HANOVER — Lebanon High and Hanover played ugly boys basketball Thursday night, the archrivals’ intensity leading to poor passing, botched shots and more turnovers than occupy the nearby Co-op Food Store’s pastry section.

Balls sailed out of bounds, skittered across the court and, on three occasions, bounced directly off a player’s face. The visiting Raiders sank just three of 15 shots from the field during the first half, yet used defensive pressure to win, 34-21, and sweep the two-game NHIAA Division II season series.

“It wasn’t the prettiest game, but it was a fun environment with the student sections bringing up the intensity for both teams,” said Hanover coach Ben Davis, whose team fell to 0-10. “In a rivalry game, you want to see teams playing the high level of intensity and physicality that we saw tonight.”

Said Lebanon coach Kieth Matte: “There was a bunch of nervous energy, and that’s what we expected. Our rivalry has a longstanding tradition of low-scoring games because the kids’ effort is so high.”

The Raiders (4-6) clamped down on the Bears’ offense after intermission, forcing the hosts to play faster than they wanted and with more jitters. Center Jaysen Oriol seemed to have a physical advantage in the post, but Hanover struggled to get him the ball and the freshman had only two points. Freshman point guard Ryan McLaughlin led the Bears with 11 points, and Talan Patkul had 13 points for the visitors.

The first quarter ended at 8-8 and Lebanon led, 14-10, at halftime. That advantage grew to 22-16 after three quarters, and the Bears were held to only five points during the final stanza.

Lebanon’s defense caused the hosts’ point guards, McLaughlin and fellow freshman Roy Lucas, trouble throughout the night. A measure of the Raiders’ hustle was the several times they stole the ball from behind while Hanover was moving up court.

Patkul, a 5-foot-10 junior forward whose sophomore season was limited after he hurt a knee during football season, has emerged as a physical impact player for Lebanon, which has some height in twin guards Sam and Dawson Bates and center Chase Adams. The son of former Hartford High football and basketball standout Prachan Patkul showed poise when some around him were flustered by Thursday’s atmosphere.

“He’s made a very steady climb as a player,” Matte said. “I knew from his JV time last year that he was going to be an effective varsity player, and he’s maturing before our eyes.”

Lebanon’s standout, however, is clearly junior point guard Nick Brill. Also a soccer and baseball player, the Grantham resident has to be in any conversation about who’s the Upper Valley’s best overall high school athlete. Brill had six points and harassed his opponents nonstop and all over the gym.

“His skill level is good, his athletic ability is really good and his intensity is off the charts,” Matte said. “You never have to pump him up, and we never take him off the floor. We’d be in trouble without him.”

Brill was one of the few Raiders with any varsity playing experience before the season. Lebanon, used to contending for state titles, is taking its lumps this winter, but Matte believes better times are ahead.

“We’ve lost a lot of close game with a lot of kids who haven’t been there before,” he said. “The guys really wanted this one. Now, we just need to bring that same style when we’re at Bow and the gym’s empty and quiet.

“We know we’re going to be good; we just don’t know when. I’m hoping it’s now and we don’t wait until next year.”

The Bears occupy the division cellar, but Davis said his troops aren’t overly dejected.

“This team could have said a long time ago that this isn’t going to be our year and packed it in,” Davis said. “There’s no quit in this team, and if we continue to progress, we’re going to get there.”

Notes: Tim Boyle, principal of the Richmond Middle School, was charged with being the night’s disciplinary grocery stick, standing on the sideline between the two raucous student sections. “It’s not like the old days,” said the onetime Hanover athlete, recalling nights during the 1970s and ’80s when fisticuffs and genuine anger flavored the rivalry. “So many of these guys know each other, and they tend to just be silly during the game.” … Newly hired Lebanon football coach Doug Johnson watched the contest from behind the Raiders’ bench. The 1977 Lebanon graduate is working to connect to the student body by becoming a regular presence at games and in the hallways. Johnson said he’ll soon begin substitute teaching at the high school. … Public-address announcer David Sobel, husband of Hanover athletic director Megan Sobel and father of Bears reserve guard Beckett Sobel, was able to call his son’s name when the sophomore sank a long first-half shot with textbook form.

Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.

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