Last year, it took a stunning underdog effort for the Pembroke boys basketball team to reach the Class I semifinal round. This season, the secondseeded Spartans were expected to be there.

Unlike 2008, when No. 9 PA knocked off undefeated top seed Oyster River, it was the locals who were upset in this year’s tourney.

The Spartans lost, 58-48, to No. 6 Portsmouth, which also beat No. 3 Oyster River in the quarterfinals and No. 1 Pelham for the state title.

“Last year, we came in being the spoiler. It just feels different this year,” said head coach Matt Alosa. “Last year, you weren’t expecting us to beat Hanover (in the semis). I felt that this game, we had more of a chance to come back, even being down like we were, to come back and win.

“Everybody’s down. You know, nobody wants to lose, and this team knew they were championship quality,” he continued.

“They went out there and they fought, they left their heart on the court tonight, but ... we couldn’t get over that, eight-, 10-, 12-point point hump, and in the final four you’ve got to make some shots, and I just don’t think we had a typical Pembroke shooting night.”

Indeed, the Spartans, in both the second and fourth quarters, took some wind out of the Clippers’ sails, holding them scoreless for more than five minutes late in the first half, but time and time again the locals failed to take advantage.

Yes, they cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit to seven in the fourth, but that was the closest they came.

“In the second quarter we stopped them seven or eight times in a row, and we got nothing out of it,” said Alosa. “Tonight, I think the defense did a pretty good job. I just don’t think we finished on the break, I don’t think we finished the shots we normally make, and when you don’t do that with a team like Portsmouth, that’s running on all cylinders now, you’re going to have a tough time.”

Still, the fact PA has fallen in consecutive final four appearances carries with it this reality: the program is now among the best in Class I.

“That’s just it. We’re trying to have a program, not a team. Not a team one year that you get lucky and have some kids that are good. I think these kids have been developed now for three years, and you can kind of see the progression from my first year, second year, third year,” said Alosa. “We graduate five seniors – all of them play – so we’re going to be younger next year ... but I think you’ll see Pembroke in the mix. We’re trying to develop a program that can consistently get into the tournament, can consistently make noise and be competitive.”

The Spartans, who finished the year 19-2, will undoubtedly miss graduating floor general Tyler Yeaton and fellow seniors Nick Porter, Christian Davis and Pat McCormick, but plenty of talent is expected to run the PA floor next season, including the likely prolific backcourt duo of junior Sheldon Benson and sophomore Taylor Vasquez.

Others returning include juniors Brad Freeman, Dalton Cheney, Zach Cogswell and Jackson Riel, as well as freshmen Tyler Morrison and Kent Noyes.

Game notes
Grenier led the contest with 19 points. Nick Porter contributed 10 markers. Benson added six, and McCormack and Vasquez offered four apiece. Davis and Yeaton chipped in with three and two points, respectively.