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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.

It took Timberlane senior Sam Wheeler awhile to get going last night. But, considering that she recently missed nearly two weeks of action with a bad case of bronchitis that bordered on pneumonia, that's understandable.

The way Timberlane sophomore Tianna Parolisi is progressing, teams may need to rethink their defensive strategy against the Owls.

Londonderry came out in a box-and-one against Owls' standout Sam Wheeler last night with | at best | mixed results in a 43-40 loss to Timberlane. The University of Maine-bound Wheeler was held to five points, but Parolisi | with help from senior Kristin Crotts | picked up the slack as the surging Owls (9-4) won their sixth straight and ninth out of their last 10.

Sam Wheeler scored 29 points, passing the 1,000-point mark for her career as Timberlane handed Winnacunnet its first loss of the season, 52-49. Kristin Crotts had nine assists and sophomore Taylor Cefalo had 8 points for the winners.

In consolation games, Haverhill outlasted Pelham 44-25 and Timberlane stifled Alvirne 44-30 despite missing standout University of Maine recruit Sam Wheeler, who was out sick.

Haverhill pulled away from Pelham with a 10-2 advantage in the third quarter behind leading scorer and all-tourney pick Michelle Stanley, who scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half. Melissa Ganem had seven points and was tough on the boards for the Hillies (3-4).

Timberlane began the day with an easy 57-28 victory over Pelham in the first of two consolation games.

Ahead 16-6 after the first quarter, the Owls (2-4) put the game away with a 26-point second quarter. Sam Wheeler led all scorers with 19 points in limited action and sophomore Tianna Parolisi added 10 points. Shannon Rose and Katie Mattatall had six points apiece.

HAVERHILL | Pentucket's girls accomplished their immediate mission in the opening day of the Haverhill Coca-Cola Tournament, but that was one of the only positives cited by head coach John McNamara.

After the unbeaten Sachems (5-0) scrapped past Timberlane, 41-34, McNamara was hardly satisfied.

Despite its outstanding first-half performance, Pinkerton coach John Barry knew his team was unsure of itself.

The Astros led Timberlane by nine points at the half and played dominant defense in both the first and second quarter, but given the way they'd play in the first two games, he knew his girls were slightly unsure of themselves. However, Pinkerton barely weathered a 27-point second half from Timberlane and edged the Owls 53-49 in overtime to earn its first win of the year.

2006-07 record: 21-2, lost in Class L quarterfinals

Returning starters (4): Sam Wheeler, 6-0, Sr., forward; Kristin Crotts, 5-9, Sr., forward; Meghan Sciuto, 5-4, Sr., guard; Tianna Pirolisi, 5-4, Soph., guard