The Londonderry High boys’ basketball squad’s hopes of snagging the title at the 41st annual Commonwealth Motors Christmas Classic in Massachusetts last week fell a single victory short.
The Lancers, who were competing in the Commonwealth Classic for the first time, were defeated by Lawrence Central Catholic by a 58-44 tally in the championship game at North Andover (Mass.) High School Wednesday night, Dec. 30.
The Bay Staters won every quarter but the second, grasping a slim advantage of 10-9 after one period but trailing Londonderry by a point (23-22) at halftime.
Central Catholic outscored the Lancers by a 36-21 margin during the second half to tally the win and the title.
Jake Coleman lofted home 19 points for the locals while Cole Britting collected 10 and Cam Reddy was good for seven.
The Lancers, who posted a 1-1 record in Division I play before the Christmas break with an overtime loss to Bedford and a win over Trinity of Manchester, had advanced to the Commonwealth Classic title contest by defeating the Lawrence (Mass.) High contingent by a 77-62 score in semifinal-round play two nights earlier.
The Lancer boys were next scheduled for three consecutive home games against Division I opponents, starting with Bishop Guertin this Wednesday, Jan. 5 after the Londonderry Times went to press, then the Exeter High Blue Hawks on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and finally on Friday, Jan. 22 against Merrimack High School’s tough Tomahawks.
The three games all had 7 p.m. start times.