Around the Granite State: Merrimack boys basketball holds off Spaulding (video)
Here are results from Thursday’s high school basketball action.
MERRIMACK – The Merrimack High School boys basketball team successfully defended two final possessions for Spaulding in the final 30 seconds to hang on for a 53-50 win Thursday night.
Brody Towle stole the ball and scored in transition to put the Tomahawks up three points with just over 20 seconds to play, and the Red Raiders were able to connect on a 3-point attempt in the final seconds.
Mikey Flerra led all scorers with 17 points, as he hit five 3s in the first half, and scored his only points of the second on two free throws with 56.6 seconds left to give Merrimack (2-1 in Division I) the lead for good.
Nate Johnson and Noah Morrison each added 10 points for the Tomahawks and Towle and Ryan Elliott each had five points.
Spaulding (1-2) got 16 points from Kyran Jeanpierre, including two 3-pointers, while Marcel Rose had 11 points and Brayden Crittenden had nine points.
The Red Raiders took a 13-3 lead early in the first quarter, but Merrimack ended the frame with a 15-4 run to go up 18-17. The Tomahawks held that lead until the fourth quarter, despite scoring just 17 points in the second half.
A 3 by Rose gave Spaulding a 50-49 lead – it’s only one after the first quarter – with 2:35 to play, but the Red Raiders wouldn’t score the rest of the way.
Merrimack Valley 59, Laconia 52
The Pride were able to battle the Sachems for a win in their first home game of the year.
Boston Bradicich had a big game for Merrimack Valley (3-0) with 14 points, 23 rebounds and three blocks. Nic Oglesby added 19 points, nine boards and four steals.
Manchester Central 49, Windham 48
The Jaguars came up short against the Little Green, despite getting 17 points from Jack Koutrobis and 13 points from Sam Roidoulis.
Girls Basketball
Nashua South 55, Timberlane 51
Nicole De Jesus scored 20 points to lead the Panthers to a win over the Owls.
Karina O’Donnell added 16 points for South (2-1 in D1) and Addie Borden recorded 12 markers.
Sam Mooney led Timberlane (2-1) with 19 points while Ella Lampron also finished in double figures with 14 points. Rylee Donohue chipped in eight points.
Merrimack 37, Spaulding 31
The Tomahawks went on the road to pick up their first win against the Red Raiders.
Abby Herod led Merrimack with 16 points while Avary Cruz dropped in seven points. The Tomahawks hit a handful of key free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Damiya Perkins led Spaulding with 11 points and Meagan Uraskevich added seven points.
Alvirne 51, Keene 44
The Broncos improved to 3-0 on the year with a home win over the Blackbirds. Ella Hartson led Alvirne with 14 points.
McKenna Nelson and Harper Zalanski each had 12 points to lead Keene with Zalanski also grabbing 12 rebounds. Lucy Timmer added seven points and eight boards.
Pinkerton 82, Concord 32
The Astros rolled past the Crimson Tide behind a 20-point game from Sydney Gerossie.
Mia Marshall was also in double figures with 14 points while Brooke Benz and Kaylee Dupuis each added 13 points.
Salem 59, Goffstown 17
Lily George scored 12 of her 13 points in the first quarter as the Blue Devils took a 26-0 lead against the Grizzlies.
Lindsay Goetz led Salem with 17 points and Ella Musto added 10 points.
Goffstown got six points from Reece Still.
Exeter 57, Portsmouth 39
The Blue Hawks picked up a win over the Clippers behind a big game from Lexy Rogers.
The sophomore scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Karli Scherpf had 12 points and four steals. Nicole Melick had seven points and six boards and Anna McGuinness had seven points and four assists.
Dover 72, Nashua North 65
The Titans trailed by just two points with a minute left before the Green Wave pulled away for the win.
Madelyn Tino had 20 points to lead North while Angie King added 16 points and Aidan Walker scored 15.
Dover got 34 points from Lily Nosif.
Results posted in the roundup have been submitted. If you would like your results to be included, either the head coach or someone assigned by the head coach can do so by emailing nhhighschoolsports@gmail.com or by submitting them here.
