Tag: Littleton

NHIAA preseason heats up

By: KJ Cardinal

Just like the unseasonably warm weather, the 2024-25 NHIAA season is beginning to heat up as well.

Yesterday marked the first practice date for Division IV squads with many holding tryouts around the state. D-III follows suit next week (Nov. 25) with D-I & D-II just seven days later as well (Dec. 2).

The D-IV season official tips off with 2024-25 opening night being held on Friday, Dec. 6, while Divisions I, II & III throw it up on Dec. 13.

Before we get to the regular-season slate, however, there are six official NHIAA sanctioned preseason jamborees on the docket. Check out the events below as this will be your first chance to see these squads in action…

DATEGENDEREVENTHOSTPARTICIPANTS
December 1GirlsPreseason Basketball JamboreeLin-WoodHoly Family, Concord Christian, Franklin, Lin-Wood
December 3BoysNewfound InvitationalNewfoundInter-Lakes, Winnisquam, Laconia, Plymouth, White Mountains, Newfound
December 7BoysBelmont Boys Basketball Preseason JamboreeBelmontMascoma, Monadnock, Newport, Belmont
December 7BoysPinkerton Basketball JamboreePinkertonCentral Catholic, Malden Catholic, Salem, Greater Lawrence Tech, Pinkerton
December 7GirlsPreseason JamboreeKennettWhite Mountains, Inter-Lakes, Berlin, Fryeburg, Kingswood, Plymouth, Gilford, Laconia, Prospect Mountain, Moultonborough, Littleton, Kennett
December 7BoysNH Sports Page Basketball JamboreeLondonderryNashua South, Kearsarge, Pelham, St. Thomas, Pinkerton, Windham, Trinity, Bow, Portsmouth, Pembroke, Londonderry

Strong second half leads Profile to D-IV title, perfect season

By: KJ Cardinal

NEW LONDON, NH – Top-seeded Profile outscored No. 2 Littleton by 14 in the second half to come away with the 2024 NHIAA Division IV Boys Basketball State Championship, 53-48, on Saturday afternoon at Colby Sawyer College.

The win puts a bow on Profile’s perfect 22-0 season, giving the Patriots their second state title in the program history (2004).

The Crusaders came ready to play as they led 12-11 after one and 24-19 at the half. Littleton managed to hold Profile’s Josh Robie, the division’s leading scorer, to just five first-half points.

Profile started the second half looking to push the tempo and back-to-back threes by Cayden Wakeham gave the Patriots the boost they needed. Robie pumped in 9 points in the 3rd and just like that, Littleton’s lead evaporated. Profile tied the game at 40-40 heading to the 4th.

The Patriots managed just two 4th-quarter field goals, both three pointers Josh & Karsen Robie, and then sealed the deal at the line.

Josh Robie finished with a game-high 22 points for Profile, while Alex Leslie and Wakeham chipped in with 16 and 8, respectively. Littleton was led by Kayden Hoskins’ 19 points, including five threes, and 11 from Mikey Rodriguez.

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

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Jill Stevens…

Defense leads Littleton to title, perfect season

By: KJ Cardinal

NEW LONDON, NH – Top-seeded Littleton took a page out of No. 3 Newmarket’s playbook as the Crusader defense stymied the Mules, 41-23, to capture the 2024 NHIAA Division IV Girls Basketball State Championship on Saturday afternoon at Colby Sawyer. With the win, Littleton puts the exclamation point on a perfect 22-0 season.

Newmarket’s calling card all season long has been defense and the Mules got a dose of their own medicine as they were held to their second-lowest scoring output of the season.

The Crusaders set the tone early, allowing just three points in the opening stanza, and never let up. Littleton led 19-12 at the half and then blew the game open with a 14-point 3rd quarter that gave the Crusaders a 15-point bulge, 33-18, heading to the 4th.

Julieanne Bromley led all scorers with a game-high 12 points for Littleton and Addison Pilgrim added 11. Newmarket was paced by 10 points from Kiara Rugora.

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

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Jill Stevens…

Littleton survives Farmington, advances to D-IV title game

By: KJ Cardinal

Top-seeded Littleton escaped the semifinal round with a 42-36 victory over #4 Farmington on Tuesday night at Bedford High School.

The Crusaders improve to 21-0 on the season and will face #3 Newmarket for the NHIAA Division IV State Championship on Saturday at 1:00 pm.

This one felt more like a football game at times than a basketball game. A combined 40 fouls were whistled and 42 free throws were attempted. Both teams were plagued by foul trouble for most of the night and in the end clutch free throws by Littleton 8th-grader Leah Poulton sealed the victory.

While Poulton was 4-5 from the charity stripe in the 4th, neither team shot the ball particularly well from the line as Farmington was just 9-for-17 (52.9%) and Littleton 13-for-25 (52.0%).

The unbeaten Crusaders led 11-8 after the first quarter of play, but were just 3-for-9 from the line in the opening stanza. Farmington struggled to handle the Littleton press in the 1st half and the Crusaders won the 2nd quarter, 14-9, taking a 25-17 lead to the break.

