Winter 2005-2006

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Raiders stop Winnisquam

BELMONT — With their offensive touch off the mark, the Belmont girls basketball team turned to their defensive pressure to open the season on a high note.

The Red Raiders silenced Winnisquam's Heidi Miller, who averaged 16 points a year ago, and held off the Bears for a 42-35 victory in the Class M season-opener for both clubs. Belmont held Miller to just 6 points.

"We did a pretty good job defensively, and we capitalized on a few of their turnovers," Belmont coach Jeri Blair said. "We did a pretty good job on Miller, holding her to six points. We just switched things up from man to zone, but we made sure we knew where she was at all times."

Both teams got off to slow starts on the offensive end. The Red Raiders took a 7-5 edge after one and owned a slim 15-12 advantage at the break. The hosts were able to open up a nine point advantage in the second half, but could not pull away.

Belmont led 29-24 after three.

"Winnisquam did a good job on the offensive glass," Blair said. "The one thing we didn't do well was box out and the other thing we didn't do well was shooting the ball."

Drew O'Connor carried the offensive load for the Red Raiders, scoring 22 of their 42 points. The senior forward/center knocked down 8 of 10 free-throws in the final quarter and pulled down five rebounds. Chelsi Coulombe and Kristi Parent netted five points apiece.

Rachel Eades, Coulombe and Parent led the defensive charge as they combined for nine steals.

Winnisquam was led by Phylicia Martel, who poured in 13 points. Miller, Amanda Lowrey and Lindsay Andrus each finished with 6 points, and Leigh Smith and Erin Roark each added two points.

"It was a good opener," said WRHS head coach Larry Gibson. "I'll tell you what — I'm pleased. We played with intensity from start to finish and we left it all out on the floor.

"I came into tonight not knowing what to expect," he added. "But I saw a lot of positives for us to build on."

December 15, 2005
White Mountains 66, Winnisquam 15   

The Spartan-Bear matchup got off to a tight start, as Winnisquam secured wins in two of the first four classes, with the other two being lost due to forfeit. All tension wore off as the meet wore on, however, as White Mountains took seven of the final eight matchups to cruise to the win.

December 22, 2005
Winnisquam 55,   Newfound 43

Winnisquam (2-2) built its lead over Newfound to 20 points in the third quarter, then coasted to the win.

Sean Andrus paced the Bears'attack with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Mike Boisvin had 12 points, Chucky Sullivan played a great all-around game with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Johnny Robinson contributed seven points.

BOYS BASKETBALL   Jan 10, 2006

Winnisquam 56, Newfound 41

TILTON — Chucky Sullivan had a double-double, helping Winnisquam Regional top area foe Newfound 56-41 to snap a two-game skid in Class M schoolboy basketball action.

Sullivan netted 11 points and dished out 12 assists as the Bears improved to 3-4 on the season with the win. Newfound fell to 1-6.

Winnisquam, minus three players to injury, started quickly and pulled away. Ryan Speikers, starting in place of injured Mike Boisvin, scored WRHS's first seven points as the hosts took a 17-12 lead after one.

Winnisquam led 28-16 at halftime and 45-26 after three.

Sean Andrus led WRHS with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 steals. Jay Coffee finished with 12 points, and Justin Dawalga played solid defense.

For Newfound, Chris Peterson tossed in 19 points while Phil Plummer had 8 and Julian Carr 6.

Friday, Winnisquam visits Littleton and Newfound goes to Franklin

Newfound tops Winnisquam Balance attack keys 65-46 win

Jan 10, 2006

BRISTOL — Coming into the season, there were a lot of questions for the young Newfound girls basketball team.

As the season has started to unfold, those questions have started to be answered. Newfound had four players in double figures and once again had contributions from its entire squad as it downed Lakes Region rival Winnisquam, 65-46 Tuesday.

Newfound, who has now won five of its last six games, improved to 6-3. Winnisquam dropped to 4-4.

"I knew this year would be a rebuilding year," said Newfound coach Karri Peterson. "We have a lot of young kids, but they've all stepped up as the season has gone on. At the beginning of the year we had some kids that were afraid to step up and now they're all doing it."

