Len helps Souhegan boys basketball beat Goffstown for first win

AMHERST - When Friday's game between the Souhegan and Goffstown high school boys basketball teams ended, there were fist pumps, hugs and celebratory shouts.

And all for a regular season game in December, one Souhegan rallied to win 74-65.

Make no mistake, the Sabers needed this game.

"We needed (Friday), we really did," Souhegan coach Mike Heaney said.

"It's hard to say, in December, that there's must win games, but it was," Souhegan senior Brandon Len said. "It wasn't just for the record, but it was for morale."

For the third time in three games, the Sabers fell behind in the first half. But this time, they were able to come back, overcoming injuries to two starters to score 42 points in the second half.

Len led the way, scoring 26 points, nine of which came in the third quarter as the Sabers used a 14-5 run to overcome a six-point deficit. Brian Dworkin (12 points) and Trey Darrow (10) were also in double figures for the Sabers.

"They're just all tremendously talented and each has a skill set they can provide to the team," Len said. "They all can really step up. Brian (Dworkin) did a great job rebounding and scoring. Trey (Darrow) made some great drives and AJ (Hayes) did a really good job overall of staying in composure and playing point guard when I was off ball."

Goffstown (2-1) looked locked in early on, as Souhegan came out playing a 2-3 zone on defense to try to slow down the Grizzlies' transition game. And when the Sabers went to the free throw line, Heaney had the other four players get back defensively.

"It's a gamble, but we thought Goffstown gets up the floor so quick and gets to those corner shots," he said, "we felt like for every one offensive rebound you might get on a free throw, you're either going to foul somebody or you're not going to get back. We wanted to get back and be ready."

While the defense slowed the Grizzlies down, they were still able to hit shots. Jake Mount led the way, scoring nine of his 15 first-half points from behind the 3-point line, as Goffstown led 36-32 at halftime. Mount finished with a game-high 30 points, including six 3s.

The Grizzlies bumped the lead to six to open the third quarter, but Souhegan came back to tie it at 40. A 3 by Mount put Goffstown up three, but the lead wouldn't last long. A layup by Len and a 3-pointer by Hayes gave Souhegan a 45-43 advantage, one the Sabers wouldn't give up again.

Len added two more free throws and a layup with about 30 seconds left in the quarter. After Goffstown missed a shot, Len hit a buzzer-beating 3 that gave Souhegan a 54-48 lead and fired up the Sabers and the home crowd.

"My teammates were on me," Len said. "They were saying that if I play my game, I can score (Friday)."

It was the best Heaney has seen his senior point guard play this season.

"That's what a senior co-captain does, get on my back and follow," he said. "This was the best I've seen him play in a while, and he plays well often."

Souhegan will have plenty of time to practice, as the Sabers are off until Thursday, when they open the Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament at 3 p.m. against Alvirne at Nashua South.