Near the end of a relatively easy 46-31 semifinal-round win over Spaulding on March 12, Trinity’s boisterous student cheering section called in unison, “We want Salem! We want Salem!”

Three days later inside the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gymnasium, those fans learned to be more careful with their wishes.

The Salem boys basketball team reclaimed the Class L title on Saturday, March 15, by flatout steamrolling Trinity in the second and third quarters, turning a 16-8 first-quarter deficit into a double-digit lead.

The 66-45 final score answered anyone questioning the Blue Devils’ steady, season-long dominance en route to a second straight state crown, second straight finals win over the Pioneers and perfect 22-0 record.

A trio of guards with local ties – senior Ryan Bourgeois of Bedford, classmate Steve Rice of Auburn and sophomore Cormac Fitzpatrick of Hooksett – tried in vain to slow the Blue Devils, who closed the season the way they opened the campaign, by defeating the Pioneers.

Bourgeois described the 49- 45 overtime loss on Dec. 18 as “a sloppy, poorly executed game. Neither team found its offensive rhythm.”

That was not the case in the Class L final.

Trinity, behind Bourgeois’ eight points, led by five after one quarter. Still, the momentum had already begun to shift.

Josh Jones hit a three-pointer to close the scoring in the opening frame and cut the Blue Devil deficit to 16-11. He then opened the second quarter with eight more points.

Salem never trailed again.

Yes, Rice hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 23-23, then Bourgeois hit a 14-footer to knot the score again, but Salem took a five-point edge into the locker room at halftime.

Rice hit another three-pointer early in the third quarter to pull the Pioneers within four, but Trinity couldn’t keep pace with Salem, which took a 15- point lead into the final frame.

THS managed one more run. But a fourth-quarter flash – sparked by Fitzpatrick, who successfully lobbed a pair of pinpoint three-point bombs – couldn’t shine a path to a single-digit deficit. Then the Blue Devils put the lights out for good.

Despite Trinity’s enrollment of 475 – compared to 2,300 at Salem, 1,700 at Spaulding and 2,400 at Central as the remainder of the final four – head coach Dave Keefe said graduating players like Bourgeois and Rice, as well as returning athletes like Fitzpatrick, classmate Jordan Laguerre and junior Richard Madol, have helped the program turn the corner.

No, the team isn’t on Easy Street, but the road ahead is much brighter. “We had a really good season,” said a disappointed Keefe. “Young kids are talking about playing with us. They see the brand of basketball we play, and they get excited about it. Trinity is now a viable option for kids in and around Manchester who want to play high school ball.”

Game notes
Fitzpatrick’s final threepointer broke the Class L record for most three-point field goals in a tournament. In 2005, Corey Hassen of Merrimack hit 12 in the tourney. Fitzpatrick’s four treys accounted for his 12 points. The sophomore said he’ll work on his ball handling, defense and, though he made two attempts from 25 feet, his long-range shot.

Bourgeois led the team with 18 points. Rice added eight. Laguerre scored two in each half for four points total. Alex Letvinchuk netted two before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. His senior classmate, Lado Pitia, hit a late-game free throw. It was also the final game for Jolet Bazia.