Ever hear someone moan “Oh No” as a player arched a long-range jumper only to then exclaim “Nice Shot” while the ball swishes through the nylon netting?
“Oh no” isn’t heard much inside New Hampshire high school gyms this season. Coaches, players and fans have plenty of faith in the many long distance sharpshooters able to get off accurate 3-point shots in the blink of an eye.
These long-bomb ceiling-scraping treys draw the same kind of fan reaction as dunked and blocked shots. The cheering volume only increases when shooters get a hot hand and begin swishing shots further and further from the hoop.
The catch and release 3-pointer is something to behold, a product of good fundamentals, repitition and confidence.
Here’s a incomplete list of some of the best long distance shooters in the state.
Cormac Fitzpatrick, Manchester Memorial; Zach Stevens, Trinity of Manchester; Sean Martin, Conant of Jaffrey; Josh Morgan, Campbell of Litchfield; Eric Watson, Merrimack; Sean McLung and Connor Green, Bishop Guertin; Mike Colby, Londonderry; Caleb Donnelly, Alvirne of Hudson; Alex Pratt, Nashua North; Sam Carney, Hanover; Seth Cordts, Souhegan of Amherst; Brad Holler and Louie Vigars, Exeter; Alex Burt and Kenaan Al-Darraji, Dover; Harry Knowles and Jessie Gould, Winnacunnet of Hampton; Brian Cronin, Spaulding of Rochester.
Did I miss anybody?
Eric Emmerling
Some lasting impressions from three days and 12 games at the 47th annual Queen City Invitational Basketball Tournament held at Manchester Memorial High School, December 26-28.
Bow: Senior Tom Poitras and junior Joshua Faber should be a great force down low when the Falcons resume play in 2010. Point guard Erik Michaud, a junior, is a daring passer. On a side note, I remember watching Goffstown and John Stark battle for Class I supremacy about a decade ago. It was a Route 114 rivalry with Don Poitras coaching the Generals and Dave Michaud mentoring the Grizzlies. Tom and Erik used to attend the games and shoot around at practices. Both fathers were in attendance at the QCIBT watching their children play together.
Manchester Central: John Wickey played aggressive defense and led the team in scoring with assertive moves from both inside and outside the paint, but his leadership may well be his biggest contribution to this young team’s overall success. For example, after the team emerged from the locker room at intermission, Wickey huddled his teammates near the basket to go over the mechanics and positioning of some team plays. The play of Thaddeus Brown and Gabriel Lacount should draw opponents’ attention when Class L resumes.
Coincidentally, the Little Green lost a Class L season opener at Dover and the first game of the QCIBT by identical 64-61 scores, in overtime, and then lost a tourney consolation game to West on a closing-seconds shot to Richard Valentin.
Dover: Dover won its first-ever QCIBT title. Memorial coach Mike Fitzpatrick said the Green Wave play was in postseason form. The team passed and moved around the court with the intuitive sense of a well-knit family and had strong contributions from tourney MVP Alex Burt (105 career tourney points placed him 22nd on all-time scoring list), Morgan Faustino, Kenaan Al-Darraji, Rory Duffy, Justin Dube and Ricardo Tavares.
Exeter: There were times when senior guard Louie Vigars seemed one step ahead of everyone else. He must be a big student of this game. Classmate Tucker Munro was an inside force displaying strength on the boards and quick moves with his back to the basket.
Manchester Memorial: Senior Matt Couture displayed poise and passion at the guard post while setting the offensive show in motion. Senior Cormac Fitzpatrick (received tourney sportsmanship award) never stopped running his way through screens in an attempt to get open for his long-range shooting mastery. Once he steps over half court defenders must become his shadow or surrender three-points. He’ll accept a pass way out on the perimeter – in a spot 25-feet from the basket where every other NH high school player would have no choice but to dribble or pass – and swish a ceiling-scraping trey with a stoic it’s-just –routine expression. Shomari Morgan created many scores while slashing toward the hoop. He also has a knack for scoring on offensive rebounds.
