Pembroke News : High School Sports

Another tight loss ends season for tough Pembroke squad

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:44:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Pembroke Academy’s preliminary- round girls soccer match with John Stark didn’t last as long as Steve Langevin hoped it would.

In 180 minutes of regularseason play, the teams combined for one goal, leading the PA mentor to prepare his team for a tight finish.

“The last few weeks we’ve been practicing penalty kicks because we’ve been to overtime so many times this year, and because we played (Stark) so tight the first two games,” said Langevin. “We weren’t playing to get there, but we were prepared for it.”

Unfortunately for Langevin and the Spartans, JS senior forward Lauren Macklin scored with 11:24 remaining in regulation to give the Lady Generals a 1-0 victory on Thursday, Oct. 29.

With the loss, Pembroke ended the year with a 7-7-3 record, including six setbacks coming by two goals or less.

The Spartans scored just 22 goals in 16 regular-season contests, but allowed only 16 on defense to earn the No. 10 seed in the Class I playoffs.

“We played the way we have played all year,” said Langevin. “They might possess the ball in our end for the majority of the time, but they won’t get too many scoring opportunities. (Macklin) is an all-state caliber player, and she took advantage of one of those chances.”

Knotted in a scoreless tie in the second half against the Lady Generals, Jordan Heath took a feed in the box from Hannah DeBold and put a hard shot toward the upper portion of the goal, but the Generals’ goalie, Molly Dussault, leapt to tip the shot harmlessly above the crossbar. Stark’s defense cleared the ensuing corner kick to end the threat.

Pembroke had its best opportunity to notch the equalizer with 4:33 remaining when Melissa Pellerin lined up a corner kick.

Pellerin’s pass squirted free to the middle of the box, but just as Chelsey Martinelli was about to put a foot on the ball, it was cleared by a defender.

“When we play them it’s always a close game,” said John Stark mentor Heather Doucette. “All I know is we were hoping it wouldn’t get to penalty kicks.”

Pembroke, John Stark, Bow x-country teams prepare for postseason

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:18:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Entering the Manchester Invitational cross country race with little chance of winning the team competition, Pembroke Academy runners took the race personally.

Even though the boys and girls teams finished near the bottom of the pack in the large school division on Saturday, Sept. 26, five Spartans set personal records, and head coach Mike Slavin was excited with the effort his runners gave.

Niki Labelle delivered the top finish for the girls; her time of 22 minutes, 27 seconds earned her 87th place overall. Jake Persons had the top time for the boys team when he finished 94th among 207 runners. Elizabeth Abbott, Rebecca Mitchell, Mariah Smith, Ben Kubat and Brian Barnes all set personal-best times at the race.

The Spartans joined John Stark and six other teams on Sept. 22 at the first-ever Windham Invitational, hosted by recently opened Windham High School.

Pembroke’s boys came in seventh on the afternoon, while the girls were eighth. John Stark’s boys team was third in the eight-team field, and the Lady Generals managed a fifth-place finish.

“We didn’t come (to Windham) to race today, we wanted to go at a slower pace and use the afternoon to prepare for Manchester,” said Slavin. “It’s tough to race three days after you ran another race.”

Many teams took a similar approach to the Windham race; the Manchester Invitational is one of the larger events on the cross country calendar. John Stark did not travel to Manchester.

Bow High School raced to two top-10 finishes at the Manchester Invitational, and the girls team managed a second- place result after scoring 111 points.

Emily Buck was fourth overall in the small-school category, with Gena Kalampalikis, Katrina Wiesner, Keelan Forey and Meaghan McCann earning points after her. The boys team was sixth, led by Jonathan Vinnenberg’s sixth-place finish overall, followed by Dylan Lucas, Ben Evans, Andrew Brunelle and Evan Smith.

All five of the boys were in the top 100, while the lowest finish for the girls was McCann in 42nd place.

Goffstown High
Four boys raced for the Grizzlies at the Manchester Invitational. Kyle McNamara led the group, followed by Ryan Lunderville, Henry Mac- Gibbon and Stephen Fortin. Kali Langevin led the three GHS girls across the finish line. She was 71st among 162 finishers. Holly St. Onge and Nikki Denison also completed the course.

