For the majority of NHIAA basketball teams, opening night is Friday, but Division IV girls’ basketball teams have already enjoyed a one-week head start.
The Concord Christian Academy Kingsmen were the first Capital Area program to play a winter 2021 contest, opening the season on Friday night with a 66-35 victory on the road over the Portsmouth Christian Eagles.
Fellow D-IV Franklin Golden Tornadoes open on Tuesday night at home against the Farmington Tigers.
Absent from D-IV varsity competition this year are the Pittsfield Panthers. Pittsfield only had three non-seniors on last year’s squad and will only field a JV team this year due to low numbers and very young athletes.
Below are previews for the Concord Christian and Franklin girls’ basketball teams, with the D-IV boys and remaining divisions coming soon:
CONCORD CHRISTIAN
Coach: Rebecca Carlile (third year).
Last year: 8-2, lost in first round.
Returning starters: Lilli Carlile, fr.; Megan Muir, so.; Jordan Rioux, sr.
Top newcomers: Emma Smith, eighth grade; Sarah Muir eighth grade.
Outlook: The Kingsmen are a very young team – four eighth graders, two freshmen and two sophomores on a 10-player roster – but it didn’t hamper CCA in an excellent season-opening victory over a strong Eagle program.
Sisters Sarah Muir (17 points) and Megan Muir (14 points) led the scoring, while Lilli Carlile and sophomore Taylor Rioux each added eight points.
“It was a great team effort from all the girls,” coach Rebecca Carlile said of her team’s victory. “We’re a very young team, so this will be a foundational year for our program. Despite our youth, we have some fierce competitors and a well-disciplined core.”
Coach: Mark Dionne (first year).
Last year: 2-12, lost in preliminary round.
Returning starters: Raquel McCoy, sr.; Hannah Croteau, sr.; Alexis Bedard, jr.; Brooke Bedard, so.
Top newcomers: Shayla McPhail, jr.; Alexis Mango, sr.; Savaughna Slocum, fr.; Scarlett Martin, fr.; Abigail Pitman, fr.
Outlook: Coach Dionne takes over the varsity program after spending five seasons with Franklin’s middle school team.
“We’re looking to stay competitive in all the games with a very young roster (six freshmen), while rebuilding the program in a new division,” he said.
The Tornadoes played in D-IV last year, but this is the first time Franklin will compete in a full D-IV schedule.