Tag: Pinkerton

Bedford flies past Pinkerton in battle of unbeatens

The final two remaining unbeaten Division I teams met on Friday night and Bedford flew past visiting Pinkerton, 91-54.

It was a tight contest in the first quarter, as Bedford led by just one after the first 8 minutes of play. But, the Bulldogs put the pedal to the metal behind three triples from Megan Muir in the 2nd quarter and took a 45-32 lead to the break and never looked back.

Bedford boasted a balanced attack with five players in double figures: Kate Allard (18), Lyla Stein (18), Lana McCarthy (14), Megan Muir (13) and Sarah Muir (11).

Pinkerton was paced by a game-high 28 points from Elizabeth Lavoie, while Kaylee Dupuis and Alexandra White added 12 and 11, respectively.

With the win, the Bulldogs remain perfect and push their record to 15-0, while the Astros fall to 14-1.

Check out the full photo gallery by John Scott Sherburne…

Pinkerton hands Bedford first loss of the season

Unbeaten no more. Behind a game-high 35 points from Jackson Marshall, Pinkerton handed visiting Bedford its first loss of the season, 91-79, on Friday night in front of a packed house in Derry.

In a rematch of last season’s Division I championship game, this one felt like another title bout. And, well, we wouldn’t be surprised in the least if these two square off in one month from the today for the state’s top crown.

This one was a track meet from the opening tip as both teams came out firing and were tied 22-22 after one quarter of play. The Astros would later take a three-point lead to the break, 39-36.

A quick 6-0 run to open the second half gave Pinkerton a nine-point lead, 45-36, and the Astros were rolling. They would take a 62-55 lead to the final frame and pushed past the Bulldogs for the 12-point victory.

Joining Marshall in double digits for Pinkerton was Charlie Ludden (21), Drew Brander (15) and Christian Brander (13). Luke Soden paced Bedford with 25 points, while Niko Badoin (17), Brady O’Connell (16), Austin Kasyjanski (11) and Thomas Braga (10) all netted double figures as well.

With the win, the Astros improve to 14-1 on the season and holds the head-to-head breaker over the Bulldogs (14-1).

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Cindy Lavigne of Lavigne’s Live Shots…

6 Unbeatens Remain

By: KJ Cardinal & Jayda Davis

It’s crunch time in NHIAA basketball with state tournament play looming right around the corner. While some teams are vying to just make the playoffs or perhaps secure a coveted home game, there are six well-oiled machines around the Granite State that are still in search of perfection.

Let’s take a look at the six remaining unbeatens…

Division I Boys: Bedford

Bedford’s Luke Soden leads the Bulldogs with 26.5 PPG. [📸 Todd Grzywacz]

Frank Moreno’s Bulldogs have their sights set on back-to-back state titles and with a perfect 14-0 mark, it’s hard not to think they’ll get there. Bedford’s high-octane offense is averaging a scorching 81.1 points per game and winning by nearly 24 points per contest.

Luke Soden has been nothing short of amazing this season, pouring in 26.5 PPG, while Brady O’Connell (15.5 PPG) and Austin Kasyjanski (13.7 PPG) are the mainstays for the Bulldog fire power.

Bedford has only played in three games this season that were decided by single digits, with a three-point win over Manchester Memorial being the biggest test thus far for the Bulldogs. However, that may all change tonight as Bedford heads to Derry to take on 13-1 Pinkerton in a rematch of last year’s championship game. You can watch that game live here (PPV).

Division I Girls: Bedford & Pinkerton

Pinkerton’s Elizabeth Lavoie leads the Astros with 20.0 PPG. [📸 Jill Stevens]

In what could be a preview of the 2024 title game, it’s a battle of the unbeatens tonight in Bedford when the Bulldogs (14-0) host Pinkerton (14-0). You can watch that game live here (FREE).

These two squads have been absolutely steam-rolling the rest of the division. Bedford is winning by an average margin of 42.9 PPG. The Bulldogs six-point victory, 56-50, at Portsmouth back on Jan. 23 is their only win this season coming by less than 30 points. Let that sink in for a second.

Pinkerton is also winning by a 31.6-point clip with their closest game being a 17-point victory at Dover on Jan. 26. Lani Buskey’s Astros are led by the top scorer in the division Elizabeth Lavoie (20.0 PPG) and two other double-digit scorers: Sydney Gerossie (15.5) and Brooke Benz (10.2).

