The men's basketball team kicked off the new year with a decisive 85-76 home win over the Berkeley College Knights. 

With the win, NHTI remains atop the Yankee Small College Conference with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in conference play. They are ranked sixth nationally in the most recent USCAA Coaches Poll.

Head Coach Irv Harris still believes the team has a lot of untapped potential. Harris, who was named the YSCC Coach of the Year in 2023 said, “The talent is there, we have real athletes. Right now, our guys need to continue to focus on playing team basketball. If that happens, this team is a championship team.”

The Lynx men’s team ended last season in the YSCC final four, and a first-round exit from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Championship.  

Dahsan King scored 20 points to lead the Lynx over Berkeley College. Joe Cantey added 16 points and 7 assists. Terrian Wester had 9 points, 8 rebounds and 7 steals.

Wester and Cantey have each been named YSCC Player of the Week and are on-pace for All-Conference seasons. Wester, who grew up in Leesville, Georgia and moved to Claremont, NH, is having an outstanding season. He is averaging a double-double with 14.5 points per game and 14.2 rebounds per game. Cantey of Norwalk, Connecticut, leads the Lynx with 19 points and 6.1 assists per game.

Mark your calendar

Fans can look forward to an action-packed week ahead, with both the men's and women's teams gearing up for crucial matchups. On Saturday, Jan. 20, NHTI will host U-Maine Fort Kent, with the women's game tipping off at 1 p.m. and the men's game following at 3 p.m.

Fans can attend in-person at NHTI’s Paul Hogan Court. There is no admission fee. All Lynx home games are also viewable live and on-demand on the NHTI Lynx Athletics YouTube channel. 

Additionally, the women's team will hit the road on Sunday, Jan. 21, for a noon showdown against Paul Smith's College.

Women's basketball: In the hunt

The women’s basketball team currently sits fifth in the conference with a 1-3 record.

In their most recent game on Saturday, the Lynx put up a remarkable fight against the nationally-ranked Berkeley College Knights before losing 68-62.

The team has a new addition, Bella Farrazzani, a graduate from Hollis Brookline. Farrazzani dropped 25 points and 14 rebounds in her home debut. 

Janessa Lofton, a Nashua North graduate, leads the team in scoring this season and is chasing after 1,000 career points. Lofton needs to average 11 points per game to reach the milestone and is currently on pace, averaging 15.8.

The Next Challenge

On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the women's team will face U-Maine Augusta at home. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.