With Winnisquam doing everything in its power to shut Newfound sharpshooter Caitlin O'Connor down, Newfound spread the ball around. Guard Maggie Seaver was the catalyst as she poured in 24 points and grabbed 10 boards. Not to be outdone Emily Mattson netted 16 points and hauled down 13 rebounds and Audrey Doane had 11 points. O'Connor would finish with 10.

"We had a lot of people rise to the challenge," Peterson pointed out. "We had four people in double figures and we just spread the ball around. We have kids who are really hitting some big baskets for us."

In the first half, Winnisquam went to the trio of Phylicia Martel (12 points), Amanda Lowrey (11) and Heidi Miller to keep the game close. After falling behind 12-0, Winnisquam rebounded and trailed 25-17 after the first quarter. In the second frame, Winnisquam continued to play solid defense and stayed within striking distance as it trailed 37-29 at the break.

Newfound stepped its game up a notch in the third quarter. Offensively, Newfound pushed the ball up and down the court and defensively it put Winnisquam on lock down. With the stellar effort on both ends of the court, Newfound watched its lead swell to 55-39 after three quarters.

"I think the big difference was we were able to hold them (Martel, Lowrey and Miller) in check," Peterson pointed out. "They killed us the first half. I thought we did a better job of defending them in the second half."

Newfound hosts Franklin on Friday while Winnisquam entertains Littleton.

Franklin upends rival WRHS  Jan 11, 2006

FRANKLIN — Franklin continued to make strides on the mat as it defeated Winnisquam 54-18.

The Golden Tornadoes improved to 7-5.

"We were real aggressive tonight," said Franklin coach Don Bergeron. "I can see the confidence building. We're really maturing and wrestling well."

Paul Duford got things going in the 160 pound weight class as he earned a pin in 11 seconds. Rueben Rosario (171), Kevin Baca (135), Nick Santana (140), Jack Hamilton (145) and Billy Webster (152) all earned wins by fall.

Anthony Santana wrestled one of the best matches of the evening as he held on for an 8-6 overtime win over Winnisquam's Evan Cavanaugh. The Bears had a pin victory from Alex Roy (119) and a forfeit win from Jake Washburn (103).

Franklin also wrestled the Tilton School and earned a 60-18 win. Ian Secrest (130), Baca (135), Hamilton (145), Webster (152) Duford (160), Rosario (171), Ryan Keane (189), Brent Desnoyers (215) all earned a win by fall for Franklin.

Winnisquam travels to Pelham Saturday.  

January 19, 2006
Inter-Lakes 61,  Winnisquam 43

MEREDITH — Inter-Lakes continued to roll along.

With a smothering defense and an opportunistic offense, the Lakers turned back area foe Winnisquam, 61-43. Inter-Lakes upped its record to 4-4 with its third straight victory. With their fourth straight loss, Winnisquam slipped to 4-6 in Class M.

"Definitely for us it was our defense," said Inter-Lakes coach J.P. Swift. "We went full man the whole game and we were able to double team and get some steals. We kept the ball away from their girls underneath and out of their game.

"It's great to be back at .500," continued Swift. "We're playing with confidence right now. The girls feel that they can play with anybody."

Trailing 8-7 after the first quarter, Inter-Lakes turned up the heat on the Winnisquam backcourt. The Lakers used their relentless pressure to force the Bears into a number of turnovers that turned into easy buckets as they jumped out to a 24-15 advantage at the break. The Lakers maintained their lead into the fourth quarter as they led 37-28 after three quarters.

In the final frame it was all Inter-Lakes as its relentless pressure continued to cause havoc for the Bears.

"Defensively we gave up too many second and third opportunities for Inter-Lakes," said Winnisquam coach Larry Gibson. "Offensively we turned the ball over too much and we missed too many bunnies.

"Right now we're struggling," added Gibson. "We're making mistakes that are correctable. We just need some girls to step up."

Blair Carpenter paced the Lakers with 18 points. Samantha Hunter netted 15 points and Amber Lanza added 13 for Inter-Lakes. Heidi Miller led the way for the Bears as she netted 16 points. Phylicia Martel (8 points), Lindsay Andrus (7), Melissa LaBranche (4), Amanda Lowrey (5), and Leigh Smith (3) also contributed for the Bears

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Bears step up to challenge: Winnisquam pulls away in second half for key victory

TILTON — Even though tournament time is still weeks away, the Winnisquam Regional basketball team is already facing a number of must-win games after an unexpected slow start.

