After getting off to a strong 3-0 start to the winter season, the Alvirne High School Girls’ Basketball team suffered their first loss of the season to the Pinkerton Academy Astros in the squad’s first game of 2025.
The Lady Broncos began the regular season with wins over Manchester Memorial, Goffstown and Keene, where they outscored their opponents 183-137, but in their return to the regular season, on Friday night, Jan. 3, scoring didn’t come easy and they fell 58-39 to the tough rival from Derry.
The Broncos put themselves in a bit of a hole early on, allowing the Pinkerton squad to get ahead 18-7 in the first quarter, but then shaved that 11-point deficit down in the second.
The AHS defense kept the Astros girls down to 11-points in the second quarter and scored 14-points of their own to trail 21-29 heading into the break.
In the fourth, the home team continued their positive trend, holding their rival to nine-points in the third, but were only able to put up ten of their own.
The game got away from the Broncos in the fourth, with Pinkerton putting up 20-points with four, three-pointers and four buckets.
Meanwhile, Alvirne was only able to collect eight-points during the final period resulting in the 19-point defeat.
Alvirne junior forward Julia Adams and senior guard Ella Hartson both scored 11-points to lead their team.
Hartson scored in two of the four quarters with one three-pointer, three buckets and two free-throws.
Adams had five baskets and one successful point at the line.
Sophomore forward Courtney Anderson scored nine-points in the game with four from inside the arc and one, free-throw.
Juniors guards Haylie Christman and Lexi Floyd both had three-points.
Pinkerton sophomore Brooke Benz put up 21-points to lead all scorers, with only one, three-pointer.
The Alvrine girls were scheduled to face two more tough teams this week and will finish their five-game home stand.
On Tuesday night, Jan. 7, they faced the Nashua South Purple Panthers (2-2) and on Thursday night, Jan. 9, the team will take on the 3-1 Portsmouth Clippers.
The game is schedule to begin at 6:30 p.m.
