The Conant boys’ basketball team handed Division IV leader Concord Christian Academy its first loss of the season in Jaffrey Tuesday night, 46-43, after nearly handing the visiting Kingsmen the ballgame. 

One night after the CCA girls snapped Conant’s unbeaten streak, the Oriole boys put an end to the 15-0 start the Kingsmen got off to this winter as the No. 1 team in D-IV. 

“They could definitely compete in DIII,” Conant head coach Eric Saucier said after the game. “There's no doubt about it. They can compete, so it's good for us to have this towards the end of the year and good to play a team like that. You know, there are no easy ones with us, anyway. But to get a win like that is good.”

Saucier had junior Ben Sawyer on Kingsman star Brode Frink, who’s closing in on 1,000 career points as a sophomore. Sawyer held the lanky wing to 16 points, well below his average of 24.8.

“[Sawyer] knew his assignment,” Saucier said. “That was his job. And he did his assignment well. That's what we do, is play defense – and thank God we do.”

The Kingsmen average 68 points per game and were held to 25 points fewer Tuesday night; meanwhile, Conant had an extremely balanced scoring attack, as all five scoring Orioles – Jordan Nagle (10 points), Manny Hodgson (nine points), Jared Nagle (nine points), Lane LeClair (nine points) and Sawyer (nine points) contributed equally. 

“These guys share the basketball and they play well together,” Saucier said. “We've been looking all year for that consistency. To see that distribution of points tonight was really good against a very good basketball team.”

Despite that well-rounded game, the Orioles nearly let their game-long lead slip away, as they were sloppy against CCA’s press and turned the ball over too many times, allowing the Kingsmen to climb back into the ballgame. A LeClair buzzer-beater three extended Conant’s lead to 10 at the end of the third quarter, but the Kingsmen went on a run and nearly took the game back in the fourth; CCA got a turnover and went to the hoop on a fast break with a chance to cut the lead to three, but Dylan Adams chased the play down and got a resounding off-the-backboard block to stop the visitors’ momentum.

“Our goal is never stop playing, so Dylan did a good job to get back and got the block,” Saucier said.

With a little more sloppiness against the press, the Orioles let their lead dwindle to two in the final minute. CCA had a golden opportunity after turning over Hodgson in the frontcourt with 30 seconds left, but Hodgson stole the ball right back. Even still, after an Oriole made free throw, the Kingsmen had two shots at tying the game with three-point heaves, but they both clanked off the rim and the Orioles escaped. 

“We’ve got to learn how to finish games,” Saucier said. “We're still young, in that we don't have that one guy that can take over yet and take that leadership role and put guys in places. So we're learning and we'll get there, but it's still a process.”

Conant (11-6) finishes out its regular season Thursday at Kearsarge and should be a top-10 seed in the Division III tournament regardless of the outcome.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Concord Christian 56, Conant 40

The Orioles suffered their first loss of the season and only their second in the past four years Monday night at Concord Christian Academy. Last year’s Division IV champions, now up in DIII, lost by one in Jaffrey earlier this season, but in Concord, it was a whole different ballgame, as the Kingsmen used an active passing attack, a turnover-focused defense and a speedy running game to knock the Orioles back on their heels right out of the gate. 

Emma Tenters scored 18 points for Conant; Brynn Rautiola added 10. Emma Smith had a game-high 21 for CCA. 

Conant (13-1) was set to face Belmont Wednesday after press time and host Kearsarge for senior night on Friday. 

WLC 44, Pittsfield 21

The Warriors look to be playoff bound in their first year back on a Division IV schedule after beating Pittsfield 44-21 Monday night.

“We rebounded well tonight, and we had some offensive sequences where our passing was very efficient,” said WLC coach Tom Crowley.

Bri Fish had 22 points to lead all scorers, and Lexi Bausha had 12.

WLC 56, Nute 13

The Warriors demolished Nute on the road Tuesday night behind a balanced scoring attack. Bri Fish had 16, Kelsey Crouse 14, Lexi Bausha nine and Maddy Labrecque eight. 

WLC (8-8) finishes out with Pittsfield Thursday, and Mount Royal next Tuesday. 

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Pelham 63, ConVal 58

The Cougars played a hard-fought game with Pelham Tuesday night, ConVal coach Jay Starr said, but came up five points short, despite 18 from Joe Gutwein and 16 each from Noah Stewart and Ryan Close. 

ConVal (8-4) is home against Hollis-Brookline Thursday and Kingswood Friday.

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