Dylan Santosuosso hopes to help lead Bishop Guertin to a Division I title today vs. Winnacunnet. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Fun, fun, and more fun.

That’s what this trip to the Division I high school boys basketball finals has been for Bishop Guertin.

The Cardinals (17-5) take on Winnacunnet today at 6 p.m. at Oyster River High School in Durham for all the marbles, and Cards coach John Fisher feels his players will savor the moment.

“The kids are very excited and obviously this the opportunity of a lifetime for young people who have spent their lives playing basketball,” Fisher said. “They’ve worked really hard but also have been having a lot of fun. … If we keep it fun, then we’ll have our best game.”

Winnacunnet, meanwhile, has won the big prize twice, first in 1966, then again in 1992. It’s the same for the Cardinals, who beat Nashua in 1983 and then Trinity just 10 years ago.

The Cards are deep, and have physical length. Their top two scorers, seniors Nate Kane and Dylan Santosuosso, are their biggest keys, but there are others who can get the job done, such as 6-2 senior John Sullivan, six-foot senior Jordan Robichaud, and 6-5 senior center Lucas Baker. And 6-6 sophomore Javari Ellison, the second former Nashua North player on the roster with Kane, has length and is big off the bench.

The Warriors, meanwhile, can pose problems. They avenged three close losses by upsetting Exeter in the prelims, then beat Portsmouth in the quarters and Trinity in the semis. Guertin battled out of the area regional with wins over Nashua South, North, and Alvirne, then cruised past Londonderry in the semis with Santosuosso using his scoring touch.

Many remember the Warriors for their scrappy, pressing, jump shooting style under late coach Jack Ford years ago, and Fisher will note that current Winnacunnet coach Jay McKenna played for Ford and has similar beliefs.

“You can tell he definitely uses some of the concepts he grew up with,” Fisher said. “Their defense is as aggressive as their offense.”

Fisher looks at senior guard James O’Hara, 6-5 Sam Andreotolla, and athletic 6-3 forward Elynn Houston as being tough customers that the Cards will have to deal with.

The Cards will try to have their defense turn into offense, but scoring hasn’t been a problem for BG in this different tournament.

Either way, Guertin went nearly 30 years in between titles. They’d like not to do that again, and this is their chance.

“They recognize the moment,” Fisher said of his players.

They hope this is their moment.

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