The scoreboard at SNHU Arena tells the story just before the winning goal was score, as, yes, it was period No. 7, the game taking 91:29. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

It’s been a while since the Winter Tourney y Trail for local high schools had resembled the Iditarod, a snowy journey.

No, despite the fact there was plenty of ice and snow on the ground to start, it all disappeared during the three-week plus meandering experience full of twists and turns, and a couple of surprises.

Without further delay, let’s begin yet another postseason trip that, please remember, is one scribe’s game-to-game, event-to-event stops and not a recounting of all the local tournament events as a whole.

FRIDAY, FEB. 21

CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL, LITCHFIELD

For the second straight year, this tourney journey begins with the Cougars of Campbell playing in the Division III boys basketball tourney. This team had a 15-2 regular season mark, best in school history. The Trail is often about the surprises and the people you come into contact with, and we knew we’d see former longtime Rivier University head men’s basketball coach Dave Morissette, the head coach of the defending Division III champion St. Thomas of Dover Saints. The Saints came in as the No. 5 seed (Campbell No. 4), and he had a big smile when he saw yours truly. Then, just a few minutes later, he said, “Hey, look who’s here!”, pointing. And there was none other than former Bishop Guertin boys hoop coach Tyler Page (who later became the school’s principal). Page’s name draws blanks from many now, but those who remember 40 years ago – wow has it been that long – remember the powerful BG Cardinals led by playing legend Skip Barry. We covered Page from both sides, when working for the Derry News and then the Telegraph, the rivalry with Pinkerton Academy and of course Nashua High. Why was Page, who is retired and living in Florida, there? The Saints’ Cole McLure, who toasted the Cougars for 32 points, is a relative. After St. Thomas’ 71-66 win, he had a decision to make, with the semis that following Wednesday at Bow. “I might have to stay,” he said. It was absolutely fabulous to see him; he stood along the baseline with yours truly for the entire game.

Meanwhile, it was another tough tourney ending for the hard-working Cougars and their coach, Justin DiBenedetto. Campbell has had really great regular seasons of late but hasn’t been able to get past the first two rounds to the semis. “I’m very proud of them,” said DiBenedetto, a former Cougar himself. “I love this team.”

The author, left, with a blast from the past, former Bishop Guertin boys basketball coach Tyler Page, whose relative Cole McLure played for St. Thomas vs. Campbell in the Division III quarterfinals in Litchfield. (Courtesy photo)

SATURDAY, FEB. 22

GOFFSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Welcome to one of the Trail’s biggest events, the NHIAA Division II Wrestling Championships. It’s a gathering of all but three local schools in the sport – Alvirne, Bishop Guertin, Hollis Brookline, Milford, Merrimack and Souhegan (Nashua North and South are in Division I, Campbell in III). A packed house at GHS, and the meet went faster than the past couple of years because a third mat was used in another smaller gym. Thus we saw that online and hustled in time to make the finals for each weight class. For the second straight year, we sat matside for the finals next to Bishop Guertin head coach Paul Rousseau, talking some wrestling but also Yankees baseball (our mutually fav team).

Favorite part of the meet was when Alvirne’s Shawn Boudreau won the title at 215 and turned to the crowd and held up two fingers, signifying his second straight title. If you ever want to see a gathering of a sport, go to one of the divisional championships. We were lucky to find a parking space, that’s for sure.

MONDAY, MARCH 3

BISHOP GUERTIN HIGH SCHOOL

And now the fun continues, as there was a break off the Trail to recharge and cover the remainder of the regular hoop and hockey seasons. The Cardinal girls basketball team, which hadn’t lost in-state since Jan. 14 (vs. Pinkerton, other than that their one loss was to Mass. power Wachusett on Feb. 1) and won 11 of its last 12 to finish 14-4 was taking on Portsmouth in the prelims at the Colligadome. Guertin prevailed easily, 45-20, but of course it’s about who we run into at these events. In attendance was none other than former Cards coach Brad Kreick, but if you haven’t seen him lately, he’s a bit different now with glasses and a beard. But the Cards resembled the teams he used to coach with a swarming defense for transition baskets, plus a propensity for the 3-pointer. They hit seven in the first half (12 overall) for a 32-8 halftime lead. It was an example of how far they had come under second year coach Olivia Orlando, who got her first career tourney coaching win after BG fell to Salem on the road in last year’s prelims.

“I’m super proud of the growth these girls have had,” Orlando said. “Honestly I wish I could take the credit, but it’s them. It’s these girls. They’re a year older, a year used to that physicality and the pace of this level.”

