Category: The Bash

The Bash: Day 5 recap

It was something old and something new with day five of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash. The day started with the Kennett girls winning their eighth women’s title, while the Profile boys captured their first crown to put a bow on The Bash. Photo galleries from all games can be seen right here. You can also download high resolution images for free here.

Check out the recap from both games along with the All-Tourney teams and tournament awards…

GAME 42: FULL STORY
GIRLS: Kennett 28, Farmington 27
Kennett: Kaley Goodhart 14, Sam Sidoti 7
Farmington: Zoey Johnson 10, Shaylee DiPrizio 6

GAME 43: FULL STORY
BOYS: Profile 79, Sanborn 54
Profile: Josh Robie 30, Alex Leslie 26, Karsen Robie 14
Sanborn: Chase Frizzell 23, Dylan Rego 10

GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Mollee Messenger, Raymond
Mya Brown, Profile
Kourtney Kaplan, Franklin
Sam Sidoti, Kennett
Ava Buchanan, Portsmouth Christian Academy
Kaley Goodhart, Kennett (MVP)
Shaylee DiPrizio, Farmington
Zoey Johnson, Farmington

Bill & Betty BILL & BETTY VACHON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Ava Buchanan, Portsmouth Christian Academy

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Portsmouth Christian Academy

BOYS ALL-TOURNEY
Jack Krasnof, Derryfield
Shawn Murphy, Farmington
Dre Duffaut, Raymond
Cai Summers, Portsmouth Christian Academy
Alex Leslie, Profile
Josh Robie, Profile (MVP)
Chase Frizzell, Sanborn
Dylan Rego, Sanborn

BILL & BETTY VACHON SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Jack Krasnof, Derryfield

TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Raymond High School

Profile cruises to victory in championship

By Nathaniel Ford

FARMINGTON – One year ago, the Profile Patriots were in the same place they were today: Farmington High School playing in the championship of The Bash. Last year, they fell to Belmont in a 10-point loss.

This year was not a repeat of last. Profile blew out the Sanborn Indians 79-54 to claim their first-ever Bash championship.

This was Sanborn’s fifth appearance in the Bash championship game, and their first since 1985. Their only Bash trophy was the first ever tournament, all the way back in 1979.

Profile jumped on them early to start the game, with two big plays from their two studs. Alex Leslie had an and-one bucket to open it, and Josh Robie hit a deep three pointer, giving them a quick 6-0 lead. 

They extended their lead in the quarter, but Sanborn did not roll over. They answered with a 6-0 of their own late in the quarter, which kept the game competitive. Profile’s Cayden Wakeham got a bucket at the buzzer, which gave them an 18-11 lead entering the second quarter.

There were fireworks early in the quarter, as both teams were hot from beyond the arc. Josh Robie knocked down two three-pointers from way out, but Sanborn’s Evan Butler made two of his own. 

Sanborn then switched from their man-to-man defense to a zone for the last four minutes of the quarter. “We don’t see too much zone, but we are ready for it when we do,” said Profile coach Mitchell Roy. And ready for it they were, as this opened up a barrage of threes from the Patriots. 

Profile is a high volume shooting team, and when you have Josh and Karsen Robie, you’re going to make a lot of them. In the last four minutes of the quarter, Josh Robie connected on two more triples, which brought him to four on the quarter. 

Despite a huge 14 point quarter from him, Sanborn did not let the Patriots extend their lead by a lot. Profile won the quarter by just four points, and the game remained in reach, with the score being 37-26 going into the second half.

The third quarter is when the game got blown open. Everything that could go well for Profile did. The Indians stayed in a zone defense, but they threw a different look at them. “They went diamond and one on Josh, and Karsen stepped up and hit some shots,” said Roy.

Karsen Robie did in fact hit some shots, connecting on three triples in a row. This led a 9-2 Profile run, and forced a Sanborn timeout and defensive switch. Shortly after the timeout, Alex Leslie threw down a massive dunk on a baseline drive, and the Profile supporters were loving it.

Profile stayed hot on the offensive end, with Josh Robie and Leslie connecting on some baskets inside. The Patriots recorded 20 points in the quarter, and their lead was extended to 57-39 going into the fourth.

