Seacoast roundup: Freshman McClure leads St. Thomas Aquinas in battle of unbeaten teams
DOVER - The St. Thomas Aquinas boys basketball team entered Thursday's Division III game against Conant with a 4-0 record.
So did Conant.
The Saints took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, but didn't score in the final 8 minutes and fell 39-35. Conant hit a 3-pointer and two free throws in the fourth quarter; the only points in the fourth.
"Two great teams went at it tonight and they hit the only shot in the fourth quarter," St. Thomas head coach Dave Morissette said. "Defensive battle, both teams learned a lot. Looking forward to building off this one."
Freshman Cole McClure led the Saints with 15 points, while James Allen and Will Mollica had eight and seven, respectively.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Winnacunnet 61
Manchester Central 55
MANCHESTER - The Warriors had three players score in double figures and earned their first Division I win of the season.
Senior Tyson Khalil went 13 for 15 from the free throw line and led Winnacunnet (1-3) with 17 points. Senior Tim Kollmorgen added 15 points for the Warriors, and Andrew Simmons had 13.
York 55
Marshwood 46
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - The Class B Wildcats trailed at halftime for the first time this season, but outscored Class A Marshwood, 35-25 in the second half for the win.
Connor Roberge led York with 16 points, while Reece Macdonald and Derek Parsons had 13 and 10 points, respectively.
York's Lukas Bouchard added eight points and 11 rebounds. Liam Tiernan led Marshwood with 24 points.
Spaulding 68
Timberlane 40
ROCHESTER - Sophomore Marcel Rose had a game-high 12 points as Spaulding had four players in double figures and won going away in a battle of winless Division I teams.
Senior Hunter Trueman had 12 points, while sophomore Kyran Jeanpierre and senior Paul Butler had 11 and 10, respectively.
Sophomore Brayden Crittenden and senior Nate Devin both scored eight for the Red Raiders.
Traip Academy 61
Boothbay Regional 53
BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine - Sam Jordan had 13 points and Nick Martine had 12 for Traip in this Class C South win. Terry Gagner added 14 rebounds for the Rangers.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
York 58
Marshwood 51
YORK, Maine - Ava Brent had 19 points and Nya Avery had 18 as Class B York held off Class A rival Marshwood.
Freshman Isabelle Tice led Marshwood with 15 points.
Pinkerton 84
Exeter 51
DERRY - Sophomore Jess Melick's 16 points led Exeter in its Divison I loss on the road.
Sophomore Anna McGuinness had 10 points and four steals for the Blue Hawks, and teammates Karli Scherpf (five rebounds) and Lexy Rogers (four assists) contributed.
St. Thomas Aquinas 49
Conant 42
JAFFREY - Junior Genna Bolduc had 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Saints earned this Division III win.
St. Thomas is now 4-1 on the season, while Conant is 2-2.
Sophomore Emma Toriello had 12 points for the Saints, while junior Emilie von der Linden had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Boothbay Regional 41
Traip Academy 39
KITTERY, Maine - The Rangers were outscored 17-5 in the fourth quarter and dropped this Class C South contest.
Lilly Stuart led Traip with 14 points, while Maddie Rondeau had 13.
Campbell 55
Somersworth 19
SOMERSWORTH - Riley Barton and Cayla Gonzalez each scored six points for Somersworth in this Division III loss. Leah Peña, Jaiden Timmons, and Kaylee Merrifield all played well for the Hilltoppers.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hampton Academy 28
Oyster River 18
HAMPTON - Emily LeBlanc had nine points, and Zoey Webber and Cailan Field both had six, leading Hampton. Teammates Vanessa Cronin (five rebounds) and Olivia Winters (three steals) played well.
-Coaches are asked to e-mail game summaries to sports@seacoastonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast roundup St. Thomas Aquinas boys basketball falls to Conant