It was also the last game at home for BG’s lone senior, Ayla Regan, who fittingly led them with 11 points, coming off the bench.

And that was it for yours truly at the Colligadome for another school year.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL NORTH

The Trail continues, this time at another close spot – Titans Gym. But the funny thing is, there was no North team playing. No, it was the one night home for the 14-4 Hollis Brookline High School boys basketball team, which needed a place to play because their gym was being used for the annual School Meeting. And it was an all-local event, with Souhegan the opponent. The game was fairly close, the Cavs keeping the upstart Sabers at bay, until an explosion of energy over the last two-plus minutes turned things into a rout, the pace led by Y’arie Ramas and the big guy, 6-6 center Alton Williams.

“We practice running,” Cavs coach Ryan Kelley said. “We run with the ball, we run with the ball, and we run a little bit more.”

Kelley felt the bigger Titans court was a blessing in disguise, as it would prepare HB for perhaps what it might have faced in Durham. Meanwhile, Souhegan finished up at 8-11, ravaged by illness and injuries all season.

“I’m proud of this team, they gave me everything they had,” Pierce said. “They fought hard. Six weeks ago we lost to this team by 30, 33 points and tonight we gave them a game for three-and-a-half quarters.”

On to Sanborn, for the quarterfinals for the Cavs. Meanwhile, you hang late at these events you find out things, like HB will have a new baseball coach this spring. Well, it’s that time, right? And the scorekeeper at the table thanked yours truly and Joe Marchilena from NH-HighSchoolSports.com for being there.

“It’s nice to see that these kids still get covered,” she said. “There’s not many doing it anymore.”

And on we go.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTH

It’s the start of the Division I boys hoop tournament at the Belanger Gym, and all the anticipation of watching South’s Josh Caruso in his final tournament. The four-year starter and his Panthers, despite a 14-4 No. 4 seed wouldn’t have an easy first round draw, taking on local rival No. 13 Merrimack. A couple of years ago the Tomahawks were also here, and gave South a rough time with the score staying in the 30s while the Panthers escaped an upset.

For a little while, they did the same thing. Caruso hd 27 points but it wasn’t easy, most of it coming from the foul line. Merrimack with Mikey Flerra’s defense and Noah Morrison’s offense (22 points) cut a deficit to 48-42 in the final couple of minutes. But a second quarter in which the ‘Hawks scored just eight did them in.

“We’ve had a lot of tough games this year,” South coach Nate Mazerolle said. “Battle tested, whatever cliché you want to use. It wasn’t our first time, we didn’t wilt under the bright lights. … You hear it all the time, survive and advance. It was survival.”

But one thing, you have to understand the emotion of a team that sees its season end. As Merrimack coach Austin Denton said after talking postgame, “I’m proud of my guys. … It’s going to be a tough conversation in there right now.”

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

CONCORD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Ahh, a new stop on the Trail, and a nice looking school located down the road from Concord’s airstrip. You see, this necessary trip for the Division I girls hoop quarterfinals was all the result of what we like to call The Mercy Rule. Bishop Guertin always plays Mercy of Middletown, Conn., and this year the Cards got the win. But they didn’t get full Division I points as Mercy’s all-girl enrollment makes it a lower division equivalent in the NHIAA’s eyes. So BG, despite having a similar 14-4 mark to CC, and having beaten the Kingsmen 39-36 in the season opener, was seeded fifth while CC was fourth. Oh well.

It seemed to be a factor. The Cards couldn’t shoot the 3, managing just three in the game, one of them at the buzzer after the score was already decided. It was a tough 48-33 loss, lowlighted by the ball clanging off the rim constantly for BG. The Kingsmen are coached by Alvirne alum Rebecca Carlile, and there a couple of locals on the team. They went on to bow to Bedford in the semis.

While there, good to see Concord Monitor writer Dan Attori, who saved me a spot at center court. Problem was, the step up the bleachers at that spot was too high to step up for a 60-something scribe with arthritic knees. So for part of the game we sat a couple of rows down, our legs dangling like a little kid. Sad, isn’t it?

And it was sad to see the Cards season, so good throughout, end. Their losses were to Bedford, Londonderry, Pinkerton, Wachusett and CC.

“Does it sting that it was a season-ending loss? Absolutely,” Orlando said. “But it definitely doesn’t negate the growth these girls made. The work they put in, the comradery, the teamwork they built in have progressed from last year.

“So much to be proud of, but it stings tonight, for sure.”

That closed the door on the Division I girls hoop season, but there’s still a big local presence in Division II ahead, which you’ll see a few more stops away.

