By: KJ Cardinal
LITTLETON, NH – Undefeated top seed Littleton trailed by three points with under seven minutes to play, but closed the game on a 17-3 run to survive No. 8 Farmington, 52-41, in quarterfinal action of the Division IV state tournament on Friday night.
The Crusaders advance to the semifinals to take on No. 4 Newmarket on Tuesday at Bedford High School at 7:00 pm.
The quarterfinal was close from the opening tip as Littleton and Farmington were knotted at 11-11 after one quarter of play. The host Crusaders then took a 24-19 lead to the break.
The Tigers controlled the action in the third quarter, outscoring Littleton 17-11 in the period, to take a 36-35 lead to the final stanza. Farmington held a 38-35 edge before Addison Hadlock’s lay up with 6:45 to go cut the lead to one and started the final run for the Crusaders.
Leah Poulton led Littleton with 17 points, with eight coming in the final quarter. Addison Pilgrim chipped in with 10 points as well. The Crusaders uncharacteristically struggled from the line, going just 10-for-28 from the charity on the night.
Farmington was led by 21 points from freshman Shaylee DiPrizio and six from Anna Cardinal.
With the win, Littleton improves to 20-0 on the season and have now won 42 straight games dating back to last season’s undefeated 22-0 season. The Tigers’ season comes to an end at 13-7.