Auburn News : basketball

In final, Memorial shoots poorly against Trinity, the state champ

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:41:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When leaving for the University of New Hampshire and the Class L title game, the Memorial boys basketball team forgot to pack one critical item – its offense. The Crusaders fell short of a state title on Saturday, March 21, shooting 15 percent and losing to city rival Trinity, 50-25.

Jonathan Brandon’s threepointer with 7:10 remaining in the contest cut the large Crusader deficit to 38-20. It was also the first time a player other than Jason Chevrefils or Auburn’s Jeffrey Sowa had scored for Memorial. In fact, the Crusaders were outscored by Jordan Laguerre alone, who poured in 26 points for Trinity.

Chevrefils had 10 points on the day while Sowa added eight markers in the loss.

“They outplayed us in every way,” said Memorial’s head coach, Mike Fitzpatrick of Hooksett. “We were patient and disciplined early on, but I think we got away from that.”

In addition to scheming in an attempt to slow Laguerre, Fitzpatrick was also faced with the challenge of stopping his son, Cormac Fitzpatrick, a long-range threat for the Pioneers.

The Trinity junior nailed a three to open the scoring early in the first quarter and scored five points on the afternoon. “It felt nice (to hit the shot against my father’s team),” he said. “I know (my father) was mad. He gave me an open look, but they bottled me up the rest of the game.”

Dave Keefe, Trinity’s head coach, said he considers Mike Fitzpatrick a close friend and knows Fitzpatrick is happy for his son despite Memorial’s runner-up finish.

“He’s a great coach. If he’s not happy over at Memorial, we’d be happy to have him as an assistant over here,” joked Keefe. “I’m happy for his son, and I am sure that he is, too.”

• • •

Memorial reached the finals by knocking out two-time defending champion Salem, 49-41, on Wednesday, March 18.

Chevrefils dominated near the basket, scoring 27 points and adding nine rebounds as the Crusaders managed a 28-16 rebounding edge overall.

Salem pulled within three points late in the contest, but Memorial hit its free throws to pull the minor upset.

Memorial pulls away to reach state semifinals

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:58:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

Winnacunnet, up seven points in the second quarter of the Class L boys basketball quarterfinals, faced two problems: too much time remaining and too much Memorial talent.

The host Crusaders began hitting their shots, the visiting Warriors too often missed theirs – especially from the charity stripe – and Memorial advanced with a 66-52 victory on Saturday, March 14.

“(Winnacunnet’s) game plan was to force us to hit from the outside,” said Memorial’s head coach, Mike Fitzpatrick of Hooksett. “Eventually, we did.”

The teams traded baskets throughout a fast-paced first quarter that included five lead changes. But the Warriors, who scored 10 straight points to turn a 16-13 deficit into a 23-16 lead, simply stopped scoring. They missed six straight free throws in the second quarter, while the Crusaders, including Auburn natives Jeffrey Sowa and Matthew Couture, as well as Jason Chevrefils and Pierre Reyes, connected from everywhere on the floor.

A disappointed Winnacunnet squad went into halftime down six points, 31-25. From there, No. 3 seed Memorial, which was set to face second-seeded Salem on Wednesday, March 18, at the University of New Hampshire, extended the lead in the second half. Nathan Gendron of Auburn, Jonathan Brandon, Sowa, Couture and Chevrefils answered most every basket from the Warriors.

If they beat the Blue Devils in the semis, the Crusaders play for the state championship on Saturday, March 21, at UNH’s Lundholm Gymnasium. Tipoff is 3 p.m.

Game notes
Chevrefils poured in 23 points, some on fine interior passing from Sowa, who managed 11 markers, including a three-pointer. Brandon also scored 11, while Couture reached double figures with 10 points off the bench. Reyes hit a three-pointer in each half, and Gendron added five points, including a three-ball.

AVS caps perfect season with championship; Moore falls in semis

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:39:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The New England Patriots couldn’t complete their undefeated season, but the Auburn Village School girls basketball team did during Super Bowl weekend, cruising to a 48- 18 victory in the Tri-County Class S championship game vs. Wilton-Lyndeborough.

Auburn won the title game on Saturday, Feb. 2, after taking victory in the semifinals just as easily, thumping St. Joe’s, 48-16, on Jan. 30.

Eighth-grader Heather Pelletier paced AVS in the semifinal game with 11 points, while teammate Sarah Allard was also in double figures with 10.

“We’re a pretty good team, and we established that lead early and were able to substitute and get some other kids in there,” said head coach Jamie Cote, whose team didn’t allow any points in the second quarter of the semifinal game, and only allowed St. Joe’s to score four first-half points.

But Cote’s first coaching move in the championship came before the game when his team arrived to the court.

“We got there about an hour before the game, and they were still pretty nervous. We went into the locker room, and they had that glazedover look on their faces, so I thought they needed some time alone, and the coaches went out and mingled for a little while,” he said. “When I came back they were bouncing off the walls and ready to play.”

The energy level was high during the game as well, and Cote said it was important to jump out to an early lead.

Auburn won the title game on Saturday, Feb. 2, after taking victory in the semifinals just as easily, thumping St. Joe’s, 48-16, on Jan. 30.

Eighth-grader Heather Pelletier paced AVS in the semifinal game with 11 points, while teammate Sarah Allard was also in double figures with 10.

But Cote’s first coaching move in the championship came before the game when his team arrived to the court.

“We got there about an hour before the game, and they were still pretty nervous.

We went into the locker room, and they had that glazedover look on their faces, so I thought they needed some time alone, and the coaches went out and mingled for a little while,” he said.

“When I came back they were bouncing off the walls and ready to play.”

The energy level was high during the game as well, and Cote said it was important to jump out to an early lead.