> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Merrimack Valley boys basketball puts an end to Souhegan's win streak (video) - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/merrimack-valley-boys-basketball-puts-an-end-to-souhegans-win-streak-video/ - Published: 2024-02-17T16:05:13.000Z - Updated: 2024-02-17T16:05:13.000Z - Description: AMHERST - The Merrimack Valley High School boys basketball team wasn't going to let another one get away. The Pride held the lead for almost all of Friday night's game against Souhegan, but in order to secure the win, they needed to make free throws down the stretch. Merrimack Valley did just enough - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division II, boys basketball, Merrimack Valley, slider, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 AMHERST - The Merrimack Valley High School boys basketball team wasn't going to let another one get away. The Pride held the lead for almost all of Friday night's game against Souhegan, but in order to secure the win, they needed to make free throws down the stretch. Merrimack Valley did just enough, going 16 of 29 from the line in the fourth quarter, and gave the Sabers trouble at the other end with its zone defense to collect a 53-44 win in a Division II contest. The win by the Pride (8-9) snaps Souhegan's eight-game win streak, and comes after a one-point loss to John Stark in which Merrimack Valley coach Tim Mucher felt his team let slip through its fingers. "We really wanted to win (Friday) because we let one slip away at John Stark," the coach said. "We learned the hard way the other night, where we were 2 for 22 (at the line). We hoped we would shoot better at the foul line, but that will come. At least we’re getting to the foul line and not settling for jump shots." The Pride shot 20 of 37 overall from the line, with Logan Gabour scoring a game-high 15 points. Trevor Simmonds added 13 points, including three 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Andrew Surpenant was also in double figures with 10 points, including 8 of 12 at the line. But the key to the win for Merrimack Valley was its defense, as it held Souhegan (8-8) to just two points in the first quarter and three through the first 11 minutes of the game. "I think our defense was top notch (Friday)," Mucher said. "We play matchup zone all the time. It’s the feather in our cap. Win, lose or draw, we’re playing it." While it took the Sabers time to figure out where the open looks would be against the zone, when they did, they struggled to make shots. "For us it wasn’t energy, it wasn’t defense, it was poor shooting, both inside the paint and outside the paint," Souhegan coach Peter Pierce said. "That’s where we lost it. They shot the ball better than us. If you can defend and work through a bad shooting night, and not get totally embarrassed, I guess there’s something to that." Weston Hickman led Souhegan with 13 points, hitting two 3s, and Nolan Colby added 11 points, while Sean McCool and Sean Zerega each had six points. The Sabers shot 75 percent from the free throw line, but had just eight attempts. McCool scored the first points of the game to give Souhegan its only lead, but Simmonds answered right away with a 3-pointer on Merrimack Valley's next possession. He added two more 3s before the end of the first and the Pride took an 11-2 lead after one. Gabour opened the second quarter with another 3, and after a pair of free throws by Nicolas Oglesby, Merrimack Valley led 16-3 midway through the quarter. Souhegan woke up on offense after that, closing the half on an 11-1 run to cut the Pride lead to 17-14 at the break. The Sabers continued to chip away in the third quarter and finally tied the game, 24-24, on a three-point play by Colby with 3:29 left in the frame. The teams traded baskets to keep it tied at 26, but from there, Merrimack Valley took control again. Baskets by Luke Dougherty and Gabour gave the Pride a 30-26 lead going into the fourth, and the run continued into the final frame, giving Merrimack Valley a 37-28 lead with just under five minutes to play. "We kind of weathered the storm," Mucher said. "The kids, they battled, they played with fire, they played with passion." Souhegan got back within five points on a basket by Colby with 4:08 to play, but a 3 by Dougherty moments later put Merrimack Valley back up eight. The Sabers starting sending the Pride to the line after that and they made enough free throws to put the game away.