FRIDAY, MARCY 7

SANBORN HIGH SCHOOL, KINGSTON

Ah, a trip out Route 111 to Sanborn Regional, as its the No. 6 HB Cavaliers vs. No. 3 Sanborn in the Division II boys hoop quarters. The last time we were in this gym was during the COVID season of 2021, when Sanborn was the site of the Division I girls hoop finals and Bedford on a sunny March Sunday afternoon handed Bishop Guertin a brutal loss – BG’s only postseason loss during the Brad Kreick Era.

“Mr. King, did you get lost?” one local referee working the game, knowing this isn’t our usual territory, said. Later he added, “Do you need to follow me back home?”

Everybody’s a comedian. We should have answered “No, we took a limo” but hey, there was a game going on. And it was a pretty good one, as Hollis Brookline was wheeling and dealing, the big guy was dunking, and Ramas and Dylan Kelley were running up and down the floor. The Cavs were up 47-35 with just over 12 minutes of basketball left, that close to the semis

Then something changed. Sanborn, whose body language was about as bad as it could get during HB’s big third quarter run, woke up. They led 52-50 at the end of the quarter en route to a 73-55 win. Basically a 30 point swing in those 12 minutes with a parade of layups. Amazing, as the Cavs were in shock, not knowing what hit them.

“I think it was just a combination of everything at the wrong time,” said Cavs coach Ryan Kelley, who still has to consider the season a big success going from four wins to a 15-5 record and just over 12 minutes away from a trip to the Final Four. “All credit to Sanborn. They definitely flipped the switch on their energy and applied more pressure against us on their defensive side.

“But more importantly, they’re offensive intensity skyrocketed, and our defensive rotations seemed to stop. We gave them layup after layup. It’s one thing if they got hot from shooting, but we gave them layups.”

We love Kelley. His quotes are inciteful and you can tell his players learn from him, and he was good enough to talk right away. Oh well, no trip to Rochester. For that, we would have needed directions. And for the record, we made it home without a hitch.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

NASHUA SOUTH’S BELANGER GYM

This was to be a doubleheader day, one of three for the trail (the last one two games at one stop). Two stops, one good, one bad.

First the bad: A tough end to the Josh Caruso Era at South as Exeter, No. 5, comes in and hands the Panthers a tough 60-44 loss in the Division I boys hoop quarterfinals. Caruso was held to 15 points as Exeter just blanketed him and no one else could get hot. It was a great job by Exeter coach Jeff Holmes, whose players perfectly executed the game plan. As Mazerolle humbly said, “Their game plan was better than ours.”

It was a shocking end – South had beaten Exeter by double digits just two weeks earlier at the Belanger – but one you could see because of the way the two teams play and are so well-coached. Tough to beat a team so close twice in two weeks. And it was a sad end. No more Caruso hitting 3s and running over to the student crowd to celebrate.

As Mazerolle said, “I will not accept that Josh Caruso is not playing basketball at Nashua South anymore,” Panthers coach Nate Mazerolle said. “And not to mention the other seniors.”

There was a personal highlight – working Nashua ETV with Sherm Chester. Who, you ask? Well, Chester is the voice of Bill Ball Stadium, and also the NHIAA Finals at UNH. The best public address announcer in the business, with a golden voice. Every once in awhile we got him to use his PA skills, score, time, etc. Great guy, hopefully we’ll get to hear his voice again in the spring.

SKATE 3 ARENA, TYNGSBOROUGH, MASS.

By the time the postgame was done at South, a period of hockey was done at Skate 3 in the Division I quarterfinals, with No. 2 Bishop Guertin hosting Bow. It was 2-0 when we got there in the second, then quickly 3-0, 4-0, well, you get the picture. A far cry from the quarters a year ago when Hanover came in and rattled BG’s cage 5-2 to move to the semis.

The highlight of the day? Working again on ETV with a fill-in play-by-play guy named Zack Johnston. Flawless. Now, here’s the catch: High school senior from Manchester. Zackster, don’t even try for a day job. You got what it takes.

Milford student fans had plenty to cheer about in the Divsion II girls hoop semis at Pinkerton Academy (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

PINKERTON ACADEMY’S HACKLER GYM

Welcome to a two-stop day. First stop, Derry, and the Division II girls hoop semifinals, Milford vs. Derryfield. It’s a rematch of a classic 37-35 Spartan win a couple of weeks earlier that had Milford believing it could truly pull off a championship run. Now this wasn’t pretty by any means, but the Spartans prevailed 37-29 with a smothering defensive performance to reach their first state girls hoop final since Ronald Reagan was in office. Milford coach Mike Davidson had some more recent history about his team after the game.

