Merrimack's Jackson King hit a late 3-pointer to give the Tomahawks a win over Nashua South.

Jackson King hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to give the Merrimack High School boys basketball team a 62-61 win Friday night over Nashua South.

It was the second straight one-point win for the Tomahawks, who needed a last-second shot to beat Londonderry 41-40 on Tuesday.

Eric Gendron had 18 points to lead Merrimack (9-1 in Division I). Anthony Muccioli led all scorers with 19 points for South (5-6) and Jake Preston added 10.

Here are a few more results from Friday night’s basketball action.

Division I

• Boys basketball: Merrimack 62, Nashua South 62 – Nashua Telegraph
• Boys basketball: Pinkerton 63, Dover 61 – Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Boys basketball: Bishop Guertin 83, Timberlane 64 – Eagle Tribune
• Boys basketball: Manchester Memorial 58, Nashua North 56 – NH Notebook
• Boys basketball: Salem 61, Alvirne 43 – Lowell Sun
• Boys basketball: Manchester West 60, Concord 46 – Concord Monitor
• Girls basketball: Pinkerton 37, Dover 36 (OT) – Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Girls basketball: Londonderry 56, Manchester Central 37 – Eagle Tribune
• Girls basketball: Bishop Guertin 61, Timberlane 48 – Eagle Tribune

Division II

• Boys basketball: Portsmouth 62, Bedford 49 – Portsmouth Herald
• Boys basketball: Souhegan 63, Milford 47 – NH-HighSchoolSports.com
• Boys basketball: John Stark 80, Kearsarge 62 – Concord Monitor
• Boys basketball: Pelham 56, Con-Val 42 – Eagle Tribune
• Boys basketball: Hollis Brookline 57, St. Thomas 48 – Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Girls basketball: Bedford 61, Portsmouth 41 – Portsmouth Herald
• Girls basketball: Coe-Brown 78, Lebanon 65 – Concord Monitor
• Girls basketball: Souhegan 43, Milford 27 – NH-HighSchoolSports.com
• Girls basketball: Hollis Brookline 64, St. Thomas 41 – Foster’s Daily Democrat

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Division I, girls basketball, Merrimack, Nashua South

Milford's Jarad Asselin gets a hand on a shot by Souhegan's Zack Simmonds during Friday's game.

MILFORD – The way Dan Murray and Mike Heaney looked after Friday night’s high school boys basketball game, one would have thought they had been playing.

Just another Souhegan-Milford game in the Milford gym.

With students from both school making up more than half the crowd, and with both sections letting making their presence known, the Sabers overcame a slow start to pick up their 10th win of the season, 63-47, over the Spartans. Its the third win for Souhegan this season against its rival, after going more than five years without beating the Spartans.

But early on, this one had a familiar feel to it.

The Sabers (10-1 in Division II) came out of the gate unable to make a basket and the Spartans (4-8) took advantage, building a 7-0 lead with 3:38 to go in the first quarter. Not only was Souhegan missing shots, but Milford was keeping the Sabers from getting any second opportunities.

“Early on, we were nervous,” said Heaney, the Souhegan coach. “We were a little shaky and I think that was just the crowd and the excitement. We were settling for quick shots. They did a great job on the glass. We couldn’t get those second or third shots.

“It was almost like once all of our starting five took their first shot, everything fell. Once we hit a couple, we were OK.”

Brandon Len started things off, getting Souhegan’s first points, and he led the Sabers with 14. Shaun McKenna added 13 points and Ben Peterson finished with nine while Souhegan got six points each from four other players.

Milford got a game-high 18 points from Jared Lakin, four of which came on 3-pointers. Jovi Philbrick, playing in just his second game of the season, added 11.

“It was the hardest we played all year,” Murray said. “They’re starting to figure it out. We’re still not executing as well as we should.”

The game was tied at 9 at the end of the first quarter, and Souhegan had a 14-12 lead when Milford’s Richie Moore was called for a foul and then quickly picked up a technical foul. The Sabers went up by four, but the Spartans tied it at 16 before Souhegan closed the half on an 8-2 to take a 24-18 lead at halftime.

“The big play was when Richie picked up the technical,” Murrsay said. “I thought that was pretty costly.”

