By Emily Winslow
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
BOW, NH – The Stevens girls varsity basketball team went full steam ahead in their tight matchup with their fierce competitor, Concord Christian. They came up just short of a win with a final score of 51-45 in the semi-finals of the NHIAA Division III playoffs on Friday night.
The Cardinals came right out of the gate with vigor and force and opened the game with a three-point field goal from junior guard Kiley Bundy. Stevens only gave up five points to the Kingsmen in the first quarter and scored 13 of their own.
They continued to make progress throughout the second quarter in a tight zone defense and effectively challenged the opposing team. This established a 10-point Cardinal lead with a 22-12 score that led into the second half.
“We struggled tremendously in the first half,” said Concord Head Coach Rebecca Carlile. “Stevens is a good team and a big team. The second half, we decided we could quit or we could keep fighting, and the girls decided they were going to keep fighting.”
It all came down to the second half as Concord Christian took advantage of the break and altered and refocused their offensive strategy. With just 2:08 to go in the third quarter Kingsmen’s freshman guard Emma Smith executed the game-tying basket, which brought the score to 31-31. Smith was the game’s top scorer and banked 26 points, while Bundy on the Cardinals opposed her tally with a high of 14.
In the final quarter Kingsmen saw an opportunity and inched ahead despite the effort, fortitude and perseverance of senior guard Stella Lavertue, senior forward Tara Sullivan and senior center Alyssa Paquette, who advanced with successful shots.
“They fought,” said Cardinals Head Coach Steve Condon. “They fought all the way through that fourth quarter. Everything I asked them to do they did. They were flying around, trying to make things happen. We had our chances.”
This loss marked the end of the season for Stevens. However, the team finished the regular season with a 16-2 win-loss record and made the Division III final four tournament, the best result for a Cardinals girls basketball team in over 30 years.
“They brought the pride back to Claremont, and it’s been really cool to see the community come around them and support them,” said an emotional Coach Condon with tears in his eyes. “The team, especially the seniors, have built a culture that I’m proud of.”
Concord Christian faced Conant in the Division III championships Saturday and became the 2023 Division III champion. The final score was 49-35. Stevens ended the season with an impressive showing against a skilled opponent that will pave the way for next year.
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