By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
Based on the talent and experience in each team's starting five, Trinity of Manchester and Londonderry were considered by many to be co-favorites to win the Class L girls basketball championship this season.
Londonderry, a team that went 16-2 during the 2005-06 regular season, figured to have a frontcourt that featured 6-foot-3 center Steph Murphy, 6-foot-2 forward Jacqui White and 6-foot forward Kristen Love, but White and Love each received season-long suspensions Wednesday for violating the school district's athletic contract.
The suspensions were appealed to the superintendent's office Thursday, but the appeals were denied.
"It's too bad, because both girls worked hard all summer to improve as players," Londonderry coach John Fagula told the Nashua Telegraph. "But the kids are told time and time again that there is a no-tolerance rule. It's tough for the individuals involved, but it also impacts the entire team."
The Lancers, who lost to Bishop Guertin in the Class L quarterfinals last season, will now rely on Murphy even more. Murphy is a four-year starter who has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Boston College.
White has reportedly drawn attention from several Division I and Division II schools.
The suspensions leave the door open for Trinity, which returned four starters from a team that reached the Class L semifinals last season. Two of those starters, senior point guard Katie Larkin and senior forward Megan Jackson, were also impact players when Trinity won the 2004-05 Class L championship. Jackson is recovering from ankle surgery and may not be available until January.
Ashley Wright and Alex Hall are Trinity's other returning starters.
Football: Mr. Football Finalists Announced
The 14 finalists for the Friday Night Lights Mr. Football Award were named last week. The list includes six players from Division I, three from Division II, three from Division III and two from Division IV.
Here are the finalists: Shane McMahon (Salem), Jeff Ragoza (Pinkerton Academy), Bryan Farris (Pinkerton Academy), Jason Lane (Pinkerton Academy), Bill Ferriter (Nashua South), John-Leon Gosselin (Nashua North), Mark Spinney (Bishop Guertin), Josh Knox (Exeter), Michael Blouin (Spaulding), Rod Walker (Portsmouth), Alain Labbe (Souhegan), Sean Boyle (Plymouth), Nate Taylor (Franklin) and Jordan Smith (Bishop Brady).
The list will be narrowed to five before a winner is selected by a panel of media members. The award is sponsored by WGAM radio.
The past Mr. Football winners are Souhegan's Jeff Farrington (2002), Plymouth's Mike Boyle (2003), Manchester Central's Dave Philistin (2004) and Pinkerton Academy's John Sugrue (2005).
Girls Basketball: Central's Fremeau Nets 1,000th Point
Manchester Central's Whitney Fremeau, a 5-foot-11 guard, became the program's sixth player to score 1,000 points when she tossed in 17 during a 63-13 triumph over Spaulding in the Class L opener for each team.
Fremeau entered the season one point shy of 1,000 and reached the milestone on her second field-goal attempt early in the first quarter.
Fremeau has committed to play basketball at Holy Cross next year.