While they had a big lead, the game was not over going into the fourth. “Once we got a lead, we slowed it down and played at that tempo,” said Roy. They were committed to keeping this lead, and they were able to limit Sanborn’s possessions by the tempo they played at.

Profile brought their momentum into the fourth quarter, and they continued to dominate. They started to run away with the game, never letting Sanborn string together any sort of run. When the final buzzer sounded, it was a resounding 25 point victory for the Division IV squad. 

The Patriots capped off their impressive run at the Bash with this win. They did not face another Division IV team in their route to the championship. The small school in Bethlehem took down D-I Windham, two D-II schools in Sanborn and Coe-Brown, and D-III Raymond. 

Profile was led by an impressive 30 points from Josh Robie, who took home the Tournament MVP award. He also broke the individual scoring record for the tournament, pouring in 131 points this year.

“Josh set the record last year, and he’s reaching new levels. He puts in a lot of work, and it’s awesome to see it paying off,” said Roy.

Alex Leslie scored 26 points in the title game for the Patriots. Following the game, he received an All-Tournament selection, which was voted on by the coaches. 

Sanborn was led by 23 points from Chase Frizzel, and Dylan Rego added 10 as well. Both players were recognized with All-Tournament selections. 

As well as All-Tournament selections, sportsmanship awards were also awarded following the trophy presentation. The Raymond Rams won the team award, while Derryfield’s Jack Krasnof received the Bill and Betty Vachon Award for individual sportsmanship.

The players recognized with All-Tournament selections were Derryfield’s Jack Krasnof, Windham’s Jack Begley, Noble’s Jamier Rose, Raymond’s Drezell Duffaut, Portsmouth Christian’s Cai Summers, and Farmington’s Shawn Murphy, as well as the players mentioned on Sanborn and Profile. 

Check out the photo gallery by Jill Stevens…

Kennett beats Farmington in Bash championship

By Nathaniel Ford

FARMINGTON – In a defensive battle, the Kennett Eagles took home their 8th Bash Championship in a 28-27 victory over Farmington on Saturday afternoon.

With this title, Kennett matched the host Farmington for the most wins in the tournament’s 44 year history. They have had lots of success at The Bash recently, with this being their sixth-straight appearance in the title game. In that stretch, they have now taken home three trophies. 

The Eagles came in looking to bounce back after their defeat last year against the Tennessee juggernaut, Coffee County. Today, they got it done, but unlike some victories in the past, it did not come easy.

It was a defensive battle in the first half. Farmington played very aggressively, getting physical with the Eagles. It was clear that this was getting to them, and you could see Kennett getting frustrated. 

The Tigers were able to limit Kaley Goodhart, Kennett’s top scorer who the offense runs through. It was difficult for her to score, as she could not find a lot of space to get easy shots up. Combined with two first-half fouls, she was held to just five points in the first half. 

Both quarters were low scoring, as neither team was able to find footing offensively. The first quarter ended in a 10-7 lead in Farmington’s favor, and both teams hoped to have more success in the second quarter.

This was very much not the case, with just 15 points total being scored. Farmington continued to hold their lead, causing all sorts of problems for the Eagles on the offensive end. Going into the break, the Tigers had the advantage, leading 18-14.

Zoey Johnson was leading the way for the Tigers, pouring in a game-high 10 first half points. For the Eagles, Goodhart (5) and Sam Sidoti (7) combine for 12 of the Eagles’ 14 points. 

The second half got no easier for either team, as stout defense from both sides continued. This time, it was Kennett who found the most success, as they contained Farmington for most of the half. 

In the third quarter, the Eagles were propelled by an 8-0 run early in the quarter. This gave them a 25-20 lead, which was their first lead since midway through the first. When the quarter ended, it was 25-22 in favor of Kennett, who held Farmington to just four points in the third. 

The fourth quarter embodied everything The Bash is about. The energy in the gymnasium was extremely high, with the Farmington crowd as loud as they had been the whole game. Both teams were as physical as they were the whole game, which only added to the intensity of the moment. 

