Alan Greenwood

In reeling in the years, finding anything in Dec. 26 editions is a challenge. That’s because there isn’t a whole lot of news from local Christmas Day events.

So, we will commemorate the first NFL games played on Christmas Day – 1970 playoff wins by Miami over Kansas City (27-24 in overtime) and Dallas over Minnesota (20-12).

Here’s hoping everyone enjoys the holidays and that there is a memorable 2021 ahead. And may those memories be a bit more cheerful than those of 2020.

DEC 27, 1955 – “Sam Paul scored 20 points to lead Tony Marandos’ Nashua High Panthers to a 49-44 basketball win over Waltham High School.”

DEC. 28, 1965 – “Provided with an abundance of foul shots in the latter stages of the contest, the Bishop Bradley Pioneers capitalized on these gifts to record a 55-52 upset win over the Purple of Nashua High last night in the opening round of the Queen City Christmas Basketball Tournament.

“… Dick Dyer, Chuck Narkunas and Ray Boucher kept the Panthers in contention throughout … Dyer led the pack with 14 (points), followed by Narkunas (13) and Boucher (11).”

DEC. 29, 1975 – “A well-balanced scoring attack paced by captain Bob Shepard (18) and guard John Lavoie (16) lifted the Alvirne High basketball team to a 68-60 victory over Merrimack to win in the Tomahawks’ Invitational Tournament.”

DEC. 30, 1985 – “The big question after the championship game in the Nashua Holiday Basketball Festival on Saturday was: ‘Who will break the news to Patrick?’

“Ron Moye of Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven had just scored 35 points in his team’s 90-66 championship game victory over Nashua, one more than the tournament record he tired the night before with New York Knick Patrick Ewing.

“Ewing scored his 34 in the 1980 championship game against Holy Name of Worcester, Mass.”

DEC. 31, 1990 – “Jeff Hill scored three goals and assisted on another Saturday night as the Nashua High School hockey team knocked off Hanover, 5-2.

“… The Panthers went in front for good on a pair of first-period goals by Hill. The first was assisted by Frankie Ruel and Dale Matthew, while Sean Donovan and Joe Ouellette assisted on the second. After a scoreless second period, Nashua went up 3-1 when Matthew scored from Bill Caserella and Mike Lacasse.”

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