LEBANON — The Lebanon High boys hoops team was scheduled to take on Sanborn on the road on Monday, but the game was postponed.
Raiders athletic director Mike Stone alerted parents in an email that the team would be shut down until December 30. It means Lebanon will also back out of the Hanover holiday tournament next week.
There have been multiple positive COVID-19 tests on the team recently. The team had to cancel practice on Thursday, one day before playing Kennett at home. That game went on as scheduled, but seniors Braeden Falzarano and Cole Fabry missed the contest.
In a separate email to parents, head coach and assistant principal Kieth Matte said three players tested positive in school last week, and that there’s one other case of COVID on the team.
“In all cases we have followed DHHS guidelines,” Matte said in the email. “There are a handful of other students out of the building with COVID as well.”
The team’s next scheduled game is on Monday, Jan 3 at home against Kingswood.
Hartford 63, Mount Mansfield 55 JERICHO, Vt. — Hartford (4-0) kept up its strong start to the season on Monday.
The Hurricanes had to come from behind in this one. Mount Mansfield led by eight after the first quarter. But Hartford rallied to score 23 points in the second period and go up by one at halftime. The Canes held off the home team the rest of the way.
Senior guard Tarin Prior led Hartford with 23 points.
Senior forward Jacob Seaver added 18, and sophomore guard Brody Tyburski chipped in 11.
Hartford will face Bellows Falls on the road on Monday.
Stevens 45, Winnisquam 39 CLAREMONT — Stevens (2-1) picked up a big win at home on Monday.
Head coach Ray Curren praised his team’s defense in the first half that helped the Cardinals build a 26-10 halftime lead. The game tightened in the second half, but Stevens knocked down some key free throws to put it away.
Junior guard Kayden LaClair led Stevens with 18 points. Junior guard Hunter LaRocque added 10.
“One of the most physical basketball games I’ve ever seen,” Curren said. “But it’s a really big win for our confidence against a team that’s had some success in a the last couple years, especially shorthanded.”
Stevens is back in action after Christmas, taking on Hinsdale at home on Monday.
Laconia 57, Hanover 43 LACONIA, N.H. — Hanover (1-3) trailed by just two points at halftime, but Laconia pulled away in the second half.
HHS head coach Tim Winslow said senior forward Collin Pierce gave the team energy in the second quarter, but that it was an all-around tough night for Hanover.
Senior guard Jacob Kubik-Pauw led Hanover with 16 points. Pierce chipped in eight.
Hanover is off for all of winter break. HHS is back in action on Monday, Jan. 3 at Pelham.
Woodstock 49, Otter Valley 45 BRANDON, Vt. — Woodstock (1-2) picked up its first win under new head coach Steve Landon.
The Wasps set the tone in the first quarter, jumping out to a 12-4 lead. The game tightened in the third quarter, but Woodstock was able to prevail in the fourth thanks to clutch free-throw shooting by junior guard Declan McCullough.
McCullough went 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. He led Woodstock with 17 points for the game. Sophomore guard Zach Martsolf-Tan added 13 points, and senior guard Cooper Dorsogna scored 10.
Woodstock hits the road to take on Fair Haven on Wednesday.
Sunapee 54, Newport 31 NEWPORT — The Tigers (0-3) couldn’t end their season-opening skid, though this was their closest game so far.
Newport trailed by just six after the first quarter, but Sunapee pulled away in the second quarter. Sunapee led 27-12 at halftime.
Newport senior forward Devyn Heino scored a team-high 10 points for Newport. Freshman forward Aaron Fellows added eight.
The Tigers will hit the road to take on Fall Mountain on Wednesday.
Mascoma 53, Conant 31 JAFFREY, N.H. — Mascoma (2-2) earned a key road victory on Monday.
The Royals have benefited from Ben Seiler’s return from injury. The senior guard missed the first two games of the season while completing his recovery from a season-ending soccer injury. He led Mascoma with 19 points on Monday. Junior guard Zach Thompson added 13 points, and senior guard Michael Ioynds put up 12.
Mascoma head coach Silas Ayres said Ioynds hit several momentum-changing shots. He also praised his team’s defense, particularly seniors Cole and Ian Moulton, as well as Thompson, who swiped seven steals. Ayres added that sophomore guards Aiden Smith and James Thomas contributed key minutes off the bench when the Royals got in foul trouble.
“We played a solid four quarters for the first time this year,” Ayres said. “A good team win in what I think is the toughest place to play in Division III.”
Mascoma will host Gilford on Wednesday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL Stevens 47, Winnisqam 14 TILTON, N.H. — Stevens (2-1) relied on a strong defensive effort to earn a victory on Monday.
The Cardinals went into halftime with a 25-5 lead, after they shut out Winnisquam in the second quarter. They cruised to victory the rest of the way.
