By ADAM BOFFEY
Valley News Correspondent
EXETER, N.H. — When the Lebanon High boys basketball team needed a zone buster Wednesday night against Laconia, both senior captains answered the call.
Karsten Hansen scored 21 points and Calvin Bates added 20 as the Raiders defeated the Sachems, 58-46, in an NHIAA Division II semifinal game at Exeter High School.
Hansen hit four 3-pointers and Bates knocked down six for Lebanon (14-0), which will face Pelham in Saturday’s championship game.
The Raiders don’t normally rely so heavily on the long ball, but according to their coach, Keith Matte, they didn’t have much choice on Wednesday.
“(Laconia was) locked in zone,” Matte said. “They have giant kids. You’ve got to take what they give you.”
Lebanon finished with a dozen 3-pointers, eight 2-pointers and six free throws.
“If they put giant kids in the paint, we’re just not going to get layups,” Matte said. “We attacked the paint as we could, but it’s tough to finish at the rim with these guys. … That’s the biggest team we’ve played this year by far.”
The Sachems’ frontcourt featured 6-foot-5 DeMarco McKissic and 6-4 Dylan Dickey as well as 6-5 Keaton Beck off the bench.
McKissic, who played in foul trouble, finished with nine points and Beck chipped in eight. Kayden Roberts and Logan Paronto paced Laconia (11-4) with 11 points apiece.
The Sachems, who buried seven 3-pointers of their own, led 20-12, following a layup by McKissic early in the second quarter. Lebanon responded with 3-pointers by Bates and Braeden Falzarano. The Raiders also employed an effective full-court press, which helped erase Laconia’ lead.
Baskets were traded throughout much of the second and third quarters until the Raiders gradually pulled away in the fourth, claiming their first double-digit lead on Hansen’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 4:51 remaining in the game.
“Coach tells us over and over again, just run, run, run,” Hansen said. “We’re a good 3-point shooting team. We have our inconsistencies here and there, but tonight we came ready.”
Containing Laconia’s sizable frontcourt on defense was no picnic, but Matte’s athletic squad was up for the challenge.
“In practice, our entire defensive game plan was don’t let the bigs get the ball,” Hansen said, “and if they do, just double (them).”
Pelham defeated Sanborn, 62-43, in Wednesday’s earlier semifinal. Lebanon was slated to play the Pythons a year ago in the quarterfinal round, but the matchup was cancelled by the early outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hansen and company are looking forward to the challenge.
“As a senior, you look for that moment your entire high school career,” he said following the semifinal victory. “To finally be in that moment, I’m not taking it for granted, that’s for sure. We’re all gonna go out there, give it our 100% and try to win a title.”
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Notes: Saturday will mark Lebanon’s 12th appearance in the state finals. … Matte, who’s led his team’s to eight final fours during his 23-year tenure, won championships in 1998 and 2017. … The Raiders entered Wednesday’s game with an average of 53 points scored and 42 points allowed. …. Hansen, Bates, Falzarano and Jack Stone are all averaging in double figures for Lebanon.