Good teams take advantage of any opening they’re given. With a recent NHIAA rules change, the boys of Pelham High’s basketball team were handed the makings of a big break, and following a season’s worth of hard work, they’ve capitalized, moving within two wins of a state title.

The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association decided to forego its annual Class I quarterfinal use of the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gymnasium in favor of an additional home game for the top four remaining seeds.

Enter Pelham, Class I’s No. 1-ranked unit and keepers of the state’s most notable home-court advantage. The Pythons have lost once in their own gymnasium in the last five years.

So when eighth-ranked Lebanon drove two hours to meet the locals on Friday, March 6, PHS coach Todd Kress couldn’t help but feel bad for the visitors.

“This was an atmosphere that obviously benefited us here tonight … Let’s be honest, 59- 1, there’s a reason for it … and that’s unfortunate because I really think this needed to be on a neutral floor. Lebanon’s kids did a great job this year. They got the eighth seed. They won their first-round game. They should be rewarded with a chance to play at UNH,” said Kress. “I know it’s a cost thing with the NHIAA, and it obviously was good for us, but it really takes away from the four teams who don’t get to experience playing on the college floor in a big venue.”

The Pelham fans were at full volume, drowning out and eventually quieting the cheers of Lebanon’s equally impressive road contingent. And despite a brief second-quarter lull, the Pythons easily pulled away in the second half and advanced to this year’s semifinals, 61-44.

Justin Hojlo, as usual, keyed the victory with 30 points.

“We have yet to see a team that understands what they need to do to him to get the ball out of his hands,” said Kress. “You see it in the third quarter, when he realizes it’s that time of game, three or four possessions in a row he just gets what he wants and knocks down big shots … His best quality is he understands the moment. He understands how to get his teammates involved … We just need the other guys to be there to complement him.”

That’s something the Pythons have done well all season.

Against Lebanon, for instance, sophomore Stephen Spirou contributed nine markers, Mike Lombard added eight, while Grant Hebert helped stretch the defense with 11 points, including a three-pointer early in the fourth that took all remaining air out of the Raiders’ sails.

Pelham’s semifinal matchup with No. 4 Laconia was scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, with the winner advancing to the Class I championship on Saturday, March 14, at UNH’s Lundholm Gymnasium. Tipoff is 2:30 p.m.