Nashua South boys basketball grinds out playoff win over Merrimack

NASHUA – His presence was felt all over the Belanger Gym, even though he no longer coaches the Merrimack High School boys basketball team.

That's because the No. 13 Tomahawks still play the style of former longtime coach Tim Goodridge, defense-first, keep-the-score-low pace.

That's why Nashua South coach Nate Mazerolle breathed a sigh of relief after his No. 4 Panthers escaped in Wednesday night's Divison I preliminary round, 38-32.

Sure, he would have thought that his team would have been comfortably ahead even though its opponent had just 18 points after three periods. Except...

“Only if it wasn't Merrimack,” Mazerolle said. “Because Austin (Tomahawks coach Denton) comes from the Tim Goodridge fantastic coaching tree. Austin knows the game. Austin does a fantastic job. I had a feeling it was going to be low scoring.”

But like this? Remember, South had beaten Merrimack 66-43 here just two weeks ago. It looked like a replay when South (15-4) had jumped out to a 14-2 lead, as the Tomahawks went scoreless for the first 6:35 of the game.

Yet they trailed only 20-16 at the half and still made it a game after being down 28-18 after three, closing to 30-29 on a David Roy layup with 2:11 left. It was still 34-32 after a Luke Desfosses 3-pointer with 18.8 seconds left.

But it was too little too late, because Panthers sophomore Josh Caruso was as cool as a cucumber, hitting four straight free throws down the stretch.

“That's what I work for,” Caruso, who had eight points, said. “Every day, after I work out every day it's straight free throws. I knew I wasn't missing those.

“They tried to slow the game down and we had to adjust. We came out here and made it work.”

Work is what the Tomahawks (7-12) did all night but it will be the Panthers advancing, hosting city-rival Bishop Guertin on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Guertin zipped by Alvirne, 50-34.

“I just wish we had hit some shots,” Denton said. “We had great looks all night. We just couldn't hit our shots, and that's what it came down to. If we hit the shots, I hate to say it, we would've been up 20.

“The kids did terrific. They stuck to the game plan, they defended the hell out of (South). I can't say enough about those guys and what they did.”

Matt Valluzzi hit a huge 3-pointer for the 'Hawks to beat the first quarter buzzer, making it 14-5 after one but that gave his team momentum. He was actually Merrimack's second-highest scorer with just five points, the 'Hawks played the third like the played the first, and didn't score until game-high scorer Isaac Ynfante put home two of his 15 points with 1:45 left in the period.

The problem for South, though, was it couldn't take advantage. Sure, the Panthers were up 10 going into the fourth, but certainly had to feel they should have been up by more.

They, too had just one double figure scorer on the night, sophomore Alize Roig-Cortes, with 13 points. But it was telling that scorers Caruso and Zach Castonguay combined for 15 points, when they each were scoring that during the regular season with their eyes closed.

“We got out to that lead early, then our shot selection got a little off,” Mazerolle said. “Great game plan (for Merrimack). It looked like there were some nerves out there. Hopefully (in the quarters) we find a little more rhythm. We broke from what we do running, and they did a great job and took us out of our rhythm.”

South's rhythm had to come from the foul line as they went 16 of 20 overall. The other clutch South performer was 6-9 center Denis Wainaina, who hit 3 of 4 from the line in the final minute..

“Josh, if he misses, I'm shocked,” Mazerolle said. “Denis, he's been working his tail off on 'em. Those were huge. For him to make those as a senior, he didn't want his season to end.

“Survive and advance, right?”

This story was provided by Tom King of the Nashua Telegraph.