Concord Christian Academy outlasted Exeter in the girls’ basketball semifinals and made it to their fourth state championship in five years. The team won divisions IV, III and II; now, Division I honors await.
On Monday night in Portsmouth, the No. 1 Kingsmen (20-1) managed to stay ahead of No. 5 Exeter (15-6), 41-34. Senior players celebrated their win as a milestone accomplishment.
“It’s really nice to be able to finish my last year,” senior Kate Smith said. “Even just getting to the championship is a big accomplishment and to be able to do that four times.”
Head Coach Matt Smith has emphasized chasing the competition. The team’s ascent reflects that: They’ve kept moving up a division after winning one, and they’ve just kept winning.
The team went undefeated in D-IV in the 2021-2022 season; 21-1 to win D-III in the 2022-2023 season; and 20-1 on the path to winning D-II.
Last season marked their first playoff elimination in a long time, a 58-38 loss in the D-I semifinals to Bedford, and they finished 16-5 overall.
This year, they’re back in the last game of the season.
“I think it’s in part validation that we’ve made the right decision to chase competition and not sit idle in a lower division,” Smith said.
He said that the players have a chip on their shoulders because of snubs on the All-State defense team, and that they crave a challenge. He told the team the only thing they can do is let their game on the court speak for itself — and that strategy has worked.
Against Exeter, CCA took a strong lead, 13-6, with two three-pointers by senior Sophia Capsalis and another by freshman Brynn Valiant, while senior twins Emma and Kate Smith added two each.
Exeter slowly chipped away in the second as the Kingsmen struggled to find their spots and their shooting cooled down.
The pressure was immense with Exeter bringing out a large crowd that tried to get in the heads of CCA’s players whenever they dribbled or passed.
Coming out of the half, the Smith sisters combined for 12 points. The defense stepped up big and held the Blue Hawks to just four points.
Sophia Capsalis, Kate Smith, Emma Smith and Abby Lash came up clutch with multiple big stops and good steals on the perimeter.
“We would just tell each other: ‘Stay calm, be calm, we can handle the pressure,'” Capsalis said.
Exeter didn’t give up. Blue Hawks Lexy Rogers, Emma Gillis and Nicole Melik all hit threes late to get as close as 35-32.
Both teams were in the foul bonus and CCA had its opponent just where it wanted. Exeter was forced to foul to preserve the clock and the Kingsmen made six of eight free throws to seal the match.
Kate Smith and Brynn Valiant finished with team-leading 11-point games, while Emma Smith and Capsalis finished with 10 and nine respectively.
“I think we’re going to have to play great team basketball,” Capsalis said about the championship game. “Londonderry is a great team, and so are we. I think we’re ready to battle.”
Senior Emma Smith (L) scored ten points despite facing some of Exeter’s toughest pressure because of her scoring ability, like Exeter guard Mya Dinneen applied here. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
Freshman Brynn Valiant (L) drained three three-pointers and scored two free throws for Concord Christian. She started with one over Blue Hawk Emma Kayes. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor 
The Concord Christian fans hold up three fingers after Kate Smith hits a three-pointer in the third quarter. Credit: ALEXANDER RAPP / Monitor
Next, the Kingsmen girls will play No. 3 Londonderry (19-3), who upset second-seeded Bedford in the semis, in the championship match.
The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 4 p.m. in UNH’s Lundholm Gymnasium.