WILTON-LYNDEBOROUGH SPOILS SUNAPEE’S SENIOR NIGHT

SUNAPEE – An emotional night turned into an emotional loss for the Sunapee Lakers, as the Wilton-Lyndeborough Warriors took home the victory, 55-49.

Before the game, the Lakers held their Senior Night festivities for the managers, Emily Devore and Christa Hulton, the ski team, Jackie Balch, Maddie Austin, Bethie Coverdale, Mary Moynihan, and Cory Henault. Then, they honored their Boys basketball seniors, Cade Robinson and Nick Ducharme.

Sunapee won the opening tip, but struggled for a in the first quarter. After falling behind 9-7, the Warriors went on a 14-4 run to end the period, led by their advantage on the offensive boards. “Too many players like to sit and watch shots go up,” said Sunapee Head Coach Tim Puchtler. “Rebounding is not a talent, it is a desire.” Wilton-Lyndeborough would lead after one, 19-11.

Something came alive in the Lakers between quarters, as they went on a 7-2 run before a Warriors timeout with 4:27 remaining stopped the bleeding. Wilton-Lyndeborough seemed to gain their footing again heading into the half, but a three through contact by Cade Robinson would cut the lead to two, 29-27 at halftime.

For the Lakers, Sophomore Brady Grzanna led the team in scoring with 13 points, while also making the only two free throws he took. On the Warriors’ side, Junior Cody Swett dominated down low and in transition to score a game high 20 points.

Sunapee came out struggling in the third, missing layups and turning the ball over in transition. Before Wilton-Lyndeborough could break out to a big lead, they returned the favor and became turnover happy. Again, a Sunapee three at the buzzer, this time a half court shot from Grzanna, cut the lead to two going into the final period, 44-42.

The Warriors lost the lead early in the fourth, as the Lakers got their first advantage since the first quarter. Sunapee would control the pace for a majority of the final period. With around four minutes left, the home squad started to really work the ball around and run time off the clock.

With two minutes left, Warriors Senior Jack LeVert sank a three to tie up the game at 49. The Lakers would not score again. A couple key missed free throws doomed Sunapee, while LeVert sank his with nine seconds remaining to slam the door. Wilton-Lyndeborough would walk away victorious, 55-49.

“Emotions, we got too emotionally caught up,” said Puchtler after the game. “This was a game lost on emotion.”

Sunapee and Wilton-Lyndeborough both await their seeding for the Division IV tournament.