Josh Caruson, shown last year, had 41 points to lead South on Friday night, albeit in a loss to Keene. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

The local high school basketball world definitely jumped right into January.

There was a thriller at Nashua South’s Belanger Gym, a big defensive performance by a local team in Derry, and a first win and loss for a couple of girls hoop teams.

Welcome to the winter season:

BOYS BASKETBALL

KEENE 70, NASHUA SOUTH 68 (2OT)

The Panthers (3-1) fall in a nail biter to the Black Birds. Josh Caruso had a phenomenal night collecting 41 points, while Fitch Hennessy led the winners with 20.

South visits Alvirne on Tuesday.

ALVIRNE 52, PINKERTON 37

The Broncos (3-1) grab a big win over the Astros on Friday. Sammy DeWitt recorded 13 points with Gabe Conrow and Andrew Deely scoring 10 apiece. Alvirne hosts Nashua South on Tuesday.

MERRIMACK 62, LONDONDERRY 55

Nate Johnson paced the Tomahawks (3-1) with 17 points in a win over the Lancers. Ryan Elliot and Noah Morrison had 14 and 12 points respectively. Merrimack visits Manchester Central next Friday.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 60, PLYMOUTH 30

The Cavs move to 3-3 after a dominant win. Dylan Kelley and Will McCoy had 11 points apiece, Yarie Ramas scored nine and Noah Natalino had eight.

HB hosts Sanborn on Tuesday.

BELMONT 69, CAMPBELL 50

The Cougars (3-1) fall to Belmont as they return from the break. Luke Delia scored 20 points; Cayden DeLeon added 14 and Matthew Haley had eight. The locals were without Logan Rice and Jack Breton. Campbell hosts St. Thomas on Tuesday.

COE-BROWN 48, SOUHEGAN 39

The Sabers (3-1) fall on the road in their first loss of the regular season. Wes Hickman scored 11 points and Drew Reagan had 10. Souhegan visits Hanover on Tuesday.

LACONIA 46, MILFORD 37

Will O’Connell had 16 and Ethan Szopa seven but it wasn’t enough for the Spartans (1-2). Kyle Cameron led Laconia with 19.

The Spartans host Lebanon on Tuesday.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

KEENE 60, NASHUA SOUTH 44

The Panthers (2-2) take the long bus ride home with a loss despite the fact that Nicole De Jesus scored 23 points and Karina O’Donnell had nine.

South visits Alvirne on Tuesday.

LONDONDERRY 63, BISHOP GUERTIN 35

The Cardinals drop to 1-2 after a loss to the Lancers. Kayden Rioux had a team high 11 points and Hailey McGowan scored five. BG hosts Trinity on Tuesday.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 53, PLYMOUTH 44

Ana O’Donnell had the hot hand dropping 22 points in the Cavs (2-2) win. Samantha Disco added 10 points to offense. Brooke Bouchard played well distributing the ball while Mya Blackman and Anika Carlson rebounded well.

HB visits Sanborn on Tuesday.

CAMPBELL 55, BELMONT 43

Kayla Denwiddie tallied 22 points to lead the Cougars (1-3) to their first win of the season. McKenzie Ripley scored 10 points. Campbell visits St. Thomas on Tuesday.

PINKERTON 58, ALVIRNE 39

The Broncos (3-1) had trouble with a stout Astros squad on Friday. Ella Hartson and Julia Adams each had 11 points and Courtney Anderson added nine. It was a seven point game with four minutes to go, but the Astros were able to pull away.

Alvirne hosts Nashua South on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. as the opener in a girls-boys doubleheader between the two schools.

LACONIA 50, MILFORD 35

The Spartans (2-1) suffer their first loss of the season when they hosted the Sachems. Avery Fuller led the locals with 13 points and Ellianna Nassy had eight. Milford visits Lebanon on Tuesday.

SOUHEGAN 50, COE-BROWN 41

Zofia Rosenfield had a career high 20 points to lead the Sabers (1-3) to their first win. Tess Jancar had a good night as well finishing with 11 points. It was the Sabers first win over the Bears in several years.

Souhegan hosts Hanover on Tuesday.

WILTON-LYNDEBOROUGH 34, PITTSFIELD 29

The Warriors led from start to finish, with Kelsey Crouse leading the way with 14 points and Maddy Labrecque adding 10. WLC got big points late from Cailin (two free throws) and Izzy Swett (layup) to ice what was a close game the entire way.

Now 3-2, the Warriors host Mascenic on Tuesday.

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