Both the Bow Falcons and Laconia Sachems girls’ basketball teams expected some growing pains moving up to Division II, but neither coach is making any excuses.
The Falcons (2-1) committed 26 fouls and sent the Sachems (1-2) to the line 32 times, but Laconia only converted on 10, allowing Bow to survive with a 38-34 victory on its home court.
“The game was an absolute mess. It was the worst game I’ve ever witnessed,” Bow Coach Bill Vermette said. “I have no explanation for what went on. It was very bizarre.”
The Falcons jumped out to an 11-8 first quarter lead and extended their lead to 24-15 at halftime in a game marred by fouls and jump balls.
“It seemed like every time the whistle blew it was a foul or a jump ball. It was crazy. I’ve been coaching a long time and I don’t ever remember a game similar to tonight,” Vermette said.
Laconia committed 22 fouls, also sending the Falcons to the line several times. Thanks to players like junior guard Lea Crompton (14 points), junior forward Patty Nordin (nine points, 5-for-6 from free-throw line) and sophomore guard Megan Remick (seven points), Bow generated enough offense to hold a 30-21 lead heading into the final frame.
Bow got into foul trouble late when two players fouled out, but saw some great play off the bench from freshman guard Taylor Burnham, who Vermette referred to as, “the bright light” of the game. However, the Falcons sent Laconia’s top scorer, senior guard Helen Tautkus (12 points) to the line 17 times, and were fortunate that she only connected on four.
“Tonight we shot 10-for-32 from the free throw line. Without converting from the charity stripe it’s going to be hard to win games,” Laconia Coach Jeff Greeley said, “but I commend the athletes will to compete.”
Led by Tautkus and sophomore guard Hannah Dow (six points), the Sachems chipped away at the Falcons’ lead, cutting the deficit to two points with two and half minutes left in the game, but missed too many opportunities to close the gap any more.
“We were fortunate. We were very, very lucky to win the game,” Vermette said. “We just didn’t play well at all. We didn’t show any patience. We were out-rebounded … Yeah we’re young, we only have one senior. But right now we’re playing extremely soft. We’re not big. We had bad combinations. Our problems are going to continue until we straighten some of that stuff out.”
The Falcons, who still haven’t dropped below .500 in their return to D-II, have another home game on Thursday against Plymouth.
Laconia hosts Hollis-Brookline on Friday.
(Dan Attorri can be reached at dattorri@cmonitor.com.)
Kearsarge 62, Campbell 28
Key players: Kearsarge – Devi Kraushaar (13 points), Megan Roy (11 points), Maicy Hansen (11 points)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars extended a 10-point lead in the first quarter to a 21-point lead at halftime. Kearsarge continued its hot start to the season with its sixth win. All but one player on the roster of 11 girls scored in the winning effort.
Coach’s quote: “Defensive pressure continues to be our cog, which allows us to get to work on offense.” – Kearsarge’s Keith Roberts
Records: Kearsarge 6-0; Campbell 0-3
Hopkinton 42, Kearsarge 40
Key players: – Hopkinton Henry Yianakpolos (12 points), Zachary Signor (9 points), Kevin Newton-Delgado (6 points), Jacob Rockwood (5 points), Liam Flanagan (4 points), Kevin McGrath (4 points), Cam Cyr (2 points); Kearsarge – Taylor Mattos (16 points, 10 rebounds), Joe Storozuk (7 points), Ray Critch (6 points), Tom Johnson (6 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds), Jordan Bryk (5 points)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars led 19-9 at halftime and 35-27 after the third quarter, but the Hawks battled back and completed the rally with freshman Newton-Delgado’s game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Coaches’ quotes: “Despite only scoring nine points the entire first half, defensively they played hard and trusted one another to keep the game close. The offense started to flow in the second half while continuing to hold Kearsarge in check. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort on the defensive end.” – Hopkinton’s Stephen Signor
“It was a great game. It was a playoff-type atmosphere. (Newton-Delgado) made a big play. For us, we have to gain some experience from tonight’s game. There’s not many teams that have had this type of playoff atmosphere this early in the season.” – Kearsarge’s Nate Camp
Records: Hopkinton 4-0; Kearsarge 1-2
Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough 4, Kearsarge-Plymouth 3, OT
Key players: Kearsarge-Plymouth – Tony Velez (goal, assist), Jacob Arnold (goal), Max Phillips (goal), Doug Breault (forward), Gordy Hoyt (defense), Cody Rowe (goalie); I-L/M – Michael Dalzell (2 goals, assist), Patrick Mohan (goal, assist), Drew Dunlap (goal)
Highlights/key moments: The Lakers took a 3-0 lead midway through the second period thanks to goals from Dalzell, Mohan and Dunlap, but a goal from Arnold made it 3-1 by the end of the period. Velez and Phillips scored in the third period to force overtime and the checking line of Garrett Demas, Bert Prince and Carter McLean also helped the Cats get back in the game. Both teams had chances in overtime, but Dalzell netted the game-winner for the Lakers.
Coach’s quote: “We get out of the blocks a little slow but we were able to keep ourselves in it until the end.” – Kearsarge/Plymouth’s Dave McKenney
Records: Kearsarge-Plymouth 0-2
John Stark-Hopkinton 9,
Pembroke-Campbell 3
Key players: John Stark/Hopkinton – Paul Molnar (3 goals, 3 assists), Noah Chapman (3 goals, assist), Brett Patnode (goal, 3 assists), Benny Madden (goal), Carter Pike (goal), Tim Sawitsky (assist), Cabot Lineberry (assist), Noah Lewis (assist), Jameson Bourque (22 saves); Pembroke-Campbell – Matt Tremblay (2 goals), Sean Moore (goal), Jayden Lamy (assist), Nate Lamontagne (assist), Mattieux Tremblay (47 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The General Hawks took a 3-1 lead after the first period and held a 5-3 lead heading into the third. John Stark-Hopkinton scored two goals in the first five minutes of the final period to put the game away.
Coach’s quote: “Our boys came out with a lot of energy tonight. We were shooting a lot of pucks at Tremblay (Pembroke’s goalie) but he was up to the task. We had a few breakdowns due to having some first-game jitters but with such a young team we will learn from our mistakes. It was nice to see three of our freshmen (Madden, Patnode and Pike) score their first high school goals tonight.” – John Stark-Hopkinton’s Denis Kolehmainen
Records: John Stark-Hopkinton 1-0; Pembroke-Campbell 1-1