WEST CANAAN — After racing side by side for a quarter, the Mascoma High boys basketball team found another gear and put Stevens in its rear-view mirror.
Fueled by turnovers, the Royals picked up double-digit performances from three players to top the Cardinals, 58-38, at Edward P. Kehoe Gymnasium on Thursday night. Ben Seiler had a game-high 18 points, Connor Thompson netted a season-high 12 and Gabe Rock contributed 11 in the Royals’ first contest against NHIAA Division III opposition.
“It was nice to play somebody else; the kids were ready to play somebody else,” said Mascoma coach Silas Ayres, whose Royals (2-4) opened the season with five games against D-II Hanover and Lebanon. “There was some stuff I liked, stuff I didn’t like. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Mascoma did show how it’ll need to play for success come tournament time.
Pressing after most every score, the Royals induced 17 first-half turnovers from the Cardinals (0-1), who lost more than three weeks of January practice time when Stevens High went to remote learning in response to a city-wide spike in COVID-19 cases. Mascoma outscored its guests in points off turnovers, 24-6, in the first half and used that to turn a 16-14 first-quarter lead into a more comfortable 35-19 cushion by intermission.
“We learned that it’s just a faster speed,” first-year Cardinals coach Ray Curren said. “We have all the games on tape, so we’ve seen them play, but it’s different on film. … They’re a good team. If they’re not at the top of D-III, they’re right there.”
Ayres has been looking for secondary scoring all season. In lieu of that, he can step on the gas pedal that is Seiler.
Stevens came out strong at the start, with Clayton Wadsworth scoring seven of his team-high 14 points as the visitors built a 12-6 lead with 2:46 left in the opening quarter. But the Cardinals paid for their turnovers as Seiler netted the final six points of the stanza to put Mascoma up by a two at the buzzer.
The run continued after the period break. The Royals scored 17 of the first 19 points in the second quarter, mostly on the fast break. Ian Moulton sank a bunny on a sweet Zach Thompson feed, Seiler hit back-to-back transition baskets, both Thompsons converted three-point plays, Cole Moulton sank a layup and Isaac Rayno closed the run with a 3-pointer.
“Second quarter, our defensive intensity ramped up and we were able to speed them up and create some turnovers,” Ayres said. “That got breakout layups, and that’s how we got our cushion. We coasted from there.
“With our guys, we’re small, so we have to create turnovers to even out the rebounding margin. That’s kind of our game plan no matter who we play.”
Sophomore Ty Theriault impressed off the bench for the Cards. In addition to scoring seven points, including a three-point play in the fourth quarter, Theriault added four rebounds. Mascoma held just a 36-35 edge on the glass.
The teams meet again on Friday night at Carr Gymnasium in Claremont.
Free Throws: Every player on both teams saw action. Eight Cardinals scored, as did nine Royals. … Ayres gave all four of his freshmen fourth-quarter playing time. One of them, guard Aidan Smith, scored his first varsity basket. … Owen Taylor had a team-best six rebounds for Stevens. … The five members of the Mascoma spirit squad all wore white masks bearing the words, “I’m smiling.”
Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.