In their final 16 games of the 2007-’08 Class S basketball season, the Derryfield girls lost three games. Each time, their vanquisher was the same – Portsmouth Christian Academy.
After beginning the season 1-3, DS improved dramatically, posting a 13-5 regular-season record to secure the No. 6 seed in the playoffs.
In the preliminary round, the Lady Cougars hosted and roasted Pittsburg, 59-27.
But PCA threw cold water on the locals’ hot shooting in the quarterfinal round, which took place at Plymouth State University on Saturday, Feb. 23.
There, DS trailed 10-0 before a Kelly Schwarz free throw with 1 minute, 20 seconds left in the first quarter and 19-5 at halftime.
In this case, the sometimes confusing jumble of numbers that passes for statistics was quite clear: Derryfield took 22 field goals in the first half. The team made two.
Though they played much better in the second half, it was too late to prevent the Eagles from advancing with a 38-23 win.
“Their effort was always top notch, and their growth over the second half of the season was tremendous,” said Derryfield’s head coach, Ed Lemire.
His statement also described the second half of this game, as Derryfield closed to seven points at one point following a layup from Salem’s Kathleen Reynolds and three-pointer from Bedford’s Danielle Potter.
Andrea Green’s hoop near the end of the third quarter pulled the Cougars within eight points entering the final frame, but they would not challenge PCA, which reached the Class S final following a victory over No. 2 Lisbon in the semifinals, again.
Schwarz, Reynolds and Camille Smith all reached double figures in points in the first round against Pittsburg, which fought the locals in a tight battle for most of the first quarter.
However, a seven-point lead entering the second quarter swelled to nine points at the break. From that point, DS took control, outscoring the visitors by 15 in the third quarter and coasting into the quarterfinal round.
Lemire, who loses Schwarz and Potter, the team captains, as well as Kerlyne Desire and Reynolds, potentially returns eight players for 2008-’09. He expects to see the team improve on this group’s impressive performance.
“The disappointment of the (loss to PCA) can’t overshadow the wonderful season our girls had,” said Lemire.