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

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

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

Dimitri Floras and Merrimack will host Salem on Friday.

Friday’s high school slate includes a matchup of two of the top teams in Division I boys basketball, along with a renewal of the Gate City rivalry and a rematch of last year’s title game.

And those are just the boys games.

No. 1: Salem at Merrimack boys basketball, 7 p.m.

With Pinkerton’s loss to Spaulding on Tuesday, the Tomahawks (6-1) are sitting alone atop the Division I standings going into Friday’s game against the Blue Devils (6-2).

Since losing to Trinity on Jan. 3, Merrimack has won four in a row by an average of 22 points per game. Only twice this season have the Hawks allowed more than 60 points in a game – the loss to Trinity and a 10-point win over Keene.

Salem started the year off struggling on offense, scoring 37 and 35 points, respectively, in its first two games. But since then, the Devils have averaged almost 62 points in those six games in which Salem has gone 5-1.

No. 2: Nashua South at Nashua North boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

This will be the second meeting of the season between the teams, with the Panthers having won the first meet in the championship game of the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament a little less than a month ago. North won the previous meeting in the regular season a year ago, taking the game on a buzzer-beater.

South (5-3) has been a bit streaky, winning its first four games in Division I – its first seven if you included the holiday tournament – and then lost its next three. The Panthers snapped that streak Tuesday with a 48-46 win over Dover.

North (5-2) is also coming off a two-point win, having defeated Londonderry 50-48 the last time out. The Titans have beaten teams with a combined record of 6-33, and its two loses have been blowouts against Trinity and Salem.

No. 3: Windham at Hollis Brookline girls basketball, 7 p.m.

The Cavaliers (9-0 in Division II) will try to keep their undefeated record in check when the up-and-coming Jaguars (8-2) come to town.

HB’s four-guard lineup has the ability to shoot anyone out of the gym, but the Cavs have been solid defensively as well, giving up an average of 35.8 points per game.

Windham has won its last four games, including back-to-back victories by at least 28 points.

No. 4: Bishop Guertin at Trinity boys basketball, 7 p.m.

The Cardinals (4-4) and Pioneers (6-2) meet in a rematch of last year’s Division I title game.

After losing four in a row, Bishop Guertin has won its last two, including Tuesday’s 54-50 win over Manchester Memorial. Six of the Cardinals eight games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Trinity started the year off with four straight wins, but has gone 2-2 in its last four, with both losses coming against rivals Manchester Central and Manchester West. The loss to West was Trinity’s second this season.

No. 5: Merrimack at Bow boys hockey, 7:50 p.m. at Everett Arena

The Tomahawks (6-3) have been stellar at times, winning their first four games and capturing the Bauer Christmas Hockey Classic, and not so at times. After its 4-0 start, Merrimack lost its next three before bouncing back with wins over Winnacunnet (7-1) and Kingswood (7-3). In their wins, the Hawks have scored 41 goals; in their losses, they scored seven.

Bow (5-3-1) has gone 4-1-1 in its last six games, including a 3-2 win over Oyster River last Saturday.

Technorati Tags: Bishop Guertin, boys basketball, boys hockey, Brookline, Division I, Division II, girls basketball, Hollis, Merrimack, Nashua North, Nashua South

Choate hit two free throws with five seconds left in the game and scored a game-high 13 points while teammate Katelyn Roeser hit two 3-pointers for another six points for the Titans (8-2 in Division II).

South (2-8) got 12 points from Jackie Gillis while Jillian Joyal added seven points.

Nashua North girls hoop stops Nashua South – Nashua Telegraph

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

No. 1: Bishop Guertin at Manchester Memorial girls basketball, 7 p.m.

The Cardinals (9-0) and the Crusaders (8-0) are the last two undefeated teams in Division I, and the winner will have the inside track at the No. 1 seed in the tournament. But each team got to this point in different ways: Bishop Guertin’s opponents have a combined 30-36 record, and the Cardinals handed Londonderry (7-1) and Winnacunnet (7-1) their only losses of the season; Memorial’s wins have come against teams with a combined record of 17-53.

No. 2: Souhegan at Goffstown boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

The Sabers (6-1 in Division II) are coming off their first loss of the season, a 55-43 setback against Portsmouth that saw Souhegan score well below its average of 67.1 points per game. Goffstown (5-2) scores even more than that, putting up 74.4 points per game, and when these teams met a year ago, the Sabers held on for a 97-92 win. After this game, Souhegan will play six of its final 10 games at home, and two of those road games are at Milford and at Bedford.

No. 3: Goffstown at Souhegan girls basketball, 6:30 p.m.

