Senior moments boost Tomahawks

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Merrimack guard Dimitri Floras battles Nashua North's Ryan Gauthier as he brings the ball up court in Friday nights match up in Merrimack.

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Nashua North center Dylan Brodeur powers his way to the basket as Merrimack's Travis Maser comes in to defend on the play.

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Photo by Jodie Andruskevich^^Merrimack guard Dimitri Floras battles Nashua North's Ryan Gauthier as he brings the ball up court in Friday nights match up in Merrimack.

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MERRIMACK – It was just like old times Friday night at Merrimack High School’s H. Dana Taylor Gymnasium. The bleachers filled up fast, forcing school officials to pull out that last set they didn’t think they’d need. The student section in the end zone contained a couple hundred members of the student body, several of whom came dressed as the rock band Kiss.

And the basketball didn’t disappoint. It took the Tomahawks a little while to get rolling, but they eventually built a 30-24 halftime lead against visiting Nashua North, then blew it open by outscoring the Titans 23-12 in the third quarter to take control of the game.

By the fourth quarter the student section was serenading everyone with a loud rendition of “Un-de-feat-ed” cheer as Merrimack polished off a 66-48 victory to go 5-0 on the season.

Nobody is enjoying this season more than the seniors on the Merrimack team, who entered the ninth grade with great expectations. It was billed as the next great group, winning the middle school championships, and all the players were expected to take their place in a program that had been to three Class L finals in four years.

But something happened on the path to their place in local lore. They went 5-13 as sophomores, then 4-14 last year, including the obvious low point, a game in which they scored just 19 points against Manchester Memorial.

For the seniors, this was one, last chance.

“We were tired of getting smacked around,’’ said senior Eric Watson, who led a balanced Merrimack attack last night with 12 points. “We came in this summer and unlike other summers everyone showed up for everything, right through the fall league, which we won.’’

During Merrimack’s last great run players like Steve DeLuca, Corey Hassan and Austin Denton were famous for getting together 365 days a year, some place, to play a little basketball.

That started happening again, and there were a few additions. Senior Anthony Floras’ little brother Dimitri, who always hung out with the older guys, is now a 6-foot-2 freshman point guard who is already among the best at his position in the state.

Others are stepping up, like 6-4 sophomore Tyler Gendron, who is a few trips to the weight from becoming the kind of force inside the team desperately needs to make a strong run at another championship.

In the meantime, the Tomahawks, who aren’t among the bigger teams in the state, need everyone to contribute on the boards. Last night and in the last few games it’s been 5-10 senior guard Matthew Hardwick, who led the team with 12 rebounds on Friday night.

“We’re a lot smaller than a lot of teams,’’ Hardwick said. “So we all have to rebound.’’

Watson, who has been playing with Hardwick since grade school, knows why he’s such a good rebounder.

“It’s leaping ability and timing,’’ Watson said. “He’s got great eyes for the ball.’’

Outside of the seniors, nobody is enjoying the team’s early success more than coach Tim Goodridge who, because his youngest son Brian is a senior forward on the team, has been around the group since they first started playing. He’s watched them mature.

“They are a year older, they’re seniors and they understand their roles,’’ Goodridge said. “I think we have a pretty good nucleus right now, including a pretty deep bench.’’

And with each game, it will become harder and harder to find a seat in the H. Dana Taylor Gym, which everyone in Merrimack will tell you is the way it should be.

Gary Fitz can be reached at 594-6469 or gfitz@nashua telegraph.com.