Nashua South basketball hoping hard work translates to season

The Nashua High School South boys basketball team has put in the work. Now it’s time to see if it will pay off.

The Panthers returned to the postseason last year, after failing to make the playoffs for the time in program history in 2010, but in the last two seasons, South has won just nine games. Injuries, luck and transfers have played a part, but the players spent the offseason doing whatever they could to turn things around.

“A lot of these kids have been around, but when you win nine games over two years, you either pack it in or you get callused to it and do something to make it different,” South coach Nate Mazerolle said. “The intensity and the toughness we’ve lacked over the last two years, at times, has reared its head. That’s a step in the right direction.”

Leading the way for the Panthers have been senior captains Anthony Muccioli and Michael Dunham. According to Mazerolle, the two were elected for a reason.

“Their effort and work in the offseason,” he said. “They’re both vocal leaders. (Senior) Kevin Morrissey has been a leader and worked hard.”

South also returns two players who saw plenty of varsity time as freshmen in Yordy Tavarez and Tim Preston, and both will be counted on to perform as sophomores.

“Both will likely start,” Mazerolle said. “They’re playing tough and they’re mature and strong and better. (Junior) David Dunham is another kid who has had a nice offseason. He’s a kid who I think is going to surprise people.”

Mazerolle is encouraged by the fact that the players seem to be meshing, and one aspect of that has been an improvement on defense. Last year, because of some defensive shortcomings, the coach switched to a zone at times. While that might not be as much of a necessity this year, knowing the Panthers can play it could come in handy.

“We’re showing signs of being able to play some defense,” Mazerolle said. “I put in a 2-3 zone. First time in my 12 years and that’s because it was a necessity. That’s not to say we won’t use it this year, because we have length and there might be matchup issues with some quicker teams. I have liked the initial stages of our defense. That could end up being a strength of ours.”

South opens the season Friday night at home against Concord and its next two division games are at Salem and at Bishop Guertin. In between those two road games, the Panthers will host this year’s Chick-fil-A Holiday Tournament.

And in a few months, the Panthers hope to be playing in another tournament.

“I think it’s going to be a little bit wide open,” Mazerolle said. “I’d like to think that we can compete with anybody.”