Pembroke Acadmey prevails in rain, mud against visiting John Stark

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:01:00 GMT

The end result was precisely what Dave Tremblay, Pembroke Academy’s football coach, wanted. The means to that end, he said, require some tweaking.

PA opened slowly, answered quickly, then dominated on defense to beat visiting John Stark, 12-6, on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The Spartans allowed two long third-down gains – the latter resulting in a touchdown – on the Generals’ opening drive. Surprise, coupled with poor tackling, put the hosts in an early hole, said their mentor.

“We talked about how big the John Stark (running) backs are,” said Tremblay in the PA weight room. “But I think they needed to see for themselves what (the coaching staff) meant.”

Pembroke responded with its running game to knot the score on the ensuing drive. Junior Benjamin Kroll found the end zone from 13 yards out.

Throughout the remainder of the contest, Kroll, classmates Blake Beauchesne and Nathan Segedy, and two seniors, Jose Alicia and Dawson Matter, ran well for PA.

Kroll’s second score, early in the fourth quarter, capped a quick drive set up by Michael Berthiaume’s fumble recovery on the Stark 12-yard line.

Still, the game wasn’t decided until timely runs in the final three minutes from Beauchesne, 8 yards; Kroll, 20 yards; and Segedy, 32 yards.

“We were, I think, the more physical team,” said Tremblay. “That certainly paid off in the fourth quarter, when we broke a couple of big runs to the outside late in the game.”

The coach is confident of his team’s chances to reach the Division III playoffs.

That’s possible, even probable, provided PA plays defense as it did against Stark, minimizes turnovers on offense and avoids late-game letdowns that, Tremblay said, cost the team at least two wins in 2008.

With just seven seniors on Saturday’s Pembroke roster and more than two dozen freshmen joining the program this year, the numbers – just as they were following this early-season contest – are in the coach’s favor.

Pembroke Academy girls, solid last year, has nucleus back for run in ’09

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:04:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Pembroke Academy girls soccer team has a strong core and, later this year, that could translate into a better seed.

Though the Spartans finished last year at 10-5-1, a cluttered Class I postseason picture left them with the No. 11 seed. PA bowed out in the first round of the playoffs.

A combination of youth and experience has Pembroke’s mentor, Steve Langevin, excited about the current season, which began on Friday, Aug. 28, with a 2-0 victory over Bow.

One strength of the team is the defensive backfield, which is almost completely intact from last season.

“It’s nice to have that, because we’re just going to get to know each other even better,” said Langevin. “By playing more together, they’re going to be become even more difficult for other teams to get through.”

Abby McCormack is back as starting sweeper as a sophomore. She’s joined by fellow returners Emma Pinard, Haleigh Parker and Alyssa Douglas. The only new face on defense is Laurin Brainerd, who played junior varsity in 2008.

Langevin said he has 19 players, and all should expect to see time on the field running a high-pressure scheme that focuses on team defense from every position.

The mentor doesn’t expect any individual to post a gaudy goal total, and the offensive load is spread equally through the lineup.

Junior Rachel Devoe is the top returning goal scorer; she tied for team honors in 2008. Langevin expects senior Kacie Paradie and first-year varsity players and sophomores Hannah DeBold and Alycia Abbott to have an impact at forward.

The NHIAA instituted a new method of keeping the standings for Class I on a oneyear trial basis, with teams rewarded more for wins against tougher opponents. Langevin said if the system were in place last year, the Spartans likely would have had a much higher seed based on their strength of schedule.

Eleven of Pembroke’s 16 games this season come against last year’s top 10 teams. If the Spartans continue to notch difficult wins, a reward likely awaits the group.

“We’re just trying to get in (the playoffs),” said Langevin. “We’re hoping the tough schedule we’re playing will get us a little more ready for the tournament. You just want to get there and get hot at the right time, and then any of the top 10 teams can win it all.”

