Category: Photo

Herons go 1-1 at D-II nationals

By: Mike Whaley

The Great Bay CC men’s basketball team went 1-1 at the USCAA Division II National Tournament in Buffalo to finish the season with the best record in school history (23-6).

The No. 4 Herons lost their opener on Wednesday night to Penn State Schuylkill, 74-55. It was a close game at the half with GBCC trailing, 35-32. But Penn State used a big second half (39-23) to pull away. Theo Wolfe led the Herons with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Mpore Semuhoza added 10 points and seven boards. Sean Chanakira and Ethan May (five steals) added nine and eight points, respectively. GB shot just 34 percent from the field and made only 5 of 26 of their 3-pointers.

In the consolation round on Thursday, Great Bay bounced back to beat Penn State York, 103-100. Wolfe had a monster night with a game-high 37 points on 14-of-17 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Semuhoza added 23 points, Chanakira knocked in 12. Keith Landry and Cam O’Brien had seven points apiece. The win was the 23rd for the Herons, also a school record.

Miami Hamilton won the national title on Saturday over Penn State Schuylkill, 53-52.

At the award ceremony on Monday (March 10), Wolfe was named D-II First Team All-American and Semuhoza was picked to the second team. NHTI’s Joseph Cantey was honorable mention.

Pembroke tops Sanborn for the Division II state title

By: KJ Cardinal

DURHAM, NH – For the ninth time in school history, Pembroke is NHIAA Division II Boys Basketball State Champions. The top-seeded Spartans defeated No. 3 Sanborn, 63-54, to come away with the crown at a packed Lundholm Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore Andrew Fitzgerald poured in a game-high 26 points, 19 coming in the first half, to go along with 11 points to pace Pembroke.

Evan Berkeley, the 2025 NHBCO Division II Player of the Year, netted 15 points with most of his damage coming at the free-throw line where he was 9-for-12. Zac Bemis added 11.

Chase Frizzell led the Indians with 22 points and Jesse Cavallo chipped in with 15 points and six steals.

The two teams were tied at 16-16 after one quarter of play and Pembroke led by just two at the break.

While the Indians connected on 50 percent (14-for-28) fields in the first half, they went cold in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter. Sanborn was 4-for-13 in the third quarter (30.8 percent) and just 3-for-18 in the final frame (16.7 percent).

The victory for Pembroke marks the first title for the Spartans since 2019 and the ninth overall.

Check out the full photo gallery by Michael Griffin…

Pembroke Boys vs Sanborn (3-16-25) - Michael Griffin
Pembroke Boys vs Sanborn (3-16-25) – Michael Griffin
192 photos

Bedford comes from behind to down Keene for the D-I title

By: KJ Cardinal

DURHAM, NH – Trailing by seven points with under three minutes remaining, top-seeded Bedford closed the game on a 12-4 run to earn a come-from-behind, 51-50, victory over No. 6 Keene to capture the 2025 NHIAA Division I Boys Basketball State Championship on Sunday night at Lundholm Gymnasium.

While the Bulldogs struggled shooting the ball all night, they were dominant on the glass and that proved to be the difference. Bedford shot just 30 percent from the field (18-60), 48.3 percent from the line (14-29) and 4.5 percent from three (1-22). However, the Bulldogs won the battle on the boards 53-32, including 27 offensive rebounds and 29 second-chance points.

Wiji Dak pulled down 14 boards, while Connor O’Rourke and Landon Ellsmore both grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs efforts on the glass. O’Rourke also paced the Bedford offense with 18 points and Ellsmore added 10.

Keene was led by a game-high 19 points from Javon Massiah.

The game was close throughout as the two squads played evenly in the opening quarter, 14-14. Keene would later take a five-point lead to the break, 25-20.

Bedford came out strong in the second half as they cut the Keene lead to two after three quarters of play, 34-32. The Blackbirds appeared to take control of the game in the beginning of the final stanza as they led 46-39 with less than three minutes on the clock.

With 2:55 left in the game, a three-point play by Ellsmore, off an offensive rebound nonetheless, started the final run for the Bulldogs.

