Nashua South's Rhett Medling loses the handle going up for a shot against Merrimack's Rhett Medling during the Panthers' 51-42 win Friday night at the Belanger Gym. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The Nashua High School South boys basketball team left the door ajar just a bit on Friday night.

However, the Merrimack Tomahawks failed to pull it open and walk right in, as South took its second game in three nights over its local rival, 51-42 at the Belanger Gym.

It wasn’t as easy as Wednesday’s 17-point win, however.

“We had a great game (then),” South coach Nate Mazerolle said. “Won by 17 on the road. No matter how many times you tell high school kids…”

Mazerolle pointed to the words “No Letdown” on his white board.

“We went through the motions at times,” he said. “But we did enough to win. Not only were they looking behind, they’re looking ahead to Sunday (and a rematch with Nashua North) as well.”

The Panthers led 19-11 at the end of the first quarter, thanks to Jeremiah Mitchell’s buzzer beating 3-pointer.

Merrimack, though, held the Panthers scoreless for the first six minutes of the second period to take a 20-19 lead.

But then South went on an 8-0 run to end the half, keyed by Rhett Medling’s (game-high 18 points) play inside for a 27-20 halftime lead.

They then rode another buzzer beater by Cody Rocheleau (eight points) to take a 40-30 lead into the final quarter. The lead grew to 13 over the final eight minutes.

Alex Hulfachor added 10 and Mitchell nine for South, now 3-2.

Remember, this is a young ‘Hawks team with no seniors.

“We struggled with some turnovers,” Merrimack coach Austin Denton said, his team falling to 1-6. “Made some mistakes, and we didn’t shoot the ball very well either. … We’ve got to get back in transition, they beat us up and down the floor.

“We did OK. We have a lot to learn.”

Jack Tarleton continued his fine play, leading Merrimack with 17 points. Issac Ynfante added seven.

“He’s great,” Denton said of Tarleton. “He’s averaging like 18 for us I think. He’s playing well.”

Mazerolle worked with his bench on Friday, players who haven’t had a ton of time together. His starters have chemistry, but now he’s concerned about an injury to freshman sparkplug Zach Castonguay, who played well last Sunday vs. North and the other night. He’s a maybe for Sunday.

“We are at a different pace with him on the floor,” Mazerolle said. “But the guys who were on the floor tonight did a really nice job.”

And thus the door closed.