It was a long week off for the Kearsarge girls’ basketball team.
After taking their first loss of the year on Jan. 20 to Division II’s Merrimack Valley, the Cougars had to wait seven days for a chance to get back in the win column.
That chance came Friday in the shape of a 41-18 victory over Hillsboro-Deering.
“It was a good night to get back on the board,” Kearsarge Coach Keith Roberts said.
Madi Brayshaw led the Cougars (11-1) with 13 points. Meg Roy added eight points, while Devi Kraushaar and Katlyn Kleckner each chipped in six.
Kearsarge lost to Merrimack Valley, 51-45, last week after opening the season with 10 straight wins. Now, the Cougars head into a challenging stretch of the schedule. The team is set to host undefeated Newfound on Tuesday and then travel to 10-2 Monadnock on Friday.
After Monadnock, there are just four games remaining before the postseason.
“Next week is a huge test,” Roberts said, adding that he wants his team to face the division’s toughest opponents toward the end of the season. “If we can play well, we’ll be ready for the tournament.”
Kearsarge will get another shot at Merrimack Valley on the road Feb. 10.
“We played well against (MV), but got down in the third quarter and couldn’t get back,” Roberts said. “We’re pretty close, and we’ll get there.”
Roberts said the loss didn’t deter the confidence of his players, who have been eyeing the Division III state title since the season began.
“They knew they played decent,” Roberts said. “That’s why they can be an easy team to coach.”
Hillsboro-Deering (1-11) was led by Morgan Racine with six points. Fayth Grimes pulled down seven rebounds. Kearsarge led 12-6 after the first quarter before pulling away.
“We did a much better job breaking the press tonight and finding the open player down the floor,” H-D Coach Tiffany Lewis said. “Mara Grady did an excellent job passing the basketball tonight.”
Keene 47, Concord 30
Key players: Concord – Jada Duvert (7 points), Kasie Maloney (6 points, 13 rebounds), Brighid Weeden (5 steals), Ashley Kelley (8 rebounds)
Highlights/key moments: Both teams struggled offensively in the first half but Keene held a three-point lead at the break. The Blackbirds outscored the Tide, 18-7, in the third quarter to take a 32-18 lead into the fourth. Keene was able to close the door despite Concord’s increased effectiveness on offense.
Coach’s quote: “We did a lot of things well tonight and we got a lot of good shots, but they did not fall for us tonight.” – Conocrd’s Mike Achilles
Records: Concord 2-7; Keene 3-7
John Stark 48, Laconia 41
Key players: Stark – Chelsea Woodsum (12 points), Jillian Douzanis (10 points), Laura Martin (9 points), Emily Patten and Sarah Clark (combined for 12 points and lead the defense)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals made 11 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Coach’s quote: “The team showed great grit and toughness on the road for the first time this season and (after) losing double-digit leads twice, they still were able to keep their composure for a hard fought victory.” – Stark’s Don Poitras
Records: Stark 4-6; Laconia 2-9
Lebanon 43, Bow 32
Key players: Bow – Taylor Darrell (9 points, 4 assists, 4 steals, 4 rebounds), Julia Landcastle (8 points), Lea Crompton (9 points)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons saw a three-game win streak snapped and were unable to knock Lebanon from the ranks of the undefeated.
Records: Bow 6-3; Lebanon 9-0
Newfound 56, Stevens 26
Key players: Newfound – Ashlee Dukette (19 points, 17 rebounds, 7 steals), Amanda Johnston (16 points, 20 rebounds)
Highlights/key moments: Newfound started off strong getting out and scoring 20 points in the first quarter and finished strong with 22 points in the fourth. Johnston scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half.
Coach’s quote: “We definitely struggled at times- thankfully our defense stays strong and can keep us in games when we struggle offensively as we held Stevens to 6 points in the second half.” – Newfound’s Karri Peterson
Records: Newfound 13-0; Stevens 4-7
Somersworth 46, Franklin 31
Key players: Franklin – Brianna Judkins (10 points), Anna Doherty (9 points)
Highlights/key moments: After Judkins went down with an injury in the third quarter, the Golden Tornadoes couldn’t recover.
Coach’s quote: “Foul trouble and injuries put girls in unfamiliar positions and we struggled but they played hard to the end.” – Franklin’s J.J. Winters
Records: Franklin 4-9; Somersworth 5-6
Belmont 53, Raymond 11
Key players: Belmont – Sarah Chase (18 points, 7 rebounds)
Highlights/key moments: Sophomores Skylar Ruelle and Lizzie Fleming each chipped in two points, the first points of their varsity careers.
Coach’s quote:
Records: Belmont 6-5; Raymond 0-12
Bishop Brady first, Belmont third, Bow fourth, Gilford sixth, Laconia seventh, Newfound eighth
Key players: Brady – Olivia Cranich (third slalom, fifth giant slalom), Kamryn Compton (seventh slalom), Sara LoPresti (eighth slalom, eighth GS), Silvia Caldesi (seventh GS); Belmont – Katie Gagnon (first slalom, third GS), Abby Camire (ninth slalom); Bow – Megan Lavign (10th GS); Gilford – Bailey Hildreth (second slalom, first GS), Jenny Hancock (fourth slalom, sixth GS); Laconia – Nicole Turpin (10th slalom, ninth GS)
Concord 5-2, Bow 4-0, Kearsarge 3-3, Hopkinton 3-3, Bishop Brady 1-5,
Merrimack Valley 0-6
Key players: Concord – Mackenzie Witham (second 50 free), Hannah Mitchell (second 100 breast), Hannah Eliason (third 500 free), Delia Barry (third 100 breast); Bow – Riley Hicks (won 200 free, second 100 free), Katie Jenkins (won 200 IM, won 100 fly), Shannon Luby (third 50 free, fifth 100 back), Amanda Sampo (won 100 free, third 100 back), Dillon Hicks (won 500 free, won 100 breast); Kearsarge – Carly Prescott (third 200 free); Hopkinton – Eva Piernas (second 200 IM, fifth 100 fly), Bin Bin Schell (second 100 back, fourth 100 fly), Sydney Stockwell (fourth 100 back, fourth 100 free),
Highlights/key moments: Barry, Eliason, Mitchell and Witham turned in a winning performance in the 400 free relay for Concord.
Coach’s quote: “The girls were focused and were able to pick up points in their events.” – Concord’s Bill Quinn