Leo Gershgorin is looking forward to his new stint as the Alvirne boys basketball coach. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Leo Gershgorin says the future for the Alvirne High School boys basketball program is now.

That’s because the now sets the future, in his mind.

Gershgorin moved into Hudson last March and soon after was named the Broncos’ new head coach. He had coached four years at ConVal and one at Wilton-Lyndeborough, and he feels the most important years for a new coach are the first couple.

That’s because they set the tone.

“This is my favorite,” said the energetic Gershgorin after his team beat Nashua South the other night at the Belanger Gym, holding the Panthers to nine points in the second half. “This to me, this what a coach is worth, right here. This is it. The first two years are where I work my hardest.”

Gershgorin at ConVal went through growing pains and then enjoyed trips to Durham in Division II.

“The last two years at ConVal, when we were at UNH, that’s the easy part,” he said. “I think then you’re just coaching basketball. The hard part, and the part I love the most, is developing the kids, developing the program.”

Gershgorin always thought there was potential with the Broncos, and he saw from afar that they showed that under previous coach Marty Edwards, who is now at Hollis Brookline.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Hudson,” Gershgorin said. “I moved into the community in March. And (when the job opened) it was just a great opportunity for me in the community.”

And so the work starts now, and Gershgorin has limitless enthusiasm, constantly teaching and urging his players on from the sideline. He’s got the Broncos at 2-2, but they very easily could be 4-0, having lost two games by a combination of six points. And the Broncos seem road tough; they won going away at Concord last Friday and held the Panthers to just two points in the final quarter on Wednesday.

But all this just paves the road to the future.

“We want to make sure we build a foundation first,” Gershgorin said. “Make sure we’re doing all the things right off of the court, and then the skill stuff and all that would follow.

“We wanted to make sure guys were focused, guys were working hard, guys were doing the right things.”

He likes what he sees in the community, for certain.

“We’ve got an amazing middle school program coming up,” he said. “The boys are undefeated, they’re 5-0, doing fantastic. I was at a fourth grade travel game the other night. Listen, it’s about growing the program in the community, you know what I mean?

“It’s the hardest part, but it’s the best part.”

MASKS IN NASHUA NOW REQUIRED IN GAMES

An all-too familiar sight from the 2021 winter last season is back in Nashua – masks for athletes not just on the sidelines but now in games.

When the Nashua Board of Alderman reinstated the mandatory indoor mask requirement earlier this week, that meant that all spectators, staff, students, coaches and officials are now required to wear masks when they practice, work out and compete in Nashua. Back in September the rule did not apply to the competitors actually on the court in the game, but now it does.

Thus on Tuesday the South and Alvirne boys basketball players all had to wear masks, even those on the floor while playing in the game. Same for the Nashua South-Pelham and Salem ice hockey players the other night at Conway Arena – not to mention fans.

In fact a sign in the hallway at Conway Arena also urges athletes to “Please wear a face mask inside the locker rooms.”

The face mask ordinance is until further notice. Don’t forget, fan restrictions (four per athlete on a Nashua roster, two per rostered athlete on visiting team) begin at all Nashua school team home athletic events this Sunday and will remain in effect at least until Jan. 31.