Junior guard Pat Welch scored 36 points and was nearly unstoppable off the dribble, and Pembroke Academy cruised to a 76-59 win at Portsmouth on Friday night. Matt Persons knocked down five three-pointers and scored 17 points as the Spartans improved to 3-0 in Division II. Jordan Williams chipped in 12 points for the winners.

Travis MacDonald sank four 3-pointers and led Portsmouth with 21 points. The defending champs dropped to 1-1.

Memorial 60, Timberlane 53: At Plaistow, Omaru Kante scored the go-ahead basket with two minutes remaining, and Joel Mayola followed with a steal and three-point play to spark Manchester Memorial. Zoubel Iradukunda buried three 3-pointers and scored 16 points as the Crusaders (3-0) stayed unbeaten in Division I. Tong Akot scored 15, and Kabongo Ngalakulondi netted 12 points, including a three-pointer. Timberlane of Plaistow sharpshooter Patrick Mahoney had five 3-pointers and led the Owls (0-3) with 17 points.

Pinkerton 65, Greater Lawrence 43: At Lawrence, Mass., Cam Welch scored 22 points including four three three-point field goals as the Astros rallied from a 21-14 first period deficit to post an opening-round victory in the Greater Lawrence Christmas Tournament. Scott Bradley added 16 points to the Pinkerton totals. The New Hampshire club sealed the game's outcome with a 14-2 fourth period.

Hollis/Brookline 57, St. Thomas 40: At Dover, senior guard P.J. Flaum scored 18 points for the third consecutive game as the Cavaliers took care of business on the road trip to St. Thomas Aquinas. Shea Whalen scored 11 points, and Hollis/Brookline improved to 3-0. St. Thomas fell to 1-2.

Gilford 62, Newfound 49: At Gilford, sophomore forward Josh Joyce had a pair of threes and 18 points to lead Gilford, which stayed undefeated with a home victory on Friday night. Newfound of Bristol held a 15-12 lead in the second quarter before the Golden Eagles (4-0) roared back and established a 26-22 lead at halftime. Newfound, led by Noah Merrill's 10 points, dropped to 0-4 in Division III.

Girls' basketball
Goffstown 35, Souhegan 31: Sophomore guard Tori Florence had another big night for Goffstown, scoring 17 points in a home victory against Souhegan of Amherst on Friday. Camden Formby-Lavertu had nine points to lead the Sabers, who led 19-18 at halftime.

Goffstown's defense turned up the intensity, allowing only three points in the third quarter, and the Grizzlies (4-0) stayed undefeated with a strong fourth quarter. Rosalie Edmonds scored eight points and played a key role in the win. The Sabers dropped to 2-3.

Campbell 54, Somersworth 51: At Litchfield, Brianna Hardy's tenacious fourth-quarter defense took the Toppers out of their scoring rhythm and Aly O'Donnell scored eight of her 13 points during the final eight minutes to rally the Cougars past previously undefeated Somersworth. O'Donnell dropped in a pair of three-pointers as Campbell out-pointed its rival, 21-15, in the final frame. Avery LaCroix sealed the game's outcome with a pair of free throws with five seconds to play. Hardy topped Campbell scorers with 16 points, while Somersworth's Rachel Hill scored a game-high 24 points. Somersworth (6-1) led 32-21 at the half. Campbell is 5-2.