Bishop Guertin's Matt Santosuosso drives to the hoop Saturday vs. Exeter. The Cards host Alvirne tonight in one of several all-local games around the area. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

It’s a mini Rivalry Week for local high school basketball, beginning tonight.

There are five games between local schools, two boys and two girls, as part of a full slate of games.

The highlight may be Nashua North taking its 3-0 record into a home game vs. 1-2 Merrimack at 6:30. The Titans have started the season strong, beating Keene, Dover and Timberlane. Merrimack edged Alvirne in its season opener but then dropped games vs. Salem and Goffstown.

Bishop Guertin, fresh off its back-to-back wins this past weekend over Londonderry and Exeter host Alvirne at 6:30 p.m. Cards coach John Fisher is also a former Alvirne head coach seveal years back. The Broncos (1-1) had a big win Friday night at Concord after they had COVID issues earlier last week.

And in Division II, the Souhegan boys are off to a fantastic start at 4-0 and will try to keep it going vs. local rival Milford (2-2). The Spartans haven’t scored out of the 40s in their four games, while the high flying Sabers, after giving up 61 points in their opener, haven’t allowed more than 40 in their last three wins.

The 2-1 Nashua South boys, who are at Exeter tonight, get to join the rivalry party on Wednesday at home vs. Alvirne.

It’s all part of the new schedule that features a lot of Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Fridays (or Saturday) for teams to get three games in in some weeks as the regualar season ends Feb. 4 for most. A lot different than the usual Tuesday-Friday regimen.

“This year it’s all over the place,” Fisher said. “I’m still trying to get their body clocks (right) to get this cycle right so I gave them last Tuesday off.” And Sunday Fisher had planned a walk-through.

The North-Merrimack girls teams will square off at Merrimack at 6:30, both coming off losses. North (1-1) hasn’t played since last Monday’s tough road loss at Dover while the Tomahawks, who started the season 2-0, have suffered back-to-back lopsided losses to Pinkerton and Goffstown.

Unlike the boys, there is no Guertin-Alvirne game this week – or this year. The two teams are not scheduled to play each other. But Alvirne’s turn at a rivalry game is Wednesday night in Hudson when the Broncos, winners of two straight, host Nashua South. The Panthers tonight host Exeter at 7 p.m.

In Division II, just as in the boys, the Souhegan-Milford girls rivalry is renewed. The two teams play in Milford at 6:30 p.m., with the Spartans at 2-2 and the Sabers at 2-1.

SUNDAY RESULTS

BOYS HOCKEY

The Nashua North-Souhegan skaters fell at Hanover, 3-1, with Chris Weeden getting the lone Saber-Titans goal, asssisted by Chase McBride and Will Dodge.

Goalie Colin Duckless had another good day in goal with 31 saves. It was tight all the way until Hanover (1-0) got an empty net goal late.

N-S is now 0-2 and will be at Trinity on Wednesday.

SWIMMING

The Nashua High School South boys and girls swimmers are now 2-0 after wins over rival North and Dover at the Boys&Girls Club of Greater Nashua.

Sophomore Haylee Dolan, earned her place at the state meet by qualifying in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle. Ishaan Parmar, a freshman, came in first place in the 200 Free as well as the 100 Backstroke.

Mihir Garimella (freshman) and Peyton Dion (sophomore) triumphed in the boys and girls 200 Free, respectively. Lee Hill captured both the men’s 50 and 100 Freestyle, swimming a 26.51 in the 50 and a 1:01.13 in the 100.

Diver Kaitlyn Birr, a senior on the team for the first time, came in first with a final score of 133.25.

Also, Sydney Peterson and Rishav Sood were both victorious in the 100 Fly. Both the South boys and girls 200 Free relays both triumphed to conclude the meet.

The next meet will be held at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Greater Nashua on Sunday January 9.