The Pride couldn’t miss in the third quarter. In the fourth, that was all that happened.
After using a barrage of 3-pointers to erase an eight-point halftime deficit, the Merrimack Valley girls’ basketball team went 0-for-8 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter of Friday’s season opener against Pelham. The cold spell was too much to overcome as MV lost 56-51 at home.
“You kind of live by the 3 and die by the 3, and tonight we died by it in the fourth quarter,” Merrimack Valley coach Bob McNutt said. “Am I happy with the shot selection? I am, because that’s the style we want to play, but at the end of the day I think there were opportunities to take better shots in the fourth than we did.”
The game was tight to start and the Pythons took a 16-14 lead after one, but they pushed that to 32-24 by halftime. The Pride re-energized and refocused during the break and came out firing in the third.
“We played way better defense in the third quarter, and in the entire second half, but what really happened was we started hitting shots,” McNutt said. “We hit five 3s in the third and that got us right back in it.”
MV senior Miah Boucher scored eight of her 11 points in the third quarter and sophomore Alyssa Woodman netted five of her 11. Junior Haley Kenney (eight points) also hit a 3-pointer in the third, and by the end of the quarter the Pride had a 48-46 lead.
Unfortunately for MV, it wouldn’t last.
“The 3-ball built the momentum to get us back in the game and then in the fourth we just went ice cold,” McNutt said. “We couldn’t hit a 3, we were missing free throws and we weren’t rebounding. So, that combination raelly, really hurt us. And credit Pelham, they executed in the fourth, they hit shots, and we didn’t.”
Sophomore Macy Gordon added eight points for Merrimack Valley, which plays next at ConVal on Friday.
“We talked to the girls about three things after the game – free throw shooting has to get better, rebounding has to get better and when the 3-ball is not going, we have to find another way to score,” McNutt said. “But I think that’s who we are. We want to get up and down, we want our girls to shoot, but we have to be smart, too.”
“So, we’re right back at it tomorrow and we’ll talk about a few more things and clean up a few things.”
Concord 52, Salem 32
Key players: Concord – Ava Woodman (24 points, 8 steals, 4 assists), Elizabeth Blinn (13 points, 6 rebounds 4 blocks), Ky Buchholz (9 rebounds)
Highlights: It was a sensational varsity debut for Woodman, Concord’s 5-foot-10 freshman guard. The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter and extended it to a 28-16 going into the half. After a slow start offensively in the second half, Concord closed things out by outscoring Salem 16-9 in the fourth quarter.
Coach’s quote: “1-0 feels pretty good. These kids believe in each other and have an incredible will to win. The name of the game for us was our defense. We had scoring draughts at times, but our defense remained constant. We had great contributions from everyone. Everyone was in it and pulling for each other. We are improving each night. That is all we can do, continue to grow. Really proud of these kids.” – Concord’s Tim LaTorra
Records: Concord 1-0; Salem 0-1
Bishop Brady 58, Laconia 45
Key players: Bishop Brady – Ami Rivera (23 points), Halle Laramie (15 points), Marissa Payne (10 points); Laconia – Isabella Daly (13 points)
Highlights: A strong third quarter run helped the Giants find the up-tempo pace they want and take control of the game.
Coach’s quote: “First game of the season always gets out some jitters and some offensive and defensive glitches. Was proud of how our girls stayed committed to each other on and off the floor and stayed focused even through some adversity. ” – Brady’s Annie Mattarazzo
Records: Bishop Brady 1-0; Laconia 0-1
John Stark 42, Kearsarge 34
Key players: John Stark – Anna Stenger (17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), Chelsea Woodsum (8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals), Brooke Patnode (7 points), Lilli Stogner (6 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals)
Highlights: John Stark had a typical opening game with some good moments, including a 13-for-18 effort from the free throw line, but the Generals also had 23 turnovers and a two-point second quarter.
Coach’s quote: “Anna Stenger shot the ball very well tonight and it’s great to get an opening night victory.” – John Stark’s Bruce Johnson
Records: John Stark 1-0; Kearsarge 0-1
Mascenic 59, Hopkinton 44
Key players: Hopkinton – Kevin Newton-Delgado (17 points), Michael Baer (eight points; Mascenic – Sam Stauffeneker (30 points)
Highlights: After Mascenic took a 30-24 lead into halftime, Newton-Delgado scored eight of his team-high 17 points in the third and the Hawks tied things up 37-37 as the game went into the fourth quarter. That’s when Stauffeneker scored 11 of his 30, including a 5-for-6 effort from the free throw line, as the Vikings opened the season with a big win in Division III.
Coach’s quote: “Mascenic picked up their intensity and we didn’t match it, they finally dug deep, showed who they are and where they want to be.” – Hopkinton’s Steve Signor
Records: Hopkinton 0-1; Mascenic 1-0
Portsmouth Christian Acad. 78, Pittsfield 76
Key players: Pittsfield – Tyler Prentice (24 points, 4 steals), Devin Bedell (18 points, 9 assist, 5 steals); Portsmouth Christian Academy – Bryson Lund (30 points), Coleman Philbrick (14 points)
Highlights: The Panthers went into the fourth quarter trailing by 10 after a sluggish and poor shooting first half. Pittsfield went on a 10-0 run with two minutes to go had a shot at buzzer that didn’t fall.
Coach’s quote: “We did just enough to put ourselves in position to win. ” – Pittsfield’s Jay Darrah
Records: Pittsfield 0-1; Portsmouth Christian Academy 1-0