In the second half, it was Milford’s turn to get off to the slow start, as Souhegan extended the lead to 10.

“We were playing hard, we just weren’t mentally tough,” Murray said.

“In the second half, I thought we defended the ball a lot better,” Heaney said.

Milford was able to get the lead back down to seven points a few times, but it seemed every time the Spartans cut into it, the Sabers pushed the lead back to double digits. Logan Barlow’s 3-pointer made it 43-36 with 5:37 left to play, but Souhegan came right back with a 3 of its own to make it a 10-point game and the Sabers ended the game on a 20-11 run.

” Every time we got it there (to 10), it felt like we couldn’t get a bigger margin than that,” Heaney said. “We couldn’t get to the point where it felt comfortable. I didn’t go to the bench until the last minute because the way they can shoot the ball, they could put together an 8-0 run in the last few minutes. I never felt like it was over until 30 seconds were left.”

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Division II, Milford, Souhegan

Souhegan's Ashley Tighe tries to pass the ball as Milford players, from left, Taylor Steinbrecher, Dina Pitsas and Adelle Pitsas defend.

MILFORD – It wasn’t pretty and it ended the way it always does.

The Souhegan High School girls basketball team picked up another win against Milford, beating the Spartans 43-27 Friday despite turning the ball over 24 times. The Sabers benefited from several missed opportunities from Milford, which included a 7-for-19 performance from the free throw line for the Spartans.

Jane White led all scorers with 17 points, including 7 for 11 from the foul line, while Mickenzie Larivee added nine points and Tori Forrest had seven for Souhegan (7-4 in Division II).

Jennifer Dupuis scored 10 points to lead Milford (4-8), while Dina Pitsas added six. Although the Spartans weren’t making shots – they had just eight field goals, four of which were 3s – Milford was doing enough defensively to keep the game from getting out of hand.

A 3-pointer by Dupuis made it 14-8 midway through the second quarter, but Souhegan went on a 10-3 run to go up by 13 late in the half. A buzzer-beating 3 by Brianna Hoffman cut the lead to at the break, and Milford got it down to eight on a layup by Hoffman in the final minute of the third quarter.

But Souhegan answered with a basket by Forrest go back up by 10 at the end of the quarter, and the Sabers stretched it to 14 points with 4:41 to play. Milford got a free throw each from Pitsas and Jessica Ryan and another 3 from Dupuis made it a nine-point game with just under four minutes left.

That would be all the scoring Milford would get, as the Sabers closed the game on a 7-0 run. Souhegan once again swept the two-game regular-season series, and the Sabers have never lost to Milford since Souhegan opened in 1992.

Technorati Tags: Division II, girls basketball, Milford, Souhegan

Brandon Len and Souhegan will try to get another win over Milford.

The Souhegan and Milford high school boys basketball teams will meet for the third time – second in division play – this season, and the Sabers have a chance to sweep the Spartans for the first time in recent memory. Milford will also be holding a Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser during the game.

That’s not the only big Division II battle, as both boys and girls teams from Bedford and Portsmouth will meet. In Division I, Salem and Alvirne boys meet in a matchup of top seven teams, while Nashua South tries to turn its season around against Merrimack

No. 1: Souhegan at Milford boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

This is the third game in four days for the Sabers (9-1), but when asked how his team would be ready Friday, Souhegan coach Mike Heaney said all he should have to do is tell the team its playing Milford. A win gives Souhegan 10 victories for the third straight season, a big feat considering its only been four years since the Sabers were coming off back-to-back two-win seasons.

Milford welcomed back guard Jovi Philbrick earlier this week, but the Spartans still lost at John Stark on Tuesday. Right now, Milford (4-7) is 16th in Division II, and with Bedford, Pelham and Goffstown still on the schedule, the Spartans could really use a win.

No. 2: Salem at Alvirne boys basketball, 7 p.m.

One thing these teams have in common? Both hold a win over Manchester Central, which Salem (7-3) pulled off on Tuesday to bounce back from a loss against Merrimack. The Blue Devils are in a tough stretch, playing the third of four games against teams they’re battling for a home playoff game.