A half court heave by Keene’s Kasen Abbott came up short as it grazed the front of the rim as time expired to give Bedford the win.

Check out the full photo gallery by Jeff Criss of Perfect Photos…

Bedford Boys vs. Keene (03.16.25) - JEFF CRISS
Bedford Boys vs. Keene (03.16.25) – JEFF CRISS
126 photos

Milford hangs on to capture first title since 1979

By: Logan Paronto & KJ Cardinal

DURHAM, NH – Second-seeded Milford captured its first title since 1979 with a 43-36 win over No. 4 Oyster River in the NHIAA Division II Girls Basketball State Tournament at UNH on Saturday afternoon.

Vivian O’Quinn started off hot for Oyster River, draining two threes in the opening minutes of the game, to give the Bobcats a quick 6-0 lead. The Spartans chipped away at the lead and cut the lead to one, 12-11, at the end of the first quarter.

Alexia Bausha scored six points in the first and second stanzas to pace Milford. Despite her efforts, it was Oyster River who took the lead at half, 20-17.

The third quarter belonged to the Spartans who closed out the period on an 8-3 run, taking a 31-27 lead into the fourth.

The four seed would fight back in the fourth, cutting the lead to three with under two minutes remaining. Down the stretch Avery Fuller and Ellianna Nassy would close out the game from the free throw line.

Bausha scored a game-high 21 points for Milford, while Fuller added 10 of her own. O’Quinn led the way for the Bobcats win 13.

Check out the full photo gallery by Betsy Hansen…

Milford Girls vs. Oyster River (03.15.25) - BETSY HANSEN
Milford Girls vs. Oyster River (03.15.25) – BETSY HANSEN
82 photos

Perfection: Undefeated Bedford wins back-to-back D-I titles

By: Logan Paronto & KJ Cardinal

DURHAM, NH – Top-seeded Bedford completed its 22-0 perfect season and earned back-to-back NHIAA Division I state championships with a 50-44 victory over No. 2 Londonderry on Saturday evening at Lundholm Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs, who led wire-to-wire, pushed their advantage to as many as 12 points, 34-22, with 3:36 to go in the third quarter. The Lancers responded with a 15-6 run trim the Bedford cushion to three, 40-37, with 5:21 left, but Londonderry would get no closer. The Bulldogs buried eight free throws in the final 4:15 to seal the deal.

To start the game, the two teams traded buckets with Bedford leading 12-10 after the first eight minutes. Kate Allard scored seven second-quarter points to give the Bulldogs a 25-18 lead going into half.

Samantha Sullivan scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the second-half. Allard finished with a team-high 12 while Annie Zink added 11. Brooke Eacrett scored 11 of her own to go with Sullivan’s 20.

Check out the full photo gallery by Jeff Criss of Perfect Photos…

Bedford Girls vs. Londonderry (03.15.25) - JEFF CRISS
Bedford Girls vs. Londonderry (03.15.25) – JEFF CRISS
219 photos

No. 6 Keene upsets No. 2 Portsmouth, advances to D-I championship game

By: Logan Paronto

ROCHESTER, NH – No. 6 Keene knocked off No. 2 Portsmouth to punch its ticket to the Division I title game for the first time since 1992 with a 61-60 state semifinal victory on Wednesday night at the Rochester Recreation Center.

The Blackbirds trailed 39-38 after three quarters before senior Javon Massiah erupted for 13 in final eight minutes to propel Keene to the championship.

Massiah would finish with a season-high 27 for Keene, while Kasen Abbott picked up 16 of his own.

Derek Swartz tallied 19 for the Clippers with Isaiah Reis adding 16 of his own.

Keene will take on top-seeded Bedford at UNH on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

Portsmouth finishes its season with a 17-4 record.

Check out the full photo gallery by Todd Grzywacz of Stonewall Photography…

Keene Boys v Portsmouth 31225 Todd G
Keene Boys v Portsmouth 31225 Todd G
143 photos

Bedford closes out Exeter to advance to D-I title game

By: Logan Paronto

ROCHESTER, NH – Top-seeded Bedford scored 18 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 58-55 win over No. 5 Exeter in Division I semifinal action on Wednesday night at the Rochester Recreation Center.

