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DURHAM, N.H. | Defend, grind, rebound, defend, grind some more.

Londonderry rolled to a 14-5 mark in Class L play with that simple formula.

All that came to a screeching halt in yesterday's Class L quarterfinal against No. 4 Manchester Central. Seven-point halves tend to have that effect on teams.

In the dying minutes of last night's game, with Londonderry trailing by more than a dozen points, the boisterous Manchester Central student section began what they felt would be a derisive chant.

"Wait 'til next year." Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap. Fill-in coach Nick Theos had to laugh.

Londonderry hung in for a while, but in the end, Manchester Central's superstar players took over the game.

The third-seeded Lancers played a strong first half before standout guard Christiana Bakolas and senior forward Alicia Doucet combined for 17 second-half points as second-seeded Central cruised to a 56-39 win in the Class L semifinals before 718 fans.

HOOKSETT, N.H. | Forgive Kristin Crotts for being shocked.

Timberlane had this one locked up. Or so she thought.

"We all just didn't think we were going to lose," the senior forward said.

The No. 7 Owls led No. 2 Manchester Central late in the fourth quarter of their Class L quarterfinal matchup before falling, 51-48, in overtime. The end, Crotts admitted, was painful.