High School Roundup: Thetford Boys Make Quick Turnaround

Thetford — After struggling in the fourth quarter during a six-point loss at Oxbow on Friday night, the Thetford Academy boys basketball team had little time to dwell while gearing up for Saturday’s matinee with Montpelier.

This time, it was Thetford that excelled late, outscoring the Solons, 21-11, during the final stanza of a 54-42 victory.

The Panthers trailed, 21-20, at halftime.

Thetford (4-13) has suffered eight losses by eight points or fewer, including seven setbacks by two or fewer points. Saturday’s performance featured the late-game gumption previous contests have lacked.

“This was important, a big win,” first-year Thetford coach Jason Gray said. “We needed a performance like this going into the final week of the (regular) season.”

The Panthers sank nine 3-pointers, including two each by Dylan Thorburn (20 points), Lawson Ouellette (eight points) and freshman Alex Emerson (six points).

Thetford shot close to 50 percent from 3-point range, Gray said, but was 0-for-6 from the free-throw line during the first half, contributing to its deficit at the break.

The Panthers were better from the charity stripe during the second half, going 9-for-13, but it was Thetford’s outside shooting that turned the game in its favor.

“(Montpelier) went to a 1-3-1 defense and we did a good job penetrating the middle and kicking it out,” Gray said. “We lit it up (from outside) in the third quarter and then when they switched to a press, we were able to get some long passes and fast-break points.”

The Panthers play three games in six days this week, beginning Monday against Harwood.

Rivendell 47, Rochester 33

Orford — Owen Pelletier scored 19 points and the Raptors improved to 11-7.

The Rockets’ 1,000-point scorer, Troy Walker, netted 18 points, but was somewhat contained by Rivendell’s Noah Martel and Chris Gendron.

“(Walker is) a big, rugged kid and everything for them goes through him,” Raptors coach Jeff Huntington said. “We forced some contested shots and played decent help defense.”

U-32 51, Hartford 47

White River Junction — The Hurricanes fell to 7-9 in a close loss to the Raiders (15-4).

Keith Illingworth scored 12 points and Austin Gaudette had 10 for the Hurricanes, who attempted only three free throws — all in the fourth quarter. “(U-32) only had six fouls the whole game,” Hartford coach Steve Landon said.

The Canes finish the regular season with four games in five days this week, beginning Monday against Springfield.

Kimball Union 78, Worcester 62

Meriden — Eze Dike and Will Engelhart each had 15 points to lead KUA (10-15).

Duje Radja added 13 and Trent Noordsij had 10. Jordan Huntley had nine points. The Wildcats led by 10 at halftime but were nursing a five-point lead with five minutes remaining.

Girls Basketball

Chelsea 36, Mid Vermont Christian 32

Chelsea, Vt. — The Eagles staged a second-half comeback but lost in heartbreaking fashion on the road.

Down 15-8 at halftime, MVCS took the lead with a 13-2 run during the third quarter. Chelsea took a fourth-quarter lead but the Eagles’ Sydney Goodwin knotted the score at 32-32.

Rachel Seale led MVCS with 17 points. Goodwin added 10 points. The teams battle again on Tuesday in Quechee.

Kimball Union 47, Groton 40

Meriden — Christina Ryan had 23 points to lead KUA (12-9). Taylor Soule added 12 points for KUA, which visits New Hampton on Wednesday.

Boys Hockey

Hartford 7, Burlington 2

White River Junction — Ben Rouillard and Jordy Allard each had two goals and three assists as the Hurricanes made quick work of the Seahorses (2-11-2).

Tyler Hamilton also scored twice for Hartford (14-4), which maintained a hold on first place in Vermont Division II. The hosts led, 3-0, after a period.

Jordan McReynolds had a goal and Pat McGlone, Nick Cameron and Andy Daley netted one assist each. Richie Morrill, Matt Libuda and Billy Mann all saw time in net for the Hurricanes, combining for 18 saves.

Hartford hosts second-place Burr & Burton on Wednesday, a game likely to decide the top seed in the upcoming Vermont Division II state tournament.

Lebanon-Stevens 4, Kingswood 0

Wolfeboro, n.h. — Nate Damren had a hat trick and Jordan Hammond made 23 saves for the first shutout of his career.

Nate Gariepy assisted on each of Damren’s goals. Peter Elder also scored with assists to both Sam Lawrence and Nate Chickering. The Raiders (8-8 overall, 7-7 NHIAA) host Goffstown on Tuesday.

Hanover 12, Manchester Memorial 1

Manchester — Every visiting player had at least a point to help the Marauders (13-6 overall, 10-5 NHIAA) top the Crusaders.