These two teams were battling the whole quarter, and their intense defense led to a massive scoring drought for both teams. Neither team scored until 2:52 was left in the quarter, when Goodhart hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to six points.

Farmington finally broke their cold streak a minute later when 8th grader Shaylee DiPrizio knocked down two free-throws. Shortly following this, Madison Ricker made a massive shot from beyond the arc to cut the Kennett lead to just one point with about one minute left in the game.

The final minute was back-and-forth down the floor, with both teams having many possessions. Five straight possessions resulted in a turnover, and both teams were making mistakes on the offensive end. 

Farmington only had two fouls entering the final minute, which ended up hurting them at the end. They intentionally fouled Kennett players to try to get the ball back, but without Kennett in the bonus, time ran out on the Tigers, and they fell but just one point short on their home court. 

Both teams battled up until the end, and the Eagles were the team that came out on top. The bench ran out onto the court, and shortly after, they lifted their championship trophy. Farmington was left devastated after losing such a close game in front of their home crowd. 

Kaley Goodhart led Kennett today with 14 points. Following the game, she was awarded with the tournament’s MVP award, which was much deserved after leading them to the championship win. Sidoti scored seven points of her own, and she also received an All-Tournament Team selection.

Farmington was led by their two All-Tournament selections: Zoey Johnson, who scored 10 points, and Shaylee DiPrizio, who scored six points.

Following the game, the All-Tournament Team and the Sportsmanship Awards were given out. Raymond’s Mollee Messenger, Profile’s Mya Brown, Portsmouth Christian’s Ava Buchanon, and Franklin’s Kourtney Kaplan were selected to the team, as well as the mentioned players on Kennett and Farmington.

Portsmouth Christian Academy were awarded the Team Sportsmanship award, and their Ava Buchanon was awarded the Bill and Betty Vachon Award for individual sportsmanship.

Check out the full photo gallery by KJ Cardinal & Jill Stevens…

The Bash: Championship Saturday

By: KJ Cardinal

The stage is set for the finals of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash. In the girls title bout, host Farmington takes on Kennett at 1:00 pm, followed by the Profile boys versus Sanborn at 2:30 pm. If yesterday’s semifinals were any indication of what’s in store today, then we’re all in for a treat.

Let’s take a look at the finalists.

Kennett senior guard Kaley Goodhart.

KENNETT EAGLES

How they got here…
Dec. 26: Kennett 48, Belmont 22
Dec. 28: Kennett 48, Sanborn 35
Dec. 29: Kennett 51, Franklin 24

Notebook….
The defending NHIAA Division II State Champion Kennett Eagles are making their sixth-straight Bash title game appearance. A win for Kennett would give the Eagles a tourney record-tying eighth Bash crown. Last season, Kennett lost in the championship game to Coffee County (TN), 54-33.

Seniors Kaley Goodhart and Sam Sidoti are the dynamic duo for Larry Meader’s Kennett squad. Goodhart is averaging 19.7 PPG in The Bash, while Sidoti is right behind her with 18.0 PPG.

Farmington freshman guard Zoey Johnson.

FARMINGTON TIGERS

How they got here…
Dec. 26: Farmington 65, Noble 30
Dec. 27: Farmington 57, Raymond 35
Dec. 29: Farmington 47, Profile 40

Notebook….
The Tigers are making their first title game appearance since 2018 and are looking for their first Bash championship since 2009. Farmington has won the most Bash titles in tournament history with eight.

The youth movement for Farmington is underway as the Tigers rolled out a starting line up in the semifinals that consisted of two juniors, one sophomore, one freshman and one eighth-grader. That freshman, Zoey Johnson, has been nothing short of phenomenal in The Bash thus far, averaging a team best 17.0 PPG. The Tigers have posted five different double-digit scorers throughout The Bash for Dawn Weeks’ young squad that boasts balance and depth.

Profile junior guard Cayden Wakeham.

PROFILE PATRIOTS

How they got here…
Dec. 26: Profile 65, Derryfield 56
Dec. 27: Profile 71, Raymond 42
Dec. 28: Profile 45, Coe-Brown 30
Dec. 39: Profile 59, Windham 51

Notebook…
The Patriots are making their second-straight Bash title game appearance after falling to Belmont last year, 56-46. A win for Profile would mark their first championship in Bash history.

