The intensity of the postseason is still weeks away, but no one told the Central and Trinity boys basketball teams.

The Little Green knocked off the undefeated Pioneers, 56-48, on Friday, Jan. 30, in a high-octane game that set up a three-way tie atop the Class L standings near the season’s midpoint.

After Central headed to the locker room with a two-point halftime lead, the Pioneers quickly grabbed a 28-27 lead on a three-pointer by Hooksett resident Cormac Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick’s basket was the first shot in an explosive backand- forth second half. The difference remained a single basket throughout most of the second half.

However, starting at the 3:20 mark of the final quarter, Central held Trinity without a basket until Fitzpatrick’s jumper with 20 seconds remaining, and that hoop only trimmed the Little Green lead to 53-48.

“They have the best man-toman defense in Class L,” said Trinity’s head coach, Dave Keefe. “They can win games with that alone. We can learn a lot from Central’s defense.”

The bleachers at Central were completely full for the game, with the schools’ student sections battling all night, just like their beloved basketball teams.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere tonight,” said Central’s mentor, Doc Wheeler. “When we’ve played them the last nine years, it’s always been a great game. It’s just a great rivalry, and we wanted to be competitive.”

Senior Brett Parenteau helped the Little Green do just that, nailing long-distance shots all night, while putting up 26 points to lead all scorers. Will Bayliss of Hooksett added 11 for Central.

Jordan Laguerre, who dropped in 14 points, paced the Pioneers, while Fitzpatrick chipped in 10 in a losing effort.

Bedford resident Zach Ibanez contributed off the bench for Trinity. His only hoop of the game came with 10 seconds remaining in the opening period, cutting what had been a 9-2 Central lead to 15-13.

Wheeler said his team was single-minded in the days leading up to the Class L showdown, but he does not want to make too much of the victory.

“We told the guys before the game that it is a long season,” said Wheeler. “We are looking to be a very good team. We can be close to average, but when we work hard enough we can also be very good.”

Central’s only loss this season came Jan. 27, a 42-41 home setback to Nashua South, something the Trinity cheering section, chanting “Nashua South,” reminded Little Green fans of during the game.

Trinity, Central and Pinkerton each sport 7-1 records, and Wheeler said the top postseason seed – and the inside track at a state title – awaits the team that continues to progress.

“I hope this game gives the team a belief at what their capacity is,” said Wheeler. “We have two months remaining, and the team that improves the most is the one that will win it.”

In addition to his team’s stellar defense, Wheeler said he had another strategy to help his team knock Trinity from the ranks of the unbeaten.

“Prayer,” said Wheeler jokingly. “They have a number of kids that are so good at controlling the game. You just pray that they miss some shots.”