The two sides traded buckets throughout the first half before the Bulldogs took a 30-27 lead into the locker room.

The Blue Hawks would bring the momentum into the fourth after a 16-point third quarter that gave them a 43-40 lead.

Logan O’Connell and Landon Ellsmore would break out in the fourth, combining to score 13 of Bedford’s 18 points in the quarter.

O’Connell would finish with a game-high 21 while Ellsmore finished with eight. Freshman Wiji Dak also added double-digit scoring with 12.

Exeter was paced by 17 from Nikolas Greco, while Nate McNeff (16) and Jack Thibodeau (11) rounded out the double-digit scoring.

Bedford will take on No. 6 Keene in the championship on Sunday at UNH at 4:00 p.m.

Exeter finishes its season with a 16-5 record.

Check out the full photo gallery by Todd Grzywacz of Stonewall Photography…

Bedford Boys vs. Exeter Boys (03.12.25) - Todd Grzywacz
Bedford Boys vs. Exeter Boys (03.12.25) – Todd Grzywacz
138 photos

Oyster River knocks off top-seeded Laconia, moves on to D-II final

By: Logan Paronto

DERRY, NH – No. 4 Oyster River used a 15-point fourth quarter to down top-seeded Laconia 39-36 in Division II semifinal action on Wednesday night at Pinkerton Academy.

The Bobcats would take a 17-14 lead into the half before all five starters contributed to their 15-point third quarter to give Oyster River a 32-23 edge heading into the fourth.

Laconia would surge back in the final frame, scoring 13, but Oyster River had already done enough to secure the win.

Olivia Anderson led the scoring for the Bobcats with a game-high 19 points. Vivian O’Quinn netted eight points, including the 1000th point of her career.

Macy Swormstedt tallied 17 for the Sachems with running-mate Maddy Mousseau added 11 of her own.

Oyster River will play No. 2 Milford on Saturday at UNH at 12 noon.

Laconia finishes its season with an 18-1 record.

Check out the full photo gallery by Jeff Criss of Perfect Photos…

Oyster River Girls vs. Laconia (03.12.25) - JEFF CRISS
Oyster River Girls vs. Laconia (03.12.25) – JEFF CRISS
91 photos

Milford punches ticket to first state final in 44 years

By: Logan Paronto

DERRY, NH – No. 3 Milford punched its ticket to the state final for the first time since 1981 with a 37-29 Division II semifinal win over No. 2 Derryfield on Wednesday night at Pinkerton Academy.

The Spartans led 26-25 heading in the final frame before holding the Cougars to just four points in the last quarter.

Claire Cote scored 11 to pace Milford, while Angie Kenison tallied 10 for Derryfield.

Milford will match up against No. 4 Oyster River at UNH on Saturday at 12 noon.

Derryfield ends its season with a 17-4 overall record.

Check out the full photo gallery by Michael Griffin…

Derryfield Girls vs Milford (3-12-25) Michael Griffin
Derryfield Girls vs Milford (3-12-25) Michael Griffin
123 photos

Unbeaten Bedford ends CCA’s postseason run, advances to D-I final

By: KJ Cardinal

EXETER, NH – Unbeaten, top-seed Bedford used a 29-14 first half to cruise to a 58-34 victory over No. 4 Concord Christian in Division I semifinal action on Monday night at Exeter High School.

The Kingsmen loss snaps their 13-game postseason win streak and ends their quest at four-straight state championships, one in each of the four divisions. CCA had won the 2022 Division IV crown, the 2023 D-III title and the 2024 D-II championship.

Bedford, who moves to a perfect 21-0 on the season, was led by a trio of double-digit scorers: Mel McCarthy (13 points) and 10 apiece from Sarah Muir and Juliet Laws. CCA was paced by a game-high 14 points from Lilli Carlisle and 11 from Emma Smith.

Bedford will take on No. 2 Londonderry in the finals at 4:00 PM on Saturday at UNH.

Check out the full photo gallery by Michael Griffin…

Bedford Girls vs Concord Christian (3-10-25) - Michael Griffin
Bedford Girls vs Concord Christian (3-10-25) – Michael Griffin
107 photos