Merrimack: On offense this team is in a constant choreographed motion. Six-foot-3 senior guard Eric Watson looks comfortable and competent anywhere on the court. It’s hard to believe Dimitri Floras, a 6-foot-2 guard, is just a freshman. He probably learned a lot from his senior brother, Anthony. I’d love to watch backyard hoop play at the Floras house.
Trinity: Phil Hayden sprained his ankle and could be out for most of January. Sophomore Dylan Lafond, the starting JV point guard last season as a freshman, came off the bench and made some solid contributions as Hayden’s replacement. The hustle and determination of junior Zach Stevens and senior Gordon Duffley produced great results at key junctures in every tourney game. Junior center David Madol is a dominant force. His defense extends well above the rim. He has strong and effective low post scoring moves and he can run the fast break like a guard.
Manchester West: The Blue Knights’ team uniform must come equipped with quickness, leaping ability and heart. Senior Richard Valentin is a ruthless defender and confident outside shooter. Classmate forward Greg Asselin shares the defensive tenacity and is also passionate about rebounds. Juniors Quinton Hunter and Samy Abdalla become one-step quicker than the opposition when driving the lanes.
Eric Emmerling
Some quick thoughts while anticipating the 47th annual Queen City Invitational Basketball Tournament championship game between tourney host Memorial and Dover.
This is Memorial’s first trip to the tourney finale since 2006. The Crusaders are 3-6 in QCIBT championship games. The last win occurred in 1977. Playing in the tourney since its inception, Memorial owns a 40-43 record entering tonight’s game.
This is Dover’s 16 tournament appearance (9-15) and second trip to the title game. They lost ro Exeter in 2007.
Three-pointers could rain down in this match up. Dover has tallied 15 3-pointers in two tournament victories with Alex Burt leading the way. He’s drained six treys and accumulated 45 points, thus far. Burt hit four treys in the first quarter of the semifinal win over Merrimack.
Memorial’s two game 3-point total is seven with Cormac Fitzpatrick canning five of them. The senior sharpshooter has tallied 36 points, including a rare four-point play when he was fouled sinking a long-range trey in a semifinal win over Trinity of Manchester – from which he transferred this autumn after helping the Pioneers claim the Class L title with a decisive win over Memorial – coached by his father.
Both Burt and Fitzpatrick own a superb shooting touch. Both have enough confidence in their ability to shoot early and often. Should defenders give them space, or look uninterested when guarding them, watch out. Both can catch and release reliable shots in the blink of an eye.
Watch Memorial’s Shomari Morgan too. The junior has 3-point range, though his strength is twisting and contorting in the paint and banking home points off post moves and offensive rebounds. He’s tallied 43 points in two games.
This could be a high-scoring affair. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight.
BROKEN STRING: Hanover girls’ team manager Jessica Fedorku expanded her job description to include singing the National Anthem before many Marauders’ games and serving as a good luck charm. Prior to Saturday night’s 39-33 loss to top-seeded Oyster River in the Class I championship game, Hanover hadn’t lost a game when she provided a moving rendition of the anthem prior to tip off. The singing win streak included last season’s title game win over Connecticut Valley rival Lebanon.
Saturday’s defeat to Oyster River was only the second defeat during Hanover coach Dan O’Rourke’s tenure with the team that Hanover lost a game after holding the opponent under 40 points.
STILL STRINGING: Though Hanover and Oyster River traditionally play deep into most every tourney – one club reached the title game in six of the last seven seasons – this title game was just the third time these teams met during the postseason. The higher seed prevailed each time.
BOOKEND PLAQUES: Bobcats senior point guard Jilliane Friel won a title as a freshman and senior. The youngest of five Friel children to score 1,000-career points, she leads the sibling chase after scholastic state titles with three, having claimed one with the Oyster River soccer team.
DIVERSITY: The University of New Hampshire-bound Friel can dictate a game in many ways. During the semifinal win over Souhegan of Amherst she scored 23 points while making seven of eight free throws with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, collected four rebounds and made five steals. Deadly cold in the tile game (hit just 1-of-13 field goal attempts) she passed for seven assists while making four steals and grabbing four boards. She committed just one foul in two games, despite playing 30 minutes in each game.
