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# Milford boys basketball knocks off Souhegan despite slow start (video)
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/milford-boys-basketball-knocks-off-souhegan-despite-slow-start-video/
- Published: 2017-12-16T16:14:05.000Z
- Updated: 2017-12-16T16:14:05.000Z
- Description: MILFORD - Dan Murray knew his Milford High School boys basketball team had a lot of growing up to do. The Spartans coach was a little surprised to see it happen in the first half of the team's first varsity game Friday night against Souhegan. After falling behind early, Milford was able to stay in t
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division II, boys basketball, Milford, slider, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

MILFORD - Dan Murray knew his Milford High School boys basketball team had a lot of growing up to do.

The Spartans coach was a little surprised to see it happen in the first half of the team's first varsity game Friday night against Souhegan.

After falling behind early, Milford was able to stay in the game thanks to senior Jamie Pare, and in the second half, the Spartans started to put everything together in a 64-52 win over the Sabers in Division II action.

Pare scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half, as Milford (1-0) trailed until the final 22 seconds, and Max Fortin scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, as the Spartans started to pull away late in the third quarter. Sam Santaniello was also in double figures with 10 points.

"They grew up a little bit," Murray said. "It’s a brand-new team and they haven’t played much together. The first half was pretty indicative of a young team. We settled down and started playing a little bit."

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/jmshsmhsbball121517-s11m20-wm.jpg)

Milford's Jamie Pare tries to get by Souhegan's Andersen Geffrard. (Photo by NH-HighSchoolSports.com)

Souhegan (0-1) got 15 points from Andersen Geffrard while Matthew McCool came off the bench to add 11 points and Ryan Hickey chipped in with nine. But the Sabers battled with foul trouble throughout the game, as Geffrard and Max Leonard both sat for most of the first half with three fouls each, and Leonard fouled out with 4:47 left in the game.

The Sabers were able to get out to a 7-2 lead early and went up 17-11 in the final minute of the first quarter on back-to-back baskets by Jordan Lau Quan. But a three-point play by Milford's Jake Greska with 19.7 seconds left in the quarter made it a 19-14 Souhegan lead after one.

That would be the Spartans only field goal for an almost seven-minute stretch, but they were able to stay in the game by going 9 of 11 from the free throw line and holding Souhegan to eight points in the second quarter.

A 3-pointer by Pare - after three offensive rebounds by Milford - cut the Sabers' lead to 25-24 with 2:16 left in the first half, and three-point play with 22.5 seconds left by the senior gave the Spartans their first lead, 28-27, at the break.

"I feel like I had to pick up the energy a little bit," Pare said. "The younger guys coming in, they’re going to be a little nervous. Trying to amp them up and get that adrenaline going for them is going to be key because they’re not used to it."

Those younger players found their stride in the second half, as Greska and Santaniello hit back-to-back 3s early in the third quarter to give Milford a 34-29 lead. Geffrard scored on two consecutive possessions to get the Sabers back within one, but the Spartans went on an 11-2 run to go up 45-35.

Back-to-back layups by Fortin to open the fourth quarter helped stretch the lead to 51-37 before Souhegan was able to chip away.

"Fortin played really well (Friday)," Murray said. "After getting blocked by the big guy (McCool), he kept coming right at him. I think we were really tough on the boards. (Despite) being so small, a number of guys were in there and boxing out."

The Sabers got within nine points but with Souhegan forced to press late in the game, Milford was able to get a couple of easy baskets down the stretch to keep a comfortable lead.