Souhegan (5-3) bounced back from a loss to Hollis Brookline with a huge road win over Portsmouth, 49-41, last Friday. The Sabers will be playing at home for the sixth time in the last seven games. After starting out the year 2-0, Goffstown (5-3) has alternated wins and losses, and has averaged just 30.3 points in its defeats.

No. 4: Londonderry at Nashua North girls basketball, 7 p.m.

The Titans (7-1) will find out where they stand in the Division I landscape when they host the Lancers (7-1). Like Memorial, North’s record has been put together against teams who are a combined 22-49 this season.

No. 5: Dover at Nashua South boys basketball, 7 p.m.

Both teams could use a win, as South (4-3) has lost three in a row and Dover (3-3) has dropped two of its last three. The Panthers came close against Pinkerton on Friday, falling 58-56 without Anthony Muccioli. Neither team has done a lot of scoring this year, as both average just over 50 points per game.Each team has broken 60 just once this season, with South doing so in a loss to Spaulding, and Dover topping 60 its last time out in a win over Londonderry.

Technorati Tags: Bishop Guertin, boys basketball, five to follow, girls basketball, Nashua North, Nashua South, Souhegan

Tyler Ford and Souhegan will look to improve to 7-0 against Portsmouth Friday.

Two of the top boys basketball teams from Division II will meet Friday night in Amherst, while a couple of rivals will meet on the court and the ice this week.

No. 1: Portsmouth at Souhegan boys basketball, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

They are two of three undefeated teams in Division II, heading into Tuesday’s games, and they’ll meet in Amherst on Friday in a rematch of last year’s semifinals. Portsmouth won that game 35-31, and will likely try again to slow the Sabers down. Souhegan is coming off a win over Coe-Brown in which it scored 91 points, the fourth time during the regular season that the Sabers have scored 70 or more. Normally, Souhegan coach Mike Heaney would dislike a week off in between games, but with the Clippers coming to town, his team might need it. Meanwhile, Portsmouth plays host to Kingswood on Tuesday.

No. 2: Pelham at Bedford boys basketball, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The Pythons embarrassed the Bulldogs, 65-24, on Dec. 22. Since then, Bedford (5-2) has won four straight, including a 52-49 win over Lebanon last Friday. After starting the year 4-1, Pelham has lost its last two, falling to Division III Campbell (51-48) and St. Thomas (59-58) last week. All three of the Pythons’ losses have been by a combined six points.

No. 3: Nashua South at Pinkerton boys basketball, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

Both teams have been a bit of a surprise in Division I this season. After opening the season with four wins – including a 49-46 victory over Bishop Guertin – South has lost its last two to Spaulding and Manchester Memorial. In its latest loss, the Panthers managed a season-low 39 points, and scoring may not get any easier against a Pinkerton team that’s allowed an average of 43.4 this season. The Astros (4-1) wins have come against teams with a combined 5-18 record.

No. 4: Hollis Brookline at Souhegan girls basketball, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

This is game No. 2 of a busy week for the Sabers, who got a much-needed 60-28 win over Con-Val on Monday. Souhegan (4-2) and HB (7-0) both enter the game a little banged up, but each should have a complete lineup on Wednesday. The Cavaliers are coming off a big road win over previously undefeated Portsmouth, 60-45, last Friday, and after losing to the Sabers twice last year, would like a bit of revenge.  Souhegan finishes out its week with a trip to Portsmouth on Friday.

No. 5: Hollis Brookline at Souhegan boys hockey, Jan. 21 at 5:20 p.m. at Conway Arena

Souhegan (7-0-1) gets its first real test of the season against a HB (4-3) that has already had to play undefeated Alvirne twice and Pelham-Windham (5-1). The Sabers have been getting a lot of production from their underclassmen, averaging better than seven goals a game. But the Cavs have been solid at times defensively, giving up 3.7 goals per game.

Technorati Tags: Bedford, boys basketball, boys hockey, Brookline, Division I, Division II, Division III, girls basketball, Hollis, Nashua South, Pelham, Pinkerton, Portsmouth, Souhegan

Nashua South's Jack Preston averaged 11.6 points per game in this year's tournament.

The 2011 Chick-fil-A Holiday Basketball Tournament was one to remember, thanks in part of a championship game that featured host Nashua South beating Nashua North.

It was the first time the two teams played in the final in seven years, and it was just one of several great games to take place over the three-day tourney.

For a closer look at the players who were named to the all-tournament team, and some who weren’t, but could have been, go to the jump.

