The Spartans will make some history in the Class I boys basketball final on Saturday.
Milford's Kevin Cyr moves to the basket in front of the Portsmouth student section during Tuesday's semifinal game.
If its the Spartans of Milford High School, it will be the school’s first championship in boys basketball since 1975, and just the third title overall.
If its the Spartans of Pembroke Academy, it will make six in school history, the most Class I titles in the state.
The teams will go at each other at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the University of New Hampshire.
While No. 1 Milford (20-1) and No. 2 Pembroke (19-2) didn’t play during the regular season, the teams did meet in last year’s postseason. Pembroke won a quarterfinal game on its home floor, 56-53.
In that game, Milford’s Mike O’Loughlin missed a few free throws down the stretch that could have changed the outcome. In the Spartans’ semifinal win over Portsmouth on Tuesday, the junior found himself in the same position and made sure things were different.
“When I was on the line, I was telling myself it was just like practice and there’s no one around you,” he said. “I just zoned everything out.”
But as it has been most of the season, it wasn’t just O’Loughlin – who had 14 points – who led the Spartans. Jamie Holder had a team-high 24 points and Mike Mitchell had 13 points, including three 3-pointers that helped Milford get back into the game late in the third quarter.
“It was so nice to see him hit them,” Mitchell said of O’Loughlin’s free throws. “Mike is a great player and he was a huge factor in this game. Jamie’s free throws, too, a huge steal and a layup.”
So far in this tournament, Milford has gone against teams that have had an inside presence. At times, it’s been a problem, specifically on the defensive glass. But this year’s Pembroke team is a little different.
“They’re even faster than last year,” Milford coach Dan Murray said. “Not as big, but they’re very quick and have more shooters.”
The Spartans made that apparent in their semifinal win over Oyster River. Down 14-12 going into the second quarter, Pembroke exploded on offense, outscoring the Bobcats 21-4 in the second and going on to win 68-46.
Pembroke’s defense can also create problems for opponents.
“Pembroke plays a lot of funny defenses,” Murray said. “They switch zones around more. You have to be aware of where the holes are.”
If Milford can do that, it will have a good shot at bringing home its first basketball title in 35 years.