The Stuff of Winners

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The game after the first loss of the season, Jaime LeFlem scored 24 points as the Cougars rallied past Pembroke, February 1994.

Can you imagine? So many fans in Lebanon wanted to see the late season 1993-94 game between once-beaten Lebanon and unbeaten Conval that 300 fans were turned away!

Down nine in the first quarter of a pulsating, tournament-like game, Conval rallied to lead 41-38 heading into the final frame. However, foul trouble combined with foul shot accuracy—Lebanon tallied 25 points from the charity stripe!—drove the host Raiders to a 75-66 win.

But it was the next game that was the stuff of which winners are made.

Conval fought off highly-regarded Pembroke and legendary coach Ed Close’s valiant attempt to put them to sleep and make them think about their only loss. Pembroke worked a successful slow-down, with CV up only 20-18 at the half. What eventually did in the Spartans’ strategy, though, were two familiar weapons: the continual wave of quality Cougar players inserted into the line up, and a pressure defense that took its toll.


When the lead grew to nine points late in third, Pembroke was forced to abandon its slow-down strategy. Quickly and quietly, Conval raced to a 24-point lead, eventually winning 59-37. Jaime LeFlem (pictured) had a game-high 24 points, numerous assists and yeoman work on the offensive boards.


Conval finished the regular season 17-1 and, as destiny would have it, a packed house at UNH later saw the Cougars avenge their only loss with a dramatic 52-48 state championship win over Lebanon.


Can you imagine?


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