Mitchell Roy’s squad wrote the biggest story of The Bash thus far as the Division IV Patriots knocked off D-I Windham, 59-51, in the semifinal round yesterday. While the Patriots are known for their high-octane offense, as evidenced by a 27-2 first quarter versus Raymond in the opening round of bracket play, Profile’s defense is much-improved over a season ago. The Patriots held Windham to just 51 points as the Jaguars entered the semis averaging nearly 80 PPG in The Bash.

Profile is led by a pair of seniors in sharp shooter Josh Robie (25.5 PPG) and physical forward Alex Leslie (14.0 PPG). Junior Cayden Wakeham has also had big moments in The Bash this season, making timely buckets and being a match-up problem at times for opponents.

Sanborn senior guard Chase Frizzell.

SANBORN INDIANS

How they got here…
Dec. 26: Windham 80, Sanborn 57
Dec. 27: Sanborn 76, Nute 30
Dec. 28: Sanborn 63, Belmont 53
Dec. 29: Sanborn 66, Derryfield 58

Sanborn, making its fifth Bash title game appearance in tourney history, is looking for their first title since capturing the first-ever Bash championship back in 1979.

Head coach Wayne Souther’s Division II squad is led by the senior duo of Chase Frizzell (17.8 PPG) and Dylan Rego (14.2 PPG). The Indians like to get out and run and boast a slew of shooters that can connect from long range.

 

The Bash: Day 4 recap

What a day of basketball. From an improbable finish in a consolation game to hotly contested semifinals and a Division IV upset of the only D-I team in the tourney, day four of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash did NOT disappoint. Photo galleries from all games can be seen right here. You can also download high resolution images for free here.

Below is final scores from all seven games along with the high scorers in each…

GAME 35
BOYS: Belmont 55, Franklin 28
Belmont: Brady Thurber 16, Keegan Martinez 13
Franklin: Zeke McCoy 12

GAME 36: FULL STORY & VIDEO
GIRLS: Portsmouth Christian 51, Belmont 50
PCA: Jaela Stockbower 20, Ava Buchanan 17
Belmont: Darci Stone 16, Madison Carrier 15

GAME 37
BOYS: Coe-Brown 63, Raymond 55
CBNA: Jack Matson, Connor Bagnell 17, Quinn Salter 13
Raymond: Dre Duffaut 19, Logan Brien 15, Aiden York 13

GAME 38: FULL STORY
GIRLS SEMIFINAL #1: Kennett 51, Franklin 24
Kennett: Sam Sidoti 22, Kaley Goodhart 20
Franklin: Kourtney Kaplan 12

GAME 39: FULL STORY
BOYS SEMIFINAL #1: Profile 59, Windham 51
Windham: Jack Murphy 15, Jack Koutrobis 14, Jack Begley 10, Caden Bouchard 10
Profile: Josh Robie 21, Alex Leslie 16, Karsen Robie 11

GAME 40
GIRLS SEMIFINAL #2: Farmington 47, Profile 40
FHS: Zoey Johnson 14, Madi Ricker 9, Ryleigh Hogan 8
Profile: Morgan Presby 16, Mya Brown 11k

GAME 41
BOYS SEMIFINAL #2: Sanborn 66, Derryfield 58
Sanborn: Brandon Sarette 21, Chase Frizzell 16, Dylan Rego 12, Jake Pitre 11
Derryfield: Jack Krasnof 32, Alex Comire 11

Profile stuns Windham and moves onto the Bash championship

By Nathaniel Ford

FARMINGTON – It’s not every day a Division IV team faces a team from Division I, and it’s even more rare to see the team from the top division fall, especially at a stage like The Bash.

That is exactly what happened today. The Profile Patriots took down the Windham Jaguars 59-51 to advance to the championship game.

This statement victory came just a day after the Patriots took down Coe-Brown, a tough Division II team. Profile actually played Windham prior to this matchup at the Rivier Fall League. “We beat them twice. It’s tough to beat a team three times,” said head coach Mitchell Roy. But, his Patriots did just that.