The Bears picked up one of those key victories Wednesday night as they used a balanced attack to defeat Inter-Lakes 75-62 in Class M action. With the win Winnisquam improves to 4-5 while the Lakers fall to 2-5.

"This was a win that we needed," said WRHS head coach Jim Belair whose team reached the quarterfinals of the Class M tourney last year and entered this season hoping to make an even deeper run. "You look down the schedule and there are no easy wins. Every game is a battle, so every win is a big win for us here on out."

Winnisquam took charge of the back-and-forth affair with a 9-1 run to close the third quarter, giving them a 59-52 edge heading into the fourth. Chuck Sullivan kicked off the run with a 3-pointer, and Ryan Speikers scored the next five points, including a conventional 3-point play.

"We battled them hard, we're just real young and inexperienced," said I-L head coach Bud Larrabee. "When we have to go to the bench, those players aren't ready yet. We haven't learned how to finish games yet, and we didn't execute as well in the second half."

The Lakers opened the fourth with baskets by Shawn Boulanger and Matt Cote, and kept their hosts off the board for the first three minutes of the frame. The Bears finally came alive at the five-minute mark and outscored Inter-Lakes 6-1 over the next two minutes to regain control of the game. Mike Boisvin scored four of the points and John Robinson added a field goal to give WRHS a 66-57 lead with three minutes left.

Larrabee called a timeout, and Jim Vohr hit two free throws to momentarily halt Winnisquam's run. The Bears promptly countered with a 9-3 run to close out the game. Dexter Dow's 3-pointer with 22 seconds left were the only points the Lakers could muster during the waning moments of the contest.

"We really picked up the defensive intensity in the second half," said Belair. "We outscored them 21-13 in the third and 16-10 in the fourth."

In addition to their solid defensive play, Winnisquam had five players score in double digits, and a sixth, center Sean Andrus finished with 9. After a two-game absence due to injury, Boisvin returned to lead the way with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Sullivan added 13 points, while Robinson had 12. In his first start, Evan Cote had 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers early on. Speikers also finished with 10 points.

"We had five guys in double figures and another with nine," said Belair. "That's a pretty balanced attack. You win a lot of games that way."

Dow paced Inter-Lakes with 23 points, including four 3-pointers. Vohr added 15 and Boulanger had 10. Dow hit two of his trifectas during a 12-2 Laker run to start the second quarter that gave his team a game-high 7-point lead (31-24). Winnisquam eventually whittled that advantage down to 39-38 by halftime.

"We're coming along as a team," said Larrabee. "We just need to keep getting deeper, more confident, and learn to keep our composure. We played pretty well tonight, and Winnisquam is a lot better then their record shows."

The Lakers are at Mascoma Friday, while Winnisquam is off until Tuesday when they travel to Belmont.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Belmont outlasts area rival WRHS

TILTON — Winnisquam gave Belmont all it could handle, but in the end the Red Raiders had just a little bit more.

The Red Raiders survived a gritty effort from the Bears as they held on for a thrilling 42-40 victory over their Lakes Region rivals.

Belmont improved to 9-1 with the victory while Winnisquam fell to 4-7 in Class M.

"It was a great game," said Belmont coach Jeri Blair. "Winnisquam played very, very well. Maybe a little bit too well. They really played us tough and we had to fight for this one."

The Red Raiders held a 33-30 advantage heading into the fourth quarter and started to pull away as they upped the lead to nine midway through the frame. The Bears though came out fighting as they went on a 10-0 run and took a 40-38 advantage with 1:24 left on the clock.

Belmont's Jonara Ladd would make one of two freebies on the Red Raiders next trip down. On the miss of the second attempt, Lori Kjellander hauled down the rebound and drained the put back to give Belmont a 41-40 lead. Chelsi Coulombe would add a free-throw down the stretch to give the Red Raiders the two point advantage with 16 seconds left.

