Girls’ Basketball

Merrimack Valley 66, John Stark 37

Key players: MV – Kayla Smith (20 points, 9 rebounds), Jada Lucas (10 points), Syd Bailey (9 points), Abby Thompson (6 points); John Stark – Haley Stafford (18 points)

Highlights: The Pride led 23-11 after the first quarter and 36-22 at halftime in Friday’s Capital Classic Holiday Tournament opening round.

Coach’s quote: “Good start to the tourney. I thought we played well in the first and third quarters. We were able to press and get some easy baskets to open the lead up in the first and then pull away in the third. Girls played hard.” – MV’s Bob McNutt

Records: MV 2-1 D-II, 3-1 overall; John Stark 0-3 D-II, 0-4 overall

Merrimack Valley 62, Concord Christian 50, OT

Key players: MV – Kayla Smith (20 points, 15 rebounds), Emma McNutt (12 points), Lila Gray (10 points); Concord Christian – Emma Smith (21 points), Kate Smith (14 points), Lilli Carlile (13 points)

Highlights: The Pride led 33-16 at halftime, but the Kingsmen came back in the second half to force overtime. MV’s bench played well, helping lift the Pride to the victory in Saturday’s semifinal and earning a spot in Monday’s Capital Classic championship game against Bow.

Coach’s quote: “Great win for us. We played really well as a team and our bench came through for us down the stretch. We built an early lead, but knew that CC would battle back. In OT we played well defensively and hit some big shots to pull away.” – MV’s Bob McNutt

Records: MV 2-1 D-II, 4-1 overall; CC 2-1 D-I, 3-2 overall

Pembroke 76, Hopkinton 30

Key players: Pembroke – Kaitlin Arenella (26 points), Hailey Steinmetz (16 points), Anne Phillips (15 points); Hopkinton – Crissy Johnson (6 points), Zoe Bishop (4 points, 2 steals, block)

Highlights: Hopkinton took a 5-0 lead to start the game, but Pembroke outscored the Hawks 26-2 over the rest of the quarter to secure a victory in Friday’s opening-round game of the Capital Classic Holiday Tournament. Arenella scored 12 of her game-high 26 in the first quarter and Phillips added eight of her 15 in that frame.

Coaches’ quotes: “We just got rolling and it seemed like everything was going in. It was great team basketball.” – Pembroke’s Steve Langevin

“Credit to Pembroke, they came out and put on a shooting display in the first half, and we never recovered. Need to put this one behind us and move on to the next one.” – Hopkinton’s Mike Mahoney

Records: Pembroke 2-1 D-II, 3-1 overall; Hopkinton 3-1 D-III, 3-2 overall

Hopkinton 53, Concord 50

Key players: Hopkinton – Shaylee Murdough (28 points), Sydney Westover (11 points)

Highlights: The Tide opened Saturday’s Capital Classic consolation game with an 11-0 lead, but the Hawks came back to tie the game, 18-18, at halftime. The teams traded baskets throughout the second half, but a career-high 28 points from Murdough gave Hopkinton the edge to claim the victory.

Coaches’ quotes: “A nice bounce back for us after the previous game against Pembroke. Shaylee was fantastic today, and the girls never quit after the early deficit.” – Hopkinton’s Mike Mahoney

Records: Hopkinton 3-1 D-III, 4-2 overall; Concord 0-2 D-I, Concord 0-4 overall

Bow 65, Pembroke 53

Key players: Bow – Bryanna Szepan (26 points), Peyton Vaughn (21 points); Pembroke – Kate Stephens (26 points), Ava Strazzeri (10 points), Anne Phillips (9 points)

Highlights: Bow opened up a 16-point lead with a 24-10 second quarter. Pembroke battled back in the second half to cut the Falcons lead to eight points, with Stephens scoring 17 of her 26 points in the final 16 minutes, but Bow held on to secure its spot in the Capital Classic Holiday Tournament final with a victory in Saturday’s semifinal.

