Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but they’re not high up the list for Goffstown High School’s basketball coach. While the regular success of the GHS baseball team has been impressive, there is a cost.

“The biggest problem is that everyone plays baseball, and they didn’t have the time to put in during the offseason to get ready for basketball season,” said Goffstown’s head coach, Tony Carnovale. “For the first time, we had a couple kids play AAU, and they’re improved. Hopefully that’ll show on the court.”

Last season, the Grizzlies struggled, posting a 2-16 mark, but the team graduated just four players among the 14-man roster. Two seniors on this year’s squad, Alex Stoyle and Jeff Thomas, played AAU during the offseason, reaching a national tournament in Florida.

“They came home and realized that other teams were playing year-round, and we were playing three months in the year,” said Carnovale. “That’s why we weren’t beating anybody.” Stoyle’s inside play is vital to the Grizzlies; the 6-foot-7 center serves as the linchpin of the Goffstown offense.

“Alex is quick for a big man, and he can also work around the basket, which makes it difficult to guard him,” said Carnovale. “He’s an intelligent kid, so people should have their hands full with him. If he plays to his potential, we’ll be a good team.”

Senior Ben Morse’s outside shooting complements Stoyle’s inside play, while senior Jimmy Assad has the task of distributing the ball both inside and outside from the point guard slot. Carnovale said he has always believed in pressuring opponents, and he’ll continue that this year.

“We have a little bit of quickness. The style I always preferred was to press people,” said Carnovale. “We’ll try to do the same thing, and hopefully these kids pick it up. The last couple of years we weren’t a very good defensive team. We have to step that up.”

During the preseason, the team traveled to Cape Cod for multiple scrimmages, where Carnovale said the team began to gel on and off the court. When the Grizzlies weren’t playing, Carnovale took them out for some Christmas shopping.

The mentor will soon see the payoff of having his players take part in year-round basketball activities; the team hosts Alvirne in the season opener on Friday, Dec. 19. He said as his tenure at GHS continues, he needs to see continued dedication from the young athletes.

“I’m the type of coach who coaches year-round. If it’s to the point I want it more than them, I have to step back and let someone else take over,” said Carnovale. “In the past, we had kids who were playing basketball. This year, we have basketball players.”