Merrimack boys basketball powers way past Nashua South to finish third at Chick-Fil-A Holiday Tournament

NASHUA - When things aren't going well for the Merrimack High School boys basketball team, the Tomahawks can almost always fall back on their defense.

Against Nashua South on Saturday, Merrimack did just that, using it's familiar style of physical play to outmuscle the Panthers on the way to a 49-41 win in the third-place game at the Chick-Fil-A Holiday Tournament.

After falling behind early, the Tomahawks outscored the Panthers 23-8 over the final 10 minutes of the first half and held South to just 16 points over a span of two-plus quarters.

Jared Dyer led the way for Merrimack with 14 points, and was named to the all-tournament team for his efforts over the three-day tourney, while Patrick Yudkin was also in double figures with 13 points and Jack Tarleton added six.

"Jared does everything for this basketball team," Merrimack coach Tim Goodridge said. "He’s a really nice kid, he hustles like crazy. He rebounds, he defends, if you ask him to handle the ball, he can pass. He’s definitely one of the better players around without a doubt. We’re lucky to have him."

The Tomahawks were just 11 of 22 from the free throw line, with eight of those misses in the fourth quarter while South was trying to come back.

"We didn’t play well, we didn’t hit a lot of shots," Dyer said. "I think the entire tournament, we didn’t play to our potential and we didn’t run our offense as well as we liked to. The chemistry is definitely coming along, which is what every team wants."

South got 18 points from Andres Hulfachor, who was also named to the all-tournament team, while Alex Hulfachor and Mike Rosatano each added six. The Panthers were again shorthanded and playing a lot of kids without varsity experience.

"We played against a very physical, much stronger, older team," South coach Nate Mazerolle said. "At first, I think we were very tentative because of that. Toward the end, I think we just got angry enough with the clutching and grabbing … one of my freshman said ‘coach, they’re pushing me every time’ and I said ‘I know, play through it.’ That’s a takeaway."

The Panthers struggled with Merrimack's size, specifically when Dyer got the ball inside. Even when South was keeping the junior from scoring, he was often times able to get his own rebound and put it back up.

"Just his size alone, but he’s a good basketball player," Mazerolle said. "He’s smart and he’s a very good passer. If ever we doubled down, someone cuts and he makes the right look. He anticipates passing lanes very well. And forget offensive rebounds because we can’t box him, or the points in the paint, he does everything else well, too."

South got out to an 8-4 lead in the first quarter, but Merrimack woke up on offense at the end of the frame and it was tied at 10 going into the second. The Tomahawks outscored the Panthers 17-6 in the quarter to lead 27-16 at halftime and it was more of the same in the third.

Neither team did much scoring early, but a late flurry of points at the end of the quarter gave Merrimack a 37-24 lead heading into the fourth. South was able to get the lead down to 10 points a number of times, but the Tomahawks made just enough free throws to keep it a double-digit lead.

A three-point play by Andres Hulfachor made it a seven-point game with 40.2 seconds left, but Merrimack was able to keep South from scoring again and run out the clock.