Alan Greenwood

We open 2021 by honoring a Nashua man who has dedicated so much time, effort and caring for local athletes, for so many years.

If anyone out there can remember a time when Al Savage was not active in promoting youth sports, let them speak now.

JAN. 2, 1976 – “Tomorrow afternoon, the Fourth New Hampshire Elks’ southern district Hoop Shoot will be held in the Dover High School gymnasium. Six Nashua champions – Sandy Toth, Debra Migneault, Dot Marcoux, Steven Piwowarski, Clint Walker and John Rioux – will represent the area.”

At the end of the above quoted news brief, Savage was recognized as the event’s co-chairman. Twenty years earlier, Savage was among those active in establishing Biddy Basketball in Nashua.

JAN. 3, 1961 – “With Bill Newcombe and Paul Roberts hitting the nets with 28 points apiece, the Hollis Cardinals romped to a 72-47 win over the Brookline Town Team in a Hollis Town Hall engagement.

“Altogether the winners registered 36 field goals for the 72 points and didn’t collect a single free throw.”

Clearly the officials who worked the game were not homers.

JAN. 4, 1971 – “Trailing by as many as 10 points, the Nashua High track team dramatically came from behind to knot Deering High (of Portland, Maine), 36-36, in their season opener at Durham. Down by nine points and with only the 300-yard run left, the Panthers faced almost certain defeat.

“However, the determination of the runners in the 300, led by Rick Nason, Fran Tkaczyk and Bruce Hall, came through in fine fashion to deadlock the score.”

JAN. 5, 1976 – “Nashua High maintained its dominance over cross-town rival Bishop Guertin as it downed the Cardinals 3-1 in a very exciting and rough game Saturday at Skate 3.

“At 9:12 of the first period, the Cardinals broke a scoreless tie when Eric Collins tipped in a slapshot by Mike Ayotte. … Rich Murphy fired a slapshot that was redirected in front by Dave Morgan and past Cardinals goalie Dave Dion to even the score at one all.

“At 48 seconds of the middle period, Nashua tri-captain Bob Beardsley put his team on top when he took a pass from Bob Goddu and rifled a shot from the top of the faceoff circle to beat Dion. … At 1:48 of the third period, Steve Patno gave Nashua an insurance goal.”

JAN. 6, 1981 – “Mount St. Mary, playing without its top scorer, Donna Ferrie, pulled together for a 35-33 victory at Con Val Regional High School on Monday night.

“The Cougars had the ball with eight seconds left and a chance to tie it, but the Mountie defense, particularly center Lori Lorman, prevented Con Val ace Linda Kelly (23 points), from getting a shot off, preserving the win.”

JAN. 7, 1986 – “When people talk about the Nashua High School girls basketball team, the conversation usually focuses on the Purple Panthers’ high-scoring, fast-break attack, which has now produced an average of 74 points per game. Still, if there’s anything tougher for Class L teams than stopping Nashua’s offense, it’s scoring on the Purple Panthers defense.

“Take Monday night’s Nashua triumph over Manchester West, a 96-34 decision that brought the Panthers’ record to 8-0, running their two-year win streak to 27 games (33 overall)

“Nashua held the Blue Knights to three first-quarter points, allowing it to build a 20-point lead by the end of 48-14 by halftime.”

JAN. 8, 1966 – “Receiving stellar performances from a trio of Lance Fraser, Terry Briggs and Adam Gureckis, the Spring St. Junior High basketeers romped to an impressive 74-42 victory over the Pinkerton Academy freshmen yesterday afternoon at the Raiders home court.”