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WORCESTER | In the perfect world, sure Adrian Gonzalez tones down the post-dunk strut last Monday on the Boston Garden parquet floor.

For the older set, that slam in the state semifinal final win over BC High was a bit over the edge. More than any other moment in a glorious three-plus seasons with the Raiders, that jam-and-ham act perfectly defines Gonzalez.

WORCESTER | St. John's of Shrewsbury coach Bob Foley almost did it about 20 minutes after his team was humbled by Central Catholic, 68-47, at the DCU Center last night.

He almost called Central perfect.

WORCESTER | Judging by the huge crowd yesterday, with nearly 6,000 of the 13,423 paid here yesterday packing the DCU Center for Central Catholic-St.John's, the MIAA wouldn't mind Raiders-Pioneers II for the 2009 state title matchup.

WORCESTER | Central Catholic point guard Wilfredo Pagan had to take a moment to wipe a few tears from his eyes as he reflected on the game that had just ended.

"I'm living a dream," said Pagan. "From the start of our freshman year, we wanted to win a state championship. This was my last high school game, and you can't go out any better than that."

xt [4088]: WORCESTER, Mass. | The were no cheapies along the way here, Charlestown (ranked No. 1 in Eastern Mass.), No. 2 Lowell, No. 3 BC High, to name three truly high-powered victims.

This is my shot at glory, the skinny, blond-haired kid said to himself. Might as well make the most of it.

Central Catholic led Boston Latin by 18 points. Less than a minute remained. The game was nearly over.

Rick Nault enters today's state title with one goal.

Don't be high-school coaching's version of Dan Marino.

"He lost his one chance in the Super Bowl, and everyone just figured he'd be back seven or eight more times," said Nault, who leads Central Catholic into action tonight at 7:30 at the DCU Center against Central/West champ St. John's of Shrewsbury in the Division 1 state title game.

LAWRENCE | If not for the large crucifix hanging high above the basketball court and the occasional clergyman who strolls by to check out the commotion, you might confuse what was happening at Central Catholic's famed gymnasium from 3:30 to 5 p.m. with "90 minutes of hell."

BOSTON | Fear, fatigue, pressure, attrition.

Boston College High School basketball coach Bill Loughnane felt those lethal symptoms eating away as his South champions in the second half last night.

There was nothing the architect of four state titles (last year at BC High, three at South Boston High) could do.

BOSTON | There are 6-foot-9 players and then there are legitimate 6-foot-9 players.

Central Catholic's Carson Desrosiers is legitimate in every sense of the word.

He's not one of these 6-7 guys who is listed as 6-9 to dupe the college recruiters. As a ballplayer, he proved any doubters last night that he's legit.