Coach’s quote: “We got in some early foul trouble and didn’t match Bow’s intensity in the first half. I was pleased with how we reacted and played in the second half.” – Pembroke’s Steve Langevin

Records: Bow 3-0 D-II, 5-0 overall; Pembroke 2-1 D-II, 3-2 overall

Coe-Brown 50, Kennett 22

Key players: Coe-Brown – Eliah Crawn (14 points), Emma Lapierre, Brooke Main

Highlights: Coe-Brown applied pressure early and held Kennett to nine points in the first half, and never looked back to win an exhibition game at the Mike Lee Holiday Bash in Farmington.

Coach’s quote: “The girls moved the ball around their zone defense really well. Got some fast breaks. Nice win after the break for us.” – Coe-Brown’s Joseph Vachon

Records: Coe-Brown 2-1 D-II, 3-1 overall; Kennett 0-3 D-II, 0-4 overall

Coe-Brown 62, Belmont 28

Key players: Coe-Brown – Eilah Crawn (15 points), Hannah Meehan (11 points), Emma LaPierre (11 points), Bella Wiggin (8 points); Belmont – Bailey Perkins (12 points, Maddie Carrier (11 points)

Highlights:  The Bears had a 26-12 lead at halftime and expanded it in the second half of Friday’s quarterfinal at the Mike Lee Holiday Bash in Farmington. 

Records: Coe-Brown 2-1 D-II, 4-1 overall; Belmont 1-2 D-III, 1-3 overall

Belmont 60, Raymond 30

Key players: Belmont – Bailey Perkins (19 points), Maddie Carrier (10 points), Mia Ellis (9 points)

Highlights: The Raiders won a consolation game on Saturday at the Mike Lee Holiday Bash in Farmington.

Records: Belmont 1-2 D-III, 2-3 overall; Raymond 1-2 D-III, 1-4 overall

Boys’ Basketball

Concord 66, Bishop Brady 56

Key players: Brady – Emmanuel Boko (20 points), Ryan Casey (18 points), Owen Thornton (16 points)

Highlights: The Giants kept it close the whole way through, but the Tide pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure a victory in Friday’s opening round of the Capital Classic Holiday Tournament.

Coach’s quote: “We are improving, playing in close games. The kids keep working hard.” – Bishop Brady’s John Billings

Records: Concord 0-3 D-I, 1-3 overall; Bishop Brady 0-3 D-II, 0-4 overall

Pembroke 48, John Stark 43

Key players: John Stark – Joey Dykstra (14 points), Hayden Pond (14 points), Avery Grolljahn (5 points off the bench)

Highlights: The Generals narrowly fell in Friday’s opening round of the Capital Classic Holiday Tournament.

Coach’s quote: “I thought both sides played pretty hard, even though probably neither of us really liked our execution at times. For us, we’re certainly still trying to get better everyday and I certainly like how hard we play.” – John Stark’s Mike Smith

Records: Pembroke 3-0 D-II, 4-0 overall; John Stark 1-2 D-II, 1-3 overall

Hopkinton 70, John Stark 54

Key players: John Stark – Hayden Pond (13 points), Cedar Beaupre (9 points), Carter Geaumont (8 points), Avery Grolljahn (8 points)

Key players: The Generals fell in Saturday’s Capital Classic consolation game.

Coach’s quote: “I think it was an afternoon game in which both sides were able to get better. It was nice to see contributions from everyone on the roster today.” – John Stark’s Mike Smith

Records: Hopkinton 2-1 D-III, 3-2 overall; John Stark 1-2 D-II, 1-4 overall

Pembroke 56, Bow 43

Key players: Pembroke – Jackson Tanguay (12 points), Evan Berkeley (11 points), Javien Sinclair (11 points), Andrew Fitzgerald (10 points); Bow – Jake Reardon (12 points)

Highlights: The Spartans came out fast and never looked back in Saturday’s Capital Classic Holiday Tournament semifinal. Pembroke got into foul trouble early, but Tanguay hit a pair of 3s and the bench played well, especially on defense. The Spartans will play in Monday’s Capital Classic championship game on their home floor against ConVal.

