MOUNT ROYAL, SUNAPEE SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER

Sunapee Girls 38 Mount Royal 25

Mount Royal Academy basketball player Emma Treece keeps the ball from Sunapee basketball player Elizabeth Bennett during a game at Sunapee Thursday night .Sunapee won 38 – 25. – Paul howe

SUNAPEE – The Sunapee Lakers welcomed the Mount Royal Knights into Sherburne Gymnasium Thursday night, and sent them back down the road with a loss, winning 38-25.

While the Lakers came away with the victory, they were on shaky ground early on. Mount Royal started the game on a 9-0 run before Sunapee finally scored with 1:56 left in the period. After one, they faced an 11-6 deficit, with all six points coming from their leading scorer on the night Senior Kalleigh Durkee, who finished with 10.

The Lakers quickly went on a 7-2 run to open the second, tying the game at 13. The Knights began to struggle on offense, turning the ball over due to traveling frequently. Also hurting them, was their inability to run the floor, which has become their bread and butter. “Sunapee is a really good team,” said Mount Royal Head Coach Derek Tremblay. “They run up and down the floor well.”

After struggling on the defensive end in the first quarter, the Lakers appeared to turn up the pressure. “I think we just woke up,” said Sunapee Head Coach Steph Larpenter. “Because of the snow day yesterday, we couldn’t have practice. We came out flat footed on defense. But they recovered very well.”

This uptick in defensive intensity helped slow the Knights’ scoring, and the two squads went into the half tied at 17.

The third quarter saw both teams staying neck and neck, with the Knights’ Alexis Matte dropping in a few of her game high 12 points. But, the Lakers came out of the period with the lead, 27-25.

Mount Royal would love to forget about the fourth. The Lakers came out and put up 11 points in the quarter, as their offense seemed to find it’s way. “We were more patient, got better looks,” said Larpenter. However, the Knights’ offense fell apart. They did not score in the quarter, looking completely lost on offense. “I do not think we trusted each other,” said Tremblay. “The ball stuck, we were playing too cautious.” This caution would lead to Mount Royal falling, 38-25.

The loss ends the Knights’ six game win streak, and drops them to 12-3 on the season heading into their matchup with Nute tomorrow night. Sunapee’s win puts them at 8-8, going into their game Monday at home versus Mascenic.

Mount Royal Boys 60 Sunapee Boys 44

Sunapee basketball player Cade Robinson truest get the ball before Mount Royal basketball player Alex Nomandin can take a shot during a game at Sunapee last night. Mount Royal won 60 – 44. – Paul Howe

The Mount Royal Knights imposed their will on the Sunapee Lakers Thursday night, defeating them 60-44.

The first quarter was tight, with both teams trading the lead back and forth. Mount Royal impressed on the offensive boards, as multiple times the player who shot the ball retrieved his own rebound for the second chance opportunity. The Knights came out of the quarter with a 15-10 lead.

Both Sunapee and Mount Royal matched their point totals from the first, taking the game into the half, 30-20. In the second half, things began to fall apart for the Lakers.

The Knights defense began to really lock down on Sunapee. “We started in man, hoping to disrupt them,” said Mount Royal Head Coach Matt McMenaman. “I switched to a 2-1-2 zone, and it gave our guys more energy.” This increase in energy was apparent, as the Knights held the Lakers to five in the quarter, slowing Sunapee’s offense down to a halt. “We were out hustled, and out played,” said Laker Head Coach Tim Puchtler. “It wasn’t that they were playing great defense, we just played terrible offense.”

The Knights got big performances from many players on their squad, but two in particular stood out. Louis Larosiliere dropped in 14, most coming in the first half, where he was very aggressive driving to the rim. “It was good to see Louis gaining more confidence,” said McMenaman. The other outstanding performer was Alex Normandin, who also scored 14. He impressed in the second, displaying his great handles, and ability to turn the opponent’s turnovers into fastbreak buckets.

The Lakers’ best performance came from Cade Robinson, who hit seven of ten from the line, leading to his 12 points.

The fourth was a struggle for the Lakers, clear by how distraught Coach Puchtler was after the game. “When the pressure is put on, they lose focus. They tried to overplay, missed a lot of easy shots around the rim. We must have gave away an easy 20 points.”

The Knights pounced on Sunapee’s struggles spread drop 18 in the period, most coming on the fastbreak after turnovers. “I think they gave up a little,” said McMenaman. “They lost their will.”

The impressive second half defensive display gave Mount Royal a 60-44 victory. This win puts the Knights at 10-5 going into their Senior Night contest against Nute on Friday. The loss drops the Lakers to 9-6, and they will hope to regroup next Wednesday at Concord Christian.