By: KJ Cardinal
NEWMARKET, NH – Newmarket earned two hard-fought victories over Farmington Friday night and inched closer to securing both four seeds in the upcoming Division IV tournaments. The Mule girls were victorious 40-28, while the boys won 66-56.
On the girls side, Newmarket was dominant from the opening tip as the Mules jumped out to a 10-3 lead and never looked back. Newmarket maintained that seven-point lead for the most of the game and with the way the Mules defend, the game was never really in jeopardy.
Amaya Beckles led all scorers with 14 points for Newmarket, while Lydia Edgerly and Jillian Long both added 10 points apiece. Farmington failed to put a player in double-digits for the first time this season, but Shaylee DiPrizio and Zoey Johnson each had seven points.
With the win, the Mules improve to 15-2 on the season and have secured at least the fourth spot in the state tourney. Newmarket closes out the season at Holy Family on Monday night and the Griffins are currently one-game up in the standings. A victory by the Mules would give them the third seed.
Farmington falls to 12-5 on the season and has now dropped two of their last three. The Tigers close out the season on Tuesday at Portsmouth Christian (11-5) in a game that could determine first-round home court.
On the boys side, Newmarket was shot out of a cannon. The host Mules raced out to a 19-6 lead and later led 26-6. Freshman Nick Minutelli poured in 15 first-half points and sparked Newmarket on both ends of the court. The Mules took a 33-15 lead to the break.
The two squads played even in the third quarter and Newmarket led 48-30 heading to the final frame, but Farmington wasn’t done. Freshman Declan Doyle was inserted into the game for the first time in the fourth quarter and made hustle plays that energized the Tigers. A steal, followed by a charge taken and then a kick out pass to Keltin Moulton for three highlighted a 15-0 run for FHS to start the 4th.
Farmington cut the lead to three 48-45, but Minutelli knocked down a huge three with three minutes left to push the Newmarket lead back to seven. The Mules were able to hang on for the victory thanks to clutch free throw by Jaron LaBranche as the senior was 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in the final frame.
Minutelli and LaBranche each netted 24 points on the evening to lead Newmarket. Demery Hadges led the Tigers with 18 points, 14 in the second half. Noah Elwell scored 17 points, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter, and Keltin Moulton added 16.
With the win, Newmarket moves to 13-4 on the season and has a strangle-hold on the 4th seed in the standings. The Mules close out the season on Monday at Holy Family (7-8) in an interesting match up that pits Newmarkets speed versus the Griffins size.
The Tigers fall to 11-6 and are deadlocked in a four-way tie for fifth. Farmington closes out the season at PCA on Tuesday.
Check out the full photo galleries by KJ Cardinal… GIRLS GALLERY | BOYS GALLERY
