High School Sports

February 08. 2013 12:43AM

NHIAA Roundup: Central, down 18, rallies to another win

Linked articles:
Jim Fennell's High School Hoopla: Regular-season losses sting, but ...
NHIAA Girls' Basketball: Londonderry starts fast, tops Alvirne
NHIAA Boys' Basketball: Spaulding pulls past Bedford

Down by as many as 18 points in the first half to 13th-ranked Salem, Manchester Central battled back and kept its unbeaten season intact with a 69-60 Division I boys' basketball decision at Simon Gym in Manchester.

Central is 13-0 while Salem, which became only the second team this season to score 60 points against the Little Green, fell to 4-8.

Trailing 53-45 entering the fourth period, Central scored the first 14 points of the final frame to take control of the contest. Troy Pelletier (23 points), Brett Hanson (10 points) and Tyler Kelly (15 points) each scored six points during a 24-point fourth-period barrage to lead the comeback.

Salem, behind 13 first-half points from Andrew Ruffin (20 points), scored 38 in the first half and at one point led by 18 points before settling for a 38-24 halftime lead. Central cut the deficit to 50-45 before Ruffin sank a three-pointer to give Salem the eight-point advantage with eight minutes to play. Ruffin had four three-pointers in the game.

Central was clutch at the free throw line, hitting 20 of 30 attempts including nine-of-12 in the fourth frame. Salem was 9-of-15 in the game. Mike Plentzas contributed 11 points in the win.

Alvirne 52, Londonderry 45: In Hudson, Tyler Brown had a game-high 18 points to pace Alvirne. Alec Yoksh added 10 points for Alvirne (7-5). Maxwell Coleman led Londonderry (4-8) with 13 points and Brendan Enright chipped in 11 points.

Lebanon 67, Goffstown 53: In Goffstown, Dave Hampton exploded for 30 points with six three-point shots to lead Lebanon (10-3). Freshman Mike Bailey had a career high in points (16) and three-pointers (five) in the loss for Goffstown, 4-9. Lebanon (10-3) avenged an early-season 67-64 home loss to Goffstown.

Girls' basketball

Lebanon 61, Goffstown 36: In Lebanon, Alicia Minnich scored 10 points for Goffstown (9-6). Lebanon is 14-0.

Bedford 72, Spaulding 36: In Bedford, Nikki Tucci led all scorers with 17, McKenzie Brown had 12 points and Bri Purcell added 10 points and four assists for the Bulldogs. Bedford (13-2) led 37-9 at the half against 4-12 Spaulding.

Derryfield 44, Wilton 22: In Manchester, Rachel Larrivee had a double-double with 10 points and 17 boards as Derryfield rebounded from a 28-point loss to Wilton earlier in the season.

Hannah Comeau scored 12 points, Hannah Zinn added 11 points and Liz Krogman had 10 rebounds for Derryfield (7-9). Deanna Davidson had six points for Wilton (7-9).