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# Goffstown boys basketball comes back in fourth quarter to hand Trinity first loss (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/goffstown-boys-basketball-comes-back-in-fourth-quarter-to-hand-trinity-first-loss-video/
- Published: 2022-01-27T15:15:21.000Z
- Updated: 2022-01-27T15:15:21.000Z
- Description: GOFFSTOWN - Ryan Cowette was hoping to see his Goffstown High School boys basketball team bounce back Wednesday. But through one half, the Grizzlies found themselves down five points to undefeated Trinity. Cowette used the halftime break wisely, making an adjustment on defense and throwing out a few
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, boys basketball, Goffstown, slider, Trinity, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

GOFFSTOWN - Ryan Cowette was hoping to see his Goffstown High School boys basketball team bounce back Wednesday.

But through one half, the Grizzlies found themselves down five points to undefeated Trinity.

Cowette used the halftime break wisely, making an adjustment on defense and throwing out a few words of inspiration, and in the second half, Goffstown turned things around, taking the lead early in the fourth quarter and making its free throws down the stretch for a 65-58 win over the Pioneers in a Division I matchup.

As a team, the Grizzlies were 24 of 29 at the free line, including an 18-of-23 performance in the fourth quarter, led by Rob Baguidy and Aiden O'Connell. And on the defensive end, after Trinity's Andrew Politi hit five of his team's seven 3-pointers, Goffstown moved Ryan Strand on to the Pioneers senior and held him scoreless in the second half.

"We made an adjustment at halftime and put Ryan on (Politi)," Cowette said. "I don’t know too many kids who work as hard as he does. He accepted the challenge and did a tremendous job.

"Guys got some confidence, but we started to move the ball more (in the second half). We’re not at our best when the ball sticks. When we trust each other and all create for each other, the ball moves more, we tend to play better on that end of the floor."

Baguidy finished with 19 points to lead Goffstown (12-3), going 8 of 9 at the free throw line, while O'Connell had all of his 17 points in the second half, going 10 for 10 from the line in the fourth quarter. Mason Blondeau added 15 points and Cam Hujsak came off the bench to hit two 3s.

Getting O'Connell into the scoring mix on offense was key for the Grizzlies and his 3-pointer late in the third quarter seemed to get the junior going.

"We really pumped (O'Connell) up at halftime," Cowette said. "We wanted him to continue to be aggressive. He hit a big 3 in front of our bench that kind of sparked him. We’ve all been working hard at our free throws as the season has gone on. I’m happy for the guys to see them go in when it matters."

Trinity (12-1) got 18 points from Tyler Bike while Politi finished with 15\. Malith Yor added 13 points and Mark Nyomah was also in double figures with 10.

"The team was supposed to win I think won," Trinity coach Keith Bike said. "They have a little more experience and some veterans. Our sophomores played like sophomores and we just didn’t do enough. It was good experiencing this type of game against a very good team."

Both teams had a tough time on offense to start the game, as Goffstown held a 4-3 lead through almost five minutes, but 3s by Yor and Politi put Trinity on top 9-6\. Baguidy went on a 6-0 run of his own to put the Grizzlies back on top, and after Tyler Bike finished off a three-point play to tie it, Hujsak buried a 3 with 10 seconds left in the quarter to give Goffstown a 15-12 lead after one.

The first half saw seven lead changes and four ties, including 21-21 with 5:32 left in the half. The Grizzlies went back in front 25-21, but then Politi shot the Pioneers back on top, hitting three 3s before the end of the half to help give Trinity a 32-27 lead at the break.

But in the second half, Goffstown was able to keep Politi and Trinity's perimeter game in check.

"They were more physical with him and he missed a couple in the second half," Keith Bike said. "Strand is a good defender, but our guys have to do a better job of finding (Politi) in transition and looking for him when he’s open. A kid like that, when he’s open, you’ve got to hit him."

Trinity still lead by three, 40-37, going into the fourth quarter, but Goffstown was able to take advantage of its size to get rebounds at both ends and either turn them into transition opportunities or second chance points. The Grizzlies went on a 12-3 run to take a 49-43 lead with 4:13 remaining.

"That’s what is so important about a game like this against one of the best teams in the state," Cowette said. "Not only do you have to play close to perfect, you have to win the 50-50 balls, you have to score off turnovers. Credit to our guys to playing heads up."

The Pioneers started sending the Grizzlies to the line after that and Baguidy and O'Connell stepped up.

"We fouled too much," Keith Bike said. "We put them on the line and they’re good free throw shooters. If we keep them off the line, they don’t score 15 points in the fourth quarter.

"We have two options now. We can fold or we can come together. We’ll see what we do."