By Chris Paul
The Londonderry High School Girls’ Basketball team was able to capture its first Division I home win of the season against Salem High School behind some outstanding plays by a few of its younger players.
Freshmen Brooke Eacrett and Samantha Sullivan combined for 25-points and sophomores Kate Sloper, Mia Giampa, and Reagan Anderson finished with 14 to help the Lady Lancers get their third win of the season.
The two teams started off fairly evenly, on Friday night, Jan. 13, with both sides trading baskets in the first quarter and Salem taking a 12-10 advantage before the quarter ended.
The Londonderry defense tightened up significantly in the second quarter, with LHS allowing just three-points to the Blue Devils in that period on three foul shots.
Londonderry had 14-points in the second to lead 24-15 at halftime.
Salem wasn’t very successful at the basket in the third period either, with the Lancers allowing just seven points, while getting 112 of their own.
Leading 38-22 in the fourth, head coach, Jon Doherty, replaced his starters to give the bench some game-time.
Salem took advantage of that, and made the outcome much closer than Doherty would have liked, but LHS prevailed 46-24.
Doherty was very pleased with the way his team came together in the game, saying, “That was the best team game we had all year.”
Eacrett led the Lancers in the game with 13-points with one, three-pointer and six free throws. Sullivan put up 12-points in the game including 2 three-pointers. Sloper finished with nine-points and senior Jordon Furlong had four.
Doherty is hoping this was a turning point in the season, saying, “Something at practice yesterday just sort of clicked and we all seemed to be on the same page. The freshmen seem a lot more comfortable with Eacrett and Sullivan scoring well to start and after that, it was spread out and collectively everyone has bought in.” He added, “I’m proud of them.”
The outcome wasn’t as good earlier in the week when the team traveled to Dover High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and came up just short in a 54-51 loss.
The Lancer ladies were ahead 32-26 by the end of the first half, but went cold in the third, scoring just five points and allowing Dover to lead 38-35 headed into the final period where they held on for the victory.
Sullivan had 20-points with four, three-pointers and Furlong racked up 15-points. Sloper and senior Shannon Ball each had six-points in the loss.
The Lancers are scheduled to play Pinkerton Academy on Friday night in Derry starting at 5:30 p.m.