Local roundup: Hartford boys hoop outlasts Otters

BRANDON, Vt. — The surging Hartford High boys basketball team finally wore down host Otter Valley on Friday night, picking up a 54-45 win on the strength of a great fourth quarter to improve to 7-1 on the season.

“What a game,” Hartford coach Jeff Thomas said. “It was a very tough game at the house of noise (at Otter Valley) tonight.”

The teams were deadlocked at 19-19 after a fast-paced first quarter. The Otters then built a 30-29 lead at half before Hartford started asserting itself with 15 points in the third quarter and a 44-41 lead. The Canes’ defense then closed the door, sparking a 10-4 run in the fourth to secure the Hartford win.

Brody Tyburski (17 points) and Jacob Seaver (16) carried the scoring load for Hartford. Tarin Prior added seven points.

The Canes have a couple tough matchups coming up, hosting Fair Haven on Wednesday before a visit to Windsor on Friday.

QUECHEE — The Eagles jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, improving to 7-3 on the season.

Joel Roberts had 25 points, including five 3-pointers, along with seven rebounds for MVCS. Roman Goeppner added 15 points, 19 rebounds, seven steals, four blocks and three assists. Abel Goodwin also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards.

MVCS visits Trinity Christian in Concord on Tuesday.

NEWPORT — Kayden LaClair had 23 points to pace the Cardinals (7-3) over the Tigers (0-9).

Hunter LaRocque added 18 points for Stevens, which had 10 players score at least a field goal. Karter Pollari had 10 points for Newport.

Stevens led narrowly, 33-24, at halftime but then doubled that point total with another 33 points in the third quarter to put the game away.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday when Stevens visits Conant and Newport hosts Monadnock.

LEBANON — The Raiders closed on a 10-5 run to secure the win over the Falcons.

Sam Bates drained four 3-pointers for 12 points to lead Lebanon in this defensive battle. Braeden Falzarano added 11 points.

The Raiders (8-1) have now won eight straight and look to make it nine at Souhegan on Monday.

SOUTH ROYALTON — Sophomore Tattin Griffin had a career-high 16 points to help the Wildcats improve to 5-1.

Dominic Craven added 15 points for WRV. Arliss Spaulding chipped in seven and Weston Trombly had six.

“I loved our defensive intensity tonight as we created a lot of our offense from our defense and contested their shots well,” WRV coach Mike Gaudette said.

The Wildcats host Northfield on Monday.

ORFORD — Harry Molesworth had 16 points and the Raptors (9-0) remained undefeated.

Chris Pierce added nine points for Rivendell. Kyle Carter had eight and Finn O’Donnell had seven. Jameson Gilbert and Ashton Pierson each chipped in six points.

The Raptors host Green Mountain on Monday.

HYDE PARK, Vt. — The shorthanded Panthers (2-6) ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.

Thetford came out firing in the third, scoring 19 points to lead, 47-35, heading into the fourth. The hosts then closed the game on a 22-3 run to hand Thetford its second-straight loss.

Dillon Vance and Boone Fahey each had 13 points for the Panthers, who played just six players. Jacob Gilman added 11 points and Wyatt Cadwell had eight.

Thetford hosts Hazen on Wednesday.

WOODSTOCK — The fourth quarter didn’t go the Wasps’ way in a great effort against a strong Fair Haven team.

Woodstock ran off a 17-9 run in the second quarter to lead, 29-25 at halftime. The Slaters closed the game on a 19-8 run to pull away.

Corey White paced a balanced Wasps attack with 11 points. Cooper Jones added 10 points. Declan McCullough and Alec Smail each had eight points.

SHARON — The Phoenix (0-8) came oh-so-close to their first win of the season but fell just a bit short against the Eagles.

Riley Eastman led the way with 22 points for Sharon, and Caleb Benjamin added 19. The Phoenix head to Bellows Falls on Monday. 

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. — The Yellowjackets (4-5) couldn’t keep pace with the host Colonels.

Maison Fortin and Kaleb Swett each had 11 points for Windsor, which hosts Springfield on Tuesday.

WOLFEBORO, N.H. — Hanover dropped its fifth consecutive game as the Knights took home the victory.

HHS (2-9) hosts Pelham on Saturday.

HANOVER — Every Hanover player scored as HHS improved to 11-0 against in-state competition.

Stella Galanes led the way with 14 points, and she was joined in double figures by Melissa Whitmore’s 11.

Hanover turns right around for a road game against Pelham on Saturday.

BOW, N.H. — The Raiders, playing without leading scorer Catherine Cole as well as Maddie Jewell, had their four-game winning streak snapped against the Falcons.

Molly Smith led Lebanon (8-5) with eight points, and Ella Longacre and Keira Houdegbe each scored five.

“This year, more than most years, we need to find a way to win when key players are out,” Raiders coach Chris Boucher said.

There will be no rest for the weary, as shorthanded Lebanon is right back on the road Saturday against John Stark. The Raiders will only have five players available with significant varsity experience.

Alpine SkiingLebanon girls impress

NEWBURY, N.H. — The Raiders had two of the top six finishers in the girls slalom at Mount Sunapee.

Cassidy Adams finished second overall in 1 minute, 12.15 seconds combined in two runs down the slope. Marin Pearson took sixth (1:22.68) followed by Adrianna Caraeni in 23rd and Gwyneth Schachter in 27th.

Roy Shapard led the Lebanon boys in 11th overall in 1:18.80. Noah Lamontagne was 14th (1:22.40). The Raiders also had Sam Hastings in 23rd and Ean Ray in 41st.

Logan Rush finished ninth in 1:16.29 to pace the Newport boys. Teammate Hayden Palmer was 32nd.

Unified BasketballStevens 40, Hanover 36

CLAREMONT — The Cardinals held off visiting Hanover for the home win.

Zach Bascom had 10 points to lead Stevens. Zach Goyette added eight. Peyton Jones and Zoehay Diley had six points each.

Eli Weintraub had a game-high 20 points for Hanover. Ellie Havrda, Emily Neily, Zoey Hossley and Hope Dufty had four points each.