By Chris Paul
The Londonderry High School Girls’ Basketball team had a busy week, competing in three Division I games, in which they were able to complete their first three-game winning streak of the season.
The three wins boosted the team record up to 7-6 and give them an above .500 record for the first time this season.
The Lancers squad’s week began with a road trip victory at Merrimack High School, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, where they were able to get their fifth win of the season against the Tomahawks with a 52-43 result.
Three nights later, on the road, Londonderry was able to get their second consecutive win with a 41-36 victory over the Lady Pioneers of Trinity High School.
The LHS squad led in each of the four quarters starting with a 12-8 finish of the first period followed by a slim 16-15 lead going into the half.
In the second half, Londonderry was able to outscore Trinity 10-8 in the third and 15-13 in the final quarter for the win.
Freshman forward, Sammie Sullivan, was the team’s highest point getter with 16-points. Senior Jordon Furlong followed with eight-points and senior Shannon Ball had seven.
The following afternoon, at home against the Hanover High School Bears, Londonderry was able to come away with a 49-44 comeback victory after trailing in the first three quarters and without the team’s usual high-scoring freshman Sullivan. Sullivan was off due to illness for Saturday’s game.
Fellow freshman Brooke Eacrett came up big in the fourth quarter for her team, sinking five of five foul shots and getting six two-point baskets to help propel the team’s third victory in five days.
The Hanover squad came into the game sporting a 10-2 record, but the tight Londonderry defense was able to keep the game to a relatively low-scoring affair.
The Lady Lancers trailed 12-7 after the first quarter, but matched the Bears 13-13 in the second, leaving a 25-10 deficit heading into the half.
In the third, LHS scored 14 to Hanover’s 12 and finally took the lead with just 1:56 left in the game after Eacrett scored on a successful lay-up and a foul to give Londonderry a 45-44 advantage.
Eacrett had four more successful foul shots for the victory.
After the game, head coach, Jon Dorherty, was beyond proud of the effort. He said, “Our kids did an amazing job of never giving up or putting our heads down without Sammie today. The beginning of the game we were struggling to look for our shots, but once I called a time out and gave them a pep talk we rolled from there. We kept things very positive at halftime and eventually the team stepped up and took over with the help of Brooke Eacrett, who clinched the game for us, amazing team win, couldn’t be prouder.”
Eacrett led her team in scoring with 14-points followed by sophomore guard, Kate Sloper, with 10-points, and sophomore guard, Reagan Anderson, who finished with eight. Furlong had six-points in the win.
The team will try to continue their streak on Friday night against the Winnacunnet Warriors who currently have just one win this season.