Coach’s quote: “This was a good game for us, but we know that we play them two times this season and (Bow) will use this loss for motivation. Also happy we get to play the championship at home.” – Pembroke’s Michael Donnell

Records: Pembroke 3-0 D-II, 5-0 overall; Bow 2-1 D-II, 3-2 overall

Boys’ Hockey

Concord 7, Manchester 1

Key players: Concord – Tyler Morin (2 goals, assist), Lukas Rondiak (goal, 2 assists), Chad Lariviere (2 goals), Tyler Mayo (goal), Sean Mulkerron (goal), Finn Gfroerer (2 assists), Carter Heise (24 saves)

Highlights: Morin scored a minute into the opening-round game of the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament on Thursday at JFK Arena in Manchester. Rondiak scored four minutes later to put Concord up 2-0. The Tide led 4-1 after second period and opened the game up in the third, scoring three more goals including one on a penalty shot by Lariviere. Rondiak, Mayo and Mulkerron all netted their first career goals.

Coach’s quote: “We scored a bunch tonight, but need to be better with the puck. We had too many turnovers that led to good Manchester chances. We need to keep it simple. Not try to do to much.” – Concord’s Dunc Walsh

Records: Concord 2-0 D-I, 3-0 overall; Manchester 0-2 D-I, 0-5 overall

Concord 4, Goffstown 0

Key players: Concord – Nolan Walsh (2 goals), Tyler Morin (goal, assist), Rowan Arndt (goal, assist), Lukas Rondiak (2 assists), Cam Roy (assist), Chad Lariviere (assist), Luukas Mayer (12 saves)

Highlights: Walsh scored a pair of goals in the third period to secure Concord’s spot in the Stone Memorial final with a victory in Friday’s semifinal. The Tide went up 1-0 on a power-play goal from Morin in the first period and Arndt netted a shorthanded goal later in the frame.

Coach’s quote: “I thought we were better tonight. Much better puck movement. We had some great chances. Kyle Bennett played great in goal for Goffstown.” – Concord’s Dunc Walsh

Records: Concord 2-0 D-I, 4-0 overall; Goffstown 2-1 D-II, 4-2 overall

Bow 5, Hanover 4, OT

Key players: Bow – Owen Webber (2 goals), Landon Wescott (2 goals), Patrick Jurcins (2 assists), Luke Hartshorn (2 assists), Massimo Palelli (goal), Alex Cheney (assist), Kian O’Leary (31 saves)

Highlights:  Webber scored the game-winning goal 59 seconds into the 3-on-3 overtime in the opening round of the Brian C. Stone Memorial Christmas Tournament at JFK Arena in Manchester. Bow overcame a 3-1 deficit in the second period with a pair of power-play goals from Webber and Wescott, and Wescott’s second tally took gave the Falcons a 4-3 lead in the third. Hanover tied the game with eight minutes left in regulation to force OT. Bow went on to lose to Exeter, 3-1, in the semifinals and in the third-place game to Goffstown, 5-2, to finish fourth in the tournament.

Records: Bow 0-1-0 D-I, 1-3-0 overall; Hanover 1-0-1 D-I, 3-1-1 overall

Belmont-Gilford 8, Monadnock-Fall Mtn. 0

Key players: Belmont-Gilford – Jaxson Embree (3 goals), Aiden Stafford (2 goals), Brayden Mercier (2 assists), Nate Gerbig (2 assists), Evan Guerin (2 assists), Cameron McClary (goal), Maxwell Ryder (goal), Andrew Gately (goal), Colton Byars (assist), Ethan Ellingson (assist)

Highlights: Embree recorded a hat trick in the first period and the Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first period to cruise to the Brady Sullivan Christmas Tournament championship at Merrill Fay Arena in Laconia. The Bulldogs went 3-0 and outscored opponents 19-0 in the tourney, beating Kearsarge-Plymouth, 5-0, and Laconia-Winnisquam/Inter-Lakes, 6-0, in pool play.

