Merrimack's Nate Johnson blocks a shot from behind by Alvirne's Sammy DeWitt during Friday night's Division I clash in Hudson. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

HUDSON – Desperate times call for desperate measures – or the perfect game plan, perfectly executed.

That’s what the Merrimack High School boys basketball used to surprise the Alvirne Broncos at the Corral, 56-44 on Friday night.

The Tomahawks moved the ball patiently on offense, and stifled the Broncos on defense. The result keeps their tourney hopes alive at 7-8 with three games left while stunning the hottest team in Division I, snapping Alvirne’s seven-game win streak.

“I thought they played really well,” Merrimack coach Austin Denton said. “They moved the ball, got open shots, I thought we were very patient. We played the way we had to play to win the game. I give all the credit to them – moving without the ball, and I thought defensively we were very solid.”

This win gives the ‘Hawks, who stormed out to an early 14-3 lead, a confident feeling as they likely need one more win between their three remaining games of Pinkerton at home and Manchester Memorial and Nashua North away.

“This game was a much-needed win,” Merrimack forward Ryan Elliott said after his game-high 19-point effort. “We need at least one more win to make the playoffs. I feel like this is a good momentum shifter going into the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, for the 10-5 Broncos, lesson learned, according to coach Mitchell Roy.

“Props to them,” Roy said of the ‘Hawks. “They had a good game plan, came in here and executed it. They worked really hard, won all the loose balls, and they were more prepared. That’s on me as a coach.”

The other factor? “Avoid starting the game down 14-3,” Roy said. “We get up for some teams, then we don’t treat every opponent with the fair amount of respect, and that’s how you lose, too.”

Roy also figures the loss hurts his team’s chances at top four finish with three games left as well (at Dover, vs.Winnacunnet, at Windham). It will be an interesting final 10 days.

But last night, the Broncos recovered from the slow start as guard Sammy DeWitt (15 points) began heating up with three 3-pointers in the second quarter. But Merrimack recovered to lead 22-18 at the half and 34-31 heading into the final period. It was still a four-point game when Merrimack’s Brody Towle hit a 3-pointer to open the lead up to 48-41 with 2:15 to play. All the Broncos could get the rest of the way was a 3-pointer by Gabe Conrow with 1:10 to play.

Alvirne’s Garrett Hall (10) lands on Merrimack’s Zach Retey after Retey pump faked during Friday night’s Division I game in Hudson. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Alvirne’s Garrett Hall (10) lands on Merrimack’s Zach Retey after Retey pump faked during Friday night’s Division I game in Hudson. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Denton felt his team withstood what the Broncos threw at them as DeWitt had zero points in the third and just five in the fourth. Bronco Garrett Hall had 12, but just two in the final eight minutes.

“As long as we kept scoring,” Denton said. “We go through droughts sometime. … When we can score, our defense plays really solid.”

Again, Denton put the win high up there in necessary accomplishments. Merrimack’s Noah Morrison added 15 to the cause.

“This one’s huge,” Denton said. “That’s a playoff team. So this is a playoff win. With three games left, we need to find a couple more here. Hopefully we can do it.”