PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — With the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter, Finn McCauley walked to the huddle during a timeout with his arms stretched in the air, urging the student section behind the bench to get louder. They happily obliged.
Minutes later, No. 1 Portsmouth put the finishing touches on an 81-54 victory over No. 5 Bishop Guertin in its home opener at Stone Gymnasium. The Clippers hope there are similar celebrations the rest of the winter in their pursuit of a state championship in March, but Monday night was an early-season lesson that it won’t come easy despite being the clear favorite on paper.
The final score won’t indicate it, but Portsmouth actually trailed by seven after the first quarter to the hungry and motivated Cardinals. But the Clippers turned it around quickly. Shots started falling, and they turned up their defense. Portsmouth outscored BG, 22-6, in a dominant second quarter, kept its foot on the gas in the third and never really looked back to improve to 2-0.
“It’s a blessing and a curse because we get everyone’s best shot every single night,” Portsmouth star sophomore Derek Swartz said of being the preseason favorite. “So we have to come prepared every single night, watch the film, be smart, play together and just have the best shot for everyone.”
NHIAA BOYS: Preseason Top 10 | 15 players to watch
Here are five standouts from Monday’s matchup, which included a milestone night for a Portsmouth senior.
Connor McGowan, Bishop Guertin
Class of 2026, 5-10 guard
McGowan had the Cardinals believing in an upset after a ridiculous first-quarter performance. He scored 15 points in the opening frame – outscoring Portsmouth as a team – that he put a stamp on with back-to-back 3-pointers, including a deep, NBA-range pull-up as the final seconds ticked away, and he let out a big bellow as he headed back to his bench. He cooled down after, but he still finished with a game-high 30 points.
McGowan got several buckets in transition, including a steal and breakaway layup, and he demonstrated great body control and balance on his finishes at the rim, with an ability to convert through contact on three-point plays. McGowan plays with a fun edge and competitive fire as a smaller guard – he flexed more than once – and he’ll undoubtedly be one of the best players in NHIAA this season.
Finn McCauley, Portsmouth
Class of 2028, 6-7 forward
McCauley’s calling card comes on the defensive end, and though Portsmouth got off to a slow start, he set the tone. He opened the game with a strong three-point play drive off the glass, but he was a monster in the defensive paint, where he jumped a passing lane for a steal that led to transition points and forced another turnover moments later on strong help coverage. He also had a massive chase-down block later in the game and drew a charge in the fourth quarter. He finished with only four points, but his energy on defense and presence at the rim was a big factor in the Clippers’ turnaround.
Isaiah Reis, Portsmouth
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Reis, almost quietly, scored a team-high 22 points – including four 3-pointers and 16 second-half points – and had the best moment of the night. With 1:11 left in the game, he hit 1,000 career points with a free throw. Everyone in the building knew it was coming, and he earned a big ovation from the crowd and his teammates as he exited the game moments later.
“I’m really happy for him,” Swartz said. “I love Isaiah. He puts in a ton of work. I love playing with him in the offseason. It’s just awesome to see my boy hit 1,000. It was cool.”
Derek Swartz, Portsmouth
Class of 2028, 6-5 guard
All eyes are on Swartz this season as a nationally-ranked sophomore – he’s No. 63 in 24/7 Sports’ Class of 2028 rankings – and he admittedly wasn’t at his best Monday night as he continues to get adjusted to the newfound attention and different coverages he’s facing. He committed a few early turnovers and struggled to find a rhythm, but he still managed to make an a significant impact with 14 points and contribute in other areas.
He got to the free throw line with good cuts and found driving lanes as the game progressed, he was all over the glass, he kept the ball moving in good positions on offense and his strong defense on McGowan was eventually rewarded, which included an impressive block on one of his long jumpers. Swartz is one of the best scorers in the state, and those points will come, but it was good to see him not get rattled and stay engaged and impactful in the victory.
Ryan Swartz, Portsmouth
Class of 2026, 6-4 forward
Derek Swartz and McCauley might be the star attractions at Portsmouth, but it’s clear that Ryan – Derek’s older brother – is the heart and soul of this team. He finished with 14 points and was a major difference-maker with his toughness and grit inside and several winning plays. He corralled an offensive rebound between two defenders and finished a three-point play, he drew a foul on another offensive board and he never quit on any plays on both ends. He also showed some finesse with a coast to coast score off a steal and a well-executed drive on a give-and-go.
If Portsmouth gets where it wants to go this season, Ryan Swartz is the glue that will bring it all together.
“It is everyone on the team before him,” Derek said. “He’ll get 20 rebounds and not even shoot one shot if it means we win. That’s what he wants. He’s a team player, he’s an (expletive) psychopath, talks (expletive) to anyone and he’s not scared of anything. He plays his heart out all the time.”
