By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
Salem High School's Stephen Savage would have a difficult time writing a better ending to his senior season than the one he experienced earlier this month.
After hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer in Salem's 54-51 victory over Trinity of Manchester in the Class L championship game, Savage, a 6-foot-3 guard, took home one of the state's top honors when he was named Mr. New Hampshire Basketball.
Savage helped Salem secure the top seed for the Class L tournament by leading the Blue Devils to a first-place finish in the regular season, and is one of five players who was selected to the Class L All-State First Team. That team also includes Keene's Pat Luptowski, Londonderry's David Aquilino, Bishop Guertin's Mike Brion, Spaulding's Lucas Croteau and Nashua South's Sammy Alexanian.
Trinity's David Keefe was selected as the Class L Coach of the Year.
Londonderry center Stephanie Murphy received the Miss New Hampshire Basketball honor.
Murphy, a four-year starter who has committed to Boston College, averaged 22 points per game last season. She was named to the Class L All-State First Team for the third consecutive season. Other members selected to the Class L First Team are Manchester Central's Whitney Fremeau, Winnacunnet's Abigail LaRosa, Timberlane's Magdala Johnson, Bishop Guertin's Lindsey Miller and Trinity's Megan Jackson.
Winnacunnet's Ed Beattie, who guided the Warriors to the Class L title, was named the Class L Coach of the Year.
Hockey: All-State Teams Announced
Bishop Guertin goaltender Taylor Wood (Division I), Spaulding forward Jaime Ferullo (Division II) and Somersworth forward Bryant Lausberg (Division III) were each selected as the Player of the Year in their respective divisions.
Wood helped Bishop Guertin win the Division I title, Ferullo's Spaulding team won the Division II title and Souhegan won the Division III championship.
The All-State selections by division:
Division I: Wood, Bishop Brady forward Chris Hickey, Pinkerton Academy forward Nick Stefanelli, Berlin forward Travis L'Heureux, Bishop Guertin defenseman Zach Bradanick, and Nashua North defenseman Tommy Woods.
Division II: Ferullo, Dover forward Michael Tiano, Timberlane forward Luke Goulet, Spaulding forward Matt Norraik, Spaulding defensman Kyle Davis and Bow goaltender Corey Cotnoir.
Division III: Lausberg, Somersworth forward Bryan Hogan, Kennett forward Mark Lane, Portsmouth defenseman Tyler Schwartzmiller, Souhegan defenseman T.J. Dineen and Souhegan goaltender Joey Giarrusso.
Bishop Brady's Clint Edinger (Division I), Timberlane's Andrew Merrick (Division II) and Somersworth's Wayne Sheehan (Division III) were each selected as Coach of the Year in their respective divisions.
Football: Raymond Proposal Defeated
An attempt to add football at Raymond High School met a roadblock when the proposal to fund a football program was voted down at Raymond's town election earlier this month.
Article 16, which asked voters to approve a $40,000 expenditure to start a football program at the school, was defeated 804-619. Pat Larney, a resident who is supporting the proposal to fund football, told the Rockingham News that voters will be asked to approve football again next year.
"One of the things we need to do is get a larger group of people out to help spread the word about football," Larney said. "We tried to get out a lot of info in a short period of time. Next year I want to make sure I appear at both the School Board and Budget Committee and try to gain their support."
Larney also said Raymond's students will be asked to play an active role in the drive to start a football program at the school.
A proposal to spend $25,000 to add football at nearby Sanborn High School in Kingston was voted down in 2005, but approved in 2006. Sanborn field a junior varsity and a freshman team last fall.