Winnisquam though had two final shots, with time winding down, but both were off the mark.

"I'm proud of the girls," said Winnisquam coach Larry Gibson. "They fought hard all night and when they got down they just kept fighting. We had a couple of shots to win, but they fell a little short. I was happy with the intensity out there. I think this was the best game we played all year. We battled all night long, we just came up a little short."

Belmont was paced by Drew O'Connor who poured in 16 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and handed out five assists. Kristi Parent chipped in with 8 points and 6 steals; Ladd added 7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals and Kjellander had 4 points and 6 boards.

Winnisquam was led by Heidi Miller who netted 19 points. Phylicia Martel (8 points), Lindsay Andrus (6 points), Leigh Smith (5 points) and Melissa LaBranche (2 points) all played well in the loss.

Belmont travels to Newfound Friday while Winnisquam entertains Prospect Mountain.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Bears pick up the pace

BELMONT — The Winnisquam Regional boys basketball team could only muster 19 points in the first half playing Belmont's game. So at halftime the Bears decided it was time to do things their way.

Using an up-tempo attack, Winnisquam exploded for 23 points in the third quarter to take control of the contest as they pulled away from the Red Raiders for a 56-40 victory in Class M action Tuesday night.

With the win the Bears even their record at 5-5 while Belmont dropped their seventh game in a row to fall to 2-7.

"The first half was extremely lethargic," said WRHS head coach Jim Belair. "They controlled the tempo, played their game and slowed the clock down. Things changed in the second half once we got on the boards and started running. We got out of their tempo and got into ours."

Belmont captain Eric Trendell started the second half with a basket to break the 19-19 halftime deadlock, then Winnisquam took over as they scored the next 16 points to open a commanding 35-21 lead. Forward Mike Boisvin accounted for six of the points, while center Sean Andrus added five, including a conventional 3-point play. Point guard Chuck Sullivan contributed a 3-pointer to contribute during the run.

"We fell apart in the third quarter," said BHS head coach Dan Worster. "We played great defense in the first half, but they outscored us 23-10 in the third, and it wound up being a 16 point loss. We just came out flat and had no offense in the second half."

Dennis Carroll kept his team within striking distance, scoring Belmont's next seven points to narrow the deficit to 10 points, only to have the Bears get baskets from Andrus and John Robinson at the buzzer to give the guests a 42-29 lead heading into the fourth.

The Red Raiders kept battling and managed to close within 8 points (44-36) with just over two minutes remaining on a 3-pointer from Jose Alkathiri. Winnisquam responded by hitting 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch to put the game away. Sullivan hit six freebies in the final minutes and Andrus sank all four of his attempts.

Neither team could get much going in the first half or build any type of lead. Winnisquam led 10-8 after the first 8 minutes. The Red Raiders led by four points with 30 seconds left in the half before the Bears knotted the score at on two free throws by Andrus and a bucket by Boisvin with five seconds left.

For the game, Belmont had 10 players score, with Carroll the only reaching double figures (11).

"We just can't seem to put a full game together," said Worster. "We've lost seven in a row so we're struggling, but some of those losses have been close games. We can still turn it around."

The Bears were led by Boisvin who scored 18 points. Andrus added 17 and Sullivan chipped in with 14.

"We're back to .500 and we're starting to get kids healthy," said Belair. "Hopefully we can keep winning because we'd like to get a home playoff game. It will be tough, but we can do it."

Both teams are in action Friday with Belmont hosting Newfound and Winnisquam traveling to Prospect Mountain, looking to avenge an earlier two-point loss to the Timberwolves.

Saturday, January 28, 2006
Winnisquam 69, Prospect Mountain 60
Sullivan, Winnisquam avenge loss to Prospect Mountain

ALTON — Chuck Sullivan and Winnisquam Regional came out firing as the Bears avenged an early season loss to host Prospect Mountain in Class M schoolboy basketball action.

Sullivan knocked down three of Winnisquam's five first quarter 3-pointers as the Bears opened up a 24-16 lead and turned back a late PMHS rally, improving to 6-5 on the season. Prospect Mountain slips to 4-6.

"It was a great team effort," WRHS coach Jim Belair said. "We have a couple of kids injured and we had some kids really step up."

