The Alvirne High School Boys’ Basketball team had a good start to their winter season, winning 59-45 over Manchester Memorial.
The Broncos took on the Crusaders at home on Friday night, Dec. 13, and after getting off to a slow start, came away with the 14-point victory.
The Broncos finished the 2024 regular season at 9-9, which was good enough for the tenth seed in the Division I Playoffs, making it into the playoffs for the seventh time in the previous eight years.
In the state championship, Alvirne went 1-1, and were bounced by the tough Bedford Bulldogs in the quarterfinals.
The AHS squad is looking for another good season, and a 1-0 start is certainly a step in the right direction.
In the Friday night home-opener, the pace was slow to start with just one-point scored by the 6:40 mark and the second basket going in three-minutes into the game.
With three minutes off the clock, the Broncos had an early 3-0 lead, but that slim advantage vanished by the end of the first quarter, when Manchester took a 10-7 lead heading to the second period.
In the second period the Hudson offense stepped it up with 23-points and the defense kept Memorial away from hitting shots leaving them with just six points in the quarter.
Leading 30-16 at the half, the Broncos needed to just keep pace with their opponents in the second half, which, propelled by their home crowd, they maintain a constant lead for the victory.
Alvirne scored 12-points in the third quarter to Manchester’s nine, but then fell behind in scoring in the final period 17-20.
Junior forward Garrett Hall had 20-points for the Broncos, getting one three-pointer and working hard under the basket for seven baskets and three free-throws.
Senior guard Sam Dewitt scored 12-points in the game with one three-pointer.
Another senior guard, Evan Bettencourt, finished the game with nine-points, including one three-pointer.
Senior center, Andrew Deely had a seven-point game; and seniors Gabe Conrow and Alex Valenzuela both finished with four-points.
Other players on this year’s roster include: junior Sean Chipfunde; senior Charlie Crawford; junior Jacoby Durham; junior Luke Norse; senior Sean Mendes; senior Garrett Howard; junior Carsen Mills; and senior Ryan Rocheleau.
The Bronco boys will close out 2024 with two games this week. They traveled to Goffstown on Monday night to play the Grizzlies followed by a trip to Keene High School on Thursday night to play the Blackbirds.