The Merrimack Valley boys’ basketball team has been competitive in every single game it has played in during the 2022-23 season. But like so many of those close games against strong opponents, the Pride came up just short.

No. 8 MV (12-8) overcame a seven-point deficit at halftime to force overtime, but the No. 1 Laconia Sachems (18-1) were stronger off the glass and survived Friday’s quarterfinal contest on their home floor, winning 61-57 in OT. 

“It was our game to win and I think we let it slip out of our hands,” Pride head coach Tim Mucher said.

As expected, MV played excellent defense early, forcing turnovers on Laconia’s first two possessions and not allowing a Sachems bucket until their fifth.

The teams were tied 9-9 after the first quarter, but Laconia started to pull away to take a 27-20 lead at halftime.

Laconia’s big man, 6-5 junior center/forward Keaton Beck had a huge night with a game-high 21 points and 22 rebounds, including nine off the offensive glass.

“I think the big fella hurt us with second chance points,” Mucher said. “He’s so athletic, he just goes for the ball. He’s got a nose for the ball and he converts it.”

Laconia outrebounded MV 38-20, including a 14-2 advantage in offensive boards. Carson Tucker (eight points, four rebounds, two assists), Logan Sanchez (five points, four rebounds) and Rowan Jones (three rebounds, three steals, three assists) also had strong games for the Sachems.

The Pride defense held Laconia’s Kayden Roberts (17 points, three assists) – one of Division II’s top scorers – to just two points in the first half.

MV senior guards Brandon Dukette (18 points, four rebounds, four assists, block), Buddy Eddy (16 points, three steals) and Gavin Wheeler (four points, four assists, two steals), senior center Logan Gabour (14 points, eight rebounds) and junior guard Trevor Simonds (five points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals) all had strong games on both ends of the court. 

A big third quarter by the Pride brought MV to a one-point deficit (39-38) heading into the final quarter and a Dukette 3 with 22.7 seconds left in regulation tied the game, 52-52, to force overtime.

Eddy – the hero of MV’s preliminary round victory with a buzzer-beating layup – had the ball behind the baseline with 2.6 seconds left to run one final play. Tucker tipped the first attempted inbounds pass back out of play.

On the next attempt, Eddy tried to make a Hail Mary pass to an open Dukette under Laconia’s basket, but the ball hit a light in the gymnasium rafters, giving the Sachems the ball under the basket with 2.2 seconds left. MV guarded Laconia well and Roberts didn’t get a clean look at the basket from a deep 3.

Laconia’s Sam Knowlton (five points, two steals, block) scored off the opening tip of overtime and the Sachems led wire-to-wire in the extra four minutes. Laconia also outrebounded MV 8-1 in overtime.

Both teams shot 39% from the field and neither team was sharp from the foul line, but Laconia connected on free throws when it mattered most – in the fourth quarter and overtime – and was stronger around the rim during the added time.

“That’s basketball,” Mucher said. “We weren’t great from the foul line, but I thought it was a great high school basketball game.”

The Sachems will take on No. 5 Pelham in the Division II semifinals on Tuesday, while the Pride says good bye to eight seniors who have completed their MV basketball careers.

“We were involved with a lot of close games this year,” said Mucher, whose team’s average margin of loss was just 4.8 points this year. “With the senior leadership, with their character, with their mental toughness they displayed … I have a classy group of young men.”

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