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# St. Thomas boys basketball continues to roll in win over Campbell
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/st-thomas-boys-basketball-continues-to-roll-in-win-over-campbell/
- Published: 2024-01-13T14:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-01-13T14:00:00.000Z
- Description: DOVER – It’s rare that a team with championship aspirations would turn to a freshman to start at point guard. But that’s what the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys basketball team has in Cole McClure, who has been directing the Saints with a calm maturity.
- Author: Dan Doyon
- Tags: Division III-IV, boys basketball, Campbell, Division III, slider, St. Thomas, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

DOVER – It’s rare that a team with championship aspirations would turn to a freshman to start at point guard.

But that’s what the St. Thomas Aquinas High School boys basketball team has in Cole McClure, who has been directing the Saints with a calm maturity.

McClure’s transition has been made a lot easier since he has senior and Player-of-the-Year candidate Will Mollica at his disposal, and thus far, the duo has the Saints rolling into the second half of the season.

With Mollica in early foul trouble during Friday night’s game against Campbell, McClure guided St. Thomas to an eight-point halftime lead before Mollica returned for a 14-7 third quarter for the Saints en route to a 47-39 Division III victory. McClure finished with a game-high 14 points, while Mollica added 13.

“To be honest with you, it’s been a lot easier than you’d think,” McClure said. “I have great leaders on this team like Will and Carson Couperthwait. I’m just working hard every day and I’ve got a great group around me.”

Mollica said that McClure has stepped in flawlessly onto a team that went 17-2 and lost to Mascoma Valley in the D3 semifinals. The Saints’ 8-1 start to this season includes an impressive 45-39 road victory over four-time defending D3 champion Gilford (5-2).

“I’ve never seen a better kid step into the role and do a better job than him,” Mollica said. "We’re all family here and he’s joined right in. He’s a brother to me, he’s a brother to everyone. He works hard every day and he’s there doing everything."

St. Thomas coach Dave Morissette has complete confidence in the way McClure has run the team and he’s noticed that opposing coaches are now making it a focal point to try to slow him down, which only opens up more opportunities for Mollica.

McClure and Anthony Settininen each drained 3-pointers in St. Thomas’ 8-0 start to the game, a lead that grew to 15-5 following another trey by McClure and Declan Healy’s transition feed to Settininen at the end of the first quarter.

“Cole for a freshman is beyond his years,” Morissette said. “Tonight, he didn’t have his best night but still controlled the game and who was there No. 1 focus tonight? They went after him. That says a lot of a 14-year old kid. He’s a special kid”

Mollica picked up his third foul early in the second quarter and was held scoreless through a first half that saw St. Thomas leading 24-16.

He immediately changed that by scoring St. Thomas’ first five points of the third quarter before McClure extended a 12-2 run to begin the frame with a 3-pointer and a transition layup off a pass from Mollica to give the Saints a 36-18 lead late in the quarter.

“I didn’t score in the first half; I didn’t even look at the hoop,” Mollica said. “Third quarter I came out and said I’ve got to go to the rim and put something in. (McClure) was looking at the rim, I was looking at the rim, we’re working together and getting all the guys involved and put some points on the board and that’s what we did.”

Campbell coach Justin DiBennedetto was already familiar with Mollica and McClure following a 63-54 loss to the Saints in Litchfield last month. Logan Rice led Campbell (5-4) with 11 points.

“What we wanted to do was to neutralize (McClure), which we didn’t do a good job of, and slow down (Mollica) who I think is the runaway Player of the Year,” DiBennedetto said. “I think those are the two best players in the division.”