Talented sophomore class has Spaulding boys basketball thinking big

ROCHESTER - With a heavy sophomore class, Spaulding High School boys basketball head coach Lorne Lucas said he and his staff knew there would be some growing pains this season as the Red Raiders navigated through their Division I schedule.

Another step of growth was made on Friday night as Marcel Rose, Camden Carleton, Kyran Jeanpierre and Nate Sanchez-Martinez - four of the five sophomores - each made a key play, or multiple plays, down the stretch in a come-from-behind 59-52 win over rival Portsmouth at the Rochester Community Center.

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Whether it was Rose nailing 7 of 8 free throws in the final two minutes to preserve the Red Raiders' lead, or Carleton nailing a 3-pointer in the right corner to increase Spaulding's lead to 50-45 with 2:05 left, or Sanchez-Martinez blocking a Portsmouth's Ryan Swartz shot on the possession after Carleton's basket, or Jeanpierre making three free throws down the stretch, the Spaulding sophomores showed out in the win.

"I've always been a shot blocker," Sanchez-Martinez said of his terrific defensive stop. "I think it's one of my things that's been improving and improving during my years."

Lucas said the sophomores wanted the ball down the stretch, part of the continued learning process. Lucas said this might not have been the case earlier in the season.

"They're playing over their heads," Lucas said. "A lot of those kids should be playing in the (junior varsity) game, and they're sophomores playing in the varsity game. They're getting confident and I think that's the biggest part, you can just see the confidence in them. Before they just worried that they were going to make a mistake, I didn't see that in the fourth quarter at all."

Rose said the Red Raiders have "definitely learned from" early-season losses.

"In the beginning of the season, we've been coming close with games, but not finishing them," Rose said. "We've definitely learned how to close out games and compete with the big teams."

Against Portsmouth, Rose led Spaulding with 15 points, while Paul Butler had 11, and Kyran Jeanpierre, Camden Carleton and Nate Sanchez-Martinez all had 10.

Will young Red Raiders live up to 'potential?'

Lucas said 'potential' is a tough word.

"We talk a lot about it," he said. "The worst part is not living up to your potential; these guys take it seriously and they listen."

Carleton said he's a part of an 'amazing' sophomore class.

"I'd say we're one of the best sophomore classes in the state," he said. "I'd say compared to last year and this year, it's been a big improvement. We only won one game last year, and now we're kind of on a little streak right now. Obviously, we want it to continue."

Sophomore Brayden Crittenden said it's a hard-working, committed group, and talked about the motivation they carry.

"We want to be better, we want to stand out," he said. "We definitely want to stand out."

"One good thing is we're always together outside of basketball," Sanchez-Martinez said. "We're always hanging out, playing games, going out to team dinners. We're just consistent about everything."

Not all the recent credit of the Red Raiders, winners of three of their last four games, goes to the sophomores. Seniors Paul Butler, Hunter Trueman and Nate Devine do their fair share of contributing as well. Butler made a cross- court pass to Carleton for a 3-pointer in the fourth.

"We talk a lot (on the court) because the coaches, and especially the seniors, like Paul (Butler) is always on me," Sanchez-Martinez said. "When I'm on the foul line, (Butler) is always asking me if I know what I'm doing. He's just a good leader."

Spaulding playing well after three-game skid

Spaulding snapped a three-game losing streak with a recent 53-41 win at Winnacunnet, and then defeated Memorial, 70-68. The Red Raiders lost to Nashua North, 68-39 on Tuesday, but responded Friday against Portsmouth, which entered the game on a three-game losing streak.

"We were actually confident," Sanchez-Martinez said. "(Portsmouth) was on a losing stretch, and we thought we could take advantage of that."

Now at 5-8, Spaulding has life with five games remaining (three at home) in the regular season. Three of Spaulding's final five opponents are under .500 - Alvirne, Londonderry and Manchester Central.

"Hopefully we make the tournament and keep going," Carleton said. "Don't give up here and just push through teams."

Underclassmen have lofty future goals

Carleton was asked about what the Red Raiders can accomplish during their time, and the word championship could be heard from Sanchez-Martinez, who was standing a couple feet behind his teammate.

"Yes, hopefully a championship," Carleton agreed. "I'd love to get a championship our junior or senior year."

"It's definitely going to be hard," Sanchez-Martinez said. "Teams like Keene, Alvirne, young teams like Manchester Memorial, next year isn't going to be easy because we're losing some good guys."

Sanchez-Martinez said the coaches keep them in the 'now' and not worried about what's to come. He also said they know they have the "talent and potential" to be one of the best teams next year.

Rose kept it short and sweet about what's to come over the next couple of years.

"I think big things are coming up, big things," he said.

It's awesome," Lucas said. "They are starting to have conversations that's way past their years. It's going to be exciting to watch this group grow."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Talented sophomore class has Spaulding boys basketball thinking big