Alvine's Liam O'Neil, shown during a game earlier this season, had 15 points to help the Broncos top Keene Thursday nght to advance to the Division I quarterfinals. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The area is down to two high school boys basketball teams still playing in the postseason, and they will square off against each other on Saturday in Hudson.

The Alvirne Broncos made sure of that, by holding off a tough Keene team in the final few minutes to secure a 51-42 win. That gives Alvirne a home date with local rival Bishop Guertin Saturday, likely at 5 p.m., in the Division I quarterfinals (Region Four final).

Merrimack, Milford and Hollis Brookline all exited the tournaments, which leaves two.

The Campbell girls are still going strong, however, and they could be a threat in Division III, as they topped St. Thomas last night and now will host Prospect Mountain in Sunday’s quarters.

Here is the local rundown.

BOYS BASKETBALL

DIVISION I PRELIMS

ALVIRNE 51,

KEENE 42

The visiting 8-3 Broncos led 20-10 after the first half and 37-21 after three before the Blackbirds began a furious comeback.

However, Alvirne hit seven of 10 free throws in the fourth period to secure the win.

Jacob Hibbard led the Broncos with 16 points while Liam O’Neil added 15 and Brendan Graham 13 points and 12 rebounds.

The Broncos got tough man-to-man defense from Kyle and Anthony Ferullo while guard Charlie Thomas did a good job breaking Keene’s pressure, especially late.

Alex Charles lit it up for Keene in the second half, scoring 20 of his game-high 22 points during that time.

TIMBERLANE 52,

MERRIMACK 40

The Tomahawks (1-14) played the Owls tough, but ended up seeing their season end as Timberlane pulled away in the second half.

Timberlane will now be at Londonderry, which knocked off Pinkerton 66-58, in the quarters on Saturday.

DIVISION II PRELIMS

REGION TWO SEMIS

MANCHESTER WEST 61,

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 49

The Blue Knights jumped out to an 18-7 lead, led 29-20 at the half, and held off the Cavs when they closed to 29-27 in the third period to lead 43-31 by quarter’s end.

West’s man-to-man defense bothered the Cavs, who were led by Matt Diaz with 18 points and Adam Razzaboni with 14.

HB got to within six but the Blue Knights put the game away with 14 of 21 shooting from the foul line in the fourth period. Aiden Scott-Beaulac had 16 while Sheer Akot had 13 points for West, which now will visit Pelham in the regional final/Division II quarters.

PELHAM 56,

MILFORD 32

The Spartans cut things to 44-29 in the fourth quarter but the Pythons ended up pulling away, as Jake McGlinchey and Jake Dumont combined for 34 of the team’s 56 points.

Nick Sloan and Ryon Constable led Milford with nine points each.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

DIVISION III PRELIMS

CAMPBELL 50,

ST. THOMAS 37

The Saints led 9-8 early in the second quarter bu then the Cougars went on a run to improve to 9-2 and advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals vs. Prospect Mountain in Litchfield at 2 p.m.

Tori Allen had 20 points for Campbell, while Karliegh Schultz had 10 and both recorded double digits in rebounds. Maddie Davis recorded a season-high 11 points with three 3-pointers, and Riley Gamache added seven.

TONIGHT’S GAMES

It’s time for the Bishop Guertin girls basketball team to take the floor, and it will be against rival Nashua South, which gave the Cards a tough time for a half 10 days ago. Game time in the Division I prelim/Region Four semi will be 6 p.m. at the Colligadome.

Nashua North would love to face BG or South in an all-city regional final Sunday. To do that the Titans have to beat Keene tonight on the road at 6 p.m. Merrimack, meanwhile, will host Windham in a Region 3 semi/Divison I prelim at 6 p.m. Merrimack split with Windham during the season.

Fnally, the Hollis Brookline girls basketball team starts its tourney quest, hosting Milford at 6 p.m. in the Division II prelims/Region Two semis. HB has beaten the Spartans twice already this season

And finally, let’s not forget the Bishop Guertin girls hockey team. They will host Keene-Monadnock-Fall Mountain in the Division I quarterfinals today at 6 p.m. at Hudson’s Cyclones Arena. The winner advances to Tuesday’s semifinals at Concord’s Everett Arena.

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