“Today’s the 100th day since the season started on Dec. 2,” Milford coach Mike Davidson said, his team now 17-3 and winners of eight straight. “They all came to me and said ‘We’re winning the state title this year.’ We talked about team goals, and what do you want to accomplish this year and they’re like, ‘Are you kidding me? State title.'”

And, a few days later, they got it.

JFK COLISEUM, MANCHESTER

Sometimes a plan just comes together. Once the Milford game that started at 5 p.m. was over, it was just a short drive up Route 93/293 to the Division I boys hockey semifinals, and Guertin was in the 7:30 p.m. game. Believe it or not, this was yours truly’s first trip to JFK all season. And this one was over midway through the second period, as the Cards expanded leads of 2-0 and 3-1 to what ended up an 11-2 blowout as BG advanced to its second title game in three years. Guertin filled scoresheets all season and this game was no different, with James Mantone scoring two of the Cards’ first three goals and the numbers just kept rising. BG was now set to face rival Concord, which was the last team to have beaten the Cards nearly two months earlier. The best part of the night was the postgame interview with Exeter coach Paul DiMarino, one of the nicest, but most candid coaches around. He tells it like it is.

“I love my team,” he said afterward. “But, it’s the best two teams playing on Saturday.”

Which takes us to our final stop….

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

SNHU ARENA, MANCHESTER

One stop, the final stop, two state championship boys hockey games. Hate to say this, but this arena, while a great venue with great sightlines, hasn’t been kind to some of the working media over the years. So let’s get on with it, beginning with the 10 a.m.battle between St. Thomas of Dover and the local tri-op of Merrimack-Hollis Brookline-Derryfield. It’s the first time in ages that the girls title game wasn’t in the 10 a.m.slot, reason being Oyster River was facing Milford girls hoop in the Division II title game at noon at UNH, and was in the final (Oyster River-Portsmouth) vs. Hanover. So the hockey game was moved to 5 p.m, the late game (and it ended up being much later).

MHBDS was clearly not awake yet, as the Saints were flying up and down the ice. They practice at 5 a.m. And you could see the difference. A great game, as the WarHawks rallied from a 3-0 deficit to cut the gap to 3-2 with just over three minutes to go. But they fell short.

“I don’t know, what are you going to do,” MHBDS coach Dan Belliveau said. “You’ve got to get out here and play the game from the drop of the puck. I think maybe it took us a while to shake off the nerves and it was probably too late by then.”

Now the fun begins. During the entire Division III game, Nashua ETV, on hand to broadcast (on tape delay) the BG-Concord game, simply needed an equipment table and confirmation of space. It took forever navigating between the NHIAA and arena security, but it was finally achieved thanks to help from BG principal Jason Strniste (although a table wasn’t ultimately needed as space was tight in the media areas). We made due, and fastened our seat belts for what was a game for the ages. Guertin was 33 seconds away from a championship, up 1-0, when Concord’s Cam Roy tied it up. Ouch. Little did we know we were in for the longest hockey championship game in NHIAA history, three more 15-minute overtime periods and then nearly two minutes of another. Drained isn’t even close to the feeling of just about everyone at SNHU Arena, media included. The girls hockey players had finally taken seats in the stands to watch.

Finally, the Tide’s Rowan Arndt poked and pushed the puck past BG netminder Luke Bettencourt – an incredible 64 saves – at 1:29 of the fourth OT.

Then more fun. Choice: go down through the stands to the runway at ice level for postgame work or simply take the stairs off the concourse. Why the stairs, of course. Wrong choice, as arena security, which had no issues for the morning game, had a big imaginary stop sign despite yours truly having the proper credential which was supposed to be clearance. This guy didn’t get the memo, unfortunately, but finally called security command and they obviously said to allow access to the stairs. Believe it, every single year this happens.

Bishop Guertin players console each other after the gut-wrenching loss to Concord in the Division I finals. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

But that delay/inconvenience was in no way equal to the agony the Cards just endured. Not only did they give up the tying goal late, the goal judge thought they had scored in the second OT, turning the light on, but officials said no, and it was likely the right call. But we were all on edge for the call to be made.

Then, in the third OT, the Cards hit the cross bar. Seconds away, a conversation away, and inches away. Then sent away – empty handed.

What was BG coach Gary Bishop telling them during all the in-between period breaks?

“Keep working, you’re going to be talking about this the rest of your life,” Bishop said. “Remember it; you’re going to be telling your grandchildren this story.”

And that was that. There was still a little daylight left, incredibly, as we walked out of the arena near 6:30 p.m. after a game that started just before 3.

What a final stop on the Trail. Probably the most memorable of them all over the last few years.