Beachem steps up for Bulldogs

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3A state notebook

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At one key moment in the fourth quarter of New Haven's 77-72 win over Norwell on Saturday, senior standout V.J. Beachem got a loose ball tipped to him right under the Bulldogs' basket.

Then the Notre Dame recruit went to work, rising up above everybody else and putting down an impressive one-handed dunk to help keep the Knights from getting any closer on the scoreboard or even in the race for momentum.

It was just two of Beachem's game-high 27 points, but it showed exactly how much he has grown since he was a skinny Harding freshman.

The 6-foot-7 forward had 11 points in the fourth, showing a clutch performance once again.

"He is maturing," New Haven coach Al Gooden said. "We keep beating it into him, and he gets it. He is a smart kid, and he knows the game.

"Remember him as a freshman and sophomore, he is growing."