PREDICTABILITY: Oyster River sophomore Danielle Walczak contributed big numbers in the semifinal (14 rebounds, nine points) and championship game (11 rebounds, 15 points).
Eric Emmerling
“We don’t show up to lose anymore,” said Manchester Memorial girls’ coach Jack Quirk after Tuesday night’s 50-40 win over Dover on its home court. The club improved to 9-6 with its sixth win in the last seven games.
“We’re not cocky or arrogant. We know our limitations. We work hard as a team. We don’t ever quit and we just seem to be getting better and better,” said Quirk with a big smile.
The Crusaders built an early lead and withstood several Dover comeback bids by understanding their limitations.
“They started pressing and we started rushing,” explained Quirk. “We’re more confident in our half court set. When we slowed down and got back to our game, we were fine.”
The Crusaders will finish over .500 for the first time in several seasons and stand a chance to host a first-round Class L tournament game.
The lineup boasts strong play from seasoned seniors in Kathryn Leary, Mindy Hardy and Kaitlyn Newdorf. Some promising youngsters also contribute. Five-foot-11 freshman Amra Elezovic rebounds with authority and can score from the low post and perimeter. Sophomore guard Ashley Gendron plays with passion, poise and a purpose. Junior guard Meagan Allard shoots and defends with intensity.
“We have a strong team that likes to fight to win,” said Gendron. “We have a lot of pride.”
Dover (10-5) senior Curran Leighton scored 21 points in the loss to Memorial. The 5-foot-11 forward sparked the comeback bids with by tallying 15 – including two treys - in the second half.
“She can hit the three as well as post up. That creates a big match up problem for us,” said Quirk. “We did an excellent job defensively in the first half and just survived barely against her in the second half,” said Quirk.
Other Class L teams have had similar nightmares guarding Leighton this season. She’s averaging about 20 points and 10 rebounds every game.
“She’s a force,” said Dover coach Dan Casey. “People spend a lot of time and energy trying to figure a way to stop her and yet she still finds a way to score.”
Eric Emmerling
Manchester Central point guard Will Bayliss began his high school hoops assimilation long before the first day of basketball tryouts during his freshman year. The orientation sessions began during springtime pickup games while he was a Hillside Middle School eighth grader and continued through summertime workouts.
While playing with or working out beside future teammates, like high school superstars like Tyler Roche, Bryan Tracy and Joe Fremeau, Bayliss heard about being accountable to the standards and expectations of the Manchester Central basketball team.
“They taught me how to carry myself on and off the court,” said Bayliss.
Players told him – and other youngsters aspiring to play for the Little Green – of how they do things at Central. The teaching occurred whether coaches were present or not.
Bayliss recalled veterans constantly preaching: We don’t do act like that at Central. We don’t believe that on this team. At Central we do that this way.
There is a price tag attached to winning. The cost involves plenty of individual hard work and sacrifice as well as a willingness to trust and serve the concept of team. The payoff is an unyielding focus and willingness to overcome obstacles.
“We teach more than basketball fundamentals. We try and develop a culture,” said Central coach Dave Wheeler. “We try and share what the prize is and then team leaders demonstrate what it takes to achieve it.”
Bayliss learned from three guys who are now playing college hoop (Roche at Boston College), Fremeau at Bentley College and Tracy at Plymouth State University) that were orientated by guys that have already graduated from college.
On the basis of talent, many teams can match Manchester Central, though few share its winning culture.
“There are some teams that have an edge when it comes to tournament time because they know how to win, That’s why you have to give the nod to teams like Salem, Central and Trinity,” said one Class L coach.
Lisbon, Wilton-Lyndeborough, Conant, Hanover and Pelham are other boys’ teams that quickly come to mind when thinking about maintaining a similar winning culture. What are some others? What teams are presently developing that attitude?
“We have had some success at kids sharing the dream and keeping their eye on the prize,” said Wheeler. “Will has certainly done that. He’s made the choice of making excellence a habit. He’s carrying on the tradition.”
Extra work before and after practice is a common routine for Bayliss, be it conditioning, weight training or shooting drills. His work ethic compares with or even surpasses the extra work that helped make Roche famous.
Now a senior and four-year starter at point guard, Bayliss is very vocal at practice with regard to demanding high expectations.