All-tournament team

• Anthony Muccioli (MVP) – The Nashua South senior was one of many Panthers to have a solid tournament, but when the team needed him most, Muccioli stepped up and delivered in the championship game. He scored eight points at the end of the first quarter to ignite the offense and get South its first lead of the game. His 21 points in the championship game were the fifth most in a single game during the tournament, and his 15 points-per-game average was tied for the fifth best.
• Jack Preston – When Muccioli scored just seven points in the semifinals, Preston stepped in and led the Panthers, scoring 16 points to help get South to the championship game. For the tournament, the South junior averaged 11.6 points per game. Two of his biggest baskets were dunks – one in the opening game against Hollis Brookline, and another against North that helped fire up the South crowd.
• Javon Williams – North’s senior had the highest scoring game, dropping 26 in an opening-round win over Souhegan. And after sitting out most of the first half of the final against South with three fouls, Williams scored nine points in the fourth quarter to help the Titans get make it a three-point game. Williams finished with an average of 18.3 points, second-best for the tournament.
• Ryan Gauthier -In the opening round win over Souhegan, the Titans senior had 10 of his 18 points in the second quarter to help North get the lead. In the semifinal win over Alvirne, Gauthier had 18 of his game-high 22 points in the first half to keep North in the game. For the tournament, he finished with an average of 15 points per game.
• Tyler Livingston – While Alvirne didn’t reach the championship game, it did finish third, thanks largely in part to the sharp-shooting of Livingston. The Broncos junior was third overall with an average of 16.3 points per game, including nine total 3-pointers.

The others

• Brandon Len – Had Souhegan made it to the championship game, Len would have had a good chance at being the tournament MVP. The junior averaged a tournament-high 20.3 points, but the Sabers lost two of three games.
• Jeff Gelinas – Thronton entered the tournament as the two-time defending champs, but the Golden Trojans brought a young team to this year’s competition. Things got even tougher when senior Justin Pollard went down with an injury. Gelinas stepped up to average 13.6 points per game and lead Thornton in scoring in all three games.
• PJ Flaum – Like the rest of Hollis Brookline, the junior struggled in the Cavaliers’ blowout loss to South in the opening round, going scoreless. But in the final two games, Flaum averaged 14.5 points as HB bounced back to beat Campbell and Souhegan.
• Zack Simmonds – The Souhegan junior was a steady scorer over the first two games, scoring 15 in each. Simmonds finished with the seventh-best average, putting in 12.3 points a game.

Technorati Tags: Alvirne, boys basketball, Brookline, Chick-fil-A, holiday, Hollis, Milford, Nashua North, Nashua South, Souhegan, Thornton, tournament

Nashua North's Javon Williams guards Nashua South's Anthony Muccioli during Thursday's game.

NASHUA – The championship game of the Chick-fil-A Holiday Basketball Tournament was more than six minutes old and the scoreboard said Nashua High School South had just two points.

The Panthers were down six to Nashua North and struggling to get the offense going, having turned the ball over three times.

And then South’s Anthony Muccioli took over.

The senior hit a jump shot with 95 seconds left in the quarter. After a North free throw, he came back down the floor and drained a 3. Twenty seconds later, Muccioli drained another 3, giving South a lead it would not relinquish.

Muccioli’s layup with 1:15 to play iced the game, as the Panthers held on for a 46-40 win over the Titans to win the tournament title for the first time since 2008.

“Sometimes we have to ride Anthony like that,” South coach Nate Mazerolle said. “My coaching philosophy is ‘hey, let’s run the offense, let’s move the ball,’ but sometimes, you have to loosen the reigns and say go.

“I looked up and there’s two minutes left in the quarter and we have two points. We had those problems the last couple of years and I thought we’d overcome that. (Muccioli) has a sense of that. He knows, as a senior captain, he’s got to take over sometimes. He did that.”

Muccioli finished with a game-high 21 points, including 4 3-pointers, and he was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Jack Preston added 10 points for South and was also named to the all-tournament team.

South's Kevin Morrissey takes a shot during Thursday's game.

North got 12 points from Javon Williams, who sat out most of the first half in foul trouble. Mike O’Connor added nine points and Anthony Farmer had seven, as the Titans played without Ryan Gauthier in the second half for an undisclosed reason.

Despite what North coach Steve Lane called a “step back,” he was pleased that the Titans managed to get as close as they did. North trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, but closed the gap to three points with under two minutes to play.

“Only losing by six after being trounced in the first half, trounced in the third quarter, and showing an effort and the guts to come back, showed me something about this team,” Lane said. “We competed in the second half. We’ve got to learn to play with more composure, we’ve got to learn to play with a little more poise, and not let emotions get in the way of actually playing basketball. It’s a learning experience for a lot of players.”