Littleton opened the 3rd quarter with a quick 4-0 burst to push its lead to 12. Sophomore Anna Cardinal netted six-straight points for the Tigers to cut the Crusader lead to 8, 33-25, heading to the 4th quarter.

The two battled in a physical final frame that featured 17 free throws combined. A three-pointer by Farmington freshman Zoey Johnson with 3:16 left on the clock cut the Littleton lead to five, 35-30, but the Tigers would get no closer.

The Crusaders were led by a game-high 14 points from Poulton and 8 from Addison Pilgrim, while Addison Hadlock was limited for most of the night due to foul trouble and scored just four points. Farmington was paced by 10 points from Madi Ricker, 9 from Zoey Johnson and 8 from Cardinal.

Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Jill Stevens…

Check out another gallery by Jeff Criss of Perfect Photos…

Hoskins hits game winner, sends Littleton to final

By: KJ Cardinal

Kayden Hoskins’ three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left lifted #2 Littleton a 59-58 come-from-behind victory over #6 Woodsville in the semifinals of the 2024 NHIAA Division IV State Tournament on Monday night at Bedford High School.

The Crusaders advance to the title game where they will take on top-seeded Profile on Saturday at 3:00 pm at Colby-Sawyer College in New London.

Littleton trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half before mounting a furious second-half comeback that culminated with Hoskins’ game-winner.

Despite playing without a sick Conner Newcomb, Woodsville came out the gates firing as they opened up the game on a quick 13-2 run. Sophomore point guard Ryan Walker picked up the slack and then some as he poured in 20 first-half point to give the Engineers a 32-19 halftime lead.

The Crusaders responded in the second half with a 26-9 third quarter, including 9 points by Mikey Rodriguez, to give Littleton a 45-41 lead heading into the final stanza. It was a back and forth affair before Woodsville took a two-point lead 58-56, setting the stage for Hoskins’ heroics.

Trailing by two with less than 10 seconds left, Littleton head coach Trevor Howard called a timeout and drew up the final look for Hoskins.

Leading the way for Littleton was Rodriguez (17), while Sam Reagey (16), Hoskins (13) and Dre Akines (9) all made significant contributions.

Woodsville was paced by a game-high 34 points from Walker, while Cowan Kimball chipped in with 9 and Jack Boudreault and Landon Kingsbury had 7 points apiece.

Watch as we go inside the huddle with Trevor Howard as he draws up the game-winning play, which the Crusaders executed to perfection…

Check out the full photo gallery by Jill Stevens…

Check out the full photo gallery by Jeff Criss…

Check out another photo gallery by Betsy Hansen…

Littleton cruises to quarterfinals past Moultonborough

No. 2 Littleton outscored #15 Moultonborough 25-6 in the 1st quarter and cruised to a 71-36 win in first round play of the 2024 NHIAA Division IV Boys Basketball State Tournament on Monday night.

The Crusaders advance to the quarterfinals and will host #10 Groveton on Thursday.

Littleton was led four dougle-figure scorers: Kayden Hoskins (15), Dre Akines (13), Mikey Rodriguez (11) and Sam Reagey (10). The Panthers were paced by 10 points from Brodie Bacon.

Check out the full gallery by John Scott Sherburne…

Blistering start leads Littleton past Groveton

In a showdown between the top two teams in Division IV, Littleton opened the game on a 20-3 run in the 1st quarter and went on to earn the win over visiting Groveton, 41-36, on Friday night.

With the win, the Crusaders improve to a perfect 17-0 and will look to finish off the perfect regular season when they travel to Colebrook on Monday night. The Eagles fall to 15-2 on the season, with both losses coming to Littleton.

Addison Pilgrim (14 points) and Addison Hadlock (10) led the Crusaders, while Delaney Whiting paced Groveton with 13.

Check out the full photo gallery by Shirley Nickles…

6 Unbeatens Remain

By: KJ Cardinal & Jayda Davis

It’s crunch time in NHIAA basketball with state tournament play looming right around the corner. While some teams are vying to just make the playoffs or perhaps secure a coveted home game, there are six well-oiled machines around the Granite State that are still in search of perfection.

Let’s take a look at the six remaining unbeatens…

Division I Boys: Bedford

Bedford’s Luke Soden leads the Bulldogs with 26.5 PPG. [📸 Todd Grzywacz]

Frank Moreno’s Bulldogs have their sights set on back-to-back state titles and with a perfect 14-0 mark, it’s hard not to think they’ll get there. Bedford’s high-octane offense is averaging a scorching 81.1 points per game and winning by nearly 24 points per contest.

Luke Soden has been nothing short of amazing this season, pouring in 26.5 PPG, while Brady O’Connell (15.5 PPG) and Austin Kasyjanski (13.7 PPG) are the mainstays for the Bulldog fire power.