Pembroke Academy reaches playoffs under first-year coach, finishes with 10 wins

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:34:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Dylan Hall’s goal entering the season was to make the playoffs. Hall’s Pembroke Academy boys tennis team reached that goal, and in impressive fashion.

The Spartans posted one of the best campaigns in school history, finishing the regular season at 10-4 to earn the seventh seed in the Class I tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to secondranked Souhegan, 7-2.

Poor weather forced the Spartans and Sabers to play inside Nashua Swim and Tennis Club on Friday, May 29. Kyle Carty was the only member of the Spartans’ ladder to earn a singles victory; PA’s No. 5 came away with an 8-6 win over Souhegan’s Nate Readington.

Early on, it appeared the doubles matches would have meaning. The majority of the scores remained tight before the Sabers pulled away to clinch the team win before singles play concluded.

Pembroke No. 6 Bill Bouchard raced to a 4-1 lead early against Nate Poulack, but was unable to hold on and fell, 9-7. Stephen Boddie posted the next closest result, falling 8-5 at No. 3.

At No. 3 doubles, Carty and Luke Underwood defeated their Souhegan counterparts, 8-4.

Four players are eligible to return for Pembroke, including two from among the team’s top six.

Bouchard and No. 4 Ricky Yeames are likely to hold spots in the ladder next season, while head coach Dylan Hall looks for contributions from inexperienced players Jeffrey Lin and Emerson Brooks in 2010.

Despite the early exit from the playoffs, Hall said he was impressed with his team’s 10-5 mark.

“We beat Bow twice, which is our main rival, and we also beat Hanover for the first time in school history,” said Hall. “For Pembroke tennis, we had a very good year, and the seniors can take a lot out of this.”

The mentor, looking to continue the program’s growth, wants his team’s effort this year to resonate with PA’s other student-athletes.

“I’m really hoping that with the success of the team we’ll be able to attract some athletes who may not necessarily be tennis players,” said Hall. “It’s the type of sport where if you have a good, athletic kid, I can show them how to play.”

Rookie coach sees experience as means to Pembroke Academy’s improvement

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:22:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

No matter where they come from, Dylan Hall looks forward to seeing some wins.

The first-year Pembroke Academy boys tennis head coach said while he has an idea what his team’s lineup will look like, the efforts of those closer to the ladder’s bottom rung weigh just as much as those of his top player.

“A win is a win,” said Hall during a scrimmage against Goffstown on March 31. “Our goal is to make the playoffs, to play good, solid tennis and get in there and have some fun. We’ve got a good group of kids, practicing has been good, and I think we have a good shot at it.”

Barring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1. Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

Pembroke traveled to and handily defeated Laconia on April 13, 8-1. The Spartans face Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its seaBarring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1.

Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

Pembroke traveled to and handily defeated Laconia on April 13, 8-1. The Spartans face Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its seasonopener, being able to scrimmage has exposed Hall’s squad to a different kind of action.

“Tennis is the type of sport where you can practice a lot and be good in practice, but nothing makes up for game experience,” said Hall. “It’s a totally different animal once the games start. Certain kids get tight, certain kids get better, so (the scrimmage) is huge.”

During the preseason meeting with GHS, Hall wasn’t necessarily concerned with the scores of the matches, but said he and his team benefited from the day.

“I’ve just been watching to see how they perform under pressure, and all kids are different …,” said Hall. “What I really want to see is them put to use some of the stuff we’ve worked on, and that’s all I am really looking for.”

Pembroke Academy's first-year coach sees experience as means to improvement.

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:46:00 GMT

No matter where they come from, Dylan Hall looks forward to seeing some wins.

Barring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1.

Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

PA’s season begins Tuesday, April 7, with a home match against Lebanon. The team travels to Laconia on April 13, then faces Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its season-opener, being able to scrimmage has exposed Hall’s squad to a different kind of action.

During the preseason meeting with GHS, Hall wasn’t necessarily concerned with the scores of the matches, but said he and his team benefited from the day.

