It took every second of all four quarters, but a final layup made the difference several months ago between champion and second place.
When then-Bishop Brady hooper Isabella Rivera stole the ball and scored the game-winning layup to give the Giants their first state girls’ basketball championship in school history, it legitimized a program that’s come close many times before.
Now, as the reigning champs and with the bulk of last year’s team gone, the Giants are in a tough situation.
Rebuilding while maintaining.
“The team will be very young and not return much experience but has a tremendous upside,” coach Sal Alosa said. “It will take some time for the girls to get used to the style I am looking to play, but once they get there, it will be fun to watch.”
Brady only returns one starter from last season in senior Libbey Hicks. A well-regarded field hockey player, Hicks also has a high basketball prowess, evident through a team-high 22-point performance in last year’s 52-50 Division II championship victory over Kennett.
Hicks will be surrounded by a cast of players this season who have yet to garner serious varsity minutes. In the early goings, growing pains could be evident for Brady.
Part of that cast includes two sophomores – Mia Wagner and Lydia Tremblay – and three freshmen as Payton Bryson, Claire Jackson and Hayley Cochrane all look to make an impact.
The Giants, who start their season on Monday with a road game against Manchester West, will undoubtedly look toward Hicks to lead the team through the early portion of the season as the inexperience turns into quality minutes on the court. What should benefit Brady, however, is a return to a normal D-II slate after a COVID-affected season of local scheduling, according to Alosa.
“Opening back up to a full schedule will benefit us and help these girls gain experience throughout the season,” he said.
As the defending champs, there’s potential it could be tough at the start, but Alosa knows that receiving every team’s best game can only help his young squad, too.
“This year will be interesting, being the defending state champions,” Alosa said, “and we are going to get everyone’s best shot this season.”
Coach: Phil Davis (second year).
Last year: 13-3, lost in quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Jessica Chamberlin, sr.; Madison Speckman, sr.; Alex Larrabee, jr.; Lyndsey LaPerle, jr; Bella LaPerle, jr.
Top newcomers: Sydney Roberge, so.; Kendall Murray, so.; Gabby Tarsa, fr.; Bryana Szepan, fr.
Outlook: The Falcons had an excellent 2020-21 campaign – and had Second Team and All-Defensive Team selections in Larrabee and Lydnsey LaPerle, respectively – but the random tournament draw meant Bow had to face powerhouse Hanover in the quarterfinals.
“We have a very hungry group of athletes that are ready to prove themselves this season,” Davis said. “A group that is very close and willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team. This group will be very fun to watch.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Pelham, Hollis-Brookline, Pembroke, Merrimack Valley.
Coach: Joe Vachon (seventh year).
Last year: 5-12, lost in quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Ellie Wolthuis, sr.
Top newcomers: Megan Brieger, sr.; Molly York, sr.
Outlook: “This year’s Bears are a brand new team and have a lot of new pieces,” Vachon said. “We are looking forward to playing hard and having a lot of players getting experience on the floor. Our girls are looking to be an under-the-radar kind of team. This team can go wherever it believes it can.”
Teams to beat: Merrimack Valley, Kennett, Hanover, Pembroke.
Coach: Bruce Johnson (fifth year).
Last year: 3-8, lost in first round.
Top newcomers: Hayleigh Dennis, so., G; Megan Weston, so., F; Sophia McGinty, jr. F; Haley Stafford, fr., G.
Outlook: The Generals have no seniors on the roster but return several players who rotated in as starters.
“It should be a very interesting year, being so young,” Johnson said. “I certainly see a great deal of potential, but it may take a little while to reach that potential. We are working hard and very excited about the season. Execution and communication will be key to our success.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Lebanon, Bow.
Coach: Bob McNutt (fifth year).
Last year: 9-8, lost in preliminary round.
Returning starters: Mackenzie McDonald, sr., C; Macy Gordon, sr., G; Hadleigh Sargeant, jr., G.
Top newcomers: Kayla Smith, fr., C; Nora Navoy, jr. G; Emily Kelly, jr. F; Kaylee Keyser, jr., G; Kristen Therrien, sr., G.
Outlook: The Pride has strong leadership and depth, which should help with the new, condensed schedule, but MV will have to rebound the ball and play up and down the court every night.
