By Jerry Liptak
Staff Writer

Though their 19-game winning streak was about to end, the girls of Derryfield’s basketball team were smiling on the sidelines at Plymouth State University. And why not?

The Derryfield duo of senior Kendra Decelle (right) and junior Rachel Romanowsky were the fastest to the floor to recover a loose ball in a Class S semifinal matchup at Plymouth State University. The girls teamed up late in the fourth quarter to score a clutch basket that sent DS to its first title game since 2000. The pair also led the team in scoring in the final. (Marc Thaler Photo)

The surprising group lost to just one team all year, the Class S state champs from Sunapee, who beat DS twice, once on Dec. 6, and again on Saturday, Feb. 26, for the state crown, 57-37.

The Cougars did not play well, but still found themselves within one point in the third quarter. That’s because this team, which finished 20-2, never stopped.

In the first half, DS shot 1-for-16 from the field. That’s six percent. The team had no assists and 14 turnovers. Kendra Decelle (more on her remarkable semifinal performance appears on Page B-2) put in the only field goal after nearly 10 minutes of play. DS allowed Sunapee to grab 14 offensive rebounds.

But decent free throw shooting from Decelle and Rachel Romanowsky, who also grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, kept the Cougars within 20-13 at the break.

With a rowdy crowd supporting the team, DS came out after the break and scored six straight points, pulled within 20-19, and had a chance to take the lead. Sunapee answered with a 9-2 run.

When the locals closed the gap to four points at 31-27, Sunapee responded with a 7-0 run. The lead was never below 10 points again.

But that will not take away from a remarkable campaign for Derryfield, which lost at Sunapee in December, 58-30, then ran the regular-season table, including a 53-46 win over Sunapee in early February.

Head coach Ed Lemire said this group, even in defeat, earned the right to smile – and made him smile.

“They worked hard in practice. They trusted me,” said Lemire, who will be inducted into the New Hampshire Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame March 20. “I said to them, ‘I knew you’d be good. But I didn’t know you’d be this good.’”

Game notes
Romanowsky scored 13 points to go with her 16 boards. Decelle led the team with 17 points. Stephanie Foote, Stacie Foote and Julia Maldonado all scored two points, while Katt Bolduc hit a free throw.