Goffstown-Pembroke Academy Tennis scrimmage

Pembroke one of three top seeds to fall to state champion Portsmouth

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:55:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Last year, it took a stunning underdog effort for the Pembroke boys basketball team to reach the Class I semifinal round. This season, the secondseeded Spartans were expected to be there.

Unlike 2008, when No. 9 PA knocked off undefeated top seed Oyster River, it was the locals who were upset in this year’s tourney.

The Spartans lost, 58-48, to No. 6 Portsmouth, which also beat No. 3 Oyster River in the quarterfinals and No. 1 Pelham for the state title.

“Last year, we came in being the spoiler. It just feels different this year,” said head coach Matt Alosa. “Last year, you weren’t expecting us to beat Hanover (in the semis). I felt that this game, we had more of a chance to come back, even being down like we were, to come back and win.

“Everybody’s down. You know, nobody wants to lose, and this team knew they were championship quality,” he continued.

“They went out there and they fought, they left their heart on the court tonight, but ... we couldn’t get over that, eight-, 10-, 12-point point hump, and in the final four you’ve got to make some shots, and I just don’t think we had a typical Pembroke shooting night.”

Indeed, the Spartans, in both the second and fourth quarters, took some wind out of the Clippers’ sails, holding them scoreless for more than five minutes late in the first half, but time and time again the locals failed to take advantage.

Yes, they cut an 18-point third-quarter deficit to seven in the fourth, but that was the closest they came.

“In the second quarter we stopped them seven or eight times in a row, and we got nothing out of it,” said Alosa. “Tonight, I think the defense did a pretty good job. I just don’t think we finished on the break, I don’t think we finished the shots we normally make, and when you don’t do that with a team like Portsmouth, that’s running on all cylinders now, you’re going to have a tough time.”

Still, the fact PA has fallen in consecutive final four appearances carries with it this reality: the program is now among the best in Class I.

“That’s just it. We’re trying to have a program, not a team. Not a team one year that you get lucky and have some kids that are good. I think these kids have been developed now for three years, and you can kind of see the progression from my first year, second year, third year,” said Alosa. “We graduate five seniors – all of them play – so we’re going to be younger next year ... but I think you’ll see Pembroke in the mix. We’re trying to develop a program that can consistently get into the tournament, can consistently make noise and be competitive.”

The Spartans, who finished the year 19-2, will undoubtedly miss graduating floor general Tyler Yeaton and fellow seniors Nick Porter, Christian Davis and Pat McCormick, but plenty of talent is expected to run the PA floor next season, including the likely prolific backcourt duo of junior Sheldon Benson and sophomore Taylor Vasquez.

Others returning include juniors Brad Freeman, Dalton Cheney, Zach Cogswell and Jackson Riel, as well as freshmen Tyler Morrison and Kent Noyes.

Game notes
Grenier led the contest with 19 points. Nick Porter contributed 10 markers. Benson added six, and McCormack and Vasquez offered four apiece. Davis and Yeaton chipped in with three and two points, respectively.

Pembroke escapes quarterfinals with win against visiting Milford

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:38:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Pat McCormack made what his coach called “the worst possible play he could make.”

Then he redeemed himself.

McCormack committed a foul in the backcourt with his team clinging to a 54-53 lead with just 5.6 seconds remaining, but made two from the charity stripe after Milford’s Michael O’Loughlin missed his pair of shots, and Pembroke Academy snuck into the Class I semifinals with a 56-53 win.

Pembroke appeared in control of the game on Friday, March 6, taking a 51-43 lead with two minutes remaining. Milford battled back with multiple three-pointers in the final minute, including one that banked in, cutting the deficit to one.

With 8.3 seconds remaining, Taylor Vazquez rimmed out the front end of a one-in-one freethrow chance, leading to the McCormack foul.

“Our fate was in (O’Loughlin’s) hands,” said PA’s head coach, Matt Alosa, who called a timeout prior to the free-throw attempts. “We knew if he made both we were down one with enough time to drive to the basket. If he made one, we would have been even with the last shot and a chance to win it.”

