Tag: Bedford

Mike Whaley’s 2025 All-Tournament Teams announced

For the fourth-straight season, our Mike Whaley has selected All-Tournament Teams from all eight divisions of NHIAA postseason play. These All-Tourney squads are chosen from final four participants in each division.

Congratulations to all on a great postseason run…

DIVISION I BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Logan O’Connell, Bedford
Connor O’Rourke, Bedford
Javon Massiah, Keene
Kasen Abbott, Keene
Derek Swartz, Portsmouth
Nate McNeff, Exeter

DIVISION I GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kate Allard, Bedford
Mel McCarthy, Bedford
Sammie Sullivan, Londonderry
Brooke Eacrett, Londonderry
Rileigh Finneran, Windham
Emma Smith, Concord Christian

DIVISION II BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Evan Berkeley, Pembroke
Andrew Fitzgerald, Pembroke
Chase Frizzell, Sanborn
Dylan Rego, Sanborn
Matthew Jernigan, Oyster River
Brady Hegan, Pelham

DIVISION II GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alexa Bausha, Milford
Avery Fuller, Milford
Vivian O’Quinn, Oyster River
Olivia Andersen, Oyster River
Macy Swormstedt, Laconia
Anna Fazelat, Derryfield

DIVISION III BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Keegan Martinez, Belmont
Treshawn Ray, Belmont
Eli Whipple, Kearsarge
Austin Needham, Kearsarge
Cole McClure, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Tanner Moulton, Mascoma

DIVISION III GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Emma Toriello, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Genna Bolduc, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Emilie von der Linden, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Clara Stewart, Fall Mountain
Abby Jarvis, Fall Mountain
Bailee Soucia, Monadnock

DIVISION IV BOYS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ryan Walker, Woodsville
Landon Kingsbury, Woodsville
Sam Reagey, Littleton
Connor Roy, Littleton
Isaac Langlois, Gorham
Luke Farland, Concord Christian

DIVISION IV GIRLS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Delaney Whiting, Groveton
Mylee Kenison, Groveton
Addison Pilgrim, Littleton
Leah Poulton, Littleton
Amaya Beckles, Newmarket
Ryenn Pedone, Holy Family

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

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

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

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

Strong start sends Bedford past Windham to D-I semis

By: KJ Cardinal

BEDFORD, NH – Top-seeded Bedford raced out to a 33-22 lead at the break and hung on to defeat No. 9 Windham, 66-59, on Saturday in quarterfinal action of the Division I state tournament.

The Bulldogs advance to the semifinal round to take on No. 5 Exeter on Wednesday at the Rochester Recreation Center at 7:30 p.m.

Logan O’Connell led Bedford with 23 points, while Landon Ellsmore and Connor O’Rourke netted 17 points apiece. The Jaguars were paced by a game-high 27 points from Jack Koutrobis and 13 from Jack Murphy.

Check out the full photo gallery by Cindy Lavigne of Lavigne’s Live Shots…

Windham Boys at Bedford (03.08.25) - CINDY LAVIGNE
Windham Boys at Bedford (03.08.25) – CINDY LAVIGNE
37 photos

Bedford blows past Exeter to Division I semifinals

By: KJ Cardinal

BEDFORD, NH – Top-seeded Bedford raced out to a 47-22 lead at the half and never looked back as the Bulldogs downed No. 9 Exeter, 85-39, in quarterfinal action of the Division I state tourney on Thursday night.

Led by a game-high 23 points from Kate Allard, Bedford put eight players in the scoring column. Annie Zink (17), Mel McCarthy (16) and Sara Muir (13) all netted double-digits for the Bulldogs as well.

The Blue Hawks were led by 10 points from Karli Scherpf.

Bedford advances to the semifinals to take on No. 4 Concord Christian Academy on Monday at Exeter High School at 8:00 p.m.

Check out the full photo gallery by Cindy Lavigne of Lavigne’s Live Shots…

Exeter Girls at Bedford (03.06.25) - CINDY LAVIGNE
Exeter Girls at Bedford (03.06.25) – CINDY LAVIGNE
26 photos

Bedford eases past Manchester Central-West in first round

By: KJ Cardinal

BEDFORD, NH – Top-seeded Bedford made short work of No. 16 Manchester Central-West, 79-21, in Division I first round action on Monday night.

The Bulldogs advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 9 Exeter on Thursday night.

Kate Allard led all scorers with a game-high 20 points for Beford, while Mel McCarthy and Ella Allard added 19 and 11 points, respectively.

Tianna Mann netted 14 points for Central-West.

Check out the full photo gallery by Cindy Lavigne of Lavigne’s Live Shots…

Central West Girls at Bedford (03.03.25) - CINDY LAVIGNE
Central West Girls at Bedford (03.03.25) – CINDY LAVIGNE
40 photos

Bedford blows past Spaulding

By: KJ Cardinal

BEDFORD, NH – Bedford closed out the regular season with an 84-60 win over visiting Spaulding on Tuesday night, clinching the top seed for the upcoming Division I tournament in the process.

The Bulldogs were paced by five players in double figures: Jack Hinton (20), Logan O’Connell (15), Luke O’Connell (10), Connor O’Rourke (16) and Wiji Dak (14).

Spaulding was paced by 17 points apiece from Marcel Rose and Nate Sanchez Martinez and 10 from Kyran Jean Pierre

With the win, Bedford improves to 15-3, while Spaulding’s season comes to a close at 6-12.

Check out the full photo gallery by Dave Beliveau…

Spaulding Boys at Bedford (2.25.25) - DAVE BELIVEAU
Spaulding Boys at Bedford (2.25.25) – DAVE BELIVEAU
67 photos

Bedford closes out Londonderry, wins battle of the unbeatens

BEDFORD, NH – In a battle of Division I unbeatens, host Bedford came-from-behind to defeat Londonderry, 60-53, on Friday night.

In a very tough battle throughout, the Lancers saw themselves up 48-41 on the road at the end of the third quarter. Later, with under four minutes remaining, Bedford pulled it to within two points and was able to tie it with just three minutes left in the game.

The Bulldogs used a 19-5 fourth quarter to catapult themselves to a win, finishing their second-consecutive undefeated regular-season with a perfect 18-0 record. They were led with 17 points apiece from both Kate Allard and Annie Zink along with 10 from Sarah Muir.

The Lancers, who saw Gemma Murray and Sammie Sullivan score 20 & 12 respectively, fall to just 16-1, with a chance to finish their season in the win column on Tuesday at Keene.

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

Londonderry Girls at Bedford (02.21.25) Todd Grzywacz
Londonderry Girls at Bedford (02.21.25) Todd Grzywacz
153 photos