Local roundup: Lebanon boys basketball overcomes early deficit against Hanover

LEBANON — The Lebanon High boys basketball team trailed archrival Hanover by 15 points late in Wednesday’s first quarter at Lang Metcalf Gymnasium.

Undeterred, the defending NHIAA Division II champions rallied for a 47-35 victory that left coach Kieth Matte amazed at how his 11-1 team escaped.

“What just happened?” Matte asked in a wonderstruck tone, reading the scorebook to see that his team outscored Hanover 27-8 after intermission. “That was a weird game. We dug ourselves such a big hole.”

Down 27-20 at halftime, Lebanon began to deny the visitors the straight-line paths to the basket that produced their early success. Matte emphasized lateral hustle and told his six seniors the game’s outcome was theirs to decide.

“We adjusted and knew we could come back,” Matte said. “I don’t think we ever thought it wasn’t possible. But every game is its own little adventure.”

Shooting guard Braeden Falzarano had 19 points for Lebanon, and wing Jack Stone had 15 points while yet again doing yeoman duty in the post. Cole Fabry added 11 points for the Raiders, who used only six players most of the way.

“Our seniors might not have seen it all, but they’ve seen a lot,” Matte said. “We have a veteran squad and don’t get rattled.”

Lebanon hasn’t lost since a season-opening defeat to Pembroke, a streak now at 11 games in a row.

Colin Pierce led Hanover (3-11) with nine points, and Mason Gantrish and Max Galbraith each had eight. Post player Kevin Pillsbury, who recently scored 24 points during a contest, was held to two.

The teams are scheduled for a rematch Monday at Hanover.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Sawyer Ramey scored 41 points to lead the undefeated Slaters past the Hurricanes (7-2). The game was tied at 28 at halftime.

Hartford got 25 points from senior guard Tarin Prior and 17 from senior forward Jacob Seaver. The Hurricanes travel to Windsor on Friday night.

SOUTH ROYALTON — The Wildcats led 41-10 at halftime in a blowout win over the Minutemen.

It was a balanced offensive effort for White River Valley (7-1), which got 15 points from senior forward Austin Tracy and 11 apiece from senior guard Dominic Craven and freshman guard Braeden Russ.

Hazen 64, Thetford 35

HARDWICK, Vt. — The Wildcats stayed undefeated with an easy win over the Panthers (2-7). Thetford is at Spaulding on Friday.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Stevens 60, Mascenic 31

NEW IPSWICH, N.H. — The Cardinals (8-2) cruised past the Vikings behind another stellar night from sophomore guard Kiley Bundy, who finished with 18 points.

Junior forward Tara Sullivan added 12 and senior forward Jenna Bonneau chipped in with 10.

Stevens is at rival Newport on Friday.

BOYS HOCKEY Hanover 7, Bow 0

CONCORD — Senior Casey Graham’s hat trick led Hanover to a blowout win over the Falcons at Everett Arena, just four days after Bow handed HHS a 3-2 loss.

Senior Van Bailey scored twice, and junior Jack Stadheim and senior John Hill also each had a goal. Graham added three assists to his hat trick, and senior Declan Flynn made 17 saves for the shutout. Three of Hanover’s goals came on the power play, while two more were shorthanded.

“Nice response to a subpar performance this past weekend,” Hanover coach Dick Dodds said. “Special teams were on fire.”

Hanover heads to undefeated Concord, which beat HHS at Campion Rink earlier in the season, on Saturday.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Make it 11 straight wins to start the season for the Hurricanes as they cruised past the winless Seahorses. Junior Blaine Gour led the way with a hat trick and an assist. Juniors Joseph Barwood and James McReynolds and sophomore Ezra Mock also scored.

Hartford (11-0-0) heads to rival Woodstock on Saturday night.

GIRLS HOCKEY Hartford 6, Stowe 1

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes (9-3-0) handled the Raiders with ease for their third straight win.

Hartford hosts Missisquoi Valley on Saturday.

WEST LEBANON — Maeve Lee posted a hat trick that included a pair of shorthanded goals during a 20-second span and Hanover improved to 8-0-0.

Mackenzie Liu and Julia Lawe also scored and Nora Bradley had two assists. LSK is 3-3-0.

Hanover heads to BFA-St. Albans on Saturday while the Raiders travel to Manchester Central.

WOODSTOCK — The Wasps improved to 10-0-0 with a shutout of the Colonels, outshooting Brattleboro, 28-9.

Junior Isabel Konijnenberg’s spectacular season continued with two goals and two assists, and senior Skylar Haley also scored twice. Freshman Kassidy Haley, sophomore Gracelyn Laperle and senior Sophie Yates each had a goal as well.

Woodstock heads to Missisquoi next Wednesday.

WRESTLING Lebanon 36, Kearsarge 12

NORTH SUTTON, N.H. — The Raiders eased past the Cougars, thanks in large part to Kearsarge’s lack of depth leading to several forfeits.

Senior Simon Amaro defeated the Cougars’ Gabe Scola in overtime at 182 pounds and junior Dustin Jarvis defeated Jackson Moskalenko at 195.

Lebanon will host Plymouth and White Mountains on Thursday.

SKI JUMPING Hanover defeats three

BERLIN, N.H. — Hanover took first place in a four-team meet, finishing 7.5 points ahead of Kennett.

Freshman Schuyler Clapp won the meet with the three longest jumps of the night, and fellow freshman Charlie Forbush was tied for fourth.

Senior Wesley Stocken was sixth, senior Eric Ringer seventh and freshman Jai Gregory eighth.

NORDIC SKIING Hanover, Lebanon compete at Plainfield School

MERIDEN — The Lebanon High boys won and the girls were second in a three-school meet with Hanover and Plymouth.

The Raiders’ Daniel Mladek won the boys race in 17 minutes, 34 seconds. The senior was followed by teammates Sam Shipman (18:01), John Bieszczad (18:05) and Seth Carl (18:23). Hanover’s Adam Gilbert-Diamond was fifth in 18:46.9.

Lebanon’s Anna Illsley was her school’s top girls finisher, in third place with a time of 21:36.

Hanover’s Margaret Frost followed at 22:04 and Lebanon’s Sophie Longacre was fifth in 22:18.

Team scores: Boys — Lebanon 10, Hanover 33, Plymouth 35. Girls — Plymouth 22, Lebanon 26, Hanover 30.