North got out to the early lead, but in the span of 40 seconds, Williams picked up two fouls and went to the bench with 2:43 left in the opening frame. South took advantage, with Muccioli going on an 8-1 run of his own to end the first.

Preston opened the second quarter for South with a layup and a dunk that put the Panthers up 14-9, and a jumper by Kevin Morrissey made it a seven-point lead. Williams returned not long after that, but picked up his third foul on a charge and went back to the bench for the remainder of the half.

The lead grew to 12 by halftime, and South extended it to 15 two minutes into the third quarter.

The Panthers led by 13 at the end of the third, but as they tried to slow the game down, they struggled to make shots, and North began to chip away.

“It’s a catch-22, because then there’s no rhythm,” Mazerolle said. “We still took a lot of bad shots in that stretch where they came back, but we shortened the game, which we wanted to do. If we could do that, and then get a layup or get fouled, perfect. We aren’t there yet.”

The Titans went on a 12-2 run that spanned almost five minutes of the fourth quarter, with a layup by Williams making it a 41-38 game with 1:54 to play.

South slowed things down at the other end, and Muccioli finished off a long possession with a basket that put the game out of reach.

“They beat us on the boards and beat us to lose balls,” Lane said. “They had a lot of hustle points. A lot of the little things, they did better, and they deserved to win. Our effort was still good, and we played hard.”

The two teams will meet again in the regular season on Jan. 27 at North.

Third-place game: Alvirne 59, Thornton Academy 33

Alvirne's Tony Beaulieu goes in for a layup.

Tyler Livingston hit three 3s and scored 13 points to help the Broncos to a third-place finish Thursday in the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament at Nashua South.

Livingston finished the tournament with 49 points over three games, with nine 3-pointers, and was named to the all-tournament team.

Sean Dunn added 10 points for Alvirne while Tony Beaulieu and Robbie Diamond each added nine.

Thornton got 12 points from Jeff Gelinas while James Ek chipped in with nine.

Technorati Tags: Alvirne, boys basketball, Chick-fil-A, holiday, Nashua North, Nashua South, Thornton, tournament

David Dunham and Nashua South will take on Nashua North in the final of the Chick-fil-A Holiday Basketball Tournament.

NASHUA – Holiday basketball tournaments in New England, in one way, are similar to the weather.

Don’t like the way you play last night? Don’t worry, there’s another game tomorrow.

One night after playing what coach Nate Mazerolle called a “sloppy” game, the Nashua High School South boys basketball team turned in one of its best performances Wednesday in the coach’s recent memory to defeat Thornton Academy 69-48 in the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament at South.

The win sends the Panthers into the championship game against Nashua North at 7:3o p.m. Thursday night, while the two-time defending champion Golden Trojans will play in the third-place game against Alvirne at 6.

“We talked about discipline being something that had to be a strength of ours,” Mazerolle said. “After the first 30 seconds of two or three bad, quick jump shots, that was our best effort of the year. It was as disciplined as we’ve been as a team in about three years.”

And that wasn’t all the Panthers did well. With Thronton play a two-three zone for most of the first half, South had to figure out a way to beat it, something the Panthers hadn’t been able to do against similar defenses in the past.

“They were playing a two-three zone, which for years has been our nemesis,” Mazerolle said. “Our interior passing, that was the best we’ve ever had. It opened everything, we made a couple of 3s because of it and we kept making those nice passes.”

On a night when Anthony Muccioli had just seven points, South got scoring from other sources. Jack Preston had a game-high 16 points  while David Dunham and Armond McRae each added 11.

“Anthony Muccioli is our scorer, but he did a lot of other things well,” Mazerolle said. “If we can play like that and score that many points and he only has seven, and he wasn’t forcing anything or getting frustrated, he just did what he had to do. He did a nice job playing a team game. He’s going to have his scoring nights. I hope (Thursday) night. When we can be that balanced, it bodes well for the future.”

The game was tied at 13 going into the second quarter when South slowly started to pull away. The Panthers scored just six points over the first half of the quarter, but they were holding the Trojans scoreless at the same time. The scoring picked up, and by halftime, South had a 29-18 lead that it wouldn’t let dip below double digits. The Panthers opened the second half with a 14-5 run to go up by 20.

“They got a lead and they took care of the basketball,” Thornton coach Bob Davies said. “That’s a good basketball team that we played against. It’s a game of runs and you get a good team that gets on a couple of them, it’s hard to come back.”

Jeff Gelinas led the Trojans with 14 points while Dakota Tarbox added 12 markers and Adam Ek chipped in with 10.

Technorati Tags: boys basketball, Chick-fil-A, holiday, Nashua South, Thornton, tournament