The Bears led 39-33 at halftime and 53-43 after three frames. The Timberwolves battled back within four with just over two minutes to go. Winnisquam though hit 10 free-throws to seal the win.

Sullivan finished with 28 points, including five 3-pointers and seven free-throws. Sean Andrus had 18 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals; while sophomore Evan Cote — starting for injured Mike Boisvin — scored 9 points. Jay Coffey netted 7, while John Robinson and Ryan Speikers turned in strong defensive efforts.

"They came out firing, but we fought back," said PMHS coach Rob Carpenter. "We got within four and we missed a couple of front ends of one-and-ones."

Nate Fogell poured in 27 points to pace PMHS. Bryce St. Cyr had 14 points and Alex Bourdeau played well defensively.

Winnisquam hosts Gilford Tuesday, while the Timbewolves visit Inter-Lakes Wednesday.

January 28, 2006
Winnisquam 49, Prospect Mountain 41

TILTON — Winnisquam jumped all over Prospect Mountain early and then held on 
for a hard fought 49-41 Class M win over its area foe.

The Bears upped their record to 5-7 while the Timberwolves dropped to 0-11.

"We started out strong in the first half and then we almost put it in cruise control in the second," said Winnisquam coach Larry Gibson. "You have to give Prospect Mountain credit. They just kept coming after us and they never 
quit."

Winnisquam raced fast out of the blocks and took a 27-12 halftime lead. The Timberwolves continued to fight and closed the gap to 38-23 heading into the final stanza. Prospect Mountain continued to press on and outscored the Bears 16-11 in the final quarter. It was just too little, too late for the Timberwolves.

Heidi Miller netted 16 points to lead Winnisquam. Lindsay Andrus contributed 10 points and Amanda Lowrey had 12. Kaylee Johnson (2 points) and Leigh Smith (7) also played well for the Bears in the loss.

Courtney Emerson paced Prospect Mountain with 12 points.

Winnisquam travels to Lakes Region rival Gilford while Prospect Mountain hits the road to battle Inter-Lakes Monday.

February 4, 2006
Winnisquam 35, Newmarket 32  

TILTON — Winnisquam Regional outscored visiting Newmarket 22-12 in the middle two quarters, erasing a slim 6-3 first quarter deficit, and held on for a key 35-32 Class M victory.

With the win, the Bears move to 6-8. Newmarket slips to 5-9.

The Bears led 15-14 at the halftime break and extended their advantage to 25-18 after three. Leigh Smith knocked down several key free-throws down the stretch, helping Winnisquam hang on.

Heidi Miller paced Winnisquam with 17 points, while Smith finished with 11. Lindsay Andrus (4 points), Melissa LaBranche (2) and Amanda Lowrey (1) contributed to the win.

"This is a good win for us," WRHS coach Larry Gibson said. "Leigh Smith did a great job tonight … she hit some key free-throws down the stretch.

"Overall, it was a great team effort," added Gibson, whose team is off until next Friday when they visit area rival Franklin.

Feb 9, 2006
White Mountains 49, Winnisquam 31

TILTON — Winnisquam fell into a 10-point hole and never recovered in dropping to 6-8 with a 49-31 setback to visiting White Mountains in Class M play.

"We got flat out, out-played from the get-go," a disappointed Winnisquam coach Jim Belair said. "White Mountains played a suffocating man-to-man defense ... and we didn't shoot well from the field and we didn't shoot well at the line (3 for 12). We had too many individuals trying to do it all."

The Bears trailed 16-6 after the first and 29-18 at halftime. Winnisquam battled back to within four, but trailed 41-31 after three.

Chuck Sullivan (10 points) and Sean Andrus (9) led Winnisquam.

The Bears will look to bounce back Friday when they visit rival Franklin

Feb 11, 2006
Winnisquam 64, Franklin 60

FRANKLIN — It seems all the Winnisquam boys basketball team needed to end their losing skid was a matchup against their top rival.

Playing their best basketball since dropping their previous three contests by double digits, the Bears held off Franklin for a tough 64-60 victory in Class M action Friday night.

Winnisquam now stands at 7-8 while the Golden Tornadoes fall to 6-7.

