Pinkerton Academy Astros are the NH Class L State Champions

In what was an amazing double overtime game, Zach Mathieu scored 37 points to lead the Astros to the Class L Championship. Great year and congratulations to a team that sorta fell under the radar for much of the season.

Final was 61-59

Tied at 40 after regulation.

Scroll through John Doyle's (Fosters.com Sports Editor) Twitter feed for a play by play of the Overtimes.

http://twitter.com/JohnDoyle603

The last time a Class L Championship game went to 2 OTs was 39 years ago when Memorial beat Central 64 - 58. Cy Young winner Mike Flanagan was the big cog for the Crusaders in that game. Zach Mathieu set a Class L Championship game record by scoring 37 points yesterday. The previous individual point mark was held by Skip Barry of BG when he scored 34 points in the 1984 title game. BG lost that game to the James Best lead Portsmouth club that took the crown 51 - 45. Now, you have 2 OT championship games who's best players will probably be known better for baseball than for basketball. There has now been 5 OT games in Class L championship history:

1923 Portsmouth beat Central 29 - 23 in OT
1942 Dover beat Central 21 - 19 in OT
1971 Memorial beat Central 64 - 58 in 2 OT
1978 Nashua beat Alvrine 58 - 55 on OT (The Asst wasn't even a passing thought in the B-ball world yet )
2010 Pinkerton 61 Winny 59 2 OT

What a fantastic day of basketball it was at UNH yesterday. There was a lot of things to process in the 5 hours I spent there. Both games lived up to their billing. The Milford win over Pembroke set off an incredible emotional release from the Milford faithful. There were tears of joy from most. There was one family that had mixed tears of joy and sadness that I will never forget. A happiness of championship won, but experience of something not being fulfilled with heartache that only a parent and a player not being at a game can feel.

When you think back to the events of the way the season ended for Pinkerton last year and the way the season ended for Pinkerton this year, well, you just can't write a script that is any better if you're an Astro fan. Zach Mathieu stood tall yesterday scoring 20 points in regulation and 17 points in the 2 OTs. It was very warm in the gym yesterday due to the record breaking 70 something degree day. Players were getting tired in the 4th period and heading in the 2 OTs. As the 4th period and 2 OTs played out I said to my watching partner, "With everyone being so tired I would rather be 6'7 260 pounds tired than 6'0 200 pounds tired." This really came into play in the OTs when Mathieu would catch the ball time and time again blanketed by 2 - 3 Warriors and somehow he would muscle the ball gently off the backboard or softly around the rim. When he stepped to the FT line he was absolute money in hitting nothing but net on the majority of his FTs. Mathieu was the first, second and 3rd options for the Astros on the majority of Pinkerton's possessions in crunch time. Winny knew this and they put bodies on him at all times making him earn everything. Mathieu fought off the constant pounding of the Warriors to set a Class L Championship game record of 37 points to lead the Astros to the title.

O'Loughlin and Holder combined for 37 points to lead Milford to their Class I title. These 2 took it upon themselves, with the loss of their point guard, to put their team and their town on their backs and carry the Spartans to the promised land. They hit big shots time and time again. They handled the ball under pressure for 32 minutes. They have now cemented their names and this team in Milford basketball history lore. With nearly all of this team coming back next year they have a chance to build an even greater legacy for their team, their town and themselves.

Milford lost to Pembroke last year in the quarterfinals. Pinkerton lost in the prelims last year on a big sour note. It took just over a year, but both teams in the span of 5 hours on a glorious Saturday afternoon at UNH, were able to flush away bitter memories and make new memories of knowing you won your last game in a championship. 37 was the key number yesterday. Mathieu had 37 points and O'Loughlin and Holder combined for 37 points. These 3 players will forever be talked about in their respective schools basketball histories.

Only when you experience the bitterness and heartache of previous losses can you truly enjoy the ecstasy and joy that comes with winning a championship. Pinkerton and Milford experienced that bitterness and heartache at the end of last season. With the help of Mathieu, O'Loughlin and Holder these 2 schools experienced that championship ecstasy and joy. These 3 did what only a select few can do:

They played themslelves and their teams into forever.

This should help you get through an evening with no basketball, hockey, football or baseball of note. Month and a half till NCAA midnight madness...hurry.

2010 Class L Championship

Winnacunnet vs. Pinkerton

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5591823

I was reviewing some of the NHIAA's "policies" recently regarding media coverage. It's littered with not allowing to broadcast games live. I still can't believe we can't get these games on cable access...WMUR...something...

Maybe they haven't heard of UStream yet.