MANCHESTER – Against one of the state’s finest teams, Central’s girls basketball squad showed its best – and worst – side.

The Little Green hosted Winnacunnet on Friday, Jan. 5, in a battle of Class L powers surely to be revisited in the postseason. Central downed the Warriors, 44-42, preserving its undefeated record at 5-0, not including three wins in the Queen City Christmas tournament.

“This was a very big game,” said Central head coach Mike Wenners. “Winnacunnet’s very athletic; they trap a lot and bring a lot of pressure. I wanted us to get out to a quick start because that’s when we’ve been most successful.”

But Winnacunnet’s fullcourt zone press forced Central into 14 turnovers and 7-for-23 shooting from the field. The Little Green hung in for a 12-11 lead after one quarter but could not stop Warriors junior Conley Burns from putting up 18 points in the first half, good for a 30-21 Winnacunnet lead at halftime.

“When we don’t get out to a quick start, we start flubbing some plays,” said Wenners. “That’s what happened against Goffstown and Memorial in the Christmas tournament. That’s when we find ourselves clawing back for the win.”

Central senior Whitney Fremeau, who sat on the bench with foul trouble in the second quarter, scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half. With 30 seconds left in regulation, Fremeau fed Catherine O’Neill to give Central a 43-41 edge, its first lead since early in the second quarter. Fremeau tied the game at 41-41 when she converted a three-point play.

Though Winnacunnet had a chance to take the lead with 5.8 seconds left, Central forced the Warriors’ 10th turnover of the half to end the game. Central outscored the opposition, 23-12, in the second half, holding the Warriors to one field goal over nine minutes.

Junior Alicia Doucet scored 14 points for Central, while freshmen guards Christiana Bakolas and Hooksett’s Sam Walker also played well. Walker and O’Neill finished with five points apiece.