The Nashua High School North boys basketball bench celebrates a big play duirng Saturday night's 57-54 quarterfinal win over Exeter in Nashua. North faces Goffstown today in the Division I semis at Exeter. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NORTH SEMIS HOOP ADVANCE

The Nashua High School North boys basketball team has overcome a lot of adversity this season in terms of injury and tough competition.

The next hurdle is the talented Goffstown High School Grizzlies squad in today’s 5:30 p.m. Divison I semifinals at Exeter High School.

The Titans (No. 2, 17-3) will try to jump over a a tough, No. 3 17-3 Grizzlies team that it handled during the regular season – but with a catch.

Goffstown was missing two key players in North’s 62-41 win back on Dec. 22. The Grizzlies were beaten 64-45 by Exeter on Dec. 30, but have gone 13-1 since.

“They didn’t have (Aiden) O’Connell and they didn’t have Mason Blondeau,” Titans coach Steve Lane said. “We played them when they were very shorthanded. Hopefully the kids don’t remember that the other kids didn’t play.”

It’s now a case of addition-subtraction. North is now without mainstays Jack Sullivan (hand) and Thomas Laurendi (leg).

How will it all add up? The Titans have gotten great contributions from freshmen Robinson Rodriguez (6-5), Parth Miglani (6-1) and 5-8 junior Andres Acorn to make up for their absences.

Rob Baguidy, added to the other two, plus senior Peyton Strickland returning from injuries later in the season, just make for a different Goffstown team.

“He gives them more depth,” Lane said. “We are going to have our hands full. They are a tough guard.”

But North, which is getting fantastic play from juniors Trevor Labrecque and Jayden Montgomery, has depended on its defense all season. This will be no different.

“I’m going to watch a lot of film,” Lane said, “and come up with the best plan. that we can for the kids, keep it simple.

“Hopefully we can get enough stops, enough scores.”

High scoring, low scoring, it can go either way.

“You just never know,” Lane said. “Especially when you get to this point, anything can happen.”