Prospect Mountain has final four in its sights
ALTON — It didn't take long for Prospect Mountain High School's boys' varsity basketball team to establish itself as one of the bulls of Division III. Though only in its ninth season, the team has appeared in a semi-final game in three of the last four seasons. Twice the team has played its way into the state championship match, including last year, when the Timberwolves gained a one-point lead with ten seconds to go, only to lose to Berlin, 51-53.
Could Prospect Mountain make it back to the big game this year? At the beginning of the season, it was looking doubtful. The Timberwolves were 1-2 after the first three games, and had lost their two highest scorers of the previous year. Looking back, coach Tom Bordeau thinks his team was suffering from a "championship hangover." Soon, though, the malaise wore off and Prospect Mountain went on a ten-game winning streak. "Losing two of the first three woke them up," Bordeau said.
With six games remaining in the regular season, Prospect Mountain has nine wins, three losses. And, although the team's record isn't as impressive as last year's was at this point, Bordeau thinks this year's Timberwolves will be stronger when they hit the post-season.
"This team is scoring more points, getting more rebounds," he said. No single player has stepped into the void left by the graduation last year of prolific scorers Zach Drouin and Pat Cassidy, said Bordeau. "It's more of a team concept. All my big guys were starters last year, so they've improved their scoring over last year," he said. "It works like a dream."
Spreading the offensive responsibility across all players on the court was a strategy that has paid dividends after the recent loss of Jay Mousseau, a forward who suffered a broken wrist in a game against Campbell and has a "slim chance," said Bordeau, of returning during the playoffs. The rest of the team has been able to step up, especially backup guard Nate Farnham who is filling in at forward.
"He's a hell of a defender," Bordeau said about Farnham. It's defense, in fact, that Bordeau will be focusing on in the final stretch of the regular season. Perhaps due to their offensive success, his players had let their defensive discipline slide. In their third loss of the season, which occurred on January 25, the Timberwolves allowed Raymond to score 81 points, the most that team has scored this season. "We were putting the points up there, I think we lost a little focus on defense."
After a couple of defense-centric practices, though, Prospect Mountain held Belmont to just 40 points on January 29.
Prospect Mountain will have a few regular-season opportunities to find out just how improved their defense is. They will play Gilford, Somersworth, and twice they'll play Berlin, including an away game on February 5 and at home to close out the season. Each of those teams has compiled records comparable to or better than Prospect Mountain's. "We've got some tough sledding ahead of us."
Does Bordeau think this is the year for Prospect Mountain? He won't tempt fate by guessing. "I don't think of the finals. I hope to get to the final four. You get to there and anything can happen. We're looking at the final four."
Could Prospect Mountain make it back to the big game this year? At the beginning of the season, it was looking doubtful. The Timberwolves were 1-2 after the first three games, and had lost their two highest scorers of the previous year. Looking back, coach Tom Bordeau thinks his team was suffering from a "championship hangover." Soon, though, the malaise wore off and Prospect Mountain went on a ten-game winning streak. "Losing two of the first three woke them up," Bordeau said.
With six games remaining in the regular season, Prospect Mountain has nine wins, three losses. And, although the team's record isn't as impressive as last year's was at this point, Bordeau thinks this year's Timberwolves will be stronger when they hit the post-season.
"This team is scoring more points, getting more rebounds," he said. No single player has stepped into the void left by the graduation last year of prolific scorers Zach Drouin and Pat Cassidy, said Bordeau. "It's more of a team concept. All my big guys were starters last year, so they've improved their scoring over last year," he said. "It works like a dream."
Spreading the offensive responsibility across all players on the court was a strategy that has paid dividends after the recent loss of Jay Mousseau, a forward who suffered a broken wrist in a game against Campbell and has a "slim chance," said Bordeau, of returning during the playoffs. The rest of the team has been able to step up, especially backup guard Nate Farnham who is filling in at forward.
"He's a hell of a defender," Bordeau said about Farnham. It's defense, in fact, that Bordeau will be focusing on in the final stretch of the regular season. Perhaps due to their offensive success, his players had let their defensive discipline slide. In their third loss of the season, which occurred on January 25, the Timberwolves allowed Raymond to score 81 points, the most that team has scored this season. "We were putting the points up there, I think we lost a little focus on defense."
After a couple of defense-centric practices, though, Prospect Mountain held Belmont to just 40 points on January 29.
Prospect Mountain will have a few regular-season opportunities to find out just how improved their defense is. They will play Gilford, Somersworth, and twice they'll play Berlin, including an away game on February 5 and at home to close out the season. Each of those teams has compiled records comparable to or better than Prospect Mountain's. "We've got some tough sledding ahead of us."
Does Bordeau think this is the year for Prospect Mountain? He won't tempt fate by guessing. "I don't think of the finals. I hope to get to the final four. You get to there and anything can happen. We're looking at the final four."
Last Updated on Saturday, 02 February 2013 04:51
Hits: 107
Plymouth State & NHDES agree to continue partnership aimed at environmental issues
PLYMOUTH — Plymouth State University and the Center for the Environment (CFE) and New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) have agreed to continue a joint partnership in protecting the environment and raising awareness and understanding of environmental issues in the North Country and Lakes Region.
PSU President Sara Jayne Steen and DES Commissioner Tom Burack signed the agreement in a January 28 ceremony, formalizing a two-year work plan to continue the work of joint projects for improved environmental protection with an emphasis on building understanding and involvement among local communities and organizations in the North Country.
"This agreement is important because it recognizes that in New Hampshire, a healthy environment and strong economy go hand-in-hand," Burack said. "For example, if we're taking care of Squam Lake we're going to have a stronger economy in the overall Lakes Region–that's the kind of thing that really makes a difference."
