Sabers come together for Class I tourney win

Thursday, March 4, 2010

It’s been 14 years since Souhegan High School won its last girls basketball championship, the second of back-to-back titles in 1996.

In those intervening years there hasn’t been a single trip back to the finals, which seems strange because the Sabers always seem to put a pretty good team on the floor.

They were perennial quarterfinalists and sometimes, like in the last two years, were good enough to get to the semifinals. They always had athletes, many of them two- or three-sport standouts.

But what was missing was usually pretty obvious; the one or two players who stood above the rest and could take them to the next level.

Players like Courtney Banghart and Jackie Lippe, who carried them to a pair of titles so many years ago.

While comparisons to Banghart and Lippe – both of whom went on have outstanding college careers at Dartmouth – are a little premature and perhaps a little unfair, the Sabers might finally have the players capable of taking them back to the promised land.

In Monday night’s 66-53 Class I preliminary round victory over Bedford, sophomore point guard Jane White and junior shooting guard Christan Wojtas combined for 47 points.

Each plays with the kind of confidence and poise you’d expect from a talented athlete that has decided to put all their efforts, 365 days a year, into one sport.

“Before, for most of our main players, basketball wasn’t the No. 1 sport,’’ White said. “It might be soccer, field hockey or volleyball.

“This year we have a number of players, like Christan and I, who play basketball all the time.’’

The same goes for 6-foot senior forward Ceara McNamara.

Then when you can add in a multiple sport athlete like 5-11 senior forward Jackie Jones, you have a team poised and determined to take the next step.

How important White’s leadership is, was apparent late in the first quarter, when she picked up her second foul. She went to the bench for about 30 seconds, when she was quickly summoned back into the game by coach Wiley Billings.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the team this winter is what they’ve overcome off the court, including a mid-season coaching change and the loss of not only their head coach, but other members of the staff.

Sitting on the bench beside Billings on Monday night was the team’s newest assistant, Athletics Director Chris Lavoie.

“I think all we’ve gone through this season has just made us stronger,’’ Wojtas said. “We’re a very tight knit team.’’

“I think it helps build character,’’ White said. “We’ve sat down as a group and discussed it. We’re all determined to do it this year.’’

A potential excuse has turned into a motivating tool for a now 17-2 team – which hosts No. 6 Kennett of Conway in Thursday night’s quarterfinals – just two games away from its first final appearance in 14 years.

“They believe they are going to the finals and so do I,’’ Billings said. “Sure there have been a lot of distractions.

“In some ways it’s like my 5-year-old nephew. He knows what’s going on around him, but he doesn’t let it affect him.’’

And the Sabers, who may finally have the right pieces in place to make another serious title bid, are determined not to let anything spoil that chance.

Gary Fitz can be reached at gfitz@nashuatelegraph.com or 594-6469.