“I really like the group of players we have,” McNutt said. “We are deep team, we have strong leadership and we have a little more size than in the past. I feel we can compete in Division II with anyone if we play our game.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Bow, Hollis-Brookline, Pelham.
Coach: Steve Langevin (second year)
Last year: 5-9, lost in first round.
Returning starters: Britney Hill, sr., G; Cierra Hill, sr., G; Annelise Dexter, so., F; Ashley Stephens, sr., F.
Top newcomers: Kaitlin Arenella, fr., F.
Outlook: The Spartans return four starters from last year’s team.
“We made good strides last season and now with the players and coaches being a little more in sync in our second season together, we are looking for the upward trend to continue,” Langevin said. “We have lots of experience and leadership with our four seniors and plenty of youth that is getting acclimated to the high school level. These girls work hard and compete, so even when we are off a little we can stay in games.”
Teams to beat: Hanover, Bow, Bishop Brady, Laconia.
Coach: Gary Lavoie (second year).
Last year: 0-15, lost in first round.
Returning starters: Nathan Nelson, jr., G; Michael Thresher, jr., G; Matt Wiley, sr., F; Nick Steigmeyer, jr., F; Nate Steigmeyer, jr., F.
Top newcomers: Ivan Yen, jr., G; Gumme Mbata, jr., G; Emmanuel Boko, fr., F; Gaston Kabanda, jr., G.
Outlook: The Giants took their lumps in last year’s winless season but return several starters and had some huge offseason pickups with talented guards transferring over from Concord High.
“This group could be dangerous in the division,” Lavoie said. “The key will be whether players can gel in the limited time that they have together.”
Teams to beat: Pelham, Lebanon, Pembroke.
Coach: Scott Drapeau (first year).
Last year: 14-2, lost in quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Alex Boisvert, sr.
Outlook: The Falcons only have one starter returning from last year’s squad that lost by four points in the quarterfinals to champion Lebanon but look “to be competitive and formulate a team setting with defense and toughness,” according to Drapeau.
Coach: David Smith (34th year).
Last year: 7-10, lost in quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Tommy Flanagan, jr., C; Jack Lano, sr., F.
Outlook: With only have two returning starters, Smith is pleased that “the entire team is working hard” to step up.
Teams to beat: “We’re worried about our opener with Manchester West,” Smith said.
Coach: Mike Smith (22nd year).
Last year: 3-8, lost in first round.
Returning starters: Chad Martin, sr., G; Dylan Grivois, jr., G/F.
Top newcomers: Hayden Pond, fr., G; Joey Dykstra, fr., G; Corey Rowell, fr., G; D’Angelo Sheppard, so., G.
Outlook: The Generals had additional stoppages to their season due to COVID last year and only have two seniors on the roster, but the young and inexperienced squad has been working hard to prepare the upcoming season.
“How well we learn to play together, especially on the defensive end, will be critical,” Smith said. “Staying healthy and daily improvement will be really important as the season progresses. Leadership from (Martin, Grivois and junior Dwayne Johnson) will also be necessary as the program attempts to return to its pre-COVID footing.”
Coach: Tim Mucher (seventh year).
Last year: 5-11, lost in first round.
Returning starters: Eli Gove, sr., G; Ben Rose, sr., G/F; Trevor Simonds, so., G.
Top newcomers: Terrance Chudoba, jr., G; Brandon Dukette, jr., F; Lilliam Lawati, jr., F.
Outlook: “The players are doing everything that the coaching staff is asking,” Mucher said. “We will have some growing pains to get through, but the attitude and competitiveness of this group is top notch. The players are really looking forward to the season and will be ready to go.”
Teams to beat: Bow, Lebanon, Pembroke, Pelham.
Coach: Rich Otis (fifth year).
Last year: 8-6, lost in preliminary round.
Returning starters: Mike Pitman, sr., G; Alex Francoeur, sr., G; Preston Wallis, sr., G; Cooper Gilman, sr., F; Shondell Hadley, jr., F.
Top newcomers: Joe Fitzgerald, so.; Evan Levanski, jr., F; Brayden Casey, jr., G.
Outlook: With several returning starters and a strong nucleus of juniors and sophomores, the Spartans are hoping to improve upon last year’s early departure from the tournament.
“We know with hard work, steady improvement as the year progresses and great team chemistry, we believe we as a team can attain those goals,” Otis said.
Teams to beat: Lebanon, ConVal, Pelham.