Alvirne (7-2) has won three in a row since losing to Trinity, but those three wins have come against Timberlane, Keene and Concord, teams that are a combined 4-26.

Ali Glennon and Bedford will be looking for their fifth straight win.

No. 3: Bedford at Portsmouth boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

Since getting embarrassed by Pelham on Dec. 22, the Bulldogs (8-2) have been on a tear, winning seven in a row, the second longest winning streak in Division II. Bedford has done it with defense, allowing under 50 points for the first six games of that stretch. In Tuesday’s 69-60 win over Goffstown, the Bulldogs held the Grizzlies below their average of 75 points a game.

Portsmouth (9-2) has lost two of three, dropping back-to-back games against St. Thomas and Pelham before knocking off Coe-Brown on Tuesday. The Clippers have also been playing well defensively, allowing just 41.4 points per game over their last seven.

No. 4: Nashua South at Merrimack boys basketball, 7 p.m.

The Panthers (5-5) started the season so well, winning their first four games, including victories over Bishop Guertin and Salem. But since, South has lost five of six and has struggled to score during that stretch. Oddly enough, in its lone win, South scored just 48 points to beat Dover by two.

After playing well in its first game without Dimitri Floras, Merrimack (8-1) needed a late 3-pointer to beat Londonderry (1-8) by one on Tuesday. The Tomahawks are going to need to figure out how to consistently play well without Floras, who is out with a broken wrist and won’t be back until at least the last week of the regular season.

No. 5: Portsmouth at Bedford girls basketball, 6:30 p.m.

The Clippers (9-2) have won back-to-back games to bounce back from losing two of three games a couple of weeks ago. Portsmouth has scored 56 and 55 points in its last two games, but may have trouble scoring against a Bedford (9-3) that has allowed a combined 63 points in its last three games. In Tuesday’s 64-14 win over Goffstown, the Bulldogs forced 31 turnovers.

Technorati Tags: Alvirne, Bedford, boys basketball, Division I, Division II, girls basketball, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua South, Portsmouth, Salem, Souhegan

Hollis Brookline's Katie Stopera battles for a rebound during a game against Souhegan earlier this year.

Picking a favorite for Division II girls basketball is like trying to choose a favorite flavor of ice cream.

Aren’t they all good?

With most teams at or just beyond the midway point of the season, there are two teams that remain undefeated in the division; Hollis Brookline and Lebanon both enter this week’s action with identical 10-0 records. Unfortunately for basketball fans, the only way these teams will met is in the playoffs.

Unlike a year ago, when eventual-champion Souhegan and Lebanon met during the regular season, the Cavaliers and the Raiders could both enter the postseason with unblemished records. And looking at their schedules for the rest of the season, that’s a serious possibility.

Of course both teams still have to play the Sabers (6-3) – Lebanon hosts Souhegan on Wednesday, HB hosts them on Feb. 21 – the remaining games for both teams are a lighter along the backstretch.

Both teams have put together their records against similar competition. HB’s opponents to this point have a record of 53-52, while Lebanon’s are 53-51. The Raiders handed Kearsarge (10-1) its only loss this season, and also have wins over Bedford, Windham and Merrimack Valley, teams that are all 8-3.

HB already has a win over Souhegan, and handed Portsmouth (9-2) its first loss of the year. The Cavs also have wins over Coe-Brown (9-2), along with Bedford and Windham. But outside of Souhegan, HB only plays one other team with a winning record this year, Goffstown (6-4), and the combined record of its remaining opponents is 25-51.

Lebanon still has its clash with Souhegan along with a game against Coe-Brown. Both of those games are this week, and after that, the Raiders face teams that are below .500. Their opponents combined record is 32-47.

When all is said and done, HB and Lebanon will have nine similar opponents – Souhegan, Con-Val, Coe-Brown, Hanover, John Stark, Mancehster West, Bedford, Oyster River and Windham. Of those eight, they’ve both played four so far.

While both teams blew out West, Lebanon has had a much larger margin of victory – the Raiders defeated Bedford by 32 points, Oyster River by 31 and Windham by 16. The Cavs beat Oyster River by 18, Windham by 13 and Bedford by just three.

Are these the two best teams in the division? It’s too early to say, but don’t be surprised if Lebanon and HB, barring any sort of injury or illness, end up facing each other in the final game.

