MANCHESTER, NH – If early results are any indication, 2026 may be a banner year for the Trinity High School varsity boys basketball team.
After going 1-2 in the month of December – including a hard-fought 80-73 road setback to open the season at defending-champ Bedford, the Pioneers have rattled off three-straight victories to open the new year, including a 78-66 home triumph over Nashua South Friday night.
“We stick to who we are. You know, we stick to the culture,” said Trinity Head Coach Ray Farmer. “Defense is what we talk about. Nothing about offense. I think we’re growing in the right direction, I think we’re buying in, and you see, game-to-game, we’re getting better, and that’s all I can ask for. I tell my guys, I’m not worried about the other team so much. I want us to work on what we need to work on … when we get a turnover, we force one, not to give it right back. So, yes, we play chaotic. It doesn’t mean we need to play offensive chaos. you know what I mean? So those are the things we’re working on as a team. But I’m happy with the buy-in. You know, the season didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but you can see now, each game, we’ll get an exponentially better. I’m excited for the future.”
And for good reason.
The Pioneers have been competing without arguably their top player, junior guard Collin Charbonneau, who has been out injured through Trinity’s first six games. Farmer said he’s hopeful his standout scorer can return for the team’s Jan. 20 contest against Exeter.
“So coming up, pretty soon, he’s going to be right back, and he’s got enough time to get some games in down stretch, that last run,” said Farmer, “so we get him acclimating and up to speed, it’s over.”
That may be a scary thought for many D-I foes.
After all, South, which entered Friday’s game with a 2-2 record following a home loss to Alvine Tuesday night, came into the clash plenty motivated, said South head coach Nate Mazerolle, but Trinity, even shorthanded, proved a challenge too great to overcome.
‘You know, basketball is a simple game sometimes,” said Mazarolle. “Turnovers, free throws, and layups. It’s amazing how those always determine the outcome of the game.”
Indeed, not only did the Pioneers force regular turnovers throughout the contest, but they shot 80-percent (16-for-20) from the free-throw line, compared to South’s 47-percent (9-for-19) performance from the charity stripe.
“There’s your ball game,” Mazarolle said. “We can game-plan all we want. We can put in every offense in the world, and you make your free throws and layups, you’re gonna win a lot of games. Or lose a lot of games, if you don’t.”
The Pioneers did.
The hosts were led by 23 points from junior forward Jordan Torres, who had a breakout performance against South.
“Jordan finally being Jordan. You know, what I always knew was in there,” said Farmer. “He’s been struggling as of late, you know? But we’ve just been pouring confidence into him, and actually, I’m so glad the season’s been the way because him struggling early is only tailoring us to be who we need to be, so I told him, ‘who are you when you’re not making shots? What do you do for a team? What do you contribute? Is that all you are? No, you can rebound. You can defend. You can be a rim protector. You know, you can do so much more, and you can make other people around you better just by drawing attention, whether you make your shots or not. You’re still an attention-seeking guy. You’re still Jordan Torres. So be that, and make your teammates better. So, he’s really bought into that, bought into the defensive end. And you can see, he’s disruptive in every way possible. His length, his speed, his agility. And I told him, that’s where he has to be if he wants to play at the next level, and he’s taking that challenge. He’s done great with it.”
Senior guard Jaydan Auguste added 12 markers, including a 4-for-4 showing from the free-throw line; his classmates, Jamar Gregory-Alleyne and Xander McBournie, each offered 13; and senior point guard Derrick Erilla, who was also a perfect 4-for-4 on free throws, spearheaded the attack with eight points and many assists.
It’s that balanced effort, even without Charbonneau, that has the 4-2 Pioneers moving up in the standings.
“They have several very good players. I don’t know if there was a superstar out there tonight, but those are your best teams, usually,” said Mazarolle. “They all play well together, they’re very well coached. They all know how to play the game well – pass, catch, make the right dish – they can all shoot their free throws. So, yeah, they’re a very good basketball team. They’ll be in the mix at the end.”
Farmer didn’t argue the notion.
“I mean, you can call us a dark horse. You call us what you want. I know what that landscape really looks like. You know what I mean? So, we haven’t been in full strength, but you see what we’re doing,” said Farmer. “Imagine getting three threes back a a game, minimum. Usually four. And you know Collin’s a gamer from last year. So, you talk about him and Xander, everybody oat full strength. I’m game for anybody.”
First thing’s first, however.
Trinity looks to continue its hot start to the new year when it travels to Rochester to face 1-3 Spaulding for a 6:30 p.m. tipoff Tuesday before returning home to host upstart Merrimack (4-1) Friday night at 6:30.
See a photo you like? Browse these and more for viewing and/or purchase from Stacy Harrison Photography.