Nashua South Notebook: Up-tempo play suits Panthers just fine

Editor’s Note: This is a new weekly feature that will be posted every Friday through the end of the school year. South coaches can submit info to nhhighschoolsports@gmail.com. 

NASHUA – The Nashua High School South girls basketball team wrote its blueprint for success during last week’s Holiday Basketball Tournament.

The Panthers used a full-court pressure defense and some great perimeter shooting to take apart Souhegan and Nashua North on the way to a tournament title. South’s point differential in the two games was plus-63 and the Panthers hit a total of 16 3-pointers, 11 in the championship game against the Titans.

But playing that style of basketball isn’t something South coach John Bourgeois is having his team do because he likes it. Rather, the Panthers coach feels its necessary for the players to play that way to be successful because of a lack of height.

“That’s got to be our edge this season,” Bourgeois said. “We’re trying to sneak some games out this year, but it has to start with our defense. That’s our identity. We have a long way to go, but that was a really good rep for us.”

While South may lack the size needed to battle inside against some of the taller teams in Division I, what it does have is depth. Everyone on the roster contributed to the suffocating defense the Panthers utilized against Souhegan and North, and six players had at least one 3 in the two tournament games.

“The beauty of this team is that anyone can step up, as you saw,” Bourgeois said. “Anyone can fight for a loose ball. Anyone can get a tough rebound. Anyone can make a 3. We’re really trying to work together as a team. We have 11 kids who can really compete together.”

With an off day on Tuesday, the Panthers will be playing their first game in over a week when they go to Trinity for a 6:30 p.m. start Friday night.

“I think we took a step forward,” Bourgeois said. “We were just focused on the details of our defense and offense the last two days. Whether we win or lose, we’re looking for improvement.”

Gymnastics

Panthers win opening meet

Competing as a team for the first time this year, South finished first with 106.95 points to come in ahead of Dover and Spaulding at a meet at Noha’s Gymnastics Academy in Manchester.

Renee Glidden and Nina Somorrostro both competed in the all-around for the Panthers, recording their highest scores on a half-on, half-off vault. Abby Herlihy competed on bars, floor and vault, with her best score coming on vault (8.3).

Abbey Herbert and Binita Rana also competed on bars, beam and vault and Sophia Collins completed on floor.

Up next: The Panthers’ meet scheduled for Sunday has been canceled. South will return to action at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21 at A2 Gym & Cheer in Pelham.

Boys Hockey

South-Pelham picks up first win 

The Kings grabbed their first win of the regular season on Wednesday, beating Alvirne-Milford 2-1.

Brendon Doughty and Gavin Asimakopulos each had a goal for South-Pelham (1-2) while Cam Cooke added an assist and Riley Pelletier made 37 saves in goal.

Ryan Arnesen played a solid game for the Kings, recording a career high in hits while Andrew Byrne also played a strong two-way game.

Up Next: South-Pelham will host Keene on Saturday at 2:10 p.m.

Track

Boys take first

The Panthers competed in the afternoon session at Plymouth State University on Dec. 30, recording 105 points to finish first. Hanover was second with 70.

Ethan Schnyer led South with a first-place finish in the high jump, clearing 5-10, while also taking sixth in the 55-meter dash (6.99). Michael Menezes placed fourth in the 55 (6.9) and was fourth in the 300 (39.11). and Ryan Jansen took third in the 300 (38.91).

Elyza Mercado came in first in the shot put with a throw of 42-feet, 10.5-inches, while Raymond Karuru was fourth in the shot put (36-1). Preston Bois came in third in the 55 hurdles (9.05) and fourth in the high jump (5-4) while Mason Joshi was fifth in the 55 hurdles (9.37).

Micah Allard (second, 1:39.5) and Camdon Brien (fourth, 1:33.32) each placed in the 600 while Ryan DuVarney was second (2:47.43) and Matthew Motherway was fifth (2:51.36) in the 1,000.

Dante Castellano took second in the 1,500 (4:18.71) while Cameron Patronick was third (4:20.28) in the same race.

Menezes, Jansen, Schnyer and Karuru won the 800-meter relay in 1:39.63, while Allard Brien, DuVarney and Rishi Keeshakada took second in the 1,600-meter relay, finishing in 3:58.45.

Girls run away with meet

South racked up 104 points to take first at the afternoon session at Plymouth State University on Dec. 30. Spaulding was second with 58.

Alejandra Chavarin had a big day for the Panthers, finishing first in the long jump (15-4.75) and second in the 55 (7.93) while teaming with Pearl Nelson, Nevaeh Eppolito and Penelope Rodriguez to win the 800-meter relay in 1:59.74.

Eppolito was also first in the 300 (45.32) while Nelson took sixth in the 55 (8.28). Lauren Dillaby and Rodriguez finished first and second, respectively, in the high jump, with each clearing 4-8.

Marissa Abbis and Chloe Cruz also finished one-two in the shot put, with Abbis taking first on a throw of 29-7.25 and Cruz following at 29.3.

Zelena Long (fifth, 2:03.14) and Caroline Kelly (sixth, 2:05.46) each placed in the 600 and Ariana Marengo took second in the 1,000 (3:35.55). The trio teamed with Madalyn Bartnicki to finish fourth in the 1,600 relay (5:00.5).

Isabella Chemim came in second in the 1,500 (6:17.87) while Genesis Baez Alcantara finished third (6:29.97) in the same event.

Up next: Both South teams will compete at 4 p.m. Saturday at UNH.

Alpine Skiing

Panthers open the season

Skiers from South competed at Pats Peak to open the season on Thursday, with neither team qualifying for the team results.

Timmy Crook finished second on the boys’ side, with runs of 21.67 and 21.15 to combine for a time of 42.82. Matthew Walters was 28th at 1:00.44 and Chase Swisher was 49th at 1:35.3.

On the girls’ side, Olivia McGadden came in 43rd, with runs of 33.54 and 36.54 to combine for 1:10.08.

Up next: South will compete in a meet on Jan. 11 at Pats Peak.

Wrestling

South falls to Londonderry

The Panthers dropped a dual meet at home to the Lancers, 36-14, on Wednesday.

Connor Whitman got a pin of Lachlan Buttle at 38 seconds of the 165-pound match, while Ian McCubrey pinned Gabriel Mosley 41 seconds into their match at 285.

Benjamin Byrne also got a win for South, beat Brendan Egan 12-10 at 144.

Up next: South will host the Paul Bellavance Hall of Fame Tournament on Saturday.

Upcoming Schedule

• Boys Basketball: the Panthers host Trinity at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
• Swimming: Sunday’s meet has been canceled, so the Panthers don’t return to action until Jan. 20.
• Unified Basketball: South heads to Bedford for a 3 p.m. game on Monday.