A frustrating and unexpected loss to the Dover High Green Wave followed by a hugely lopsided defeat of the Keene High Lady Blackbirds last week left the Londonderry High girls’ basketball squad contemplating its 13-3 Division I record as it rolls into the last week of the regular season this week.
The two-time defending D-I champs dropped a 54-49, double-overtime decision to a warm (three straight wins) Dover team on the Lancers’ home court Tuesday, Feb. 16. But they righted themselves three nights later with a 64-25 throttling of the Keene High crew.
In the disappointing extra-period loss to 8-8 Dover, the Lancers saw a double-digit lead slip away in the second half on the way to more frustration.
“We blew a 16-point second half lead,” lamented coach Nick Theos. “We stopped playing and Dover didn’t. They beat us. We played scared through the two overtimes and they didn’t. Give them all the credit. If we don’t play hard and together we can get beaten on any given night.”
Londonderry grasped advantages of 12-3 after one quarter, 24-10 at the half, and 32-22 going into the last period before things came tumbling down for the home-standing locals.
But the Lady Lancers left virtually no room for any sort of comeback by a Keene crew that moved to 4-13 with its lopsided loss three evenings later.
The locals outscored their guests by a 21-10 margin in period one, and by a stunning 23-2 tally in the second to carry a commanding 44-12 lead into the second half.
“The girls came out aggressive and up-tempo and let our press get turnovers,” said Theos. “We finished tonight much better around the rim as well.”
Kate Balcom tallied all of her 13 points in the first half, and Kelsey Coffey scored her 11 points during the first two stanzas as well. Jackie Luckhardt added eight points to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. Balcom added nine rebounds and six assists to her points, and Angela Peikert had her best game of the season in scoring six second half points.
The girls head into the final week of the regular season facing a Tuesday night, Feb. 23 road game at Manchester Memorial – after Londonderry Times press time – followed by a senior night contest back home against Nashua North on Friday, Feb. 26.
Kate Balcom scored 13 points in the first half against the Keene Blackbirds last week to help with the 64-25 win. Photo by Chris Paul