Local Roundup: Big Third Quarter Sends Royals to Victory

West Canaan — Whether they’re aware of it or not, Mascoma High’s Dakota Decocq and Ben Schwarz appear to have a future in law enforcement.

When it came to clamping down on Fall Mountain scorers Owen Narandino and Joey Murdoch, Decocq and Schwarz got the job done. They and the Royals blanked the visiting Wildcats in third quarter of Tuesday’s NHIAA Division III boys basketball contest, enabling Mascoma to roll to a 65-41 win.

It wasn’t just Decocq and Schwarz making the arrest, either. The Royals (4-5 league, 5-6) as a whole got in the act, outscoring Fall Mountain, 20-0, in the third stanza to turn a 29-27 halftime lead into a 49-27 cruise.

“Dakota and Ben put handcuffs on their two best players,” Mascoma coach Jim Barry said. “They played a good game overall, but Ben was exceptional on defense.”

Barry made several adjustments that helped the Royals break a three-game losing streak. Schwarz opened the game at point guard, allowing freshman Ben Seiler to slide to a wing position. Seiler certainly made the most of the opportunity, scoring a season- and career-high 24 points for Mascoma.

Senior Caleb McAlister also came alive with a 13-point night. “That was by far his best offensive performance — ever,” Barry noted.

Narandino topped the Fall Mountain ledger with 15 points.

Decocq finished with nine points and Hunter Caldwell added a season-high eight for the Royals, who are off until a visit to Mascenic next Tuesday.

Newport 60, Stevens 56

Newport — Tony Robertson converted two key fourth-quarter free throws that enabled the Tigers (1-7, 2-8) to outlast the rival Cardinals (0-8) in a game marred by multiple ejections from a late-game melee.

Senior Joey Ackerman had a season-high 25 points for Newport in a seesaw contest. Stevens trailed at the half, 32-27, then worked its way into a 42-41 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“We basically played a lot of zone in the first three quarters and a lot of full-court man-to-man in the fourth,” Newport coach Bill Page said. “We had a little more energy than they did. We outlasted them a little. Stevens played really hard. We both wanted to win.”

Cole McNamara contributed 15 points and Chase Hamilton had 10 for Newport, which picked up its first NHIAA win of the season. The Tigers visit Franklin on Friday.

The Cardinals rode a balanced attack, with Clay Wadsworth netting 12 points, Owen Taylor getting 11 and Ethan Johnson contributing 10. Stevens goes to Hollis Brookline on Friday.

Otter Valley 40, Hartford 25

Brandon, Vt. — Nick Porter gave the Hurricanes (0-9) a chance for their first win of the season with his defense, but Hartford couldn’t match the effort at the other end of the floor.

The Canes owned an 11-8 lead after one quarter only to be shut out, 14-0, in the second. Still, Porter kept Hartford close by holding top Otter Valley threat Dylan Mackie to nine points on the evening.

“Nick Porter played very well on defense; he did a good job,” Hartford coach Steve Landon said.

Alex Bushway had eight points and Daniel Bushway finished with seven for the Canes, who host Mill River on Saturday.

Newmarket 70, Sunapee 41

Sunapee — The Lakers’ undefeated run atop NHIAA Division IV came to a screeching halt thanks to a dominant start and strong second half from the Mules (7-1).

Simon Cote scored seven of his team-high 21 points in the opening period as Newmarket bolted to an 18-5 lead. The visitors piled 40 more points on the board in the second half to win going away. Will Chase had a game-high four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for the Mules. Logan Willey netted 15 points in support.

Mac Cahill and Jordan Chappell paced Sunapee (6-1, 7-2) with 11 points apiece. Sunapee travels to Groveton on Friday.

Girls Basketball

Sunapee 38, Newmarket 24

Sunapee — The Lakers (3-6, 4-7) limited the Mules to just five first-half points before using a 16-point fourth quarter to pull away at Sherburne Gym.

Five Sunapee players all contributed a basket in the big final period. Cari Peirce paced the Lakers with 10 points, Abby Pollari netted eight and three other Lakers — Marybeth Groton, Elizabeth Bennett and Kelsey Couitt — closed out the night with six apiece.