After O’Loughlin misfired, McCormack was fouled and hit two of his own to give him 10 points and 14 rebounds and, more importantly, his team a three-point cushion. A desperation three-point attempt by Milford at the buzzer failed.

“We were fortunate enough to get out of there with a win,” said Alosa. “That last foul (by McCormack) had my heart rate up a bit, but he played an amazing game other than that one moment.”

Second-seeded Pembroke was scheduled to face number No. 4 Laconia on Wednesday, March 11. With a win, PA advances to the Class I title game against either Pelham or Portsmouth on Saturday, March 14, at the University of New Hampshire.

Tipoff is 2:30 p.m.

Milford jumped to a 14-3 lead in the opening period before Pembroke fought back to take a 27-26 halftime lead.

“I don’t think they were nervous,” said Alosa. “All it took was a possession or two and the next thing you know it’s 14-3. The most impressive part of the game was that they were able to come back from that.”

The Pembroke gymnasium was filled to capacity – and then some – with student sections from both schools standing throughout, creating an electric atmosphere.

“The last time I heard a gym that loud was when I was playing,” said Alosa. “There were times when you couldn’t hear the whistles. It was so loud you could feel it.”

Jon Grenier led all Pembroke scorers with 15 points, while Nick Porter, like McCormack, netted 10 points.

The game wasn’t without last-second drama, but the Spartans survived.

“When (O’Loughlin) was shooting those free throws, it was the first time we didn’t have control of that game in the second half,” said Alosa. “That was a lot of pressure. Thank goodness he missed them.”

Pembroke Academy continues its rise in win over struggling Stark

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:40:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

On a night when the Pembroke Academy boys basketball team was ice cold shooting from the outside, head coach Matt Alosa couldn’t help but think of warmer days in March.

Despite shooting 12 percent from beyond the threepoint arc, the Spartans managed a 56-45 victory against John Stark on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at NHTI, Concord’s Community College.

Following a 75-60 victory against Bedford on Saturday, Feb. 14, and a 59-46 triumph over Merrimack Valley on Tuesday, Feb. 17, the Spartans improved to 15-1, leaving Alosa with the hope his charges are about to play their best basketball.

“Whoever wins (the Class I championship) needs to be hot at the beginning of March,” said Alosa. “You can catch anyone when you’re having a bad night, and that’s when you lose.”

Despite the poor longrange shooting, the Spartans still hit 40 percent overall after shooting 31 percent during the first half. At the break, PA led by four points, 23-19.

“Turnovers and missed free throws really hurt us,” said Stark’s head coach, Mike Smith, whose team was 17-for- 29 – roughly 59 percent – from the charity stripe. “Pembroke is a very hard team to match up with because they’re so athletic. They took us out of a lot of the things we wanted to do.”

Despite its 10th loss, John Stark remains in the hunt for a playoff spot. Smith answered quickly when asked how many wins his team needs to sneak into the tournament.

“Seven wins should be good enough to get in,” he said. “We’ve got a steep road ahead. We’ve played everyone in the division close, and everyone we have left is going to play us tough. We have to win three out of four, and it’s not impossible for this team.”

On Friday, Feb. 13, John Stark hosted 7-7 Plymouth Regional in what Smith called a “must win.” His team responded, cruising to its fifth victory, 71-42.

But the team absorbed another setback after a 79-72 loss to 10-5 Milford on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

Lebanon, with a doubledigit victory total, visits next on Friday, Feb. 20. Stark’s regular season ends at Kearsarge Regional, another of a handful of squads seeking the 16th, and final, spot in the postseason.

In the game versus John Stark, Pembroke’s Jonathan Grenier, Sheldon Benson and Christian Davis all scored in double figures, with Grenier’s 17 points leading the group.

Taylor Vazquez led PA against Bedford with 19 points. Kevin LeBlond’s 18 points paced the Generals against Pembroke, while Nick Campono dropped in 11 markers.

Alosa said his team has four scorers averaging in double figures this season, with a fifth hovering around nine points per game, and that makes the Spartans a difficult foe in the tournament.

