Tag: Bedford

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

Bedford downs Keene in battle of D-I heavyweights

By: KJ Cardinal

BEDFORD, NH – Bedford jumped out to an 18-5 lead over visiting Keene and that proved to be the difference as the Bulldogs won, 71-56, on Tuesday night.

It was a rough quarter for Keene as starter Will Fontaine sprained his ankle in the opening minutes and did not return. Kasen Abbott also picked up three fouls. Bedford led 18-8 after the opening stanza.

The Blackbirds managed to cut the lead to two in the 2nd quarter, before trailing 30-24 at the half.

The two squads played even in the third quarter and then Bedford closed things out with a 27-18 fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs were led by four players in double figures: Ali Shoukier (17 points), Connor O’Rourke (16), Wiji Dak (14) and Landon Ellsmore (13).

Javon Massiah pumped in a game-high 22 points to lead Keene, while Jamal Stanley (11), Alex Holmes (11) and Fitch Hennessey (10) all chipped in with double-digits as well.

With the win, Bedford improves to 12-3 on the season. The Blackbirds fall to 10-4.

Check out the full photo gallery by Jill Stevens…

Keene Boys vs Bedford (02.11.24) - Jillana Stevens
Keene Boys vs Bedford (02.11.24) – Jillana Stevens
78 photos

Bedford remains unbeaten, survives test at Pinkerton

By: KJ Cardinal

DERRY, NH – Undefeated Bedford got its biggest test of the season as the Bulldogs went on the road and escaped Pinkerton with a 48-43 victory on Monday night.

The seven-point victory is the closest contest Bedford has had all season. The second closest affair was also versus Pinkerton back on Jan. 7, 65-52. Aside from those two games versus the Astros, Bedford has run rough shod over the rest of their Division I opponents, winning by an average margin of victory of 37.3 points per game.

Monday night’s tilt was close throughout with neither team being able to gain more than a three-point edge until Kate Allard connected on a pair of free throws to ice the victory for the Bulldogs. Allard finished with a team-high 17 points and Sarah Muir added 12 for Bedford, who improves to a perfect 14-0.

Pinkerton, who falls to 11-4 with the loss, was paced by a game-high 20 points from Sydney Gerossie.

Check out the full photo gallery by Dave Beliveau…

Bedford Girls at Pinkerton (2.10.25) - DAVE BELIVEAU
Bedford Girls at Pinkerton (2.10.25) – DAVE BELIVEAU
79 photos