By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — The Orioles Express just keeps on rolling after making a stop in the city to dismantle the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Conant has won the last two Division III state titles going undefeated last season as the ‘Pratt” is home to one of New Hampshire’s dynasties in girls basketball.
Stevens stepped on the court with high hopes riding a 7-1 record. But just as Fall Mountain did against Brian Troy’s Conant team, Stevens ran into a buzz saw of tenacious defense and a dizzying pace.
The Cardinals had five turnovers in the first quarter as the Conant press was as good as advertised as the Cardinals trailed 17-10 after the first eight minutes, then things went from bad to worse. A 12-1 run by the Orioles nearly doubled their lead into the break as Emma Tenters had a field day in the paint.
“We compete so hard in practice and this team just wants to win,” said Troy who has led Conant for the past six seasons with five seniors on this years team. “We have a great [amateur athletic union, otherwise referred to as AAU] program and our feeder program starts in kindergarten.”
With Brynn Rautiola and Regan Despres applying pressure to Cardinals guard Kiley Bundy on the press, the pace was much to Conant’s liking as their athletic team raced up and down the court. When Tara Sullivan or Jenna Bonneau found good position inside for Stevens, the Conant defense collapsed with Teagan Kirby sliding down to double the ball. When the pumpkin was on the Cardinals perimeter, Zahna Rice and Bundy were faced with a tight man to man defense that didn’t allow the Cardinals many open looks at the hoop.
“We expected Conant to be a good defending team and they were,” Said Stevens head coach Steve Condon. “We just tried to go one play at a time tonight. It was good to face them. They are an elite team and playing them will only help us get better.”
With Cardinals shots rolling off the rim, the Orioles shots were touching the twine as they opened the second half with a 19-2 burst to put the game out of reach quickly outscoring Stevens 21-6 in the third quarter.
“Clearly we didn’t play the game we wanted tonight but it’s only one game and we’ll move on and correct things once we get everyone back,” Condon said.
Freshman Bella Bovell came off the bench to lead the Cardinals(7-2) in scoring with 11 points.
For Conant (10-0), Tenters led the way with 18 points while Rautiola added 12 points and Mylie Aho chipped in with 10 points.
Stevens will head to Newport (3-4) on Friday to face the Tigers.
In the junior varsity contest, the Cardinals held off a fierce Conant comeback bid but held on for a 39-36 win. Mishal Farhan led the Cardinals with 11 points and Sara Faro added nine points.
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