Bedford’s Lana McCarthy leads the Bulldogs with 13.9 PPG. [📸 Cindy Lavigne]

Kevin Gibbs’ Bulldogs boast the most dominant player in the state with Lana McCarthy. The McDonald’s All-American Game nominee is averaging 13.9 PPG in often limited minutes due to Bedford’s 40+ point victories. The Purdue commit is paired with Kate Allard (13.4 PPG) to form an extremely tough duo.

Division IV Boys: Profile
The 16-0 little town of Bethlehem Profile Patriots could be the most fun team to watch in the state. This group of perennial north-country underdogs is not only the divisions top dog this season, but one of the top teams in the state, regardless of division. Period.

Profile’s Josh Robie leads the Patriots with 26.4 PPG. [📸 KJ Cardinal]

We’ve witnessed first-hand the Patriots defeat opponents from all four Divisions and Mitchell Roy’s squad would most definitely compete with any foe put in front of them. The biggest reasons for this: seniors Josh Robie and Alex Leslie.

While his shot may look unorthodox, Robie (26.4 PPG) is an absolute sniper from deep and his improved mid-range game and playmaking abilities are the driving force behind Profile’s perfect start. Leslie (19.8 PPG) is one of the most athletic bigs in the division and his ability to get downhill and finish on opponents can be deadly at times.

Seemingly always in the way for Profile has been Woodsville and Littleton. The Patriots have knocked off Woodsville once this season and twice defeated the Crusaders, including a five-point win, 62-57, on Jan. 31. Profile heads to Woodsville tonight in the final big regular-season test remaining for the Patriots.

Division II Girls: Concord Christian

CCA’s Emma Smith leads the Kingsmen with 19.2 PPG. [📸 KJ Cardinal]

When we said “well-oiled machines”, the first team that comes to mind is Concord Christian. After winning the Division IV crown two years ago and the D-III title last season, the 12-0 Kingsmen seem poised to earn the D-II championship this March.

Rebecca Carlile’s squad simply wears teams down. There isn’t a more conditioned team in the state and CCA’s uptempo style, defensive prowess and the ability to take care of the rock is a brand of basketball that is impressive to watch.

Leading the way for the Kingsmen is Emma Smith (19.2 PPG) and Lilli Carlile (18.6). CCA has already taken care of business twice this season versus the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams with wins over Laconia and Pembroke. The Kingsmen head to Laconia on Feb. 15 for the biggest remaining challenge on the regular-season slate.

Division IV Girls: Littleton

Littleton’s Addison Hadlock is averaging 10.1 PPG for the Crusaders.[📸 KJ Cardinal]

If defense wins championships, then we could certainly see Littleton cutting down the nets at Colby-Sawyer College on March 2nd.

The Crusaders are holding teams to a minuscule 30.7 PPG and winning by an average margin of 27.3 PPG. Only three teams have been able to reach the 40-point plateau versus Littleton all season long.

Dale Prior’s balanced offense is led by a trio of double-digit scorers: Lauryn Corrigan (10.8 PPG), Addison Pilgrim (10.2) and Addison Hadlock (10.1).

The last tough test for the Crusaders this regular season will come tonight as Littleton hosts 15-1 Groveton. The Crusaders escaped Groveton with a narrow five-point win, 39-34, in a defensive battle back on Jan. 5.

Pinkerton earns dramatic come-from-behind win over Windham

Pinkerton finished the game on a 15-0 run to earn a thrilling 70-60 win over visiting Windham on Friday night.

The Jaguars led by five with just under five minutes to play before the Astros started their feverish run.

The state’s leading scorer Jackson Marshall poured in a game-high 45 points to lead Pinkerton to the victory. Charlie Ludden (12 points) and Parker Bienvenue-Cernuda (11) also netted double digits for the Astros.

The Jaguars were paced by a trio of scorers: Jack Koutrobis (17), Caden Bouchard (15) and Jack Begley (13).

With the win, Pinkerton improves to 12-1 on the season, while Windham falls to 8-4.

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Dave Beliveau…

Marshall drops 40 as Pinkerton downs Keene

Jackson Marshall poured in a game-high 40 points to lead Pinkerton to a 86-68 victory over visiting Keene on Friday night.

Joining Marshall in double-digits for the Astros was Charlie Ludden (19) and Andrew Brander (13). The Blackbirds featured four players with 12 points: Fitch Hennessey, Javon Massiah, Sawyer Lepple and Alex Holmes.