This experience coming into such a big matchup is huge. Both teams knew what to expect from the other, and they could gameplan for that. 

“We just tried to slow the game down with our zone defense,” said Roy. Profile is a team that can score a lot of points. They usually play fast in transition and outscore teams, but they didn’t think they could win today playing like that. 

The first quarter was a battle. From the jump, Windham was playing aggressive defense on Josh Robie. He was being denied the ball and was run off the three-point line. The 26 PPG scorer is a threat, and he was being treated as one.

Both teams hit some timely shots to prevent any big runs from happening. Windham connected on three triples from beyond the arc, but Profile hung on and battled. When the buzzer sounded, it was a 14-10 lead for the Jaguars after one. 

Profile flipped a switch in the second quarter, and they started to control the game. A big factor in this was foul trouble for the Jaguars. Caden Bouchard and Jack Begley each had two fouls, and both were on the bench for the majority of the quarter.

Profile capitalized on this and went on a huge 7-0 run in the second. They had great energy from both the bench and the players on the court. Windham’s Sam Roidoulis recorded a technical foul, and shortly following, Josh Robie had an electric and-one basket in transition.

Things were falling right for Profile, and they entered halftime leading 29-24. A big contributor for them was Cayden Wakeham. He provided a spark in their offense, finishing a couple of huge baskets to give them momentum. 

“Cayden Wakeham has grown a lot as a player, as a person. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a third guy we can rely on to throw the ball to and get a basket,” said Roy. 

It looked like Profile might blow the game open in the third quarter. They jumped to a quick 7-0, forcing a Windham timeout and extending their lead to 12 points, the largest of the game. 

Windham didn’t panic, and they strung together an 8-0 run of their own behind great defense in their full court press. This cut the lead to three, and both teams traded baskets for the rest of the quarter. Profile kept their lead, and they entered the fourth up 45-41. 

The crowd at Farmington was as loud as they have been the whole tournament, and Profile had won them over. The players were hustling, the bench had energy, and the crowd loved it. This was a big factor in the Patriots’ win and their ability to keep their momentum. 

Windham needed to score, and that did not happen early, suffering a two minute scoring drought to open the quarter. Profile played amazing defense, and a huge Josh Robie three-pointer gave Profile a seven point lead.

The Jaguars bounced right back with two steals off their press, and cut the lead to one possession in the blink of an eye. Profile responded, knocking down a couple of free throws, getting some big baskets inside, and extending their lead back to seven points. 

Windham had some looks late but could not capitalize. The Patriots stayed composed and came away with a 59-51 victory in this massive semi finals win. 

Profile has had incredible success both in Division IV and in The Bash. “They expect this. They put in work year round,” said Roy. 

Following the loss, Windham’s first ever appearance at The Bash comes to an end. Profile once again advances to the championship game tomorrow at 2:30 and plays the winner of Sanborn vs. Derryfield.

“Last year we lost in the finals of this tournament. It’s one of their goals: to win The Bash. To us, it means something,” said Roy. They’ve been hungry since losing in the championship last year, and they are now right back where they were last year. This time, they look to come with the victory.

Kennett advances to championship in blowout win

By Nathaniel Ford

FARMINGTON – The Kennett girls cruised past Franklin 51-24 in the semifinals of The Bash. 

It was stout defense played by the Eagles that propelled them to a victory. “We knew they had some kids that could score, and our focus was putting our top two defenders on #12 [Kourtney Kaplan] and trying to limit her,” said head coach Larry Meader. 

The Eagles came out hot to open, going on a 10-0 run in the first two minutes of the game. They carried this momentum out of a Franklin timeout and continued their dominance. Stellar defense and transition offense were the keys in the quarter, and Kennett led 24-4 going into the second.

“Offensively we just wanted to get out and run. That was the best job we’ve done just getting out on the break and having kids release down the floor,” said Meader. 

Meader’s squad was led by two players. Kaley Goodhart poured in 12 points in the quarter, and Samantha Sidoti added 10 of her own. 

The second quarter started much differently than the first. The Eagles were held scoreless until 4:30 was on the clock, when Sidoti got a bucket inside. During that time, Franklin went on a nice 6-0 run, which cut the lead to 14. 