CFE Director Joseph Boyer said partnership gives students 'real-world' work experience while providing a valuable service to the people of the Lakes Region.
"This agreement and relationship is important because we value the shared services and shared abilities between academics and agencies and together we can provide a brighter future for environmental science, education and the economy," said Boyer.
CFE and NHDES have previously partnered on several research projects and the establishment of the Center's Environmental Research Laboratory, which serves as a satellite lab for the NHDES' Volunteer Lake Assessment Program.
PSU President Sara Jayne Steen and DES Commissioner Tom Burack signed the agreement in a January 28 ceremony, formalizing a two-year work plan to continue the work of joint projects for improved environmental protection with an emphasis on building understanding and involvement among local communities and organizations in the North Country.
"This agreement is important because it recognizes that in New Hampshire, a healthy environment and strong economy go hand-in-hand," Burack said. "For example, if we're taking care of Squam Lake we're going to have a stronger economy in the overall Lakes Region–that's the kind of thing that really makes a difference."
CFE Director Joseph Boyer said partnership gives students 'real-world' work experience while providing a valuable service to the people of the Lakes Region.
"This agreement and relationship is important because we value the shared services and shared abilities between academics and agencies and together we can provide a brighter future for environmental science, education and the economy," said Boyer.
CFE and NHDES have previously partnered on several research projects and the establishment of the Center's Environmental Research Laboratory, which serves as a satellite lab for the NHDES' Volunteer Lake Assessment Program.
Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 05:06
Hits: 76
Condodemetraky running for selectman in Belmont; Pike a 'likely' candidate
BELMONT — George Condodemetraky has signed up to run for a 3-year term as selectman.
The seat is currently held by Jon Pike who said yesterday that he would likely seek a third term but would wait until Friday, the deadline, to make his decision.
In other races, three incumbent members of the Budget Committee — Chair Ron Mitchell, and members Ken Ellis and Albert Ackerstrom have signed up for new three year terms.
Town Clerk-Tax Collector Cynthia DeRoy said there is one 1-year term without a candidate for the Budget Committee.
Planning Board incumbent Ward Peterson is seeking re-election but DeRoy said there is still one 3-year seat without a candidate.
Zoning Board incumbent Marshall Ford has signed up to run for both the 3-year and the 2-year seat. John Froumy has also signed up for the 2-year seat.
DeRoy said there are no candidates yet for the 3-year seat for Cemetery Trustee, for the 3-year seat for Library Trustee, and the 6-year seat for Supervisor of the Checklist.
DeRoy has also signed up for re-election as Town Clerk-Tax Collector.
The filing period ends Friday at 5 p.m.
The seat is currently held by Jon Pike who said yesterday that he would likely seek a third term but would wait until Friday, the deadline, to make his decision.
In other races, three incumbent members of the Budget Committee — Chair Ron Mitchell, and members Ken Ellis and Albert Ackerstrom have signed up for new three year terms.
Town Clerk-Tax Collector Cynthia DeRoy said there is one 1-year term without a candidate for the Budget Committee.
Planning Board incumbent Ward Peterson is seeking re-election but DeRoy said there is still one 3-year seat without a candidate.
Zoning Board incumbent Marshall Ford has signed up to run for both the 3-year and the 2-year seat. John Froumy has also signed up for the 2-year seat.
DeRoy said there are no candidates yet for the 3-year seat for Cemetery Trustee, for the 3-year seat for Library Trustee, and the 6-year seat for Supervisor of the Checklist.
DeRoy has also signed up for re-election as Town Clerk-Tax Collector.
The filing period ends Friday at 5 p.m.
Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 04:41
Hits: 77
City joins others asking for help with funding water-related projects
LACONIA — The City Council this week joined with a number of other municipalities across the state in urging Governor Maggie Hassan to restore funding for the State Aid Grant (SAG) program, which assists cities and towns in financing wastewater and drinking water projects as well as landfill closures.
Administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the program defrays between 20-percent and 30-percent of the principal and interest payments on borrowings to finance these projects.
In October 2008, the Legislature suspended appropriations for the program, which has gone without funding for the past four fiscal years. Some 124 eligible projects, including 100 wastewater projects worth $46-million, 17 drinking water projects worth $7.5-million and seven landfill closures worth $800,000.
As a member of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program, Laconia bears 40-percent of the cost of its capital projects and has received no assistance in servicing the debt on its $1,080,000 share of a $2.7-million wastewater project.
The council unanimously resolved to urge its representatives and state senator to restore the funding and, in a separate letter to the governor, asked her to include the necessary appropriation in the budget she will present to the Legislature next month. Myers said that the appropriation would be more secure as part of the governor's budget than if it had to be added to the budget in the course of the process.
Administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the program defrays between 20-percent and 30-percent of the principal and interest payments on borrowings to finance these projects.
In October 2008, the Legislature suspended appropriations for the program, which has gone without funding for the past four fiscal years. Some 124 eligible projects, including 100 wastewater projects worth $46-million, 17 drinking water projects worth $7.5-million and seven landfill closures worth $800,000.
As a member of the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program, Laconia bears 40-percent of the cost of its capital projects and has received no assistance in servicing the debt on its $1,080,000 share of a $2.7-million wastewater project.
The council unanimously resolved to urge its representatives and state senator to restore the funding and, in a separate letter to the governor, asked her to include the necessary appropriation in the budget she will present to the Legislature next month. Myers said that the appropriation would be more secure as part of the governor's budget than if it had to be added to the budget in the course of the process.
Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 04:37
Hits: 51
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