With the win, Pinkerton moves to a Division-I best 8-0, while Keen falls to 3-4 on the season.

Check out the full photo gallery by Cindy Lavigne of Lavigne’s Live Shots…

Pinkerton flies past Exeter in statement road win

Introducing our 2023-24 intern Nathaniel Ford. A 2023 graduate of Coe-Brown Northwood Academy and starting point guard for the Bears, Ford currently attends Endicott College in Beverly, Mass.

By Nathaniel Ford

EXETER – If you like offense, then this was the game for you. A combined 174 points were poured in during the Astros’ 22-point victory, 98-76.

Pinkerton scored their season high, nearly reaching the century mark behind 16 three-point field goals.

This was a Friday night battle between two top programs in Division I. Pinkerton entered the night 3-0, and Exeter was 2-1 coming in, with their one loss coming by just three points against Alvirne.

“The program at Exeter is obviously very, very good. Coming into tonight, this was a big test for us,” said Pinkerton head coach Mike Dunham. Pinkerton is regarded as one of the top teams in Division I, and they want to prove that they really are contenders.

The Astros blew it open early. After starting the game down 4-7, their largest deficit of the game, they went on a 25-3 run and ended up finishing the first quarter up 29-15. Senior forward Jackson Marshall scored a game-high 12 in the 1st quarter.

Pinkerton did not look back, extending their lead to 24 points going into the break. They hit four threes in the second quarter, with three of them coming from Christian Brander. Brander made five threes in the first half, helping to lead them into the half up 52-28.

Pinkerton’s offense showed no signs of slowing down in the second half, pouring in 23 points in the third quarter.

“I wanted to find my shooting again. I wasn’t able to shoot well in the first half,” said Pinkerton’s Charlie Ludden. He is Pinkerton’s third highest scorer on the season, and he was held to just five points in the first half.

Ludden stood by his word, as he found his shot early. He scored eight-straight points for Pinkerton to open the third quarter. He scored 14 in the third and was a big reason Pinkerton was able to keep a large lead.

The fourth quarter went the same as the rest of the game, as Pinkerton controlled the momentum once again and cruised to a 98-76 final score. Marshall led the team with 30 points, with Brander finishing with 23 and Ludden 19.

Exeter was paced by 22 points from Brady Rogers, with Nate McNiff (15), Nik Greco (14), and Dylan Whelan (11) all scoring double figures.

Pinkerton improves to 4-0 on the season and looks to continue this strong season following their runner-up campaign last season. “We want to get to Durham and win this time,” said Ludden. The Astros are not satisfied after their loss against Bedford in the state championship.

“We’ve gotta play a little better defense that’s for sure. Our shots were falling though, which obviously helps” said Dunham. Pinkerton has given up 70, 60, and 76 in their last three games, which they look to clean up.

Pinkerton looks to continue their unbeaten season as they go on the road against Spaulding on January 2nd. Exeter looks to correct their two game skid as they go on the road against Dover on the same day.

Check out photos of the action by Jeff Criss of Perfect Photos…

Lavoie leads Pinkerton past Exeter

Behind a game-high 32 points from Elizabeth Lavoie, Pinkerton cruised to an 84-51 victory over visiting Exeter on Thursday night.

Brooke Benz (12 points), Kaylee Dupuis (11) and Hayden Leccese (11) all netted double-digits for the Astros, while the Hawks were led by 16 from Jessica Melick.

With the win, Pinkerton improves to 2-0 on the season, while Exeter falls to 1-3.

Check out photos of the action by Dave Beliveau…

Bedford wins first-ever state title

By: KJ Cardinal

DURHAM – Top-seeded Bedford captured its first basketball state title in school history as the Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Pinkerton, 66-56, to come away with the 2023 NHIAA Division I Boys Basketball State Championship on Sunday night at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

It was a back-and-forth affair early on in a game that saw eight lead changes and nine ties. Bedford (20-1) led 14-10 after the first quarter, but then trailed 25-23 at the intermission. The second half belonged to the Bulldogs as they outscored Pinkerton (20-2) 18-14 in the third and 25-17 in the final frame to away with the 10-point win.

Bedford’s Luke Soden poured in a game-high 26 points, while Aiden O’Connell (22 points) and Brady O’Connell (10) added double digits as well. Jackson Marshall paced Pinkerton with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Anthony Chinn (13) and Sean Jenkins (11) chipped in for the Astros.

Check out the full photo gallery…