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# Goffstown boys basketball starts strong, hangs on late for second win over Bedford
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/goffstown-boys-basketball-starts-strong-hangs-on-late-for-second-win-over-bedford/
- Published: 2021-02-06T15:30:53.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-06T15:30:53.000Z
- Description: GOFFSTOWN - The Goffstown High School boys basketball team has players who can shoot from the outside, but for most of this year, the Grizzlies offense has come from getting the ball inside. That is, until Friday night against Bedford. With the Bulldogs opening the game in a zone defense, Goffstown
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, boys basketball, Goffstown, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

GOFFSTOWN - The Goffstown High School boys basketball team has players who can shoot from the outside, but for most of this year, the Grizzlies offense has come from getting the ball inside.

That is, until Friday night against Bedford.

With the Bulldogs opening the game in a zone defense, Goffstown was able to move the ball well and find open shooters, as the Grizzlies made five 3-pointers to build a double-digit lead in the first quarter. Goffstown led by as many 26 points in the second half and held off a Bedford comeback in the fourth for a 67-50 win, the Grizzlies second win of the week over the Bulldogs.

Aiden O'Connell led the way for Goffstown (7-1) with 21 points, including four 3s, two of which came in the first two minutes of the game. The Grizzlies hit seven 3s, all in the first half, on the way to a 37-15 lead at the break and ballooned to a 41-15 advantage early in the third.

"We jumped out to another quick start and our first half was really good," Goffstown coach Ryan Cowette said. "We executed well, we knocked down a lot of open shots, which helped.

"As the game progressed, I think we lost our composure a little bit. I don’t think we handled the physicality of the game as well as we could have. Definitely something we can improve on going forward."

David St. Pierre scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half for the Grizzlies, hitting two 3s, and Jack Kelly was also in double figures with 11 points while Mason Blondeau had eight. Goffstown was 10 of 15 from the free throw line, going 6 of 8 in the final stretch.

Bedford (2-6) got 13 points from Todd O'Connell while Daniel Kulesza was also in double figures with 11 points and Joseph DeLacey and Dylan Kumbani each had seven.

The Bulldogs struggled in the first half with missed shots inside and turned the ball over nine times in the first two quarters. But in the second half, Bedford switched to full-court pressure to chip away at Goffstown's lead, making it a 10-point game, 58-48, with 2:14 to play.

"Even though it feels like there’s a lot we could have done better in the second half, winning a physical game where we had to hang on and fight momentum that was coming against us, it gives them more confidence," Cowette said. "I’m proud of the guys and they should be proud of themselves."

Aiden O'Connell's 3-pointers to open the game gave the Grizzlies a quick 6-0 lead and Kelly made it 9-0 with a 3 of his own. Goffstown led 17-7 at the end of the first quarter, with all but two of those points coming from behind the arc.

"We got hot and we took advantage of the open looks that were given to us," Cowette said. "Something we’ve been better at this year than in years past, we’re scoring the ball inside a heck of a lot more than we have in the last three years. We moved the ball well and it led to open shots."

The lead continued to grow in the second quarter, as the Grizzlies were able to get to the basket more often, outscoring Bedford 20-8 in the quarter. Goffstown went up by 26 points early in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs came right back with a 3 by Todd O'Connell to start a run of their own.

Bedford outscored Goffstown 18-8 over the final six minutes of the third, and after the teams traded baskets and free throws for much of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs went on a 7-1 run, getting within 10 on a putback by Kulesza.

But the Grizzlies made their free throws to help them close the game on a 9-2 run of their own and pick up their second win of the week over Bedford.

"We were better against the zone," Cowette said. "We looked more comfortable. Everything looks better when you’re knocking down open shots. We didn’t shoot the ball great at Bedford, so that covers a lot of things.

"Our defensive intensity was much better than it was on Wednesday. That really lacked and it hurt us in the first matchup. Steals, turnovers, deflections, it leads to points in transition. That’s really important for the way we’re trying to play."