Technorati Tags: Brookline, Division II, girls basketball, Hollis, Lebanon

Nashua South's Anthony Muccioli and Nashua North's Javon Williams face off during the final of the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament.

Ryan Gauthier scored 21 points and a Javon Williams’ steal in the final seconds helped the Nashua High School North boys basketball team defeat Nashua South 59-57 Friday night.

Gauthier had four of the Titans’ eight 3-pointers, while Williams added 15 points and Anthony Farmer chipped in with nine to lead North (6-2) in a rematch of the final of the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament, won by South.

Kevin Morrissey led the Panthers (5-4) with 15 points while Anthony Muccioli and Jack Preston each added 10 points.

North wins battle of Nashua – Union Leader

Last-second steal locks up North’s win over South – Nashua Telegraph

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Division I, Nashua North, Nashua South

Milford's Dina Pitsas scored 20 points in Friday's game.

Logan Barlow scored as time ran out to give the Milford High School boys basketball team a 59-57 win Friday night over Oyster River, while the girls lost to the Bobcats 48-44.

Barlow’s basket was part of a 17-7 run in the 3:30 that helped the Spartans (4-6) overcome an eight-point deficit. Barlow finished with 11 points while Richie Moore led Milford with 15 points. Jarad Asselin also had 10 points.

Dina Pitsas led the girls with 20 points, but Milford (3-8) was outscored 13-8 in the third quarter. Brianna Hoffman added 15 points for the Spartans.

High School roundup – Foster’s Daily Democrat

Friday’s High School Highlights – Nashua Telegraph

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Division II, girls basketball, Milford, Oyster River

Hollis Brookline's Katie Stopera had 28 points in Friday's game.

The Hollis Brookline High School boys and girls basketball teams both picked up wins Friday night over Windham, with the girls winning 52-39 and the boys pulling out a 46-33 victory.

For the girls, Katie Stopera scored 28 points to help the Cavaliers (10-0) remain undefeated in Division II. Olivia Gillis added 11 points for HB, while Windham (8-3) got 15 points from Bernadette Connors and 10 points from Kerry White.

Tim Rencken scored 10 points to led the boys in a game that started slow for both teams. HB (3-6) had just 16 points in the first half, but still lead by five at halftime. James Wilson added eight points for the Cavs.

Friday’s High School Highlights – Nashua Telegraph

Hollis Brookline 46, Windham 33 – Eagle Tribune

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Brookline, Division II, girls basketball, Hollis, Windham

Boys Basketball

• Pelham 48, Portsmouth 45 – Eagle Tribune/Portsmouth Herald
• Spaulding 46, Dover 45 – Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Coe-Brown 47, Bishop Brady 45 – Concord Monitor
• Pinkerton 54, Manchester Memorial 48 – Eagle Tribune
• Manchester Central 74, Concord 49 – Concord Monitor
• Winncaunnet 54, Londonderry 25 – Eagle Tribune

Girls Basketball

• Winnacunnet 60, Londonderry 43 – Portsmouth Herald
• Keene 62, Alvirne 50 – Keene Sentinel
• Portsmouth 55, Pelham 40 – Portsmouth Herald
• Dover 54, Spaulding 32 – Foster’s Daily Democrat
• Manchester Memorial 48, Pinkerton 33 – Eagle Tribune

Technorati Tags: Around the Granite State, boys basketball, girls basketball

Bishop Guertin's Joe McCarthy scored 16 points in Friday's loss to Trinity.

Andrew Lauderdale and Carmen Giampetruzzi each had 19 points to lead the Trinity High School boys basketball to a 74-43 win Friday night over Bishop Guertin.

Mabor Gabriel added 16 points for the Pioneers (7-2), who lost to the Cardinals in last year’s Division I championship game. Trinity led by 24 at halftime, withstood a 12-2 run by Bishop Guertin in the third quarter, and opened the fourth with a 16-1 run.

Joe McCarthy led the Cardinals (4-5) with 16 points and Logan Kesty added eight markers.

Trinity dominates BG – Union Leader

Technorati Tags: Bishop Guertin, boys basketball, Division I, Trinity