Big second half lifts Goffstown boys basketball past Bishop Guertin in D1 opener

NASHUA - As a freshman, Mason Blondeau worked his way up from a swing player for the Goffstown High School boys basketball team to the first guy off the bench by the end of the regular season.

If the first game of his sophomore year is any indication, he is on track to take another big step for the Grizzlies.

Blondeau scored 21 of his game-high 27 points in the second half to help Goffstown to take control in the third quarter on the way to a 59-54 win over Bishop Guertin on Friday night in Nashua.

Down two points at halftime, the Grizzlies (1-0) opened the third quarter with a 13-6 run to take a 39-34 lead with 5:16 left in the frame, with Blondeau scoring nine of those points. Goffstown also got 12 points from Jack Kelly, 10 of which came in the first half, and 11 points from Rob Baguidy.

"I was nervous four minutes in when it looked like our legs were falling out from under us," Goffstown coach Ryan Cowette said. "It was great to see them all get out on the court as a team again, even with the masks. It gives us a sense of normalcy, almost.

"We moved the ball and were able to break down off the dribble. Rob (Baguidy) does a great job of advancing the ball and he has great vision and was able to find Mason. I hope Mason sends him a thank you note later."

While the duo got Goffstown the lead to open the third, they helped to put the game away in the fourth, as Blondeau had 10 straight points for the Grizzlies and they held Bishop Guertin (0-1) scoreless for more than six minutes.

"They were expecting Rob to shoot more than he was and I was able to get in the lane and finished my layups," Blondeau said. "It definitely was tough. They’re a lot bigger than us. I practice layups a lot and that helped me out."

The Cardinals had three players in double figures, as John Sullivan and Javari Ellison each had 12 points. Lucas Baker added 10 points while Dylan Santosuasso had six points.

Both teams started out slow, as neither scored for nearly four minutes to start the game, but by the end of the quarter, the score was knotted at 11. Bishop Guertin had the lead for most of the second quarter, going up by as many as six points.

Back-to-back baskets by Sullivan put the Cardinals up 26-20 with 1:56 left in the half, but Jack Kelly had a pair of baskets before the end of the half to help Goffstown get back within two, 28-26.

The Grizzlies opened the second half with back-to-back baskets by Blondeau to take the lead, and after the teams traded baskets to tie the game again at 32, the sophomore hit a 3-pointer and Baguidy scored in the lane to give Goffstown a lead it wouldn't give up.

Blondeau scored Goffstown's first 10 points of the fourth quarter, helping the Grizzlies take a 12-point lead with 3:34 to play.

"Mason was a swing guy at the start of last year and become our sixth man by the time the playoffs started," Cowette said. "He has great hands. I’d be lying if I told you he would have 27 (points). He’s got a boost of confidence. He’s good every day in practice and it’s great to start the season in a positive light."

Goffstown plays its first game at home Wednesday when it hosts Trinity, while Bishop Guertin heads to Londonderry on Tuesday.