By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

The Manchester Central boys basketball team survived a sluggish first half of shooting the basketball to enjoy a solid second-half finish.

Central senior guard Ben Gilde (No. 11), seen here in an early season Little Green victory against West, struck for 12 critical points against Winnacunnet in the Class L quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 15. The locals’ season is still up in the air following a 61-49 win at the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gym – and another trip to the Final Four. The team will face Nashua North, 74-53 winners over Londonderry. (Marc Thaler Photo)

The No. 3 Little Green turned a 20-19 halftime edge into a 61-49 Class L quarterfinals triumph over Winnacunnet of Hampton at the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gym on Tuesday, March 15.

Late in the regular season, the Little Green beat Winnacunnet in the Queen City, a 68-53 victory on Feb. 22.

Central’s 12-point triumph in the quarterfinals allowed the Little Green machine to motor into the Final Four with a record of 18-2.

“We’re a team that can score a lot if we’re able to get one sizeable run,” said Central head coach David “Doc” Wheeler. “That can be the difference maker.”

Against the Warriors, the locals’ run came in the third quarter. In the first 3:27 after the intermission, Central outscored Winnacunnet, 13-7. With much better range from the field, Central won the quarter, 20-13.

Although he had difficulty connecting in the first half, scoring just four points, Central standout Tyler Roche of Hooksett finished the night with a gamehigh 22.

Outside shots from perimeter playmakers such as senior Ben Gilde, who was good for 12 points, softened Winnacunnet’s defense in the low post. As a result, Roche racked up several close-range hoops.

Junior Joe Fremeau, who only recently returned to action from injury, also contributed double figures, pouring in 12 points.

The key to the win, however, was Central’s ability to dominate play on the backboards, Wheeler said.

The Little Green were truly big, gaining a 20-8 halftime rebounding edge and more than doubling Winnacunnet in the category by game’s end, 29-12.

“That was huge,” Wheeler said of the rebounding differential in Central’s favor. “We shot the ball so poorly, if we didn’t out-rebound them badly, we’d have been in a sizeable hole.”

Central was scheduled to meet second- seeded Nashua North, a 74-53 winner over Londonderry, at UNH in the semis on Thursday, March 17, at 6 p.m.