They almost had to send the fire department over to Tewksbury High School Friday night.

That's how hot Methuen High senior guard Michael Gorman was as he connected on seven-of-nine three-point shots and torched Tewksbury for 26 points,  helping the Rangers burn the Redmen, 64-45, in a Merrimack Valley Conference small school boys basketball contest.

Gorman also hit five-of-six free throws as Methuen blew open a tightly contested game with a 20-5 advantage in the third period, and handed TMHS its fifth straight loss.

"He's a terrific shooter," said Tewksbury High coach Jim Sullivan of Gorman. "We've seen him since he was a freshman, so what he did tonight didn't surprise us.

"I thought at times we did a good job on him," Sullivan added. "Anthony Chiccarelli was all over him with a hand in his face one time, and he still made an NBA three. It was just a great shooting effort."

 Tewksbury, meanwhile, picked the wrong night to go cold in the third quarter, as Gorman (3-for-3 from beyond the arc) and the Rangers extended a four-point halftime lead to a 47-28 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Tewksbury's five points in the third quarter represented their lowest offensive output in any period so far this season.

"The third period was our nemesis once again." Sullivan said. "We worked hard, but we didn't make our shots. We'd miss a five-footer and they'd go down and make a three. We had opportunities, we just didn't hit the shots."

Senior center Sean Gorman led the Redmen with 12 points, and had a strong night rebounding as well. Sean Doucette added seven points while Joe Hulme, Chiccarelli, Mike Petrowski, Craig Semenza and Kevin Dick scored four each.

"Being down four at the half wasn't a concern," Sullivan said. "The kids were upbeat. They came out ready. We just gave up too many points and we had too many fouls in the third quarter."

Tewksbury also lost the battle on the foul line, hitting only nine-of-20 free throw attempts while Methuen went 18-for-21 from the line. The Rangers improved their record to 3-7.

"They're a better team than their record shows," Sullivan said. "They've played, arguably, the toughest schedule in the state so far this year."

Methuen has held its own in losses to Lawrence (twice), Lowell, Andover (twice) and Central Catholic so far this year.

"When Gorman is shooting like that, we're tough to defend," said Methuen coach Rich Varden. "A lot of things went our way tonight, especially in the third quarter. We've played that well in spurts this year, but the second half was probably the best half we've put together all year."

Tewksbury, meanwhile, falls to 2-7 on the season. The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Redmen, either, as they host the run-and-gun Lawrence Lancers Tuesday night at 7:30.