To have your team’s results included in the Local Roundup, visit vnews.com/submit-a-high-school-varsity-sports-score.
After a 51-37 loss to Derryfield on Jan. 30, Hanover High girls basketball coach Dan O’Rourke said he wanted his team to become one that nobody wanted to play come the postseason. It looks like the Bears are doing just that.
Hanover picked up its fourth win in a row on Friday night, defeating local rival Lebanon on the road 44-32.
“I thought it was one of our more complete games for the year,” O’Rourke said. Hanover’s sideline boss was pleased with his squad’s ability to limit turnovers and show composure — something that’s been emphasized recently.
“I thought our kids did an excellent job,” O’Rourke said. “Throughout the whole game, it was very calm. We only had 13 turnovers for the entire game, so we took care of the basketball and our defense, also, I thought was very good.”
Freshman Eila LaHaye led the way offensively for the Bears, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Freshman Alienor Baertschiger also had a big game with 10 points, six rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Amelia Barlow provided a spark off the bench with six points and six rebounds.
“It was a team effort. … When you looked, we had — out of eight kids — six scored,” O’Rourke said.
With the win, Hanover improved to 8-7 on the season, which is good for 10th in Division II. Fourteen teams will make the postseason so if the Bears keep up the winning, they could be a tough out come tournament time.
“I think throughout the season we’ve incrementally been improving and just really have been focusing on fundamentals,” O’Rourke said. “Hopefully we can make a little noise in the playoffs.”
The Bears will go for five wins in a row on Tuesday at Merrimack Valley.
Friday night’s loss dropped the Raiders to 5-8 on the season as they cling to 14th place in D-II. Lily Estes led the Raiders’ offense with nine points in the defeat.
Noting the electric atmosphere of a rivalry game, Lebanon coach Jeffrey Sowa said he thought his team was “overcharged” early on.
“(We were) maybe playing a little bit too fast, outside of our own pace,” Sowa said. “On top of that, Hanover’s pressure was speeding us up a little bit, too.”
Playing at that accelerated pace led to some missed shots that Sowa said his squad would normally make.
As the postseason looms, Sowa and his squad are taking it a day at a time, focusing on having a good practice on Monday and improving.
“I think if we take care of that, everything will fall where it’s supposed to,” Sowa said. “These girls have been working really hard and been getting better.”
The Raiders next host Hollis-Brookline on Tuesday.
BOYS BASKETBALL
White River Valley 76, Brattleboro 55
Key athletes: Allen Wedge (24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals); Greyson Russ (17 points, 6 rebounds); Jordan Barcomb (10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals); Jacob Benoit (10 rebounds).
Records: White River Valley 9-6; Brattleboro 5-11
Otter Valley 61, White River Valley 53
Key athletes: White River Valley — Allen Wedge (11 points, 8 rebounds, steals); Greyson Russ (11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals); Dawson Poland (9 points, 6 rebounds). Otter Valley — Brody Lathrop (29 points).
Woodstock 58, Mount Anthony 54
Key athletes: Woodstock — Elvis Lavallee (29 points). Mount Anthony: Averyll Williams (28 points); Rowan Behan (10 points).
Key moment: Junior guard Elvis Lavallee scored his career 1,000 point in the first quarter.
Rivendell 72, Proctor 33
Key athletes: Rivendell — Nolan Bourn (30 points, 9 steals, 8 assists); Josh Douglas (17 points).
Key moment: Rivendell used a 20-5 third quarter to build on an already large halftime lead.
Coach’s quote: “Really happy with our defense today, very active and well-balanced. Everyone contributed, 10 players scored today and they all played tough defense.” — Andy Perkins, Rivendell
BOYS HOCKEY
Hanover 4, Nashua 2
Key athletes: Ronan Przydzielski (1 goal, 2 assists, including 100th career point); Casey Griffin (1 goal, 1 assist); Mike Anderson and Rex Chanyi (1 goal each); Tim Rudd (1 assist); Jake Rotchford (2 assists); Bryce Morancy (22 saves).
Key moment: Morancy stopped a breakaway late in the second period that would have tied the game 2-2 and shifted momentum.
Coach’s quote: “We were buzzing in the first period, forechecking hard, moving pucks and competing with passion. That effort rewarded us with 2-0 lead after one. We continued to push but lacked discipline in the second half.” – Dick Dodds, Hanover
Records: Hanover: 7-6-0; Nashua: 3-11-0
Middlebury 4, Hartford 0
Key athletes: Kaleb Sanderson played well in net for the Hurricanes, making 34 saves.
Key moment: Middlebury blew open a one-goal lead, scoring three goals in the third.
Records: Hartford: 3-13-0; Middlebury: 9-6-1
GIRLS HOCKEY
Lebanon-Kearsarge-Mascoma 9, Salem 0
Key athletes: Lebanon-Kearsarge-Mascoma — Abby Auch, Kate Clary, Ella Dannehy, Sara Forman and Julia McGee all had multi-point nights. Andrea Calderon-Rios, Montana Ballard and Bella Orlen had 1 point each.
Coach’s quote: “The team focused on playing fast. unselfish hockey. Every player contributed to the team win.” — Dan McGee, Lebanon-Kearsarge-Mascoma
Hanover 2, Oyster River-Portsmouth 0
Key athletes: Hanover — Ava Morancy (13-save shutout); Casey Wilkinson (1 goal); Caroline Warrington (1 assist); Abby Lindsay (1 goal). Hanover had 29 shots on goal.
Key moment: In her first start, Ava Morancy made 13 saves, including seven in the third period to secure the win and a shutout.
Coach’s quote: “The girls played solid two-way hockey today and prioritized team defense. We will build on this game as we prepare for the playoffs.” — John Dodds, Hanover