Jake Acker was the only multiple-goal scorer with two goals and an assist. Patrick Logan, Braxton McNulty and Charlie Plottner each had a goal and two assists. Jonathan Goff, Grant Morhun, Hans Williams and Rowan Wilson each had a goal and an assist.

Spaulding 4, Woodstock 3

Woodstock — Jason Drebber made a season-high 49 saves, but Woodstock (4-13-1) was edged by Spaulding (13-2-2), which rallied from a 3-1 deficit. Cullen McCarthy scored twice and Daniel Robinson once for the Wasps, while Luc Issa had three assists and Lucas Piconi and McCarthy one each.

Woodstock visits Essex on Monday.

Girls Hockey

Woodstock 5, Brattleboro 4

Woodstock — The Wasps won their sixth consecutive game, goaltender Bridgit Black making 19 saves.

Woodstock’s Hannah Milstone and Teale Bohen each scored during the first period, which ended in a 2-2 tie. Anna Hepler and Lizzy Peck scored to give the hosts a 4-3 lead after two stanzas. Sadie Kuhn produced what stood up as the game-winner during the third period.

Hannah Coates had a pair of assists for the Wasps (14-3-1). Liz Currier, Sidney Pilot and Bohen also had assists for Woodstock which hosts Rice on Wednesday.

Hanover 3, Acton-Boxborough 1

Acton, Mass. — The Marauders withstood an early rush from Acton-Boxborough and improved to 13-1.

Cici Barton made 24 saves for Hanover. The hosts opened the scoring early in the second period only to be answered quickly by Mahler Meyerrose’s goal with an assist to Cate Wagner.

Knotted up at 1-1 heading into the third period, Hanover used goals by Briland Laycock and Maddie Lyons to triumph. Hannah Curtis assisted on Lyons’ tally.

Saturday’s game began a stretch of six games in eight days for the Marauders, who currently sit atop the NHIAA standings. Second-place Exeter visits Monday at 7:50 p.m.

Hartford 2, North Country-Lyndon 2

Lyndon Center, Vt. — The Canes allowed a 2-0 lead to slip away.

Emily Ballou scored in the first period for Hartford, unassisted and on a breakaway. The Canes then scored early in the second period when Morgan Pero assisted Kendyl Boisvert for a goal. The hosts answered with one tally before the second intermission and scored the game-tying goal in the third period.

Maggie Gilman had 30 saves for Hartford (4-9-4), which hosts Brattleboro at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Oyster River-Portsmouth 7Lebanon-Stevens 0

West Lebanon — Goalie Halle Drew had 33 saves, but the Raiders fell to 5-9.

Lebanon-Stevens visits Souhegan on Monday and will need a victory to keep its postseason hopes alive.

Bowling

Stevens Falls in Semis

Raymond, n.h. — The second-ranked Cardinals knocked off No. 7 Spaulding, 4-1, during the quarterfinals. Stevens then fell to No. 3 Bishop Guertin, 4-2, in the semis of the NHIAA state championship match at Strikers East.

Bishop Guertin went on to lose to No. 4 Goffstown, 4-3, in the all-Baker, best-of-seven tournament.

It was the first time all season Stevens didn’t finish first or second at a match. Eleven Cardinals bowlers will have another chance for success at next Saturday’s individual championship match at Manchester’s Spare Time.

Nordic Skiing

Raiders’ Weitzman QualifiesFor Regional Meet

Plymouth, n.h. — Lebanon’s Eli Weitzman finished 18th at the second New Hampshire Coaches Series race to secure a spot in the eastern high school championship meet.

Weitzman’s 18th-place finish out of 145 racers and in 16:36.4, combined with his time in the classic race two weeks ago, secured a top-20 finish and advanced him to the eastern championship meet. Teammate Jacob Willeman finished 26th in 16:58.4 and qualified as an alternate.

Owen Johnstone added a 39th-place finish in 17:36.1 for the Raiders. Eric Robecheau was 90th in 20:01.9, followed by Cooper Bourne in 93rd and Patrick Mason in 94th.

Hanover’s Arturo Johnson finished 34th in 17:22.9. Daniel Bandler was 53rd in 18:01.4, followed by Stefan Cole in 76th and Diego Aspinwall in 77th.

Megan Smith led the Hanover girls, finishing 19th out of 141 racers in 19:02.2. Margot Davis was 75th, Teresa Snyder was 80th and Leila Trummel was 83rd.

Lebanon’s Celia Barnett was 40th in 20:20.0. Maria Goodwin was 51st, Brianna Hibner was 68th and Hannah Falcone finished 70th.