Standing 6-foot-6 with a wing span that looks like it goes box-to-box, it is easy to heap gobs of pressure on Souhegan’s Matt McCool.

The game is there. He averaged double figures a year ago, and the Saber, at times, can be disruptive to any opponent who dares try the lane.

But he’s still just a kid, a sophomore in fact, and once in a while he tosses out a clunker of a half, like the first here on Tuesday night at defending Division II state champion Hollis Brookline High.

The true test of character, especially that of a potential thoroughbred, is how they handle a little bit of adversity. And here against the Cavs, McCool gave Souhegan backers a recent to again ooze confidence, not only in his potential as the real deal but in how dangerous this team, now 6-1 after this 52-38 victory, can be.

“We had a little bit of a growing up moment with him tonight,” said Souhegan coach Peter Pierce. “He was frustrated in the first half. We had a little chat at halftime, him and I. I think he’s getting nothing but better. And that’s just how it’s going to be for him. He was a different player in the second half. That’s for sure.”

If you haven’t seen McCool this winter, or at all, be prepared. The slender frosh has to have packed 15 pounds of muscle onto that giant frame. He’s adding length to his jumper, too, as seen by his only first half hoop, one of six Saber threes in the opening two quarters.

But it took until the second half, where Souhegan opened up what was a four-point game at the half. That’s when McCool imposed his true will at both ends.

“The first half I was not playing my best,” said McCool. “But in the second, my teammates really had my back, trying to get me the ball and get me going.”

It certainly worked. McCool had 11 points after the break, but it was more than just scoring. The offense ran through him. And when Pierce went to him in a high-post set, it yielded layups and clean looks for his teammates, pushing the advantage as high as 22.

“There’s a mutual trust there,” said McCool. “And as time goes on, the more reps we get, it’s only going to get better.”

Pierce knows he is fortunate to have the big fella in Black-and-Gold. And he also understands what it means for the student-athlete.

“Teams have to pay attention to Matt, and that can only help open things up for the other guys,” said Pierce, noting the bright future that lies ahead and joking. “I wish I was Matt McCool.”

Jeff Keisewetter added a dozen Saber points in the win, and Jeff Boehm pitched in 11. Hollis Brookline, now 5-2 in Division II, did not have a scorer in double figures. Grant Snyder led with nine and his junior classmate Quinten Wimmer added eight.