By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Central’s Tyler Roche of Hooksett, who’ll play hoops at Boston College next year, is greeted by his biggest fan during the Little Green’s state-championship celebration. The No. 1 fan is Megan Wheeler, 8, daughter of CHS head coach David “Doc” Wheeler.

Merrimack High’s students didn’t mince words. The young supporters of the Tomahawks boys basketball team stated their demand quite clearly when MHS earned entrance into the Class L state championship contest. The vocal vote was unanimous.

“We want Central!” was the verdict.

Perhaps the Tomahawks’ contingent should’ve opted to make a different wish, considering the outcome on Saturday, March 18.

Manchester Central met every challenge during the 2005- 06 campaign, including its last, completing a perfect season with a 54-39 triumph inside the University of New Hampshire’s Lundholm Gym.

Finishing 25-0, Central reached elite status, becoming only the fourth Class L club to run the table en route to the state title. Matt Bonner’s Concord High team in 1997-98 was the last to enter the history books.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned with a Matt Bonner and Concord. It’s an honor to be mentioned with a Portsmouth and the old Trinity teams coached by Frank O’Donnell,” said Central head coach David “Doc” Wheeler, who claimed the school’s 17th crown, his third in six years leading the Little Green. “To be spoken of in the same sentence, that’s pretty amazing to me.”

After winning its first three tourney games by large margins, Central stood tall in a closer matchup against Merrimack.

Before late free throws widened the gap, the sixthseeded Tomahawks trailed by a mere six points, 42-36, with 5- minutes, 14 seconds remaining in the fourth.

“We’re comfortable in pressure situations,” said Boston College-bound Tyler Roche, who followed a 27-point, ninerebound performance in the semis with a 19-point, eightrebound effort in the finals.

“When the other team makes a run, we stay poised. Poise is what we’re all about.”

As in Central’s previous 24 games, spirited defense was the difference in the title round.

His team holding a 29-21 halftime edge, Roche began the third quarter as he started the first – swishing a trey from the wing. The hoop provided CHS an 11-point cushion.

However, a Central scoring drought for the next 4:25 forced the defending champs to increase pressure defending their hoop.

Wheeler’s boys did the job, keeping Merrimack from capitalizing on its best opportunity to take control, and possibly, a lead.

“Central’s an outstanding defensive team,” said Merrimack head coach Tim Goodridge, whose boys entered the final frame trailing, 39-31. “There’s no doubt about it. They’re strong, quick, tough kids.”

Early in the fourth, a Bryan Tracy three-pointer bumped Central’s lead to 42-31 before the Tomahawks answered with five straight points.

The underdogs, however, wouldn’t inch any closer. Central – atop Class L from wire to wire – wouldn’t allow it.

“We were very fortunate to have a very veteran team that treated every game with a businesslike fashion,” Wheeler said.

“We’re just blessed to have mature kids with good character that could do that.”

Central junior Josh Last, routinely the club’s first weapon off the bench, said the team’s tunnel vision resulted from extremely intense practices.

Roche agreed. Many times throughout the season, the players’ competitive level during practice exceeded what spectators witnessed in game situations, according to the tri-captain.

“We motivated each other,” Roche said. “At every practice, we were on each others’ case to get better.”

According to Last, those hours working in the gym with teammates prepared Central for every obstacle presented by the opposition.

“It’s about being mature,” said Last, who posted two points against the Tomahawks. “A lot of high school kids don’t realize how important it is to be mature when dealing with adversity.”

Central’s ability to excel under pressure prompted Merrimack’s mentor to offer the ultimate compliment to the Little Green.

“We kind of want to be like Central,” said Goodridge, coach of Merrimack’s back-to-back title teams before Central’s run.

“Even when Central’s down a little bit, they’re, in my opinion, ‘The Program.’ They could be 9- 9, and if you’re going to Central, you know you’re gonna be in for a dogfight.”

Tournament notes
• Grand goodbye: Six members of Central’s ’05-’06 edition closed their high school hoops careers in style. The group included Tim Fields, Joe Fremeau, Roche, Max Stisser, Chris Taylor and Tracy.

• Leading the list: Central’s 17th state crown places the boys program No. 1 overall. The Little Green were previously tied with Portsmouth at 16.

• Exclusive company: Going undefeated and hoisting the hardware granted CHS a spot in a special group. Before Concord finished unblemished eight years ago, Portsmouth in ’93-’94 and Bishop Bradley in ’63-’64 were the only Class L teams to finish a season unbeaten.

• Just win, baby: Wheeler, a member of Central’s coaching staff for 16 seasons, celebrated his fifth state championship at CHS. He won two titles as an assistant coach before completing the head coaching trifecta.

• Locals in the limelight: Along with Hooksett’s Roche, Last and Stisser were stellar in the semis.

Last connected for 10 points, while Stisser hit for 12 points on four three-pointers.

Despite his red-hot performance beyond the arc, Stisser said he was most pleased with his defense.

The CHS senior credited former point guard Matt Lemieux with helping him realize the importance of consistently pestering opponents.

“He had such heart and just got in guys’ faces,” said Stisser, who netted six points in the finals. “He just dominated them defensively, so I try to do the same.”