Derryfield opens fast, rolls to D2 girls basketball title over Pembroke (video)

DURHAM - The Derryfield School girls basketball team didn't spend all season thinking about a rematch with Pembroke Academy.

But it was in the back of the Cougars' mind, so when they got the chance to avenge a season-opening loss to the Spartans, they weren't going to let it slip away.

No. 2 Derryfield dominated the first half, hitting six 3-pointers and forcing 15 turnovers by No. 1 Pembroke, to roll to a 57-41 win to capture the program's first Division II championship Saturday at the University of New Hampshire's Lundholm Gymnasium.

It's the first girls basketball title for the Cougars (19-2) since 1998, when they won the Class S title for their only other championship in program history. They did by becoming the first team to beat Pembroke (20-1) all season after losing to them by seven points in the season opener on Dec. 12.

“I felt like there was a lot of pressure on them,” Derryfield coach Courtney Cheetham said. “We just tried to enjoy the experience, take in every moment, every day this year. We talked about being in the moment, being mindful, and having gratitude.

“I said before the game, be confident and enjoy every second because you don’t know in life when you’re going to have this opportunity again.”

Derryfield did just that, going on an 8-0 run to take an early lead and then opening the second quarter with another 8-0 run. The Cougars led by as many as 21 points in the first half and trailed just 1:45 of game time.

Anna Fazelat led all scorers with 15 points for Derryfield to go with six assists, four steals and four rebounds while Holly Dufoe (14 points) and Angie Kenison (13 points) each had three 3-pointers. The Cougars were 9 of 17 from behind the arc for the game, including 6 of 11 in the first half.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” Fazelat said of the 3-point shooting. “I think everyone just played exceptional, played all the way up to their potential.

“It was like, let’s just go out there and see what we can do. Let the chips fall where they may, lets see where all those hours of practice have gotten us.”

The Spartans got 13 points and six rebounds from Kate Stephens, while Anne Phillips was also in double figures with 11 points, including 7 of 10 from the free throw line.

But Pembroke was just 1 of 12 from behind the 3-point line and had just three assists to 23 turnovers.

Derryfield led 10-5 going into the second quarter, and after Dufoe opened the scoring in the frame with a 3, Fazelat stole the ball and went in for a transition layup to double the lead. After a timeout by the Spartans, Emma Sloper (nine rebounds) hit a 3 to give the Cougars an 18-5 lead.

Pembroke was able to keep it from getting worse by going 4 of 6 at the free throw line, but Dufoe hit another 3, and after a Spartans turnover, Fazelat tacked on one more. Ella LaFlamme then scored to give the Cougars a 32-11 lead with 1:38 remaining until halftime.

Phillips answered with a jumper and two free throws for Pembroke, but Derryfield went into the half with a 33-17 lead.

“I thought in the second quarter, we were able to hit some shots and separate,” Cheetham said. “That’s nice when you can do that.”

A three-point play by Stephens to open the third quarter got Pembroke within 13 points, but Derryfield answered with a 10-1 run, getting 3-pointers from Fazelat and Kenison, to take a 43-21 lead, the Cougars' largest.

“I think we have a lot of really good shooters on our team, and when we get hot, we just make all of our shots,” Dufoe said. “It just helped us to get up by a lot.”

Enough to allow the Cougars to cruise to the championship.