There was no letup in the ConVal boys’ basketball team during Tuesday’s Division II playoff opener against Kingswood. Never mind the opening 20-3 run, the three-point barrage and the crowd-pleasing clearing of the bench in the fourth quarter – the Cougars simply couldn’t afford to slow down, not now, when every game could be their last.
“The message was ‘stay on the gas pedal,’ said senior forward Malachi Page after No. 3 ConVal’s 71-40 blowout win over No. 14 Kingswood. “The job’s not done. We still have another half to play. We gotta keep going. And we wanted everyone involved. Everyone was all into it all game.”
Page scored 12 points and did a little of everything, taking charges, hitting layups and stealing inbounds passes to help the Cougars’ early run.
“[Page] really set the tone for us,” said ConVal head coach Jay Starr after the game, “and he’s done a great job coming off the bench for us all year. I think most teams would love to have a kid like him and he’d probably start, but he’s been an awesome sixth man for us. He brings that energy in the game.”
Tuesday’s game was played at Franklin Pierce University, as ConVal’s district meeting was scheduled for the high school gymnasium. The seeming loss of homecourt advantage was front of mind for ConVal fans, parents and even some players and coaches, but stepping out onto the big college floor for the first time was eye-opening, and the move gave the Cougars an early opportunity to play on a larger court similar to the state championship game venue at UNH.
“As soon as we walked through those doors, those guys were in awe of the lights and the really nice court,” Starr said. “After the fact, I think I can say that I’m happy that we played here and it was a good experience.”
It was another all-around effort for ConVal, as the Cougars showed why they are one of DII’s most dangerous teams. Joe Gutwein scored a team-high 14 with four of ConVal’s 10 three-pointers; Christian Buffum had 11, and Austin Knight and Owen McGuire had nine each.
“We spread the ball out,” Starr said. “These guys love playing with each other. We have no egos on our team. Whoever’s hitting the shots is hitting the shots. You saw Joe knocking down some shots, and the guys are just feeding off of that. And it’s a different guy every night.”
ConVal (16-3) is now set for a rematch – in the Cougar Cave – against No. 6 Sanborn Friday at 6:30 p.m. The Indians needed a fourth-quarter comeback to get past Bow in their playoff opener Tuesday; ConVal beat star guard Jared Khalil and Sanborn 77-73 back in December.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Page said. “It all starts on defense.”
Conant 43, Monadnock 42
Junior point guard Brynn Rautiola injured her ankle in Monday’s road game at Monadnock, but returned to hit the game-winning free throws as Conant survived their biggest test of the season and stayed undefeated.
Prior to Monday, Conant’s closest margin of victory this winter was 20 points.
Rautiola finished with 14 points and senior forward Teagan Kirby had 16, as the Huskies focused on center Emma Tenters and kept her scoreless in the first half.
The Orioles had an easier time with Raymond Tuesday night, winning 51-18.
The Orioles (16-0) have a busy week to wrap up the regular season, hosting Hopkinton Thursday and Newport Friday.
Conant 52, Monadnock 47 (OT)
The Orioles were trailing in the final minute of the fourth quarter Monday before a Manny Hodgson steal, fast break and free throws tied the game at 39 with 21.7 seconds remaining in regulation and set Conant up to get an upset win that shakes up the top of the Division III standings.
Hodgson finished with 12 points, as did Garrett Somero, and the Orioles improved to 8-8 with two games left. Conant was scheduled to host Raymond Wednesday and play at Newport Friday to conclude the regular season.