By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Slashing through the three-second lane in the Class L title game's opening minute, Trinity's Katie Larkin of Goffstown missed a tough shot in the paint. The sophomore would have her revenge, however, scoring 14 points and hitting six of her eight fourth-quarter free throws to cement the Pioneers' championship win. (Marc Thaler Photo)

MANCHESTER – Facing a team of destiny from Dover in the Class L girls basketball championship, Trinity of Manchester proved the hardwood's higher powers couldn't cast a spell strong enough to stop the Pioneers from claiming the state crown.

Against the eighth-seeded Green Wave – which upset two teams, including No. 1 Pinkerton Academy of Derry, on its way to the finals – the No. 2 Pioneers were tested. But in the end, Trinity's collection of talent was too much, translating into a 56-48 triumph inside the Southern New Hampshire University Fieldhouse on Friday, March 11.

"It's a matter of the little things (Trinity) did well in the fourth period," said Dover head coach Paul Whitmore, whose team trimmed a double-digit third-quarter deficit to two points midway through the final frame. "Championship teams do all the little things. They did it. They deserve it."

"We talked about just going out and playing basketball," said THS head coach Kerrie Moynihan, whose girls were 21-1 in Class L action. "We said we're one team, one heart. And no matter what happens, nothing was gonna break that down."

Early on, however, it appeared foul trouble might be the Pioneers' downfall.

Kelley Flynn of Hopkinton and Megan Jackson – sophomore standouts and transfers to Trinity prior to the 2004-05 season – both picked up quick fouls. The 6-foot-4 Flynn was forced to the bench just 2:50 into the game after being whistled for her second infraction.

As a team, Trinity had five team fouls at the 3:56 mark of the first quarter. Dover built a 4- 0 lead before the high-powered Pioneers' offense finally scored on a three-pointer by Bedford's Danielle King with 3:22 remaining in the first.

Despite the slow start from the field, Trinity grabbed its first lead at 1:04, when fellow transfer and sophomore point guard Katie Larkin of Goffstown cut through the paint for a layup and 7-6 THS edge.

The Pioneers prevailed in the dictated the pace.

After the Green Wave lost at Trinity on Feb. 22, 69-49, Whitmore said Dover had to keep the Pioneer point total in the 50s for a chance to win.

"We knew this was gonna be a tough game," Moynihan said. "We kept saying if it gets tight, don't panic – no matter how tough it gets."

Although Trinity's team fouls continued to add up in the second, the locals started to grab momentum and force a few fouls of their own.

Tied 13-13 with 4:54 until halftime, THS began to pull away.

Although she picked up her second foul just before the 4:00 mark, Trinity's Jackson was establishing herself in the low post, pulling down 10 first-half rebounds, eight on the defensive end.

Trinity took a 22-15 advantage into the break, but could've added to its cushion with better shooting from the charity stripe. At the half, the Pioneers were 8- for-18 from the line.

"The shots weren't going in for us in the first half – that happens," said Larkin, who later played a hand in changing her team's fortunes with the free tosses. "Our team, we have great shooters. We went into the half saying, ‘Keep shooting – they're gonna fall.'"

As Larkin predicted, the Pioneers began to find the range. The team also noticed Dover had no match for Flynn, who battled double teams and went to work in the paint.

"I was a little nervous (playing with foul trouble)," said Flynn, who notched seven points and five rebounds in the third quarter before being tagged with foul No. 3 in the frame's final minute. "I tried to be careful, tried not to foul. I tried extra hard not to do anything (to earn a third foul)."

"She's 6-4 and has been working against (receiving extra attention) all year," Moynihan said. "She kept her composure."

Trinity's lead remained seven points after three, 37-30.

In the fourth, the composure Moynihan spoke about when describing Flynn became a common characteristic of all her players.

Dover seniors Nikki Jenis, Laureyn Furtney and Amy Smith – who combined for 36 points – led the Green Wave on a run that pulled the underdogs to 44-42 with 4:37 to play.

Just 44 seconds later, Jackson was called for her fourth foul. But on Dover's next possession, down 45-42, Jackson helped THS regain control, drawing her first of two charges.

Larkin, who scored 14 points, grabbed three rebounds and added an assist, also played a pivotal role in squashing the Wave's collective hope of scoring another upset, going 6-for-8 from the charity stripe in the fourth.

"When it gets that close in a game, you can't get nervous – we've learned that," Larkin said, referring to Trinity's semifinals win against No. 3 Merrimack, where THS almost squandered a 26-point lead.

"We like to keep the game close, then pull it out," Flynn said with a smile. "We really wanted it to be a tight game."

"I had an extremely tough team," Moynihan said of her girls. "They didn't take their talent for granted."