The Claremont Middle School girls basketball team ended an incredible season by winning their divisions at both the Twin State Valley basketball tournament and the Karp’s Klassic tournament in Lebanon, totaling a season record of 25-0.
“Every girl on the team made that record possible,” said coach Carl Desilets. “The future looks bright for Claremont basketball.”
In game one of the Twin State Valley tournament, the Claremont Eagles started off strong with a 30-15 win over a tough team from Keene. Tara Sullivan led the Eagles with 13 points, followed by Alyssa Paquette with 7 points, Sara Faro with 4 points, and Emma Lapsley and Kiley Bundy had 3 points apiece.
In game two, the Eagles faced Hopkinton and cruised to a 40-12 win led by Sullivan’s 12 points, Bundy and Paquette each had 8 points apiece and Stella Lavertue with had points. In order to play in the championship game, the Eagles would have to get by Springfield, and the girls did just that defeating Springfield by a score of 38-5. Sullivan had another big game scoring 9 points. Lapsley contributed with 7 points, followed by Lavertue, Paquette and Bundy with 6 points apiece. Josie Aiken and Morgan Fowler each added a bucket.
CMS would face Keene for the TSV championship on March 9. The first half was a back and forth scoring battle with CMS taking over in the final minutesof the half to lead 14-8 at the break. The Eagles took over the second half with their unselfish play and teamwork to outscore Keene 20-8 and take the 7th/8th grade championship by a score of 34-16. Sullivan poured in 13 points, Lapsley added 8, Bundy had 5, and Lavertue and Paquette added 4 points each. Named to the All-Tournament Team were Tara Sullivan, Alyssa Paquette and Kiley Bundy, and Emma Lapsley was named as the Tournament MVP.
The Eagles left the TSV tourney to head to their first game in the 40th Annual Karp’s Klassic basketball tournament in Lebanon against Monadnock. CMS proved too much for Monadnock and cruised to a 53-11 win, led by 12 from Sullivan and 10 from Bundy. Paquette followed with 8, Lavertue had 7, Aiken scored 6, and Lapsley and Aidan Antonivich had 4 points each, with Fowler adding a bucket.
On Tuesday, March 12, the Eagles again had to face Monadnock, who had won in the loser’s bracket, and handed them their second defeat by a score of 43-20. Sullivan continued her great play with a 14 point performance, and Bundy was big with 8 points. Jaci Morin, who had been out with an ankle injury, was able to play and contributed 7 points in the win. Lapsley was a big contributor with 6 points as was Antonivich with 4, and Paquette and Faro added 2 points apiece.
CMS faced Springfield for the Karp’s championship on Sunday, March 17. Hungry for another tournament win, the girls exploded for 25 first-half points on their way to a 54-14 victory over Springfield, as every player scored for CMS.
Sullivan led the way with 9 points, followed closely by Lapsley, Lavertue, Faro and Paquette who all had 7 points each. Bundy added 6, Aiken had 4, Fowler added 3 points, and Antonivich had a bucket.
Tara Sullivan, Alyssa Paquette and Stella Lavertue were named to the All-Tournament team. Kiley Bundy received the Jim Wechsler Unsung Hero Award, and Jaci Morin was awarded the Margaret Karp Player Award.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.