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Defend, grind, rebound, defend, grind some more.

Londonderry rolled to a 14-5 mark in Class L play with that simple formula.

All that came to a screeching halt in yesterday's Class L quarterfinal against No. 4 Manchester Central. Seven-point halves tend to have that effect on teams.

Londonderry gave its fans what they wanted | a win and a chance for redemption in the Class L quarterfinals.

The fifth-seeded Lancers held off upset-minded No. 12 Bishop Guertin, 66-57.

Matt Travalini (25 points) dumped in four 3-pointers to open the first quarter and gave Londonderry a 19-10 lead after one. Those baskets set the tone for the rest of the night.

Goffstown entertained thoughts of an upset for a half, Londonderry to a halftime, 24-24 stalemate, but all that changed after the break.

The Lancers, who only have one Class L loss, ripped off a 24-6 third quarter and never looked back, rolling 60-33. Matt Travalini paced the winners with 21 points, and Desmond Lumpkins chipped in 13.

Of course, the game was going to have a playoff atmosphere. It was Pinkerton-Londonderry, after all.

Trailing by six with two minutes to go in the first half, Londonderry came roaring back. The Lancers cut the deficit to two at halftime and then scored 26 points in the final two quarters for a 43-36 win over its bordering rival before a packed house at Londonderry High.

It hasn't taken long for Friday nights to simmer on the local hoop scene.

A couple gigantic matchups in the region kick off the 2008 action tonight.

In New Hampshire, you won't find a bigger one that tonight's Londonderry at Salem collision, slated for 7 p.m.

2006-07 record: 15-8, lost in Class L quarterfinal

Returning starters (2): Matt Travalini, 6-1, Sr., guard; Bobby Wunsch, 6-4, Sr., forward

Returning lettermen: Desmond Lumpkins, 6-2, Sr., guard; Mike Barbera, 6-3, Sr., forward; David Feinstein, 6-1, Jr., guard; Tom Tierney, 6-3, Sr., forward