Nashua North's Kaitlyn Laurendi tries to get a piece of Merrimack's Emma Valluzzi's layup attempt during the Tomahawks' 40-29 win at Titans Gym on Friday night. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Perhaps the Nashua High School North girls basketball team ran into the Merrimack Tomahawks at the worst possible time.

That’s because right now is the best of time for the ‘Hawks. They’ve now won three in a row, including Friday’s 40-29 road win over the Titans, to improvee to 5-3.

“I think we’ve learned a lot,” Merrimack coach Bryan Duggan said. “We need to do those little things, especially defensively, to keep us in the games.”

And holding a Titans team that North coach Curt Dutilley admits lacks a polished go-to scorer to 29 points is certainly an example of that. Especially after Merrimack jumped out to a 12-0 lead, only to see the Titans claw to within 16-13 by halftime and actually take a 17-16 lead early in the third quarter.

“We were trying to do too much,” Duggan said. “Our energy is going to come from that defensive end, that’s what will spark us.”

And thus the ‘Hawks held North to 12 points the rest of the way, using that defensive spark. But they also got some pretty hoops on quick cuts to the basket, and some well-timed 3-pointes.

“We had to climb out of a hole,” Dutilley said. “Then in the third quarter I thought they executed a few plays very well that got them a couple of back door uncontested layups. Then the gap was re-created.”

Those were made by Gillian Waller and Erin Valluzzi, but Waller and Keira Bike were good from the outside. They finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Victoria Conrad led North (1-5) with 10 points, the only Titan in double figures.

“We don’t have a natural scorer,” Dutilley said, “so we’ve had to manufacture points. But this group will never quit. They’re always going to fight all the way to the end.”

Conversely, a lot of teams would have sagged after the Titans had rallied to grab the lead. But Merimack instead went on a 16-6 run to take a 32-23 lead into the final eight minutes, and were never threatened the rest of the way.

“That’s the thing we’re trying to preach to these girls every time, Duggan said. “New possession, every possession, you’ve got to continue to compete. …

“It’s good to get punched in the face, and be able to bounce back.”

And that’s ironically what the Titans have to do, as they have a 1 p.m. game today at home vs. rival Nashua South.

“That’s what we spent a lot of time talking about,” Dutilley said. “Re-focusing our mind for tomorrow. Got to turn it back around as quick as possible.

“We now feel like we’re up to our fitness level, so we can be a little more aggressive going forward.”

Today would be a great time, vs. a city rival, to start.

SECOND RIVALRY GAME ADDED

A second North-South girls game was added to the schedule for next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Nashua South.

However, the teams decided to keep today’s tribute to late legendary Nashua girls coach John Fagula as scheduled. The teams will wear special T-shirts, and there will be a moment of silence. Also, possibly there will be posters filled with written tributes by former players decorating the gym walls.

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