Offense wins games, as the saying goes, but defense wins championships. The phrase might as well be hanging up on a banner in Lebanon High’s Lang Metcalf Gymnasium as a rallying cry.
Lebanon girls basketball coach Tim Kehoe led the Raiders to their fifth title in 26 seasons and second championship in five years on March 9 as Lebanon, stingy and relentless defensively, defeated No. 6 Hollis Brookline, 44-35, in the NHIAA Division II championship at Southern New Hampshire University. The Raiders were a perfect 22-0 against NHIAA opponents and 24-1 overall, their one loss coming in overtime to D-I’s Bedford in a holiday tournament.
Not bad for a team lacking a go-to scorer at the top of the lineup.
“I don’t mean this in a negative way, but this wasn’t the best team we’ve ever had in terms of sheer talent, but it was, by far, the most consistent,” Kehoe said after his team’s title win on March 9. “It’s a very smart team that makes good decisions, and it plays excellent man-to-man defense.”
Most impressive was the emergence of Lebanon freshman forward Rebecca Wright, who finished the season averaging 14.5 points per game and finished with single digits on the scoresheet only four times. Joslin Wainwright (9.9 ppg) and Anna Wolke (9.3 ppg) also contributed offensively to a team that outscored opponents by nearly 500 points over 25 games.
But defense was Lebanon’s calling card. The Raiders held opponents to fewer than 30 points in 11 games this season and never let an opponent score 50. Wolke and Wainwright turned into defensive specialists for the Raiders.
“We all really work hard defensively,” Wolke said on March 2 after her team’s quarterfinal win over No. 9 Kingswood. “For me personally, my defensive game is really important to me, and I’m just here to try and stop some of the best players on the other team.”
Added Kehoe on March 2: “I think this team has been pretty special. … This team wows you with incredibly consistent half-court defense.”
Senior Meredith Melendy played only two games before a torn ACL forced her to sit out the rest of the season, although she remained with the team to provide support. Melendy, Wainwright, Kassidee Rogers, Josie Brown and Olivia Greeley all graduate as champions.
Lebanon is now 6-9 all-time in championship games and 3-3 in finals apperances since 2007. With players such as Wright, Wolke and Maddie Hastings (6.8 points per game) returning, there could be more Lebanon titles on the horizon.
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.