Kennett pulled away once again at the end of the quarter, holding Franklin scoreless for the last five minutes. Behind two three-pointers from Goodhart, they entered the break up 35-10. They were paced by her game-high 18 points. 

With such a big lead, some teams get complacent and allow a comeback. The Eagles showed no sign of that happening. “We’ve had big leads before and watched them disappear. They’ve learned that they’ve got to keep the gas going and to stay on them” said Meader. 

The Eagles only extended their lead in the third quarter. They continued to play great defense on the Golden Tornadoes and continued to run the break exceptionally well. Behind a 7-point quarter from Sidoti, they entered the break with a 49-20 lead. 

The game was out-of-reach entering the fourth quarter, with Kennett up nearly 30 points going in. Both teams were held scoreless through the first three minutes of the quarter, with Franklin’s Kourtney Kaplan stopping the drought. 

When the final buzzer sounded, it was a resounding 51-24 victory for the Eagles.

Leading the way for Kennett was Kaley Goodhart and Samantha Sidoti, who both recorded a game-high 20 points. Franklin was paced by 12 points from Kourtney Kaplan, and Lily Cornell added 6 points of her own. 

Kennett will advance to the championship game tomorrow at 1:00 against the winner of Farmington vs. Profile. This is familiar territory for them, as last year, they fell to Coffee County in the title game. This year, they look to flip the script and come away with the trophy themselves.

Check out the photo gallery by KJ Cardinal…

The Bash: Day 3 recap

Day three of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash featured 11 games. Photo galleries from all games played at Farmington High School can be seen right here. You can also download high resolution images for free here.

Below is final scores from all 11 games along with the high scorers in each…

GAME 23
GIRLS: Portsmouth Christian 53, Noble 35
PCA: Ava Buchanan 19 points, Tatiana Stockbower 13
Noble: Taylor Gnirk 23

GAME 24
BOYS: Noble 66, Nute 23
Noble: Jacob Finn 10
Nute: Silas Picard 9

GAME 25
GIRLS: Coe-Brown 60, Raymond 32
CBNA: Eilah Crawn 12, Emma Lapierre 11
Raymond: Mollee Messenger 16

GAME 26
BOYS: Kennett 50, Franklin 32
Kennett: Owen Robertson 18
Franklin: Zeke McCoy 11

GAME 27
BOYS: Raymond 65, Concord Christian 62
Raymond: Caden Claytor 19, Dre Duffaut 14
CCA: Isaac Bowers 17, Jaden Young 15, Logan Duffy 12,

GAME 28: FULL STORY
BOYS: Windham 87, Portsmouth Christian 53
Windham: Bouchard 19, Begley 16, Blanco 13
PCA: Cai Summers 23, Connor Hickey 19

GAME 29
BOYS: Profile 45, Coe-Brown 30
Profile: Alex Leslie 12, Josh Robie 11, Cayden Wakeham 11
CBNA: Matson 12, Quinn Salter 10

GAME 30: FULL STORY
GIRLS: Kennett 48, Sanborn 35
Kennett: Kaylee Goodhart 21, Sam Sidoti 16
Sanborn: Emma Gillis 8, Kaylee Fortin 8

GAME 31
GIRLS: Profile 44, Belmont 36
Profile: Kyah Knight 14
Belmont: Darci Stone 15, Bailey Perkins 13

GAME 32: FULL STORY
BOYS: Sanborn 63, Belmont 53
Sanborn: Chase Frizzell 21, Dylan Rego 18, Brandon Sarette 15
Belmont: Keegan Martinez 25

GAME 33
BOYS: Derryfield 47, Farmington 45
Derryfield: Jack Krasnof 20, Alex Drake 11
FHS: Shawn Murphy 15, Cody Brazee 10

Kennett battles for quarterfinal victory at The Bash

By Nathaniel Ford

FARMINGTON – In a matchup of Division II teams, the Kennett girls held on for a 48-35 victory over Sanborn and advanced to the semifinals of The Bash.

Kennett, the defending Division II champions, had to fight for this victory. “We won D-II last year, so everyone looks forward to playing us and we are going to get their best game,” said their head coach Larry Meader. 

