Holy Family boys make it 3-for-3 against familiar foe

MANCHESTER, NH – With a decisive 54-41 home victory over Mascenic Regional High School Wednesday night, the Holy Family boys basketball team secured a fourth-straight winning season.

The Griffins, in fact,  have not only finished among the top eight teams in Division I-V each year since joining NHIAA competitive play ahead of the 2020-’21 season, they’ve advanced at least to the state semifinals during each of those campaigns, a streak Holy Family head coach Keith Lacasse and his players hope to continue this year.

“I think we’re starting to play like a playoff team,” said Lacasse. “I’d like to get more guys more minutes, tonight, but it was too close for too long.

That was due, in large part, to the grit of the Mascenic players who had experienced a 78-44 home setback against the Griffins on Dec. 14 and then a 79-60 home loss to the same foes on Jan. 17.

“We were prepped. You know, it was the third time around, I think we watched their sets enough and watched enough film,” said Mascenic head coach Nick Tzannos. “From a basketball, defensive lens, this was our best game.”

After his team recovered from an early 9-2 deficit to finish the first quarter on a 7-3 run, Tzannos pointed to a four-possession stretch in the second quarter where Holy Family was able to create turnovers and then convert on the other end of the court as the differentiator between the two squads in this particular contest.

“I preach all the time, this is a game of runs, and if you’re on the wrong side of it, no matter how hard you chip the rest of the game – against an all-senior team like that, a team that’s big and strong and physical, a team that’s going to body you every possession – sometimes that’s all that does it.”

The Griffins outscored the visitors by 10 in the second quarter, to take a 33-20 lead into the locker room, extended their lead to 17 points after three, and then held off a fourth quarter push to secure the 513-point triumph.

“It doesn’t feel like it should,” said Lacasse. “We struggled offensively. We had guys that put the layups in in routinely that never miss that couldn’t finish. Part of it may be a lot of contract down low. (The referees) were letting them play, but we need to tighten up the timing of the offense. If the timing’s off, the whole play breaks down.”

Still, Holy Family improved to 10-4 with the win and currently sit sixth in the D-IV standings.

The Griffins have four remaining regular-season games beginning with a home tilt against 4-8 Wilton-Lyndeborough at 6:30 p.m. this Friday. They host 5-9 Epping Wednesday and then travel to 5-8 Newmarket next Friday for a 7 p.m. tipoff before returning home to celebrate Senior Night on Monday, Feb. 12 when they welcome 9-5 Portsmouth Christina to town for a top-eight clash (and potential playoff preview) at 6:30 p.m.

“They’re all must-wins,” said Lacasse. “They’re all games we should win. They’re all teams I believe we’ve played already. I think the toughest game will be our last game agains PCA, and I think if we do well in that game, we’ll be in good position to go into the playoffs.”

“Holy Family is a great team. They’re top eight for a reason, They’re going to host a first-round playoff game for a reason,” said Tzannos.”They were in the championship game last year, so they have the experience. The three seniors they had last year graduated and now it’s last year’s juniors time to step up and they were ready for it, so I’m excited to see how they finish … I’m rooting for them in the playoffs.”

Against anyone but his team, of course.

Mascenic, which sits on the playoff bubble, carries its 5-9 record back to Manchester Friday for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff against Derryfield, which is still undefeated in D-IV play, but then closeout the regular season with a three-game stretch of winnable games. The Vikings travel to 5-7 Hinsdale and 6-7 Concord Christian on Monday and Thursday, respectively, before concluding with a home game against 4-8 Wilton-Lyndeborough.

“I believe in them,” said Tzannos. “I tell my young group, the odds are against them a lot, so use that to motivate you.”

Game notes: It was a divided scoring effort for Holy Family with senior captain Gabe Lacasse leading the team with 14 points despite sitting much if the fourth quarter. Danny Henry and Jeremiah Guereero contributed 10 points apiece, and Enzo Yonkeu dropped eight points and Patrick Gillis offered six markers.

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