MANCHESTER - While Trinity High coach Dave Keefe thinks it still might take some time before he knows exactly what he has from a team that includes four transfers, it was a couple of returning players that allowed the Pioneers to end the Queen City Invitational Basketball Tournament on a positive note Saturday.

Senior center Mabor Gabriel turned in another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Pat Keefe scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter as Trinity held off Bedford, 51-43, in the tournament's fifth-place game.

"We've got some great pieces to the puzzle. Now it's up to the coaching staff to put those pieces together," said Keefe, whose team went 2-1 in the QCIBT after starting 3-0 in the regular season. "They're getting used to me and getting used to a new system."

So, while transfers like Ryan Otis and Brad Rhoades, a pair of starters, adjust to a new system, the Pioneers will have to rely on Gabriel, Keefe and junior Carmen Giampetruzzi. All three showed their veteran mettle against the Bulldogs.

When Bedford made a run, closing to within 41-39 with 3:19 left in the game on back-to-back 3-pointers by Jake Capistran and Cam Meservey (10 points), it was Pat Keefe who had the answer, coming up with a big steal and layup.

"We might have had a shot if not for that," Bedford coach Mike Fitzpatrick said.

Sam Thomas led Bedford with 12 points, including a 3-point heave at the end of the third quarter that cut Trinity's lead to 36-31. The Bulldogs struggled to find their offense at the start of each quarter, forcing them to play behind the entire game.

"We're adjusting to the level of physicality in Division I," Fitzpatrick said. "It's a process."

Central 40, Merrimack 33: Two of the more defensive-minded teams in Division I played up to their reputation in this rematch of last year's state championship game.

The Tomahawks led 30-27 after three quarters, but were held to one field goal in the fourth quarter as the Little Green shook off Friday's overtime loss to Memorial.

A 3-pointer by Troy Pelletier (13) with 3:13 left put Central ahead for good, 34-32.

Goffstown 73, West 71: In a game highlighted by 23 3-pointers, it took a defensive play to lift the Grizzlies past the Blue Knights in the seventh-place game.

Goffstown's Tim Riehl made his only points of the game count, as he stole the ball and scored with 6.8 seconds left to break a 71-all tie. Nolan Flynn's 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

Flynn had three of West's 12 3-pointers and finished with 16 points. Zack Theriault (21 points) had five 3s and Carl Jacques (16) had two.

Goffstown knocked down 11 from long distance, getting four from sophomore Marcus Haynes (13) and three each from Jake Mount (18) and Rob White (13).