Records: Belmont-Gilford 1-0 D-III, 4-0 overall; Monadnock 2-1 D-III, 4-2 overall

John Stark-Hopkinton/H-D 8, Kearsarge-Plymouth 1

Key players: JSHHD – Kip Hedquist (2 goals), Ryan Podsadowski (2 goals), Daniel Brisson (2 goals), Finan Murphy (goal, assist), Finn Travers (goal, assist), Owen Buss (2 assists), Cooper Twombly (2 assists), Ollie Zahn (assist), Trey Travers (assist), Tyler Andrews (assist), Lucas Arlen and Charlie Pierce (combined for 10 saves); KP – Landon Custance (goal), Jake Moreau (assist), Liam Duchesne and Asher Smith (combined for 26 saves)

Highlights:  The General Hawks went up 6-0 in the first period to lock up the Brady Sullivan Tournament third-place game early. They defeated Bishop Brady-MV, 9-1, and lost to Monadnock, 6-5, in Friday’s pool play.

Records: JSHHD 1-1 D-III, 3-2 overall; KP 0-2 D-III, 1-4 overall

Girls’ Indoor Track

Bow 1st, Belmont 3rd, Merrimack Valley 4th, Bishop Brady 11th, Winnisquam 13th

Key players: Bow – Camden Wilson (1st high jump at 4-9), Emily Fauteux (2nd 55 hurdles, 3rd high jump), Hannah Pawlowski (2nd 1,000, 4th 300), Keegan O’Meara (2nd 600, 6th long jump), Charlotte Weiss (3rd long jump), Julia Hou (5th 1,000), 4x200 (1st), 4x400 (3rd); Belmont – Adeline Takantjas (1st 55 hurdles in 10.07 seconds), Ava Lacasse (2nd 300, 3rd 55 dash), Hannah Young (4th long jump, 5th 55 dash), Clemence Lhermitte (6th 600), 4x200 (4th), 4x400 (5th); MV – Gianna Panza (1st shot put at 27-5.5), Sydney Spack (1st 600 in 1:56), Madison Geddes (4th 1,000), 4x200 (3rd); Bishop Brady – Sarah Allen (1st long jump in 16-0.5), Camdyn Despres (6th 55 dash), Aleah Ryan (6th high jump); Winnisquam – Kaiden Robb (4th 600), Denessa Williams (6th 300), 4x200 (6th)

Highlights:  The Falcons scored in eight of the 12 events to win an 18-team meet at Plymouth State on Saturday morning. Bow (69 points), Sanborn (42), Belmont (37) and MV (30) were the top four teams. Brady (12) and Winnisquam (6) were the other area teams that competed.

Kearsarge 5th, John Stark 6th

Key players: Kearsarge – Javiera Eliessetch (2nd high jump, 3rd 55 dash), Riley Raynes (2nd 300), 4x400 (2nd), 4x200 (6th); John Stark – Elsa Winther (1st 600 in 1:52), Rylee Barnard (6th 1,000), Katie Lorenz (6th 55 dash), Ayris Beliveau (6th 55 hurdles), 4x200 (4th), 4x400 (5th)

Highlights: Kearsarge (31 points) and John Stark (19) finished in the middle of the pack in a 12-team meet at Plymouth State on Saturday afternoon. Nashua South (115), Keene (74), Merrimack (63) and Hanover (34) were the top four teams.

