Bishop Guertin's Brad Matarazzo, left, and Javari Ellison (23) try to stop Goffstown's Aiden O'Connell duirng Saturday night's Division I quarterfinal in Goffstown. (Courtesy photo by Jakob Baker/Bishop Guertin)

GOFFSTOWN – For one blink, it seemed that Bishop Guertin had a chance at maintaining the hot hand that trounced Manchester Central in the opening round of the Division I boys basketball tournament.

It took Goffstown about six minutes to shatter that illusion.

After spotting Guertin a 6-0 lead, the No. 3 Grizzlies ended the opening quarter on a 15-2 run and ultimately sent sixth-seeded and defending champion BG home with a 54-36 thumping. Next up for Goffstown is a semifinal meeting with No. 2 Nashua North, winners against No. 7 Exeter on Saturday night.

The Cardinals’ shooting touch vanished after one game, returning to wherever it hibernated as they closed out the regular season. On Feb. 5, Guertin managed to tough out a 44-41 win on Lund Rd.

“These guys are incredibly talented. In their gym it’s really tough,” BG coach John Fisher said. “Obviously, we struggled with them at home.

“On a night when our shots aren’t going in, I don’t know that we can compete with them inside. They have the size, the strength. They’re a very balanced basketball team.”

Goffstown’s version of a Big Three on Saturday night did all the heavy lifting. Junior forward Mason Blondeau scored 19 points, nine of them in the fourth quarter. Junior guard Aiden O’Connell scored 14 points, seven of them in the second quarter. Senior guard Robenson Baguidy scored 11 points, seven of them in the first quarter.

BG didn’t fold, remaining aggressive defensively. But when the shots aren’t falling, floor burns alone aren’t going to make much of a difference.

Goffstown carried a 26-11 lead into the half. By midway through the third quarter, the margin stood at 15 points and BG would get no closer for the duration.

The exclamation point came to close out the third quarter. Tyler Mackey hit a 3 and Goffstown’s Peyton Strickland immediately responded with a 3 from the corner.

The Grizzlies led 43-22 with eight minutes to play out. The defending Division I champs would bow out quietly.

Mackey finished the night with 13 points, the only Cardinal in double figures.

“They’re a great team, well coached,” Fisher said. “We would’ve really had to have had our best game to beat them.”

Hearing the suggestion that the future looks bright, with a roster stocked with juniors who had plenty of playing time this winter, Fisher managed a half smile.

“Big picture, the future looks very bright, he said. “I’m having a moment being sad for the seniors. These seniors have had a great run.

“I’ll be optimistic tomorrow.”