"We played with increased intensity tonight probably because it was against our archrival," said WRHS head coach Jim Belair. "Tonight was a total team effort."

The outcome wasn't decided until the waning moments. With 30 seconds left Chuck Sullivan put the Bears up by 62-60 with a pair of free throws, then Franklin failed to score on the ensuing possession. Winnisquam's Sean Andrus 
was fouled and hit both of his free throws to close out the game.

"It was close the whole way," said FHS head coach Dave Shorey. "The just made the plays and hit their free throws at the end."

Sullivan paced Winnisquam with 21 points, while Evan Cote added 14 points and 5 rebounds. Both had four 3-pointers apiece as the Bears had 12 as a team. Andrus chipped in with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Franklin was led by Zach McBey with 22 points. Mason Roberge added 18 points and 15 rebounds, while Brian Shorey finished with 15 points and 9 rebounds.

The Golden Tornadoes are at Prospect Mountain on Monday, and Winnisquam is at Inter-Lakes on Tuesday.

Feb 12, 2006
Bears a heartbreaking second in Class M cheering

The Winnisquam cheerleaders were runners-up in the Class M spirit competition. The event came down to a tiebreaker and the Bears had to settle for second. (Doyle/staff photo)

DURHAM —Tears, hurt feelings and anger accompanied the cheers at the NHIAA 
Winter Spirit Competition Saturday afternoon at the Whittemore Center.

The Winnisquam High School cheerleading team tied for first place in the Class M competition, but was proclaimed the second-place finisher on the second tiebreaker, execution/degree of difficulty.

The final overall score for both teams was 159 points. The first tiebreaker, safety deductions, was a tie, as both teams had a zero in that column. It was the second tiebreaker that gave the Crusaders the championship. There, 
Littleton edged the Bears 61 to 60. In the third tiebreaker, perfection of routine, saw Winnisquam with a 33 to 30.5 edge. Epping, Mascenic and Newport rounded out the top five in Class M.

The Bears were clearly heartbroken at the decision, and found it hard to conceal their emotions after the awards were handed out.

"I don't think we could have done any better," senior team member Ashley Robichaud said. "I'm speechless. I don't know what to say. But I'm very proud of us today."

"We did our best, no mistakes," Bears senior Kelley Muraszko said. "It's frustrating because judging is all a matter of opinion. In cheerleading, that's how you score. You can't score a goal."

To the Winnisquam girls, the decision to give the Crusaders the title by virtue of a tiebreaker appeared, at first, to be a matter of fate. According to Winnisquam coach Sue Walker, the order of tiebreakers is random, and a different one is chosen at each competition. Had perfection of routine been the second tiebreaker, the Bears would have left the University of New Hampshire campus with the large championship plaque in tow.

"To come in second on a tiebreaker is heartbreaking," Walker said. "It was 
fate."

February 15, 2006
Winnisquam 73, I-Lakes 55

MEREDITH — Sean Andrus poured in 21 points to pace a balanced attack as Winnisquam forged ahead of host Inter-Lakes in the second quarter and pulled away for a key 73-55 Class M triumph in schoolboy basketball action.

The Bears evened their record at 8-8 with the win, while the Lakers fell to 4-12.

"It was sloppy on the offensive end in the first half," said Winnisquam coach Jim Belair. "Then we picked it up on the defensive end."

After trailing by eight at the start, the Lakers battled back to pull even at 15 following one quarter. Winnisquam took over from there, gradually building a 35-26 halftime lead and extending it to 56-41 heading into the final frame.

Andrus also contributed 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks to go along with his team high 21 points. Evan Cote scored 15 points for the Bears and Chucky Sullivan added 11. Ryan Speikers chipped in with 10 points and had a 
pair of key steals in the fourth quarter to break the game open.

"They had their whole team tonight for the first time all year," I-L coach Bud Larrabee said. "They are good and athletic ... we just got out-gunned."

I-L's Dexter Dow tossed in 29 points to lead all scorers. Corey Blackburn recorded 10 points, and Mark Johnson played a solid all-around game off the bench for the Lakers.

The Lakers visit Prospect Mountain Thursday. Winnisquam travels to Berlin 
Friday.

