Healthy Goffstown could be a threat in D2 boys basketball tourney

The Goffstown High School boys basketball team is doing something Tuesday night that almost no one else in Division II is.

The Grizzlies aren't playing.

In fact, when Goffstown next takes the court on Friday against Con-Val, it will be the first game its played in over week.

The time off couldn't have come at a better time. In their last game, the Grizzlies lost to Hollis Brookline on Feb. 14, the team's sixth loss in a row and their ninth loss in the last 10 games. But it was also the first time in weeks that Goffstown has played with its full lineup.

"Tremendous energy, the best energy we’ve had in a couple of weeks," Goffstown coach Justin Gorham said of the game against HB. "We had everyone back, and with Jake (Mount) back, that makes a huge difference.

"Tyler Barss has only played a couple games in a few weeks. I think he’s only played about six games this year. Jake has been out for two weeks."

Having both players back is big for a team that doesn't have a lot of size and relies on every player to contribute minutes. While Barss is listed at 6-2, he's one of only a few Grizzlies that can bang inside with opponents' big men. And with Mount in the lineup, Goffstown has a consistent scorer who can handle the load if needed; he had a game-high 18 points against HB.

"(Mount) had tremendous energy and you could tell (he was tired) at the end, that stuff was short," Gorham said. "We have a nice break to work on something next week with everybody there and we can get in shape again. I think that if we can get into the playoffs, I think we’ll be OK."

But getting in has become the challenge. At 4-11 in the division, the Grizzlies are currently tied for 16th with Kennett, one game behind Milford for the 15th spot.

The good news for the Grizzlies is that their three remaining games are against Con-Val (1-13), at Hanover (5-8) and home against St. Thomas (3-11). All three are winnable games.

Of course, if Goffstown gets into the tournament as the 16th seed, its reward would likely be a trip to Pembroke in the first round. That doesn't bother Gorham.

"Teams will not want to play us because I think we haven’t had everybody for the whole year," he said. "I don’t care if it’s Pembroke, even though they beat us by 40 the other night, they don’t want to play us."

That game was on Feb. 12, a 78-37 win at Pembroke. But when the teams played at Goffstown on Jan. 4, the Grizzlies only lost by three.  The Grizzlies had the lead late last Thursday against HB, and also led late against the Cavaliers before losing in overtime on Feb. 1. They've also split two games this year with Bishop Brady (8-5), Windham (7-7) and Lebanon (12-3).

"We were able to get close (last Thursday) and had a chance to win," Gorham said. "If we can do that, and there are teams that play six or seven players, they won’t want to do that. If we can get to the playoffs, it can be fun."

The Division II playoffs are scheduled to begin on March 6.