“We don’t have just one guy. It’ll be a different guy every night, and you never know who that will be,” said Alosa. “That’ll be important in the playoffs. Rarely do you have a whole team not shooting the ball well in one night.”

Spartans shrug off loss with lopsided win, seek deep playoff run

Hooksett Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:22:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

A season-opening loss to first-year Bedford not withstanding, Marc Noel maintains the highest expectations for his squad this season.

Indeed, the Pembroke Academy ice hockey coach returns nearly the entire lot of players from a squad that reached the playoffs last year.

“I think the returning core is solid, and considering my team this year is really no different from last year’s, minus (standout) Jordan McCray, of course, there’s really no reason why these guys can’t step it up a notch,” said Noel.

The next logical step is a trip to the Division III title game, a goal he said is well within reach.

The Spartans proved their resilience by bouncing back from the 2-1 Bedford setback on Dec. 17 and crushing Laconia on the road, 7-0, on Saturday, Dec. 20.

It certainly helped to have first-string goaltender Zach Gagnon, who missed the opener, back in net. Freshman forward Steve Gilpatrick filled in admirably and proved a reliable fallback, stopping 11 Bedford shots, but Noel said Gagnon’s senior experience provides the Spartans with a distinct advantage each time they take the ice.

Another senior, Doug Turnbull, earned honorable mention recognition on last year’s all-state squad, and Noel said he should be a shoe-in for first- or second- team distinction if he stays healthy and maintains the level of play he exhibited in 2007.

Jennifer Poulin, who scored PA’s lone goal against Bedford, is as good if not better than many of her male opponents and is being scouted by Division II and III colleges to play women’s hockey next year.

Junior forward Victor Ranfos is another key component in front of the net, while senior Billy Barnett and junior Jamison Syphers lock down the blue line.

Marc Racine and Corey Pinsonneault complete a solid senior class, and junior Joey Allen returns to the team after missing last season and is expected to contribute nightly.

Also seeing varsity ice time this year are junior Syd Parker and sophomores Ryan Mitchell and Lucas Connor.

Because Noel has less players, and less lines available, than many of his D-III foes, he said all the players must continue to play within the system if PA is to reach its full potential.

“I’m very happy to see them react to this system the way they have. I mean, they limited Bedford to 13 shots. If we can keep teams below 20 each time out and reinforce our goaltending effort, we have a real chance,” said Noel. “I’ve coached a lot of hockey teams through the years (including 10 years at the high school level), and this particular group of kids, in my opinion, wants to learn and wants to win more than any other group I’ve had. I’ve never seen a team play with this much heart.”

Pembroke Academy’s young roster filled with hard workers, quick learners

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:15:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

She can teach them the fundamentals – how to pass, box out, defend and shoot. But neither Rose Galligan nor any other coach can teach hustle.

Luckily for her, the Pembroke girls basketball team is flush with just such a necessary tendency.

So even though the Lady Spartans lack experience, Galligan believes they have a legitimate chance to win most games they play.

“I think we’re going to be competitive, and I think we’ve already made great strides from the first game,” she said.

PA has competed twice this season, winning the first contest against Merrimack Valley, 41-38, then dropping game two, 47-44, to Bow.

“We haven’t shot the ball particularly well, but we have a lot of speed and just need to take the time to work out the kinks,” Galligan continued. “I still think I have the top player in the state, but the challenge is getting all the girls to work around her.”

That player, senior standout Alex Hall, enters her second season at Pembroke after transferring from Trinity.

“She’s a great role model … a great teammate who loves working with the other kids,” said Galligan of Hall, who scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Bow. “As talented as she is, I give a lot of credit to her parents because she’s a great individual, too.”

Though the Lady Spartans finished last December with a winning record, they struggled at times through January and February and missed the final playoff spot.

This year, Galligan hopes Hall can lead the locals to the postseason.

Hall’s classmate and co-captain, Mollie Griggs, contributes with solid play and a knack for motivation and communication. When sharp-shooting sophomore Alesha Girard is hot, such as in the season-opener when she led the team with 12 points, Pembroke can win most contests. When she’s cold, such as the Bow game, when the team produced an 18-for-72 performance from the field, the Lady Spartans struggle.

