RAYMOND, N.H. – The Stevens High School bowling team narrowly missed winning a third straight state NHIAA championship, dropping a 4-2 decision to Merrimack in the finals at the Strikers East Bowling Center.

Stevens, seeded fifth in the nine-team tournament, knocked off the No. 4 seed Bishop Guertin in the best-of-five first round, 3-0.

“They had beaten us twice in the Baker rounds during the season,” Stevens coach Sean Fitzpatrick said. “I told the team, this is revenge time and they responded.”

The Cardinals then beat Spaulding, the No. 9 seed, 4-0, in a best-of-seven. Spaulding had shocked top-seeded Keene in the first round, 3-2.

In the final againt Merrimack, the No. 2 seed won the first, second, (182-180 in the 10th frame) fourth and sixth games and Stevens won games three and five.

“We had only two seniors this year, Patrick (Fredette) and Chris (Goreski) and they showed up all day,” Fitzpatrick said. “Even though we came up short for a three-peat, the team stepped up and grew this year. I was really happy with how the team responded the past few weeks. And I want to thank my assistant coach, B.J. Corliss for his help this year.”

Fitzpatrick also praised the play of Devyn Corliss, Maddox Foster and first-year bowlers Tyler Christian and Ethan St. Aumand. Stevens will send eight bowlers to next week’s individual championship.

Windsor second at Maple Lanes

CLAREMONT – The Yellowjackets finished second in their final regular-season meet, losing to Brattleboro, 2-0, in the Baker round finals.

Windsor, the top seed, beat Hartford, the No. 4 seed, 2-0, in the first Baker match. Fair Haven defeated Hartford in the consolation match, 2-0.

Top qualifiers for Windsor were Avery Bean (174, 224) Alyssa St. Louis (161, 180) and Victoria Feickert (171, 127). Hartford’s top scorers were Connor Fredholm (171, 145) and Hailey Rogers (148, 124).

WrestlingMascoma’s Nestle wins state championship

BOW, N.H. – The Royals’ Damian Nestle successfully defended his individual state title at 220 pounds. Austin Crowder (114 lbs) and Asa Michetti (152) each finished fourth.

Blake Ploss of Newport (126 lbs) took third place in his weight class. Ploss defeated his Bow opponent, 14-4, then pinned his Plymouth opponent to reach the quarterfinals, where he won by a pin.

Ploss loss to the eventual champion, Luke Diamond of Plymouth, 5-4 in the semifinals.

Boys hockeyWoodstock 3, St. Johnsbury 3

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. – Two Hilltopper goals in the final seven minutes forged a tie.

Griffin Piconi had a hat trick for the Wasps (4-13-1) and Dominic Palazzo made 18 saves in Woodstock’s final game of the regular season.

Keene 5, Hanover 3

WEST LEBANON – The Bears got goals from Gavin Nartowicz, Trevor Lichtenstein and Ronan Przydzielski.

Przydzielski, Jack Gardner, Henry Cotter, Jack Wilkinson and Wyatt Seelig each had an assist and Jo Jo Drent made 25 saves against the Blackbirds (9-7).

“We had a rough start but the second and third periods played some our best team hockey of the season,” Hanover coach Dick Dodds said. “We need to carry that forward into last week of season.”

The Bears (7-8) play Trinity at home on Tuesday.

Girls hockeyWoodstock 2, Rice 0

WOODSTOCK – Izzy Konijnenberg scored in the second period and Hannah Gubbins added an insurance tally in the third. Meridian Bremel made eight saves to defeat the Knights.

Gracelyn Laperle assisted on both goals and Lily Gubbins had one assist. Woodstock (15-4) out-shot Rice, 34-8.

Woodstock finishes the regular season at home against Missisquoi Valley on Monday.

Hartford 4, Harwood-Northfield 0

MORETOWN, Vt. – Grace Hayes, Julie McDermid and Madison Barwood scored second-period goals to lift the Hurricanes (11-8) over the winless Highlanders (0-17-1). Madelyn Durkee scored in the third. Emma Bazin had two assists and Zoe Zanleoni and Sophie Trombley one each.

“Harwood’s goaltender played her usual phenomenal game with over 70 saves in a very one-sided game,” Hartford coach Kylie Young said. “It was certainly a glimpse into the future of our program as we ran a line with three freshmen and an eighth grader on defense.”   

Hartford travels to Brattleboro on Wednesday for its final regular-season game.

Lebanon-Stevens-Kearsarge 4, Exeter 3 (OT)

WEST LEBANON — Phoebe Ballard’s screened shot from the left wall midway through overtime lifted the Raiders to 9-6.

Olivia Pollard scored with five minutes remaining in the third period to force the extra session. She and Ballard scored the hosts’ first two goals.

Exeter is 7-10. LSK hosts Keene-Monadnock-Fall Mountain on Thursday. 

Hanover 3, Oyster River 2

WEST LEBANON – The Bobcats got a first-period goal but the Bears answered with two in the second and one in third.

Maggie Feng, Maeve Lee (unassisted, shorthanded) and Mackenzie Liu had a goal each with Nora Bradley and Rachel Rockmore adding assists. Oyster River (11-3-1) got one back with under two minutes to go. Eleanor Edson had 35 saves in net for Hanover.

“Seniors Kali McDonnell and Mackenzie Liu celebrated senior day with outstanding games for Hanover,” Bears coach John Dodds said. “Liu’s redirect of a Rachel Rockmore pass over the Oyster River goaltender’s glove was a highlight reel goal that turned out to be the game winner for Hanover.”

The Bears (11-3-2) are home against Pinkerton on Wednesday.

Girls basketballWhite River Valley 59, Green Mountain 20

CHESTER, Vt. – The Wildcats had a balanced scoring attack against the Chieftains (7-13), led by Jillian Barry with 16 points, Tanner Drury 15 and Ella Perrault 14.

White River (16-4), currently ranked fourth in VPA Division IV, will learn its first-round playoff seeding on Monday.

Fair Haven 66, Hartford 38

FAIR HAVEN, Vt. – In their final regular-season game, the Hurricanes were down just a point after one quarter, but were outscored 36-6 by the Slaters (17-2) in the middle two quarters.

Freshman Charlotte Jasmin led Hartford (10-9) with 26 points.

Bellows Falls 50, Rivendell 21

BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – Ryleigh Butler scored nine in the Raptors’ (1-19) final regular season game against the Terriers (6-14). Rivendell will graduate Butler and Jill Bushee.

Boys basketballBellows Falls 77,  Sharon 31

SHARON – The Phoenix fell to 2-15 and will welcome Long Trail on Monday.

Rivendell 53, Springfield 26

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Josiah Welch led a team-wide defensive attack and added 10 points and seven rebounds for Rivendell (14-4).

Derek Vogelien led the Raptors with 13 points. After a close opening quarter. Rivendell held Springfield in check for the second and third quarters to pull away for the win.

“Defense was the key today. Everyone was focused and locked in,” Rivendell coach Andy Perkins said.

Rivendell is home against White River Valley  on Tuesday.

Fair Haven 71, Woodstock 37

FAIR HAVEN, Vt. – The undefeated Slaters (19-0) were too much for Woodstock, which fell to 5-12. The Wasps are home against Windsor on Monday.

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