Merrimack girls basketball coach Kaitlyn Petrocelli, shown duirng the preseason, got her first career win Thursday night as a head coach. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

It’s always a noteworthy night when the local high school basketball teams are in action. Unbeatens so far after three games are the Nashua South boys and the Alvirne girls, and there’s few 2-1 locals as well. Thursday was also noteworthy as Kaitlyn Petrocelli picked up the first head coaching win of her career as the Merrimack girls triumphed on the road.

Follow the bouncing ball right here:

BOYS BASKETBALL

NASHUA SOUTH 65, TIMBERLANE 57

Josh Caruso dropped 27 points to lead the Panthers (3-0) over the Owls. Ayden Clough and Daniel Karavanic added 12 and nine points respectively. South hosts Keene on January 3 but will host the Nashua Holiday Tourney late next week.

MERRIMACK 53, SPAULDING 50

The Tomahawks relied on Mikey Flerra’s 17 points on five 3-pointers plus a suffocating team defense to pull out a tough win and go 2-1 on the season.

Flerra hit the go-ahead free throws with the Tomahawks down one with 50 seconds left. For the second time in three games he shut down a consensus All-State player in Red Raider Marcel Rose.

Merrimack got 10 ponts each from Nate Johnson and Noah Morrison

KEENE 59, ALVIRNE 48

The Broncos fell to 2-1, the second local team to suffer a loss at Keene (2-1) as Merrimack fell in its opener there. Sammy DeWitt led the Broncos with 15 points while Evan Bettencourt added 13.

Alvirne will head to a tourney in Portland, Me. later next week.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

NASHUA SOUTH 55, TIMBERLANE 51

Nicole DeJesus had a stellar performance tallying a triple double — 20 points, 10 steals, 10 rebounds — to lead the Panthers to a win before the break. Karina O’Donnell scored 16 points and Addie Borden added 12. South’s next regular season game will come when it visits Keene on January 3, but before then the Panthers will host the Nashua Holiday Tourney next Friday and Saturday.

DOVER 72, NASHUA NORTH 65

The Titans (0-3) fell in the battle with Dover, while missing two starters. Madelyn Tino collected 20 points, Angie King had 16 and Adian Walker scored 15 to pace the offense. Tough for North was the fact that Lilly Nossiff poured in 34 for Dover, including her 1,000th career point.

North visits Concord on January 7 but will play in the Nashua Holiday Tourney late next week.

ALVIRNE 51, KEENE 44

The Broncos (3-0) ran over the Black Birds to pick up a big early season win. Ella Hartson led the way with 14 points and Courtney Anderson put in 10. Alvirne hosts Pinkerton on January 3 but will play over the break in the Nashua Holiday Tourney.

MERRIMACK 37, SPAULDING 31

Abby Herod’s 16 points helped the Tomahawks get their first win of the season, and it was also Petrocelli’s first head coaching win.

Merrimack hosts Spaulding on January 6 but will play over the break in the Derryfield Cougar Classic.

(Telegraph Staff Writer Tom King contributed to this report.)