“You can’t take a play off, not in a game or practice,” said Bayliss. “I’m lucky to be on a team where we all get along. These guys know how to take my critiques and how I use my leadership skills. They know when we step off the court we can be friends again. On the court is all business.”
SHOOTING STAR FAMILY: Last Saturday, Jilliane Friel became the fifth Friel to tally 1,000 career points for Oyster River of Durham. The senior captain finished the game in typical fashion, scoring 29 points by hitting 10 of 15 shot attempts while swishing four of five from beyond the 3-point arc.
In addition to matching her older siblings scoring feat, Jilliane will play NCAA Division I hoop upon graduation. She recently accepted a scholarship to play for the University of New Hampshire, as did her her sister Jennifer and brother Jeremy. Greg Friel went on to become a captain at Dartmouth. Keith Friel played baketball at both Notre Dame and Virginia.
All five are the children of Joan and Gerry Friel, a former UNH men’s basketball coach who died in August 2007.
A four-year starter at Oyster River, Jillian helped her team go 22-0 while claiming the Class I title as a freshman. This season the team sports a 13-1 mark, having won 11 straight.
1,000 POINT CLUB: Moultonborough’s Kevin Eisenberg entered the 1,000-career point club following a 38-point performance last week. He made seven of eight 3-point attempts during the home game.
Gilford’s Lindsey Carr recently netted her 1,500-career point. The senior scored 39 points while teammate Cassie Crocket set a school record with 19 assists on Tuesday, improving the Class M club’s mark to 12-1.
A WINNING EYE: Plymouth’s Mike Rankin-Byrne sank the game winning shot in wins over Laconia and Kennett last week. He scored 18 but didn’t need similar heroic efforts ob Tuesday as Plymouth improved to 7-5 with a 76-60 win over Kingswood. Teammate Nick Barnes scored 26.
Jamie Zajac’s jumper in the closing seconds capped Bishop Guertin’s come-from-behind 47-45 win over Alvirne of Hudson on Tuesday. Zajac scored 17 as BG (5-4) erased a 13-point deficit to win.
Eric Emmerling
Dave P. wanted to post his opinion of the best boys’ team in the Granite State in hopes of aspiring opinions agreeing or disagreeing. Comments are welcome, either post here or email Emmerling@unionleader.com
Dave P. Rankings. Top 5 teams in the state all classes:
1. Trinity, great on defense patient on offense when necessary. The key is everyone knows their role. They remind me a little of last year’s Salem team. Not very deep though.
2. Pinkerton, talented at every position. When “motivated” on offense and defense can beat anyone. It will be interesting to see if they really come together. Not playing great now but still winning.
3. Manchester Central, Best point guard in state runs the show on offense. Team can play defense with anyone. Question mark is if this team can score when it needs to.
4. Pelham, Good all around team with best player in class I. Would be one of best teams in class L but might get hurt against some of the bigger more phyical teams. Players play hard for their coach.
5. Pembroke, stays at #5 until they lose.
Honorable Mention: Exeter, Salem, Portsmouth and Manchester West”
Eric Emmerling’s response: First I personally agonize over the chore of ranking high school teams. Decisiveness is not one of my strongest personality traits. Wait staff lose patience with me perusing the menu. Plus, who can predict the fascinating unpredictable nature of scholastic sport. And, January and tourney time are two different animals. The great coaches develop teams with that in mind. Salem’s E.J. Perry has been consistently rotating nine players in and out of the game. He’s looking to test and evaluate during critical game situations, perhaps sacrificing points or defense in crunch time now in order to put the best team forward when it counts the most.
That said, I couldn’t find much argument for ranking the Pioneers first, given their explosive offense and cohesive team play. I might put Central ahead of Pinkerton, based solely on the program’s history of excellence and feeder program. I might change my mind given tonight’s activity – Central vs. Nashua South and Pinkerton playing Manchester West – and can’t wait to see the Little Green host Trinity on Friday.
I haven’t seen Pelham play, but am very impressed with Pembroke’s balanced scoring attack.