Sophomore guard Kiley Bundy led Stevens with 16 points. Junior forward Alyssa Paquette added 10, bringing her season average through three games to 12.3 points per game.
Stevens hosts Hillsboro-Deering on Wednesday.
Conant 74, Mascoma 28 CANAAN — Mascoma (1-3) trailed 30-6 after the first quarter and it was too deep a hole to come back from.
Sophomore forward Gabby Pierce led the Royals with nine points. Junior guard Madisun LaCasse added six.
“Gabby Pierce played great defense and fought the whole game,” Royals head coach Tonya Young said. “(Sophomore forward) Leah Larocque fought hard as well.”
Mascoma will hit the road Wednesday to take on Gilford.
Rivendell 40, Poultney 28 ORFORD, N.H. — Rivendell (1-3) picked up its first win of the season Monday.
The Raptors pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring Poultney 17-7 in the period to take a 23-11 lead into halftime.
Poultney cut the deficit to seven in the third quarter, but Rivendell was able to save off the comeback attempt.
Junior guard Ryleigh Butler led the Raptors with 10 points. Senior forward Savannah Gray and senior guard Kylie Taylor added nine each. Senior guard Alex McFate scored eight.
“We played a good game,” Raptors head coach Tim Goodwin said. “The scoring was shared with many players hitting big shots for us. Our second-quarter run was a turning point in the game with six different Raptors scoring. We continue to improve and look forward to our next challenge.”
That next challenge comes Thursday at home against Oxbow.
Lebanon 48, Sanborn 24 LEBANON — Lebanon (3-2) rode a strong defensive performance to victory Monday.
Head coach Chris Boucher praised junior forward Maddie Newton, senior guard Molly Smith, and senior center Ella Longacre for their efforts on defense. He said all came up with key steals during the game.
Senior guard Catherine Cole led Lebanon with 21 points. Senior forward Clara Smyrski chipped in 10 points.
Lebanon honored its seniors for senior night before the game.
“We honored four great and special seniors, Molly Smith, Ella Longacre, Catherine Cole and Clara Smyrski,” Boucher said. “They work so well together. It capped off a special night.”
The Raiders take on John Stark on the road on Wednesday.
Hanover 68, Laconia 33 HANOVER — Hanover (5-0) kept its strong start to the season going Monday.
The game was tied 12-12 after the first quarter, before Hanover outscored Laconia 18-6 in the second quarter to build a comfortable lead. HHS kept its foot on the gas in the second half.
Junior guard Stella Galanes continued to pace Hanover’s scoring with 21 points. She’s averaging 19.4 points per game through the team’s first five contests. Senior forward Melissa Whitmore chipped in 12 points, and sophomore guard Sydney McLaughlin added 10.
Head coach Dan O’Rourke praised Hanover’s defensive effort in allowing a combined nine points in the final three quarters of the game.
“Another team effort,” O’Rourke said. “11 girls played and 10 scored. Excellent team defense. Rebounded very well, which allowed us to get out into transition.”
Hanover is back in action after winter break on Monday, Jan. 3, when HHS plays at Pelham.
GIRLS HOCKEY Woodstock 2, Rice 1 SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — Woodstock (3-0) pulled out a tight win Monday on the road.
Junior forward Isabel Konignenberg gave Woodstock the lead in the first period, assisted by sophomore forward Maggie Mello and junior defender Lily Gubbins. Rice then tied the score in the second period. But eighth grade forward Fiona Piconi scored the game-winner in the third period on an assist by Konignenberg.
Through its first three games, Woodstock has outscored its opponents 14-3.
Woodstock will take on Brattleboro on the road on Wednesday.
Hartford 10, Missisquoi Valley 1 SWANTON, Vt. — Hartford (2-1) bounced back from its first loss of the season with a massive win on Monday. Hartford junior forward Sophie Trombley led the way with four goals. Hurricanes freshman forward Madison Barwood recorded six assists.
The lopsided nature of the game allowed Hartford head coach Kylie Ammel Young to get playing time for underclassmen and eighth graders. She was pleased with the performances from eighth-grade forward and defender Flynn Moreno, who recorded her first career point, an assist on the final goal. She said eighth-grade goalie Nella Bowen, who just picked up the sport last year, also played well.
“We had an opportunity to play some of our younger players, and an injury to our starter Emma Bazin early in the second period allowed us to mix up the lines,” Young said. “Tonight we proved that we can work as a team, and it’s not just a handful of players that make up our roster.”
Hartford is back in action on Wednesday at Stowe.
BOYS HOCKEY Brattleboro 1, Woodstock 0 WOODSTOCK — The Wasps (1-3) couldn’t sustain momentum from Saturday’s win in a narrow home defeat on Monday.
Woodstock senior goalie Keaton Piconi recorded 13 saves, but was out-dueled by Brattleboro’s goalie.
Woodstock’s next game will come after Christmas, when it hosts Hartford in tournament action on Tuesday.