DURHAM – You don’t win a championship in the first minute and six seconds of a game, but you can start laying the groundwork.
The Souhegan boys basketball team did on Saturday when Tanner Kent took a baseline charge against Pembroke Academy junior Patrick Welch.
Welch was the leading scorer for the undefeated Spartans, the highest scorer on the highest scoring team in Division II. He’s a junior who eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in career scoring early in his junior season and averages over 25 points per game.
So naturally, you look for any way you can to get him out of the game.
“We know he likes to push off a little when you guard him closely,’’ Souhegan senior guard Brandon Len said. “Sure, we were hoping to get him in foul trouble.’’
With three minutes left in the first quarter, Welch picked up his second foul, trying to guard Souhegan’s best player, Len, on a drive to the basket.
The Sabers saw an opportunity. They guarded Welch closely and, with seconds left in the quarter, Welch picked up his third foul and would spend the entire second quarter on the bench.
Suddenly, the division’s most explosive offense wasn’t so explosive.![]()
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