In its fourth game, the West boys basketball team entered the contest needing a victory to match its 2006-07 win total.

Its opponent, Goffstown, four days removed from an impressive eight-point win over Class L power Pinkerton Academy, looked to follow up with a similar performance against a middle-of-the-pack opponent.

Both coaches agreed the matchup was a litmus test for the identical 1-2 squads. West passed. Goffstown failed.

Still, the contest proved competitive, if not entertaining.

Though the Blue Knights entered halftime with a 26-16 lead and came out of the locker room with a 11-point run, the Grizzles quickly launched a counterattack, outscoring their foes 19-4 through the rest of the quarter and into the fourth.

They drew within two points with less than three minutes remaining in the game.

But the Blue Knights were not to be deterred on Tuesday, Jan. 8. They held off their pesky opponents and earned a 57-52 victory.

“They need to learn how to win,” said West coach Colin Burke of a squad that finished last season 2-16 and missed the playoffs. “Tonight they executed when they had to in the end, and they know they’re fortunate to win this game.

“They know they’re not going to be as talented as a lot of the teams they go up against, so they’re gong to have to outwork them,” he continued. “They’re buying into it now. They’re improving, and they’re starting to believe a little.”

Goffstown coach Tony Carnovale, on the other hand, said his team must find the intensity it exhibited in holding Pinkerton to one point in the first quarter and eight points in the half.

“This was not a good loss. This is a team we thought we could beat, but the kids look at it that way and don’t come out playing like they should,” he said. “They’re great kids and want to do the right thing, but we’re still inexperienced and we’re making mistakes.”

The talent is there, however, and if his squad can find a level of consistency, Carnovale said there are few teams in Class L with which it can’t compete.

Game notes
Goffstown’s Kory Kiro led the contest in scoring with 20 points, and teammate Corey Paquette added 12.

For West, senior Garret Lofstrom netted 15 points, and Besfort Syla contributed 12.