Merrimack boys basketball smothers Thornton Academy

NASHUA – There is a simple way for the Merrimack High School boys basketball team to prepare for an unfamiliar opponent.

The Tomahawks focus on their defense.

That worked Monday in the first day of the Chick-Fil-A Holiday Tournament, as Merrimack shut down Thornton Academy’s offense and cruised to a 53-34 victory at Nashua High School South.

At one point, Merrimack outscored Thornton 23-8 in the second half, as Ian Roberts scored 14 points and Zak Kerr was also in double figures with 11 points.

“We were very solid defensively once again,” Merrimack coach Tim Goodridge said. “I think it starts with that for us. That team was very good and we took a lot of things they wanted to do away.”

With a deep roster that includes eight seniors, the Tomahawks expect to win games on the defensive end. In three games this season, Merrimack has allowed an average of 31.7 points, and has given up more than 10 points in a quarter just twice.

“We’re always a defensive-minded team, no matter who we’re playing,” Kerr said. “We always just want to come in and play defense all the time. That’s what we’re all about and we showed it.”

Rome Pura had 13 points to lead Thornton, from Sacco, Maine, but no one else had more than five as the Trojans scored just eight points over a 12-minute stretch from the end of the second quarter into the fourth.

With a pair of players absent because of a school trip, Thornton was forced to play with a short bench, and Goodridge believed that might have had an impact in the second half.

“I think they played their main guys a lot of minutes in the first half and we played a lot of guys,” he said. “I think we had more energy. We just had a little more energy in the second half.”

Merrimack opened the third quarter with a quick 6-0, getting two layups from Andrew Wojciak sandwiched around a basket by Roberts to double a six-point lead to 30-18.

“When we played Bedford (last Tuesday), we came out (of halftime) on a 6-0 run, and we wanted to do the same, just come out with the same mindset,” Kerr said. “We’ve got a lot of shooters on our team and we want to find the open shots, no matter who it is. If I’m not open, I’m going to pass it to the next guy and find the open shot always.”

But at times, the Tomahawks were almost too unselfish.

“We shared the ball well and we’re just going to get better,” Goodridge said. “I think that was good, and in another way, we had some looks that we gave up, too. As the season goes, and we shoot the ball more, I certainly want us to share the ball and do what we did, but if guys have looks, we have to shoot. We have guys who can shoot, it’s just a matter of getting the confidence.”

Merrimack moves on in the winner’s bracket and will face Nashua South at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the championship game. Thornton takes on Souhegan at 4:30 p.m.