Bedford has only played in three games this season that were decided by single digits, with a three-point win over Manchester Memorial being the biggest test thus far for the Bulldogs. However, that may all change tonight as Bedford heads to Derry to take on 13-1 Pinkerton in a rematch of last year’s championship game. You can watch that game live here (PPV).

Division I Girls: Bedford & Pinkerton

Pinkerton’s Elizabeth Lavoie leads the Astros with 20.0 PPG. [📸 Jill Stevens]

In what could be a preview of the 2024 title game, it’s a battle of the unbeatens tonight in Bedford when the Bulldogs (14-0) host Pinkerton (14-0). You can watch that game live here (FREE).

These two squads have been absolutely steam-rolling the rest of the division. Bedford is winning by an average margin of 42.9 PPG. The Bulldogs six-point victory, 56-50, at Portsmouth back on Jan. 23 is their only win this season coming by less than 30 points. Let that sink in for a second.

Pinkerton is also winning by a 31.6-point clip with their closest game being a 17-point victory at Dover on Jan. 26. Lani Buskey’s Astros are led by the top scorer in the division Elizabeth Lavoie (20.0 PPG) and two other double-digit scorers: Sydney Gerossie (15.5) and Brooke Benz (10.2).

Bedford’s Lana McCarthy leads the Bulldogs with 13.9 PPG. [📸 Cindy Lavigne]

Kevin Gibbs’ Bulldogs boast the most dominant player in the state with Lana McCarthy. The McDonald’s All-American Game nominee is averaging 13.9 PPG in often limited minutes due to Bedford’s 40+ point victories. The Purdue commit is paired with Kate Allard (13.4 PPG) to form an extremely tough duo.

Division IV Boys: Profile
The 16-0 little town of Bethlehem Profile Patriots could be the most fun team to watch in the state. This group of perennial north-country underdogs is not only the divisions top dog this season, but one of the top teams in the state, regardless of division. Period.

Profile’s Josh Robie leads the Patriots with 26.4 PPG. [📸 KJ Cardinal]

We’ve witnessed first-hand the Patriots defeat opponents from all four Divisions and Mitchell Roy’s squad would most definitely compete with any foe put in front of them. The biggest reasons for this: seniors Josh Robie and Alex Leslie.

While his shot may look unorthodox, Robie (26.4 PPG) is an absolute sniper from deep and his improved mid-range game and playmaking abilities are the driving force behind Profile’s perfect start. Leslie (19.8 PPG) is one of the most athletic bigs in the division and his ability to get downhill and finish on opponents can be deadly at times.

Seemingly always in the way for Profile has been Woodsville and Littleton. The Patriots have knocked off Woodsville once this season and twice defeated the Crusaders, including a five-point win, 62-57, on Jan. 31. Profile heads to Woodsville tonight in the final big regular-season test remaining for the Patriots.

Division II Girls: Concord Christian

CCA’s Emma Smith leads the Kingsmen with 19.2 PPG. [📸 KJ Cardinal]

When we said “well-oiled machines”, the first team that comes to mind is Concord Christian. After winning the Division IV crown two years ago and the D-III title last season, the 12-0 Kingsmen seem poised to earn the D-II championship this March.

Rebecca Carlile’s squad simply wears teams down. There isn’t a more conditioned team in the state and CCA’s uptempo style, defensive prowess and the ability to take care of the rock is a brand of basketball that is impressive to watch.

Leading the way for the Kingsmen is Emma Smith (19.2 PPG) and Lilli Carlile (18.6). CCA has already taken care of business twice this season versus the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams with wins over Laconia and Pembroke. The Kingsmen head to Laconia on Feb. 15 for the biggest remaining challenge on the regular-season slate.

Division IV Girls: Littleton

Littleton’s Addison Hadlock is averaging 10.1 PPG for the Crusaders.[📸 KJ Cardinal]

If defense wins championships, then we could certainly see Littleton cutting down the nets at Colby-Sawyer College on March 2nd.

The Crusaders are holding teams to a minuscule 30.7 PPG and winning by an average margin of 27.3 PPG. Only three teams have been able to reach the 40-point plateau versus Littleton all season long.

Dale Prior’s balanced offense is led by a trio of double-digit scorers: Lauryn Corrigan (10.8 PPG), Addison Pilgrim (10.2) and Addison Hadlock (10.1).

The last tough test for the Crusaders this regular season will come tonight as Littleton hosts 15-1 Groveton. The Crusaders escaped Groveton with a narrow five-point win, 39-34, in a defensive battle back on Jan. 5.

Littleton remains perfect with win over Colebrook

Despite allowing the most points in a single-game this season, the Littleton girls remained undefeated and cruised to a 71-51 win over Colebrook on Friday night.

The Crusaders entered the game giving up just over 30 points per game and allowed 21 more than their average. With the win, Littleton improves to 13-0, while the Mohawks have dropped three straight and fall to 6-7 on the season.

Check out the full gallery of the action by Shirley Nickles…