> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Bedford boys basketball returns to D1 title game after holding off Exeter (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/bedford-boys-basketball-returns-to-d1-title-game-after-holding-off-exeter-video/
- Published: 2025-03-13T18:15:43.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-13T18:15:43.000Z
- Description: ROCHESTER - Logan O'Connell was on the floor, watching as Nate McNeff went in for a breakaway layup late in Wednesday night's Division I boys basketball semifinals. Just before that basket, McNeff stole the ball from O'Connell, and the Bedford High School junior fell to the ground, realizing that,
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, boys basketball, Exeter, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

ROCHESTER - Logan O'Connell was on the floor, watching as Nate McNeff went in for a breakaway layup late in Wednesday night's Division I boys basketball semifinals.

Just before that basket, McNeff stole the ball from O'Connell, and the Bedford High School junior fell to the ground, realizing that, in a game so tight, the moment could have been a game changer.

With the Bulldogs now trailing Exeter, O'Connell popped back up, got ready for his teammates to bring the ball down, and got open on the wing.

Once he got the ball, there was no hesitation, as O'Connell drilled a 3-pointer to give No. 1 Bedford the lead back, and for good, as the Bulldogs held off No. 5 Exeter for a 58-55 win at the Rochester Recreation & Arena.

"We talk about staying mentally focused and not letting that play get to me," O'Connell said. "I lose that memory real quick and moved on to the next play. That’s what I did."

O'Connell had a game-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers, to help Bedford (17-3) get back to the D1 title game for the second time in three years. The Bulldogs will face No. 6 Keene, which beat Portsmouth 61-60 in the other semifinal, at 4 p.m. Sunday at the University of New Hampshire.

Wiji Dak had 10 of his 12 points in the first half to help Bedford keep pace with Exeter and Landon Ellsmore added eight points.

Exeter (16-5) got 16 points from McNeff while Nick Greco led the Blue Hawks with 17 points, going 7 of 10 from the free throw line. Jack Thibodeau was also in double figures for Exeter with 11 points.

The game featured 13 lead changes and eight ties, as neither team led by more than six points, which Bedford achieved in the final seconds before McNeff hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

"We haven’t had a ton of these games, so this was really good," Bedford coach Frank Moreno said. "It was sticking to the game plan, focusing on rebounding and the defense. It was tough stopping those two guys. We tried to game plan for Greco and McNeff and they were just hurting us the whole game."

With Exeter slowing the tempo for most of the game, and the Blue Hawks ending the third quarter on a 6-0 to take a 43-40 lead, Bedford put on a full-court press heading into the fourth quarter to try to pick up the pace.

The Bulldogs ended up outscoring the Blue Hawks 18-12 in the quarter to get the win.

"We had planned for it all week, but I didn’t want to put it in before halftime because (Exeter coach) Jeff (Holmes) would have picked it apart at halftime," Moreno said. "We were waiting and waiting, and as soon as we went down before the fourth quarter, I looked at the coaches and said ‘we’ve got to put this one just to change something up.’ I think we only got one turnover, but it picked the pace up a little bit."

Bedford led 16-14 after one quarter, and after keeping the lead for most of the second, took a 30-27 lead into halftime. A 7-4 spurt to open the third gave Exeter a 35-34 lead and the teams went back and forth until the Bulldogs were back in front, 40-37, with just over two minutes remaining in the third.

Greco hit a pair of free throws to get it back to a one-point game, and he and McNeff added baskets before the end of the quarter to put the Blue Hawks in front by three after three.

"We were down three, so we gave them a different look and it worked," O'Connell said of the switch to the press. "We haven’t ran it that much this year, that full-court press."

It helped Bedford tie the game in the first minute of the quarter, and the Bulldogs retook the lead on a basket by O'Connell with 5:20 remaining. The lead was two for Bedford after a basket by Ellsmore with just under four minutes to play, but Thibodeau made one of two free throws to cut it to one.

McNeff's theft of O'Connell came on the ensuing possession for Bedford, but that lead would be the last one for Exeter on the night. After O'Connell's 3, Thibodeau tied the game at 50, but the Bulldogs outscored the Blue Hawks 5-1 over the next 90 seconds to take a two-possession lead and closed the game out at the free throw line.