Concord 7th

Key players: Concord – Jillian Price (3rd 1,500), Balley Conteh (3rd 55 dash, 5th long jump), Chelsea Toenah (6th 55 dash)

Highlights: The Crimson Tide (15 points) finished seventh in a nine-team meet on Saturday afternoon at UNH. Pinkerton (120), Nashua North (86) and Exeter (60) were the top three teams. 

Pembroke tied 3rd

Key players: Pembroke – Avery Kelly (2nd 300, 3rd 55 dash), Caitrin Bergeron (2nd 1,500, 3rd 600), Jasmine Blake (2nd high jump), Teagan Nyhan (5th long jump), Alexis Brown (6th 55 hurdles), 4x160 (4th)

Highlights: The Spartans were in a three-way tie for third place with Kennett and Newmarket (43 points each) in a Saturday morning meet at UNH. Pelham (58) and Oyster River (52) topped the 11-team standings. 

Boys’ Indoor Track

Merrimack Valley 2nd, Bow 6th, Winnisquam 10th, Belmont 11th

Key players: MV – Owen Turner (1st high jump at 5-7, 5th long jump), Aiden Paquette (2nd long jump, 5th shot put), Davian Loiselle (4th 1,000), Beckett Rose (4th 300), 4x400 (3rd), 4x200 (5th); Bow – Kody McCranie (1st 300 in 37.67 seconds, 6th 55 dash), Ian Sandahl (2nd 1,500), Liam Miller (4th 55 hurdles), Thomas Sargent (4th 3,000), Wyatt Worcester (5th 3,000), Sam Kohl (6th 3,000), 4x400 (5th); Winnisquam – Brendan Goodwin (2nd 1,000), Nolan Abbott (3rd 1,000), Cullen Desroches (5th 1,000), 4x400 (4th); Belmont – Brady Filteau (2nd shot put), Ethan Rivera (3rd shot put), David Tripp (5th 55 hurdles), Brayden Townsend (5th 1,500), 4x400 (6th)

Highlights: The Pride scored most of its points in the field events, finishing second in a tightly-contested 18-team meet at Plymouth State on Saturday morning. Kingswood (43 points) narrowly topped MV (38), Souhegan (35), Inter-Lakes (33), Salem (33) and Bow (32). Winnisquam (20) and Belmont (19) finished 10th and 11th, respectively.

John Stark 1st, Kearsarge 9th

Key players: John Stark – Rio Calle (1st long jump in 21-6, 1st high jump at 6-3), Joel Douzanis (1st shot put at 46-2), Sam Kinsey-Turner (2nd high jump), Ethan Veilleux (3rd 300, 4th long jump, 6th 55 dash), Grant Spooner (3rd shot put); Kearsarge – Daniel Dalbec (1st 1,500 in 4:14), Sullivan Merrill (4th 300), 4x200 (4th)

Highlights: The Generals swept the field events and Calle won both jumping events as Stark won a 12-team meet on Saturday afternoon at Plymouth State. The D-II Generals (58 points) topped D-I Nashua South (54) and Merrimack (48). Kearsarge finished ninth with 18 points.

Pembroke 4th

Key players: Pembroke – Zachery Heichlinger (3rd shot put, 5th long jump), Barndon Lurvey (4th 300), William LeClain (4th 1,500, 6th 600), Caleb Saturley (6th 1,500), 4x160 (2nd), 4x400 (3rd)

Highlights: The Spartans finished fourth out of 11 teams in a meet on Saturday morning at UNH. Oyster River cruised to the victory with 127 points, followed by Pelham (48), St. Thomas (38), Pembroke (32) and Campbell (24) rounding out the top five.

Concord 7th

Key players: Concord – Tim Fahnbulleh (1st 55 dash in 6.77 seconds), Connor McGahan (4th 55 hurdles), 4x160 (5th)

Highlights: The Crimson Tide (16 points) finished seventh out of nine teams in a Saturday afternoon meet at UNH. Nashua North (100), Pinkerton (94) and Winnacunnet (74.5) were the top three teams.