Nashua South should probably be on the list, especially if they test Central tonight. Londonderry is much better than their record. By season’s end, Salem will be in the hunt for a third-straight Class L plaque. They play defense and aren’t afraid to play physically or aggressively. Memorial has a couple of weaknesses. Coach Mike Fitzpatrick knows how to fix them. When the players respond, the top five list could get pretty crowded.
Eric Emmerling
There were plenty of individual match ups to watch while Trinity of Manchester upended Exeter, 74-45 in Friday’s battle of previously undefeated boys’ Class L squads. One particular match up battle overshadowed the entire affair.
Trinity brothers Richard and David Madol muscled underneath against Exeter’s big men: 6-foot-6 Alex Blomeke and 6-foot-4 Tucker Munro. The Madols gave up a few inches of height and pounds of muscle weight, but utilized their foot speed to box out and grab more rebounds.
Each backcourt’s defense stymied the other’s perimeter shooting. The Blue Hawks James Holler got physical with Trinity point guard Phil Hayden, who refused to back down. And Louie Vigars’ defense may have contributed to Cormac Fitzpatrick’s usual fireworks from 3-point land. A shooter knows how to stop a fellow shooter. Vigars sank one jumper and Fitzpatrick drained one trey.
Excluding Trinity’s excellent team play, which ensured its fifth straight victory of the season, most of the game’s intrigue came when Exeter’s Michael Thorpe – perhaps the best freshman in the state – battled with Trinity junior Jordan Laguerre – arguably the best Granite State player.
“He’s good. He’s got a quick first step,” said Laguerre of Thorpe, a wiry 6-foot guard who recently moved to Exeter from Florida. “He plays with a lot of confidence and I hear we’re going to be AAU teammates. That’ll be cool.”
Laguerre who fouled out of his first game of the season while taking his turn attempting to stifle the freshman, tallied 24 points. Thorpe finished the night with 17 while playing inside Trinity’s cozy McHugh Gymnasium.
“It’s an interesting place to play,” said Thorpe, after his team dropped to 5-1. “You can really hear the student section and they are into the game. If you do anything wrong they get on you. You better have your shoelaces tied, because they don’t miss much. It was fun to play here. After playing Trinity, we know how good we really are.”
Trinity fans certainly didn’t impact Thorpe’s game. He maintained his composure and played with a lot of poise, consistently finding a way to drive toward the paint and get off a pull-up jumper in traffic. He drove right or left with similar purpose and proficiency.
“He’s quite a player now and he’s going to get better,” said Exeter coach Jeff Holmes with a smile.
Laguerre wowed the faithful with his lightning quick crossover dribble and first step that turns defenders into spectators. While air born he improvises one move after another, moving the ball from one hand to the other while displaying the hang time of a hummingbird.
“I don’t really think about it, it just happens,” said Laguerre who netted transition baskets, post moves, mid-range jumpers, treys and a dunk in the Exeter win.
This was the second straight Friday Trinity dominated a previously undefeated foe. The Pioneers beat city rival West by 35 last week. Next Friday, Trinity visits Manchester’s Central.
Should the Little Green defeat Nashua South and the Pioneers beat Timberlane of Plaistow on Tuesday, there will be one last battle of unbeaten squads at 7 p.m. on January 30.
Eric Emmerling
Alvirne of Hudson posted its third overtime victory of the season, with a 61-50 comeback triumph over Nashua North on Thursday.
It was the second time this season Alvirne (3-3) defeated North in OT. North, which dropped to 1-5 had to make do without Kyle Pederzani, who may be out for the season with a keww injury.
Bronco senior Brennan Donnelly totaled 19 points and 17 rebounds while sophomore brother Caleb Donnelly scored 14 points. Other Bronco scorers included Sean Moyen (12) and Joe O’Hearn (10).
The Pembroke girls’ basketball team won its first overtime battle of the season with a 46-44 victory over Laconia on the same evening.
The Spartans’ Sarah Kelley went the game into overtime with a pair of clutch free throws. Sarah Chouinard scored the winning bucket off an offensive rebound in the final seconds of the extra period, upping Pembroke’s record to 3-8. Laconia dropped to 4-7.
Alex Hall led all scorers with 22 points.
Eric Emmerling
