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# Zone defense gives Bedford boys basketball another look
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/zone-defense-gives-bedford-boys-basketball-another-look/
- Published: 2017-01-10T21:51:30.000Z
- Updated: 2017-01-10T21:51:30.000Z
- Description: It didn't happen often last year, but there were times that the Bedford High School boys basketball team would drop back into a zone defense.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, Bedford, boys basketball, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

It didn't happen often last year, but there were times that the Bedford High School boys basketball team would drop back into a zone defense.

This year, with a different group of players on the court during Mark Elmendorf's second year as head coach, the Bulldogs have turned to the zone as one of their primary defenses.

"I think we've got good athletes who can run it well and we can put a lot of pressure on the ball when we play that and we can still create turnovers," Elmendorf said. "We extend it a little higher than some teams, but we've got quick guards. When we're playing that, we've got kids who come off the bench who stay in it, which is nice."

That ability and commitment has paid off, as Bedford is off to a 4-1 start in Division I and turned in one of the best defensive performances of the year, holding Merrimack to just 13 points.

But even the zone isn't working, like in the first half of last Friday's 49-48 win over Nashua South, the Bulldogs are able to switch into something else at a moments notice. Late in the first half, Elmendorf made a call from the sideline, and Bedford was able to switch and matchup as play was happening.

"I just call it and they match up and we go," Elmendorf said. "We practice like crazy on it every day, so that’s not hard for them."

Against the Panthers, the switch worked to a certain degree in the second half, as Bedford held South's Kevin Genao to just five of his game-high 19 points after halftime. They also held the Panthers to four points over the game's final four minutes.

Offensively, there's little pressure on any one player to carry the load, and if someone is having a bad shooting night, he doesn't have to worry about getting the hook.

"The kids know they're not going to get taken out of the game if they miss shots," Elmendorf said. "(Against South ) Troy Meservey didn't shoot well at all, but he played all 32 minutes. Max (Chartier) missed a few shots that he will 99.9 percent of the time, he will hit.

"They're the best kids. We have a great leadership from our seniors, our junior class is very talented, it's the best group of kids I've ever coached."

Bedford has a tough stretch coming up, with road games at Winnacunnet on Friday, and at Portsmouth on Jan. 20.