Nashua South's Will McKenney puts up a shot in the middle of a sea of Spartans, including Milford's Ethan Szopa (14), Tyler Constable (3) and Matthew Gaumont during Friday's semifinal of the Nashua Holiday Basketball Tournament at the Belanger Gym. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The plan worked to perfection once again.

The hope always seems to be for a Nashua High School North vs.South championship game in the Nashua Holiday Basketball Tournament, and in the boys version, that’s what fans will get for the third straight year.

The Panthers and Titans will meet for the title today at about 4:30 p.m., courtesy of their blowout wins on Friday. First, North got its first win of the year in routing Souhegan 62-34, while South handled Milford 64-41.

Since the tourney returned in a simple, reduced format from its eight team, three-day predecessor post-pandemic, this will be the third straight year the city rivals have met in the finals, North winning two years ago and South last year.

“That’s what we’re always looking for, right?” South coach Nate Mazerolle said with a grin, but he knows he has to be careful what he wished for. “Anyone who believed North was struggling at 0-3 – I know what the record is – they’re a very good basketball team, and (North coach) Steve Lane is one of the best coaches in the state. (Tonight) will be an absolute battle. And fun.”

“It should be interesting,” Lane said. “These guys (the Panthers) are really good. It’ll be a great challenge for us.”

South (4-0 overall, 3-0 Division I) handled the Spartans fairly easily, using its depth to rest most of the starters in the second half. That’s because they expanded a 14-7 lead after the first quarter to 37-11 at the half. It was basically over. Ten players entered the scoring column for the Panthers,led by Josh Caruso with 19 points and Shane Lemire with 10. All of Caruso’s points came in the first half, 11 in the second quarter helping to break things open.

Milford (1-2 overall, 1-1 Division II) was led by Will Emerson’s 12 points while Tyler Constable had eight. The Spartans will face Division II rival Souhegan in the consolation today at 1:30 p.m.

“I wish we would’ve played with the same type of pride and toughness that we’ve shown this year,” a disappointed Milford coach Leo Gershgorin said. “We didn’t show up the way we usually do.”

“We ran the floor well I thought,” Mazerolle said. “Defensively, that’s not a bad basketball team (Milford). The scouting report I got was they’re a good Division II basketball team, which means they’re a good basketball team.”

NORTH 62, SOUHEGAN 34

Victory finally came to the Titans (1-3 overall), who had lost three tough regular season Division I games to start the season.

North led just 15-12 after one quarter, but like South, blew things open in the period number two to lead 34-16 at the break. Robinson Rodriguez had 10 of his game-high 15 points actually in the third quarter, while Alize Roig-Cortes had 13 points, six in the second period. Josh Sullivan was a key in that quarter, with all eight of his points scored then.

Souhegan, meanwhile, suffered its first loss 3-0 Division II, 3-1 overall) but had 10 players score, led by Weston Hickman’s nine points and seven by Sean Zerega. But the Sabers managed just 22 points over the final 24 minutes.

“As opposed to the other three games we played, our little focus on the defensive end was the factor today,” Lane said. “I’m kind of surprised at the way we came out and made shots. We got control of the game midway through the second.

“I’m happy with the way the kids played. They needed something to get some confidence.”

Which will help make today’s a fun matchup.