Nashua South's Nicole De Jesus loses the ball while driving to the hoop against Nashua North's Alaina Small (14) during last month's finals of the Nashua Holiday Tournament at Titans Gym. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – This time it counts.

The Nashua Holiday Basketball Tournament produced chills and thrills in the finals between Nashua High School North and South.

But those were just the warm up act for tonight’s annual Battle of the Bridge hoop doubleheader at Titans Gym.

Host North pulled off last minute upset wins in both tourney finals – 47-45 girls and 73-72 boys – but a month later, how have all four teams developed? Would it be considered an upset if the Titans won again?

Maybe, maybe not. Both boys teams are under .500, as South is 4-5 in Division I while North is 3-6. Tip-off is about 7 p.m.

The day of basketball begins with the Co-Ed Unified Game at 3 p.m. at North.

The 5:30 p.m. girls game is perhaps more intriguing as for the first time in recent memory both teams are upper echelon. South is 8-1, while the Titans are coming in red-hot on a frozen night, having won their last six in a row after an 0-2 start.

How have they done it?

“In my mind, it’s the ultimate trust the players have in each other,” North coach Curt Dutilley said. “It has really shown up in tight moments, everyone thinking in concert. They enjoy playing for each other and have an incredibly tight bond.”

The Titans have been led mainly by Angie King and Madelyn Tino, who combined for 23 points in the Holiday Tourney win.

But one can’t discount the fact the Panthers have lost just one game this month, led by Nicole De Jesus and Any Challinger, among others. The difference between the two teams is that while North has its offense going well, averaging 62 points in their streak. South? While its defense is stellar, the struggle to score is real, as the Panthers have averaged 43.6 points in their last six. But they haven’t faced the same teams, and don’t seem to play the same style as the Panthers rely on creating chaos for transition hoops. Dutilley after the tourney win called South’s pressure “The best press in the state.” The Titans did hold De Jesus scoreless in the fourth quarter of the tourney. South’s last win was a 32-27 battle with Portsmouth.

It would be treat if the boys game was as dramatic as the tourney final, won by Evan Linscott’s jumper with 23.4 seconds left. North has won two of its last three, and Josh Sullivan and Andre Kargbo have done the bulk of the scoring.

South has missed guard-forward Josh Tripp, who hasn’t played this year after being banged up in football. That has left a lot on the shoulders of 6-8 junior Daniel Karavanic, although players like Shane Lemire have helped out. They’re 3-4 since the tourney, and have a lot of new players this year in new roles.

“We may not be young,” South coach Nate Mazerolle said earlier this month, “but we’re inexperienced.”

The margin for error for both teams is slim.

“We might not be the biggest group and we know that,” first year Titans coach Kyle Tave said last month. “We’ve got to out-scrap you. If we take any time off, or take a step back, anybody will beat us.”

The Panthers hope that anybody is them, especially after last month’s game.

For all four teams, it’s go time.

IT’S NORTHS BRIDGE SO FAR

The Titans took two of three sub-varsity basketball games on Thursday to grab a 4-3 lead in the Battle of the Bridge.

The Titan boys freshman and JV teams got wins, while the South girls JV team got a win. The Panthers other victories have been in indoor track, while North swept alpine skiing.