> ## 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.

# Exeter boys basketball fends off Portsmouth to get win
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/exeter-boys-basketball-fends-off-portsmouth-to-get-win/
- Published: 2024-01-27T14:35:33.000Z
- Updated: 2024-01-27T14:35:33.000Z
- Description: PORTSMOUTH – With an up-and-down first half of the season in the rearview mirror, the Exeter High School boys basketball team entered Friday night’s game against Seacoast rival Portsmouth looking to jumpstart a hopeful climb up the Division I standings. It wasn’t easy inside a raucous Stone Gymnasiu
- Author: Dan Doyon
- Tags: Division I, boys basketball, Exeter, Portsmouth, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

PORTSMOUTH – With an up-and-down first half of the season in the rearview mirror, the Exeter High School boys basketball team entered Friday night’s game against Seacoast rival Portsmouth looking to jumpstart a hopeful climb up the Division I standings.

It wasn’t easy inside a raucous Stone Gymnasium, but the Blue Hawks got what they wanted.

After fighting off several comeback attempts by the Clippers, Exeter finally put on the finishing touches by outsourcing Portsmouth 13-8 down the stretch for a 64-59 victory.

“This was a huge win for us against a good team in a hostile environment,” Exeter coach Jeff Holmes said. “I had a good feeling because we had some good practices after we lost to Nashua South on Monday. We played hard, we had a really good first half, which was the key to come out strong against a really good team on the road.”

Exeter (6-4) was coming off Monday’s 82-74 loss at Nashua South (8-3) and will now carry some momentum into Wednesday’s home game against Trinity (8-3). Brady Rogers led a balanced Exeter attack with 14 points. Nate McNeff added 12 points, while Jack Cartwright and Nick Greco chipped in with 10 points apiece.

“We played them this summer and we lost to them by two points,” McNeff said. “They were ranked higher than us coming into this game, so to come in here and get a win in their home is huge. The key for us was defensively and holding their key players from scoring.”

McNeff did his part by holding opposing point guard Isaiah Reis to three points before Reis fouled out, and McNeff also came up with arguably the biggest play of the game defensively late in the fourth quarter.

Portsmouth (7-3) battled back from deficits of 34-23 at halftime and 49-43 through three quarters when it ripped off an 8-0 run, highlighted by a pair of buckets in the paint by Ryan Swartz (13 points), to tie the game at 51-51 midway through the fourth quarter. Exeter’s Jack Thibodeau countered to give Exeter back the lead that grew to 57-52 following a Cartwright jumper.

Aidan Thomas converted a putback to bring Portsmouth to within three, when McNeff’s biggest nemesis of the night came back to haunt him when he missed a pair of free throws, part of his 2 for 10 night from the charity stripe.

McNeff made up for it in a big way on Portsmouth's ensuing possession when he made a steal and went coast-to-coast to give Exeter a 59-54 lead with 1:18 remaining.

“Besides myself, a bunch of kids were making their free throws. I really struggled from the line but that’s all right,” McNeff said. “It looked like they were trying to run a play and (Portsmouth’s Jackson Jones) was trying to move it out so I just took a swing at it and tried to poke it. I got it and made the layup.”

Portsmouth gave a last gasp effort when Jones (16 points) followed his own 3-pointer with a drive to the hoop to trim the deficit to 60-59, but Portsmouth had to foul. Rogers and Dylan Whelan each made a pair of free throws to seal the victory.

Portsmouth was coming off Wednesday’s 98-73 loss at undefeated Bedford (11-0) and will face off against Windham (7-3) in a key road game on Tuesday.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and Jeff Holmes is one of the best coaches around and we know that,” Portsmouth coach Tyrece Gibbs said “We’ve just got to learn how to win those games at some point. We’re young, but we’ll get there.”