Springfield 42, Hartford 27

Springfield, Vt. — The Cosmos used superior ball movement to get around the Hurricanes (1-8) at Dressel Gym.

“They’re pretty good,” Hartford coach Heidi Bushway conceded. “They’re quick, and they move the ball well.”

Kennedy Mullen paced Hartford with seven points, and teammates Bella Lukowitz and Davan Murphy had five each. The Canes host Woodstock on Friday.

Blue Mountain 37, Rivendell 20

Wells River, Vt. — The Raptors (0-8) remained winless but gave a good Blue Mountain team a good game.

“We’re getting better every game,” Rivendell coach Dennis Fitzgerald said. “Blue Mountain is undefeated, but we kept with them the entire game. I’m really proud of how the girls played tonight.”

Lauren Alley had 15 points to lead the Bucks (8-0).

Eight different Raptors hit the scoresheet, led by Alex McFate’s four points. Rivendell hosts Sharon on Thursday night.

White River Valley 59, Sharon 17

South Royalton — The Howes showed the Wildcats (5-4) how in a Central Vermont League victory.

Sarah Howe paced White River Valley with 16 points, and Sophie Howe contributed another 14. One Howe or the other has topped the Wildcats’ scoresheet in six of their nine games to date.

“I’m just glad everybody got a lot of playing time,” WRV coach Tim Perreault said. “I’m pleased with the overall effort.”

The Wildcats, who also picked up eight points from Lilly Hudson and seven from Toni Turner, visit Twinfield on Thursday.

Tia Kendall had a team-high five points for the Phoenix (1-8).

Conant 59, Mascoma 39

Jaffrey, n.h. — Liz Gonyea had a team-topping 18 points as the Orioles handled the Royals (3-7, 3-9). Mascoma hosts Fall Mountain on Friday.

Alpine Skiing

Frederick Wins; Laker Boys, Girls Third

Newbury, n.h. — Ellie Frederick beat the field in the girls’ race and Sunapee put two boys in the top eight individually on the way to matching third-place finishes in a dual giant slalom at Mount Sunapee.

Frederick raced past Kearsarge first-run leader Jocelyn Young with the fastest second-run time, winning in an overall finish of 41.45 seconds. Sylvia Dalton took fifth for the Lakers (42.45), who picked up scoring finishes from Saylor Garland (15th; 44.71) and Robyn Salvitti (16th; 44.90).

The Lebanon girls placed fifth as a team. Cassidy Adams (11th; 44.32) and Jessie Hastings (14th; 44.65) led the way for the Raiders.

Riley Balch was fifth (41.13) and Rupert Dalton took eighth (42.26) for the Sunapee boys, who also picked up scoring runs from Michael Mullen (16th; 43.72) and Landon Boucher (18th; 43.91). Only three Lebanon boys made it through both runs, resulting in a 10th-place team result; John Moorehead had the best individual result at 20th place (44.14). Justin Armstrong was a team-best 41st (47.15) for ninth-place Newport.

Boys team scores: Derryfield 389, Kearsarge 377, Sunapee 364, White Mountains 320, Bishop Brady 319.5, Newfound 307, Gilford 288, Prospect Mountain 281.5, Newport 253, Lebanon 239, Trinity 235, Hillsboro-Deering 192.

Girls team scores: Kearsarge 377, Gilford 374, Sunapee 369, Derryfield 349, Lebanon 333, Bishop Brady 296, White Mountains 291, Hillsboro-Deering 264, Newfound 229, Prospect Mountain 135, Trinity 80.

Women’s Basketball

St. Joseph’s (Maine) 75Colby-Sawyer 52

Standish, Maine — The Monks (16-0), ranked 11th nationally in NCAA Division III, outscored the Chargers (11-5) in every quarter to win their Great Northeast Athletic Conference encounter.

Kelsi McNamara led St. Joe’s with 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the floor. Tianna Sugars had 17 points and Sunapee’s Lexie Hamilton finished with 16 for the Chargers.

Colby-Sawyer had a six-game winning streak snapped with the defeat and hosts Albertus Magnus on Saturday.