MANCHESTER — Daniele Crutcher had airballed two 3-pointers during the Division 1 title game yesterday and the Winnacunnet student section wouldn't let her live it down.
"Airball, airball, airball," the Winnacunnet fans screamed at her.
That didn't stop Crutcher from firing up another crucial 3-pointer from the corner with 2:56 left in the contest.
Swish. It went in to cut the Winnacunnet lead to 47-43.
"I just tried to erase the other 3s that I airballed," she said. "I told myself, 'I know how to shoot 3s. I am a 3-point shooter and I can do it.'"
Crutcher had a strong championship game despite Londonderry's 55-46 loss to Winnacunnet, which won its fifth straight state title and 70th straight game.
Crutcher scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, made three steals and had one assist in 25 minutes of play.
"The whole game, we were not going to go down without a fight," Crutcher said. "That was our motto."
Crutcher always lives that way.
Last January, she spent seven days and eight nights in the hospital with viral meningitis and shingles.
The senior worked hard in physical therapy and was back playing basketball by playoff time, although she didn't play much because she still felt weak.
This year, Crutcher was a very important part of Londonderry's title run.
"She's been playing hard all year," said Londonderry coach John Fagula. "I think one of the games earlier in the tournament, she struggled early on, and I kind of got in her face a little bit because she's one of those kids that you can do that with. You almost need to because she reacts fairly well to that kind of stuff.
"She ended up coming back and scoring like 15 in the game after really doing nothing for the first quarter or so. And same kind of thing tonight. She struggled with a few things early but they're not going to stop playing hard."
Crutcher rolled her ankle during the semifinal game vs. Alvirne but played through it.
"It was taped up today," she said. "I had an ankle brace. It was very sore. But whatever, I just played through it."
Crutcher, who has received a partial scholarship to play softball at UMass Lowell next year, said losing in the basketball championship game only motivates her even more to have a strong softball season.
Still recovering from the viral meningitis, she struggled at times on the diamond last spring.
"We have 11 returning," she said. "We lost last year in the championship to Salem. So this year, we're ready. ... I can play better. I know I can. Going into it, I was sick. It took a lot out of me. But this year, I'm healthy. And I'm ready to get out onto the field. ... I'm ready to move on (from basketball)."
Johnson for 3
Amy Johnson had a strong game off the bench, converting 2 of 2 3-pointers and netting nine points in all.
"She came in strong for us," Crutcher said. "She helped us. I love to have her on the team. Those 3s!"
Tough end for seniors
With five seniors in the starting lineup and two more playing key roles off the bench, Londonderry had what many thought was the best shot in recent years to snap Winnacunnet's state-title winning streak.
But even with the experience, the Lancers were unable to hold on in the crucial final quarter.
"They played hard, but that wasn't going to be an issue," coach John Fagula said. "It's frustrating I know for a few seniors, but I'll think they'll be alright once they have a chance to think about what they've accomplished."
Indeed, they led the Lancers to their first title game since 1997.
Tying Nashua
Winnacunnet's five straight titles ties the Division 1/Class L record set by Fagula's legendary Nashua teams from 1985-89. This is the 42nd year of the girls' state tourney.
Fagula and the Purple Panthers won 11 titles in his 20-year tenure (1980-81 through 1999-00) and captured the 1987 USA Today national title.
This would have been his first title in his eight years at Londonderry.
Winning never gets old
After watching four of his seniors graduate from last year's title team, including Boston College recruit Tiffany Ruffin, Winnacunnet coach Ed Beattie was one of the few who thought the Warriors could repeat.
"This team is real special to me because I don't think anyone believed in them like I did," Beattie said.
By the numbers
Londonderry, which won a state title by defeating Nashua in 1990, dropped to 1-8 in title games. The Lancers also dropped championship games in 1985, '87, 88, '89, '93 and '96 to Nashua and their 1997 encounter with Manchester Central ... Winnacunnet on the other hand is now 7-1 in title games, winning in 1984 and '88 in addition to each of the past five years. The Warriors only championship-game loss was to Manchester Central in 1991 ... The five consecutive titles ties Nashua (1985-89) for the longest streak in state
history ... In the past five years, Winnacunnet has won titles by an average of 11 points per game ... The loss snapped Londonderry's 10-game winning streak since dropping a 69-60 decision to Winnacunnet on Jan. 28.