Sophomore guards Marissa Letendre, a 10-point contributor against Merrimack Valley, and Sarah Chouinard play well up top and have already shown a knack for stringent defense. Chouinard, for example, made three steals and grabbed nine rebounds vs. Bow.

Paige Bilodeau, a transfer from Bishop Brady, is still learning the new system, but Galligan expects her to contribute with greater frequency as the season progresses, and 5-foot-11 sophomore Sarah Kelley locks down the inside from her starting position at center. Sophomore Sarah Vien and junior Danielle Blanchette, who scored 10 points against Merrimack Valley, have also exhibited an aggressive style underneath the basket.

Freshman Hannah Pinard and sophomores Briana Austin and Jocelyn Cray round out the young varsity roster.

Pembroke cagers, last year’s semifinalists, seek next level in ’09

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:12:00 GMT

BY MARK PETERSON

A roster full of experience and talent has Pembroke Academy believing it can make another run to the Class I boys basketball semifinals – and beyond.

With a lineup that’s almost entirely upperclassmen, the PA coaching staff is confident every player enters the season gameready.

“We’re going to have 11 players that can come in and help us out … at any time, which is pretty unheard of in high school basketball,” said Dave Segal, PA’s assistant head coach. “A lot of people are talking about us as being one of the top four teams in the state along with Pelham, Portsmouth and Laconia. So I hope that’s true.”

The Spartans must replace productive guards Justin Muniz and Drou Goff, as well as sixth man Matt Lavoie. Yet Segal and head coach Matt Alosa are confident yesterday’s role players can become today’s stars.

“We’ve lost three key players from last year’s team. However, we’ve been able to fill those gaps pretty easily,” said Segal.

The coaches expect sophomore Taylor Vazquez to see an increased amount of playing time this season at various positions on the floor.

“Vazquez has improved tremendously over last year,” said Segal. “Taylor’s going to open some eyes out there for us this year.”

Along with experience, size is on Pembroke’s side this season, with 6-foot-6 senior Tyler Yeaton expected to anchor the center position for the Spartans. He offers a strong interior defensive presence and was consistently among the team’s top scorers in games last season.

Yeaton should spend nights flirting with double-double statistics, as he did in last season’s Class I semifinal game against Hanover, when he scored eight points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Yeaton was a key reason the Spartans remained competitive against a Marauders team that outsized PA everywhere else on the floor.

Seniors Jon Grenier and Nick Porter were among the most likely candidates to be named team captains. Porter is in line to start at forward, along with junior Sheldon Benson.

The rest of the roster includes seniors Christian Davis and Pat McCormack; juniors Coleton Neely, Jackson Riel, Dalton Cheney, Zach Cogswell and Brad Freeman; and freshman Tyler Morrison.

The Spartans begin their season with a home date against Hanover on Tuesday, Dec. 16. It’s a chance to avenge last year’s semifinal loss, during which PA stormed back from an 18-point second-half deficit, closing to two points before falling by eight.

PA also visits Bishop Brady on Friday, Dec. 19, then hosts Plymouth Regional on Monday, Dec. 22, before taking a Christmas break.

Jr. Spartans reach state final with steady, determined team play

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:27:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

In the state final, the Pembroke Jr. Spartans smelled the end zone. They just never tasted it.

Hampered by an ankle injury to starting quarterback Seth Gonya, Pembroke fell in the title game of the Granite State Football League, 30-0, to a powerful Bedford Jaguars team that heads to Orlando, Fla., with an 11-0 mark and a chance at the American Youth Football national championship.

“We were able to move the ball for two and a half or three quarters at will, and then when we got to the red zone, Bedford would shut us down,” said the Jr. Spartans’ head coach, Len Poole. “Whether it was exhaustion or the strength of the other team, we’ve never been in a game of that magnitude.”