February 15, 2006
I-Lakes 45, Winnisquam 32

TILTON — Led by Blair Carpenter, the Inter-Lakes girls basketball team used a 23-10 third quarter run to break open a tight game and finished the regular season with a solid victory over area rival Winnisquam. The Lakers, with their seventh win in the last nine games, head to the postseason with an 11-7 record. Winnisquam, now 7-10, finishes the regular season at home against Berlin Friday.

I-L took a 7-2 lead after one period only to have Winnisquam come back and claim an 11-9 advantage at halftime. The Lakers exploded in the third for a 32-21 advantage heading into the final quarter.

"We picked up our intensity in the third quarter and did a nice job getting turnovers with our full-court press," said I-L head coach J.P. Swift. "That's how we need to play to score points."

Carpenter netted 25 to lead the Lakers. Amber Lanza and Sam Hunter each added 7 points.

Heidi Miller led Winnisquam with 15 points and Phylicia Martel finished with 10. Other contributors were Lindsay Andrus (4 points), Leigh Smith (2) and Alison Keith (1).

"We play in spurts," said Winnisquam coach Larry Gibson. "We didn't handle their press tonight."

February 18, 2006 
Winnisquam 52, Berlin 50

BERLIN — Winnisquam went into hostile territory and got the job done as it held off a solid Berlin squad for a thrilling 52-50 Class M win.

The Bears improved to 9-8 in Class M with the triumph.

"This is huge," said Winnisquam coach Jim Belair. "Any time you beat a fourth place team in their gym it's a great psychological boost ... for us especially. It was an emotional lift and it was just a great win."

Winnisquam led from the opening tap as it jumped out to a 17-10 advantage after the first period and held a 29-24 lead at the break. The Bears continued their solid play into the third quarter and upped their lead to 40-33 heading into the final quarter.

Berlin would make a run, but Winnisquam made the plays it had to in the final period. With a second remaining, Sean Andrus made one such play as he stole the ball down on the low block under the Berlin basket to secure the victory.

Andrus finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Coming off an injury that kept him out a month, Mike Boisvin led the way for the Bears with 22 points. Chucky Sullivan added 13 points and 16 assists and Bryan Ploof played well defensively in the victory.

"We played pretty decent defense," said Belair. "We kept our composure and I just don't know what else to say ... I'm too emotional right now."

Winnisquam hosts Belmont Tuesday.

February 18, 2006
Winnisquam 60, Berlin 55

TILTON — The Bears finished the regular season on a great note as their seniors stepped up on Senior Night to help pull off the upset in Class M action.

Winnisquam finishes at 8-10 and awaits their seeding for the upcoming tournament.

With the game tied with less than a minute to go, WRHS senior Leigh Smith buried a 3-pointer to give the hosts the lead for good.

For the game, Heidi Miller led the way for Winnisquam with 13 points, followed by Lindsay Andrus with 12 and senior Erin Roark with a season-high 11. Phylicia Martel added 8, while Smith and senior Amanda Lowrey each had 7 points.

"This was a great win," said WRHS head coach Larry Gibson. "We had great balance and our seniors really stepped up on Senior Night."

February 22, 2006
Winnisquam 69, Belmont 47

The Bears finish the regular season at 10-8 and will carry a four-game winning streak into the postseason after their win over Belmont.

Senior Night at Winnisquam saw the seniors put forth a solid defensive effort. Offensively, Sean Andrus led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and two steals. Mike Boisvin had 15 points and nine rebounds and Evan Cote came off the bench to score 12 points.

For Belmont, Tyler Bryant scored nine points while John Bryant and Christian Harrison each chipped in seven.

February 23, 2006
Winnisquam (8-10) enters the tournament with an impressive 60-55 win over a tough Berlin squad. The Bears will need to play that well again in order to have a shot at knocking off the 16-2 Hilltoppers which boast top players Danika Ham, Abby Davis and Sam Vinciguerra.

The Bears are solid in the paint with juniors Heidi Miller, Phylicia Martel and Lindsay Andrus. Senior forward Erin Roark hit a number of 3-pointers in the win over Berlin. Senior Amanda Lowrey and junior Leigh Smith anchor the backcourt.