Category: News

Ball 603’s Whaley publishes book

Longtime NH sportswriter and Ball 603 contributor Mike Whaley has released a book – “A Pen For All Seasons: Dispatches From a Rural New England Life in Sports.” It contains 65 of Whaley’s favorite stories and columns with photos from 35 years in the newspaper business.

PURCHASE YOUR COPY NOW!

Rochester and Farmington figure most prominently in the book, which includes stories Whaley has written since the late 1980s from the Rochester Courier, Rochester Times, Foster’s Daily Democrat and Portsmouth Herald.

There’s plenty on basketball. Here’s a list: Spaulding boys and girls basketball, including long-time former SHS coach Tim Cronin; Holy Rosary HS of Rochester, 1955 Class C boys champs; Nute’s David Burrows; Farmington’s 1970 state championship boys team and the 1967-68 Tiger Tigers, who were undefeated that season in volleyball, basketball and softball; Portsmouth’s Dan Parr and Sox great Carlton Fisk; Newmarket’s Ron Weitzell and Bert McGloughlin; UNH coach Gerry Friel; Oyster River girls coach Cathy Coakley; Whaley’s old college hoop teammates and friends, Bill Fitzgerald and John LeMieux, and the Austin-Cate Wildcats, 1971 NH Class S boys champs.

The book will be available (for $22) at the following book events: Collins Sports Center, Rochester, Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Farmington House of Pizza, Sunday, May 21, 5 to 7 p.m.; Rochester Public Library, Wednesday, June 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m., and Goodwin Library in Farmington, Thursday, June 22, 5 to 6:30 p.m. 

The book may also be purchased at Collins during regular business hours (closed Sundays) starting May 22.

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Whaley was a full-time area sportswriter from 1987 until his semi-retirement in 2019. He still writes occasionally for Foster’s and the Herald, as well as Ball603. A two-time New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year, Whaley lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife, Jill.

Second-annual The Season magazine set to return

Our 2022-23 coverage of Basketball in the Granite State will be commemorated with our second annual issue of The Season, a full-color, 50+ page magazine that takes an in-depth look at the boys and girls champions from all four divisions and highlights the top hoop stories from around New Hampshire.

Featuring new articles from Mike Whaley, KJ Cardinal & John Doyle, the announcement of our All-Tournament Teams, the NHBCO All-State selections, action photo galleries and so much more, The Season will be a collectible keepsake for any fan of New Hampshire basketball.

Pre-order your copy for just $15. Magazines are expected to ship out in late April. Enjoy the show!

Great Bay CC falls in USCAA semis

By: Mike Whaley

RICHMOND, Va. – A great run for the Great Bay Community College men’s basketball team came to a close Wednesday night in the USCAA national semifinals, 69-61 to Miami-Hamilton.

The No. 10 Herons (22-9) played from behind for most of the game, closing to four (50-46) with 8:10 to play on a jumper by Ethan Arnold (Wakefield). They could draw no closer.

Dover’s Kingsley Breen once again led the way with 22 points and five boards. He hit 6 of 13 three-point shots. Bryce Gibson added 11 points, while Theo Wolfe had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Portsmouth’s Alex Tavares chipped in with nine points and seven boards. GBCC trailed 32-26 at the half.

No. 3 Miami-Hamilton (22-8) will play in Thursday’s national championship game against No. 1 Penn State Wilkes-Barre (24-8), who beat No. 5 Kent State-Tuscarawas in the earlier semi, 77-72.

Great Bay CC advances to USCAA Final Four

By: Mike Whaley

RICHMOND, Va. – The Great Bay Community College men’s basketball team got another big game from Dover’s Kingsley Breen (20 points, 5 rebounds) to advance to the USCAA Final Four on Tuesday with a 75-58 win over Penn State Mont Alto.

The Herons (22-8) led 45-30 at the half, but never let the lead get into single digits in the second half. Seeded 10th in the 10-team national tournament, Great Bay used great balance to beat the No. 2 seed. Portsmouth’s Alex Tavares had a double double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, as did Theo Wolfe (12 points, 11 boards). Also chipping in were Epping’s Dylan Desrosier with nine points and four rebounds, Bryce Gibson with eight points, and Jesus Carpio and Cam O’Brien (Dover) with five points apiece.

The Herons will play Wednesday, 8 p.m., in the semis vs. Tuesday’s late winner between No. 3 Miami Hamilton and No. 6 NHTI.

Great Bay CC advances in national tourney

By: Mike Whaley

RICHMOND, Va. – The Great Bay Community College men’s basketball team overcame a four-point halftime deficit to beat Villa Maria, 79-67, in Monday’s first-round action of the USCAA Division II national tournament.

Dover’s Kingsley Breen scored a game-high 27 points to go along with eight rebounds to pace the Herons (21-8). Bryce Gibson added 22 points, while Theo Wolfe chipped in with 16 points and 13 boards. Portsmouth’s Alex Tavares had five points and 10 rebounds. Breen and Gibson combined to make 8 of 15 three-pointers.

GBCC plays next on Tuesday, 6 p.m., vs. Penn State Mont Alto.

At the USCAA award ceremony, Breen was named USCAA D-II All-American Second Team, while coach Alex Burt was selected as the national coach of the year.

Girls Division I All-State released

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division I Girls All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Goffstown senior Ava Winterburn was named Player of the Year, while Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Winterburn on the first team is Lana McCarthy of Bedford, Elizabeth Lavoie of Pinkerton, Brooke Paquette of Bishop Guertin, Kate Allard of Bedford and Avery Romps of Portsmouth.

Check out the full awards below…

Division I Boys All-State unveiled

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division I Boys All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Trinity junior Tyler Bike was named Player of the Year, while Nashua North head coach Steve Lane was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Bike on the first team is Luke Soden of Bedford, Jackson Marshall of Pinkerton, Aiden O’Connell of Bedford, Trevor Labrecque of Nashua North and Anthony Chinn of Pinkerton.

Check out the full awards below…

Division II Girls All-State released

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division II Girls All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Pelham junior Jasmine Becotte was named Player of the Year, while Kennett head coach Larry Meader was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Becotte on the first team is Macy Swormstedt of Laconia, Alex Larrabee of Bow, Sydney McLaughlin of Hanover, Annelise Dexter of Pembroke and Kaley Goodhart of Kennett.

Check out the full awards below…

Division II Boys All-State announced

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division II Boys All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Laconia junior Keaton Beck was named Player of the Year, while Laconia head coach Stephen McDonough was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Beck on the first team is Angel Castro of Manchester West, Kayden Roberts also of Laconia, Matt Canavan of Souhegan, Joe Gutwein of ConVal and Mike Strazzeri of Pembrok. Check out the full awards below…

Division IV Girls All-State picks released

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division IV Girls All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Sunapee senior Elizabeth Tschudin was named Player of the Year, while Woodsville head coach Tori Clough was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Tschudin on the first team is Addison Hadlock of Littleton, Ariana Lord of Colebrook, Marissa Kenison of Groveton, Lena Nicholson of Newmarket and Delaney Whiting also of Groveton. Check out the full awards below…