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BRIDGE B-BALL, PART 2: South girls pull away from North

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Jan 30, 2023

Nashua North's Grace Cardin (14) tries to make life difficult near the hoop for Nashua South's Ella Karavanic duirng Sunday's Battle of the Bridge at the Belanger Gym. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Total recall.

Yes, the Nashua High School girls basketball players had the blown early big lead and subsequent loss suffered vs. city rival Nashua North in last year’s Battle of the Bridge fresh on their minds on Sunday.

Thus they were determined to not let history repeat itself. Mission accomplished, in the form of a 43-27 win over the Titans at the Belanger Gym.

“It meant a lot,” South guard Maizie Barker said of last year’s loss. “We wanted to come out really strong here. Because we were really upset with how it turned out last year. I’m really happy with how we played today.”

South, now 3-7, was in control from start to finish, and it was just tough luck in this year of growing pains that the 0-10 Titans had to endure probably one of the best games the Panthers have played the last couple of years.

“We tried,” South coach John Bourgeois said. “We knew what had happened last year and we didn’t want to happen to us again this year. The girls played great. Everyone stepped up. … They earned it.”

It was just 6-5 Panthers after one quarter and then the needle pointed further and further South, as an Ella Karavanic 3-pointer turned a six point game into a 17-8 advantage with 2:55 left in the half. South led 23-11 at halftime and expanded the lead thanks to its defense to 36-17 after three periods. The Panthers allowed the Titans just 12 points in the middle two periods, and that was huge.

“In the second half,we had more quality shots than in the first, but we just weren’t hitting them,” North coach Curt Dutilley said. “When you’re young, eventually it impacts you.They (South) have a lot of experience.”

And that experience led them on Sunday, as six-foot Karavanic had 12 points while Barker had a game-high 13. North, meanwhile, had 10 points from Aidan Walker and five by Angela King. Neither could really get their outside game going, and that’s what the fairly undersized Titans need.

Karavanic caused problems for the Titans from the start.

“She’s a threat from everywhere,” Bourgois said. “She’s doing a lot better on decision making, being strong with the ball. She also is very good at finding her teammates if they double down on her.

“Credit North, they do a great job preparing for these games, they work hard, and they always compete.”

And Dutilley knows better days/seasons are ahead; the pipeline looks good and there is some young talent he is holding back on the sub varsity level to make sure it’s ready for prime time in the next couple of years ahead.

“When you’re not winning, your confidence level can’t find it’s normal peak,” he said. “The young girls will learn from (Sunday) and be stronger.”

Meanwhile South will follow the lead of its senior point guard Barker, who constantly slices and dices her way to the hoop, whether she ends up on the floor or not.

“She’s one of the quickest girls in the state,” Bourgeois said, “and we try to utilize that.”

Bourgeois sees this game as a stepping stone for his team to show it has the ability to win some more games.

“There’s been a couple of games this year where they’ve shown that potential,” he said. “It’s just about being consistent with that. Today they proved it.”

And said thanks for the memories.

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