> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Nashua South girls basketball controls third quarter on way to win over Nashua North - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/nashua-south-girls-basketball-controls-third-quarter-on-way-to-win-over-nashua-north/ - Published: 2019-02-02T14:18:02.000Z - Updated: 2019-02-02T14:18:02.000Z - Description: NASHUA – The Nashua High School South girls basketball team knew what was at stake on Friday during its showdown against Nashua North. City bragging rights were on the line, but also playoff positioning, as the Panthers tried to distance themselves from the basement in the Division I standings. The - Author: Trevor Wenners - Tags: Division I, girls basketball, Nashua North, Nashua South, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 NASHUA – The Nashua High School South girls basketball team knew what was at stake on Friday during its showdown against Nashua North. City bragging rights were on the line, but also playoff positioning, as the Panthers tried to distance themselves from the basement in the Division I standings. The laser-focused Panthers passed the test with flying colors, putting three players in double figures, and utilizing a 25-point third quarter to chase the Titans out of the gym during a 70-57 triumph. Sophomore Aryanna Murray was the star of the show for South (4-9), as she dropped 10 points in each half for a team-high 20 points, to go along with two treys. Junior center Kirsten McIntire (14 points) and senior guard Jasmine Sylvester (12 points) also starred in the win. South currently sits in a tie for the 13th slot with Concord in the D1 standings, as the top 14 teams qualify for the tournament. “We knew that it was a big game because of the Battle of the Bridge, but also looking toward postseason, we needed this win,” Panthers coach Doug Booth said. “All of the players stepped up offensively and defensively. The effort was great all night long. We were active and initially tried to pound the post, and once they adjusted to that, we opened it up a little bit more and got some easy drives to the basket.” Senior guard Arianna Motivala led all scorers for the Titans (2-11) with 22 points, while senior forward Katherine Carr recorded an 11-point effort. Carr went 5 for 5 from the free throw line, and Motivala made 9 of 11 at the line. North came out playing a good brand of basketball and took an early 13-8 advantage on a right-wing three-ball by Motivala with 3:28 left in the first. Neither team was able to build a lead of more than five points in the first half. The Panthers evened the score at 15-15 on a layup by sophomore Julianna Martin 45 seconds into the second. A layup in the final moments of the half by McIntire gave the hosts a 28-26 lead heading into intermission. South flipped the switch in the second half, winning the third quarter, 25-14, as the unit built a 35-29 cushion on an old-fashioned three-point play by junior forward Catherine Covert. Carr responded with a layup for North, and then the Panthers hit the Titans with a 9-0 run, featuring three layups and a step-back 3-pointer by Murray, giving South a 44-31 edge. The lead was extended to 18 points on two occasions in the frame, but four straight points in the final 20.6 seconds by Titans sophomore guard Lillian Brooks trimmed the deficit down to 53-40 going into the fourth. “We told the players not to let up anything in the third quarter,” Booth said. “The third quarter was pivotal and we all knew it. They went out and took care of business.” Covert showed a great deal of mental toughness for the Panthers, as the well-rounded athlete was held scoreless in the opening 16 minutes, but came alive in the second half with nine points. She compiled two big-time plays in crunch time during the fourth to clinch the win. The visitors were hanging around and cut the lead down to 56-45 early in the fourth, but Covert buried a straight-on jumper and finished a difficult transition layup, pushing the lead back up to 15 with five minutes left. North battled to the final whistle, but it was not able to get closer than eight down the stretch. The Titans will travel to Exeter for a 6:30 p.m. showdown on Tuesday. The Panthers, who have won two of their last three games, will host Trinity on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., as the group will try to continue its playoff push with five regular-season games remaining. “We need to continue to work together,” Booth said. “As a team, we continue to believe in ourselves. If we continue to have trust in one another, then we are going to finish the season the way we want to.”