Published: 12/19/2022 11:06:02 PM
Modified: 12/20/2022 6:15:07 PM
CLAREMONT — Mason Ferland hit a pair of clutch free throws with nine seconds left to preserve a win for the Stevens High boys basketball team on Monday night, a 48-44 victory over a much-improved Newport squad.
Kayden LaClair, who averaged 11.5 points per game for the Cardinals last season before transferring to Newport, played his first game back in Frederick W. Carr Gymnasium as a visitor.
Stevens (1-1) is at Gilford on Wednesday — a change related to incoming weather on Thursday — to while the Tigers (0-2) make the short trip to Fall Mountain on Thursday. The rivals will meet again in Newport on Jan. 3.
Mascoma 53, Kearsarge 31 WEST CANAAN — The Royals (3-0) got a measure of revenge on the Cougars, who had defeated them in the postseason each of the last two years. Senior Zach Thompson led Mascoma with 17 points as the hosts led, 16-3, after the opening quarter.
Mascoma is at Belmont on Wednesday.
Sharon 64, Craftsbury 54 (2OT) SHARON — The Phoenix (1-1) outlasted the Chargers to earn Ben Montenegro his first win as head coach. Sharon is at Rivendell on Wednesday.
Mount Mansfield 44, Hartford 36 WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes (2-1) cut a 15-point halftime deficit to four against the VPA Division I powerhouse Cougars, but Hartford could not quite complete the comeback.
Brayden Trombly recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds while going up against taller post players. Brady Olmstead added 10 points. The Canes were held scoreless until the second quarter.
“Proud of our kids’ resiliency against a very good team,” Hartford coach Mike Gaudette said. “We just missed too many free throws down the stretch and ran out of gas.”
The Hurricanes host Otter Valley on Thursday.
Thetford 44, Rivendell 25 THETFORD — The Panthers (2-0) extended the start of their season with a second consecutive win over a rival from the Upper Valley’s I-91 northern corridor, dropping the Raptors to 1-2.
Thetford is at Windsor on Wednesday, while Rivendell hosts Sharon on the same evening.
Otter Valley 64, Woodstock 51 WOODSTOCK — The Wasps fell to 1-2 with the home defeat to the Otters. Woodstock is at Fair Haven on Thursday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL Stevens 41, Newport 29 NEWPORT — The Cardinals (2-1) won the first leg of the Sugar River rivalry, dropping the Tigers to 0-3.
Stevens hosts Gilford on Wednesday (a change due to weather coming on Thursday), while Newport is off until a rematch with the Cardinals in Claremont on Jan. 3.
Poultney 40, Rivendell 21 POULTNEY, Vt. — Five points apiece from Erin Ricker, Shaylee Carter and Mikayla Eastman were not enough to lead the Raptors (0-3) over the Blue Devils.
Rivendell hosts Oxbow on Thursday.
BOYS HOCKEY Colchester 4, Hartford 3 BURLINGTON — The Hurricanes (0-2) trailed by four goals entering the third period at Leddy Park and nearly pulled off an incredible comeback, scoring three times in a five-minute span.
Joseph Barwood put Hartford on the board, assisted by Ezra Mock. Logan Caffrey and Nate Clark set up Nick Daniels for the Hurricanes’ second goal, and Blaine Gour got the Canes within one, assisted by Ozzie DeFelice and James McReynolds.
Hartford had a two-man advantage in the final two minutes with great chances to tie the game, but the equalizer never came. Davey Bradley and Sean Keliher combined for 15 saves.
The Canes are at Brattleboro on Wednesday night.
GIRLS HOCKEY BFA-St. Albans 8, Hartford 0 ST. ALBANS, Vt. — The Hurricanes’ tough early schedule continued as the Comets, VPA Division I champions last year, handed Hartford its first loss of the season.
The Canes (2-1) host the St. Johnsbury-based Kingdom Blades on Wednesday.