The Eagles were given a tough game today by Sanborn, with nothing coming easy for them. Sanborn came out early and picked up a 6-4 lead behind a pair of baskets from Kaylee Fortin. Kennett answered by going on an 11-0 run driven by a trio of three pointers from Kaley Goodhart, and they led 15-8 entering the break. 

Some teams would roll over following such a big run, but the Indians did not. “They brought a lot of energy, and you could tell that they wanted the game,” said Meader. Sanborn was playing with high intensity throughout the contest, and it showed.

Despite this, Kennett extended their lead to 10 points, and the game entered halftime with a score of 26-16. Their offense was flowing through Goodhart, who knocked down two more triples in the second quarter, bringing her to five in the half. She had 17 points and was outscoring the Indians single handedly. 

The Eagles were looking to shut down Sanborn’s top scorer Emma Gillis, as well as controlling the paint on the defensive end. Meader felt that this was not accomplished well enough in the first half, so he made a change. 

“We went to a zone in the second half, and it took a while for Sanborn to get adjusted,” Meader said. Kennett switched from their usually man-to-man defense, and it worked out well for them. 

The Eagles were able to extend their lead in the third quarter to as much as 16 points by containing their opponents for much of the period. Center Samantha Sidoti was valuable in the third, pouring in 7 points and leading them to a 42-27 scoreline entering the fourth. 

While this deficit proved too large for a comeback, Sanborn fought until the final whistle. They held the Eagles scoreless until 4:30 left in the quarter. Their defense was intense, as they forced countless turnovers and tough shots. However, it was not enough, and Kennett finished with a 48-35 victory.

Kennett was led by a game-high 21 points and five three-pointers from Goodhart, as well as 16 from Sidoti. Sanborn had a balanced offensive output, with Gillis and Fortin each scoring 8 points. Maya Thompson and Ashyln Gallant chipped in with 5 points. 

Kennett advances to the semifinals of The Bash, where they will play Division IV Franklin tomorrow afternoon at 3:00.

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by KJ Cardinal…

Windham advances to Bash semifinals in dominant fashion

By Nathaniel Ford

Windham came away with a huge 87-53 victory today over Portsmouth Christian in the quarterfinals of The Bash. 

The Jaguars proved why they are one of the top teams at the tournament this year. They controlled the entire contest against the Eagles, thwarting any chance of a comeback at any point.

Windham jumped out to an early lead behind a 7-2 run in the first minute of the game. Portsmouth Christian put together a 7-2 run of their own, but two straight and-one baskets from Jack Begley killed all of the momentum they built. Begley led the way with 11 points, and Windham was up 24-13 entering the second. 

The Jaguars jumped out to open the quarter again, recording an 8-0 run in the first two minutes. And just like the first quarter, PCA responded immediately with an 8-2 run of their own to keep it competitive. The rest of the quarter was back-and-forth, and Windham entered the break up 44-27.

It was clear that it was a game of runs in this contest, and that trend only evolved in the second half. This time, it was PCA who strung together an early run, jumping on Windham 10-2 in the first couple of minutes, which cut the lead to single digits. 

Windham’s true colors showed once again when faced with adversity. The Jaguars did not roll over, and they did not panic. Instead, Caden Bouchard connected from beyond the arc on three consecutive possessions, which brought their lead back up to 17.

Bouchard led the Eagles on this massive run with his shooting, and his defense helped lead another huge run to end the quarter. They forced multiple PCA turnovers and capitalized in transition, ending the quarter on a 12-0 run and giving them a huge 70-44 lead entering the fourth.

This lead was too great to overcome, and the Jaguars ran away with a 34 point victory. Three-point shooting was critical to their victory, with Windham knocking down 11 from downtown. 

Leading the way for the Jaguars was 21 points from Bouchard, as well as 16 from Begley and 15 from Jackson Blanco. Portsmouth Christian was led by a game-high 23 points from Cai Summers, while Connor Hickey added 19 of his own. 

Windham advances to the semifinal round to face the Profile Patriots, who took down the Coe-Brown Bears earlier today in their quarterfinal matchup.

Check out the photo gallery by KJ Cardinal…