Alvirne juniors Evan Bettencourt (4) and Andrew Deely (23) celebrate their playoff win against Keene High Wednesday night. Alvirne defeated Keene 51-42. (Hannah Schroeder/Keene Sentinel)

Not many gave the Alvirne High School boys basketball team a chance, not with a trip to Keene in the first round of the Division I boys basketball tournament on Wednesday night.

But never count a Bronco out. A week ago they endured a coaching change, lost two games, but led pretty much throughout for a 51-42 upset over the No. 7 Blackbirds. The No. 10 Broncos (10-9) will now face No. 2 Bedford on Saturday in the quarterfinals in Bedford.

“They really worked their butts off,” Alvirn interim coach Christian Patnaude said. “They were really focused from the start of this week …They’re (Keene) never out of games. It’s always fun going against them.”

Patnaude also “gave props to Coach G”, former coach Leo Gershgorin for the team’s mindset. Gershgorin stepped down abruptly with two games left in the regular season.

But that didn’t hold the Broncos back from jumping out to an 11-5 lead, and 22-5 at the half. They took a 37-31 lead into the final quarter and it stayed that way.

Garrett Hall and Sam DeWitt led Alvirne with 12 points apiece. Andrew Prock led Keene (11-8) with 16.

Here’s a rundown on the rest of your tournament Wednesday:

NO. 4 EXETER 62, NO. 13 MERRIMACK 53

The Tomahawks fell behind 31-19 at the half, and almost came back in the third with a 9-2 start but fell short. Jenson Monroe led Merrimack (8-11) with 14 while Michael Flerra had 10

Nik Greco led Exeter with 16 points while Brady Rogers added 15 for the 14-5 Blue Hawks, who face Trinity in Saturday’s quartfinals at home.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

DIVISION II PRELIMS

NO. 4 JOHN STARK 61, NO. 13 MILFORD 46

John Stark outscored Milford (8-11) in each quarter to roll to a 15-point win in Weare.

Sophomore Shea Hansen paced the Spartans with 17 points, knocking down four 3-pointers in the first half to keep the game within reach.

But the Generals continued to pound the ball inside to 6-foot center Eleanor Giradet, who finished with a game-high 23 points.

Milford, which has no players graduating, also received 12 points from junior Ellianna Nassy, 9 from Claire Cote and 6 from Avery Fuller.

John Stark will host Pelham on Saturday in the quarterfinal round.

NO. 2 LACONIA 63, NO. 15 HOLLIS BROOKLINE 19

The Cavaliers had a tough time getting some offense, while HB’s Anika Carlson did haul down 12 rebounds. Brooke Bouchard led the locals, who end at 7-12, with five points.

Laconia, now 16-3, heads on to the quarters.

(Keene Sentinel staff writer Michael McMahon contributed to this report.)

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