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# Souhegan returns to D2 championship with win over Lebanon
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/souhegan-returns-to-d2-championship-with-win-over-lebanon/
- Published: 2012-03-06T18:37:42.000Z
- Updated: 2012-03-06T18:37:42.000Z
- Description: MANCHESTER – Sixteen seconds might never have felt as long as it did for the Souhegan High School girls basketball team in its 49-48 win Monday over Lebanon in the Division II semifinals.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division III-IV, Winter Sports, Division II, girls basketball, Lebanon, playoffs, Souhegan, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shsgbball030512-shs4.jpg "SHSgbball030512 SHS4")

MANCHESTER – Sixteen seconds might never have felt as long as it did for the Souhegan High School girls basketball team in its 49-48 win Monday over Lebanon in the Division II semifinals.

It started when Ashley Tighe missed the front end of a one-and-one and Lebanon’s Colleen Taylor grabbed the rebound.

Souhegan’s Cammie Formby-Lavertu challenged Taylor enough to allow the Souhegan defense to get set and run off a couple of seconds before the No. 2 Raiders could get their offense set. With four seconds left, Taylor Friedman got an open look from behind the 3-point line, just slightly to the left of center.

Her shot was off the mark, but the rebound again went to Taylor, and the senior, who struggled through a 2-for-13 shooting night, had an opener jumper along the baseline. But Taylor’s shot was too strong and the ball came across the rim, right into the waiting arms of Tighe.

“I thought there was more time on the clock and I thought ‘what am I going to do?’ ” Tighe said. “I just held it and as soon as I heard the buzzer, it was complete relief.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shsgbball030512-s12-1.jpg "SHSgbball030512 S12-1")

The Sabers (17-4) rushed the court, celebrating a win that sends them back to the championship game for the second straight year. Last season, Souhegan finished off an unbeaten title with a win over the Raiders (19-2); this time, the sixth-seeded Sabers will face No. 5 Kearsarge in the final at 7 p.m. Friday at Southern New Hampshire University.

“It’s not over,” Souhegan coach Jeremy Faulkner said. “For how excited we are, there’s still one more to go.”

Souhegan will go for the program’s fourth title thanks, at least in large part, to Jane White.

The senior had a game-high 23 points, 15 of which came in the second half, to go with five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Perhaps the two biggest plays she made came with her on the floor.

With the game tied at 28 midway through the third quarter, White drove through the lane, but lost her footing and went to her knees. Somehow, to the surprise of two Lebanon players, she managed to keep her dribble and put up a shot that hit nothing but net.

“That was impressive,” Faulkner said. “I don’t think there’s anybody else in the state that could have done that. I’m not trying to brag, but that was unbelievable.”

With 30 seconds left in the game, and Souhegan up one after two White free throws, Lebanon’s Samantha McDonald missed the second of two from the line. White outjumped two Raiders, but again lost her balance as she came down with the ball. But as she fell, she was able to dribble the ball, keeping possession long enough for Faulkner to call a timeout.

“That might be the highest she’s ever gotten,” he said. “She makes my life so much easier. She is such a special player. She is a once-in-a-lifetime (player). When it counts, she’s automatic. She plays with so much poise, so much confidence and the team just rides that.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/shsgbball030512-l20s15.jpg "SHSgbball030512 L20S15")

The Sabers needed that in the second quarter. After getting out to a 10-1 lead, Souhegan struggled to hang on to the ball, and finished the half with 15 turnovers, 13 of which came on Lebanon steals.

“Their defense is good and they created the turnovers, but we just weren’t coming to the ball,” Faulkner said. “We got caught up in the emotions.”

The Raiders scored 21 points of 23 Souhegan turnovers, making up for a night that saw them shoot 26 percent from the field, including 5 of 22 from 3.

“The last possession of the game wasn’t the problem,” Lebanon coach Tim Kehoe said. “It was our inability to do the things we’ve worked on. You can’t win consistently by taking outside shots.”

The Sabers shot 45 percent from the field for the game, and outrebounded Lebanon 38-29\. Mickenzie Larivee (10 points), Tori Forrest and Ceara McNamara each had eight rebounds.

“It feels amazing, winning by one, especially against Lebanon,” White said. “Friday’s a whole new game and we have to focus on that. A championship game is a championship game. Everyone comes out to play and it’s a whole different ball game. We know we have to come and play strong no matter what.”