BY RYAN O’CONNORJohn Stark girls basketball coach Wayne Thomson said he preaches defense, turnovers and foul shooting. “Come tournament time, that’s what’s important,” he said following a 46-41 victory against Bow on Feb. 2. On Sunday, Feb. 17, against fourth-seeded Souhegan High School of Amherst, the No. 5 Lady ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Last year, it was senior center Libby Cullerot who starred for John Stark, nailing two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining in regulation to send the Lady Generals into overtime. They later sunk rival Kearsarge in the quarterfinals of the Class I basketball tournament. So, when the team opened the season Friday, ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORA 14-4 regular season for the John Stark boys basketball team preceded a stinging upset loss to rival Kearsarge in the quarterfinals of the Class I boys basketball tournament. But coach Mike Smith said the pieces are in place for his team to make a postseason run in 2008. “The expectations the boys have set for ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORThough the John Stark boys basketball team defeated rival Kearsarge twice during the regular season, a playoff rematch between the two squads proved costly for the Generals. After two convincing victories over the Cougars, 81-63 at home on Jan. 30, and 88- 81 at Kearsarge on Feb. 20, the Generals succumbed to their familiar ...

BY JERRY LIPTAK With her team down three points and 1-minute, 45 seconds remaining in the game, John Stark’s Elyssa Feliciano – directly in front of her bench – inbounded to Olivia Cray, who fumbled the ball, then controlled it on the other side of midcourt. The referee blew his whistle. Wayne Thomson blew his stack. For the ...