to a finished product. Brothers Jeremy and Derek Driscoll each came off the bench to score 12 points as Lowell broke open a close game in the second quarter and proceeded to roll over West Roxbury, 71-37, in the final day of the 2009 BABC Classic at Chelsea High School. Albert Sandoval added 10 points for the Red Raiders (9-2).

After starting his high school career in Rhode Island, Sam Martin transferred to Worcester Academy in hopes of landing a Division 1 scholarship, which he achieved and will attend Yale in the fall.

Lowell basketball coach has a benchmark win in his career and O'Bryant cruised past Wilbur Cross (CT).

At the end of December, coach Chris Coleman knew his Mt. Pleasant High School boys basketball team had the potential to do well this season. In a two-week span, the Kilties hit the road and defeated three Massachusetts powerhouses; Springfield High School of Science and Technology, 82-77; West Roxbury, 59-56, and Madison Park, 70-67.

This team is a must-see for the basketball purist. In the post, senior forward Ryan Spencer shows some flash with a simple spin move. When junior point guard Matt Dean attempts to break down a defender, he uses a subtle dribble behind his back. Ever since coach Dean O'Con

Baseball is the national pastime, and football currently has a national following like no other sport. But there’s something uniquely special about basketball — particularly at the high school level and especially in Massachusetts, where the sport was invented and winter sends most folks indoors for the better part of four months.

The East Haven boys' basketball team led almost the entire second half, withstanding a couple of runs from North Haven to win 61-49 Friday night at home. More importantly, East Haven improved to 2-1 in the division in a tie for second place a half-game behind Wilbur Cross.

There have been other impressive victories in the history of Rockville basketball, but the 70-67 overtime decision against defending Class S champion Bloomfield Friday night was right up there.

Tyler Hoxsie scored all 16 of his points in the second half and Jay Jeannotte had the game-winning basket with 0.9 seconds to play as Narragansett remained unbeaten (6-0) with a 53-51 win over East Greenwich in Division II basketball.

When it comes to basketball, Frank Langston's been around. Save for a handful of truly legendary players, the 56-year-old Bridgeport native has seen as much, played as much and accomplished as much and as anyone in this city. Langston was an all-state player at Stratford in the early 1970s. He played ball with Barry McLeod, Frank Oleynick and Walter Luckett up at Beardsley Terrace. He went to college, even played some semipro ball in St. Louis and Hartford. Later, he helped two of his sons, Frank Jr. and Greg, become standouts at Central and Stratford, respectively.

BRIDGEPORT -- As Bassick is quickly discovering, its old habits are going to die hard. Central was more than happy to teach the Lions that lesson Friday night. With a stifling man defense specifically designed to put heavy pressure on Bassick guard Mike Lomax, Jerome Parkins and the rest of the Hilltoppers harassed and ultimately frustrated the Lions in an 81-66 FCIAC victory at Reilly Gymnasium.

"Share it." Trinity High basketball coach Dave Keefe kept shouting the words as the Pioneers began hammering Manchester West last night.

Kevin Hoff’s basket with 2.9 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Career boys’ basketball team to a dramatic 61-59 victory over North Haven Tuesday in a Southern Connecticut Conference Oronoque Division game at North Haven.