Poole, in his second year with a group that includes students from six area middle schools, took control of a squad that won zero games two years ago and just two last year. The Jr. Spartans finished the regular season 7-1 before splitting a pair of postseason games. The team fell to Bedford in October, 28-20, in the last minute of that game.

“We revamped the entire coaching staff and provided stability,” said Poole. “These kids see that what we’re saying now will be the same next year and the same as last year. They need that within a program in order to be successful.”

In the title game, Pembroke kept the top-seeded Jaguars in check during the first half and headed into intermission trailing only 8-0, but Bedford pulled away in the second half.

Poole said he has been impressed with the progress his three running backs, Mike Melvin, Devaun Gil and Nick Francios, have made.

“I have been waiting for a long time for them to really come into their own, and that time finally came,” said Poole. “Mike especially, I wanted him to understand what he has. He has a lot of potential. I think he has the skill sets to be big.”

Setting up its spot in the championship game was Pembroke’s 30-20 victory over Concord in the semifinal and an offense that scored the secondhighest point total in the league.

“The backs received the glory, but without the offensive line they would not have been able to move the ball,” said Poole. Brad Scheaffer, Bryan Doughty, Dan Reeves, Colin Flannagan and Mike Walter were the Jr. Spartans’ starting linemen.

Though Poole said losing Gonya to injury was a difficult blow for the team’s title hopes, replacement Ben Paradis did a solid job of leading the offense. “Without getting a decent amount of snaps during the year, it puts a lot of stress on you where you haven’t had it before,” said Poole. “He only had about 35 seconds to think about it.”

After two difficult seasons heading into 2008, Poole said the relationships between his players lifted the team – captained by Francios, Doughty and Tony Vazquez – to its strong finish. “Last year, I had a much smaller team, but I never got them to work as a team,” said Poole. “This year, we were 26 kids, and they are all friends.”

Pembroke’s big plays defeat John Stark

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:23:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

To even the most subjective observer, there was little noticeable difference, in terms of talent, between the two teams clashing on the varsity gridiron. The respective coaches agreed: neither squad had a distinct advantage.

Yet the numbers on the scoreboard told an altogether different story.

Indeed, a 28-12 final is a pretty clear indicator of one team’s supremacy over the other, but not in the case of John Stark and Pembroke Academy.

Though PA earned the decisive victory, both units were able to put together sustained drives throughout the battle on Saturday, Sept. 13.

The difference turned out to be a touchdown on the opening kickoff, a third-quarter fumble returned to paydirt and an interception in the end zone.

After PA’s Chris Allen returned the first play of the game 75 yards to give his team the early advantage, the Spartans recovered a fumble on Stark’s ensuing drive and added six points when senior quarterback John Natalizio found Vince Verreccia in the back of the end zone.

The Generals rebounded with a solid drive and a 3-yard touchdown run by sophomore Ian Kuck, but botched the snap on the extra point. Pembroke then put together a 71-yard drive, credited entirely to fullback Dan Kroll, who capped the march by punching in a 6-yard score.

Stark’s quarterback, David Wilson, led his team back down the field and eventually scampered into the end zone himself, but that was all the scoring the Generals could muster.

In the second half, freshman Chris Beauregard forced a fumble, and Verrechia notched his second touchdown on a 45- yard return.

Another long John Stark drive ended with a Natalizio interception in the end zone.

Pembroke, said John Stark’s first-year coach, Bob Clarke, is a fine team, but one the Generals can beat.

“We executed well at times, but we just had breakdowns,” said Clarke. “We’re playing freshmen and sophomores, so we’re young and we’re making mistakes, but I cannot fault the kids’ attitudes ... They’re giving me absolutely everything they’ve got, they just need to learn how to win.”

The Spartans began that same process last year, and though they are also young, coach Dave Tremblay said they’re showing marked progress.

“We were pretty evenly matched with John Stark, size-wise, but I think we had a little more speed than them,” he said. “We’re coming along, and I definitely think we can hit with most teams (in D-III). We’re not really thinking playoffs right now, but the kids are having a lot of fun this year, and the program’s moving in the right direction.”