WEST CANAAN – The Mascoma High wrestling team began its postseason run with a hard-fought, 27-24 win over visiting Winnisquam on Wednesday night in the NHIAA Division III quarterfinals.
Cam Stebbins (138 pounds) had a key comeback win over the Bears’ Burton Swanson. Stebbins was down on points before getting a reversal, eventually winning by a 6-4 score. Freshman Damian Nestle earned a win by pin at 195 pounds.
Tyler Mekus lost, 5-4, in perhaps the best match of the day at 182 pounds, a triple-overtime thriller against Brenden Parry. Mascoma’s Garrett Giovagnoli, Bryan Lowell and Roman Farnsworth added wins via forfeit.
The match ultimately came down to the heavyweight bout, according to coach Rick Simula, where Mascoma’s Caleb Hobbs fended off a third-period attempt at a pin, before losing a 6-1 decision.
The Royals now set their sights forward to Saturday’s semifinal matchup with Plymouth.
“We have two days to prepare for our next match and will work to keep improving. I’m proud of how hard my kids have worked this season. We look forward to competing against Plymouth,” Simula said.
HIGHGATE, Vt. – Two newcomers provided the Wasps’ goals in a season-opening victory.
Eighth grader Kassidy Haley opened the scoring for Woodstock, converting passes from freshmen Garcelyn Laperle and Maggie Mello at the 10:47 mark of the opening period. The Thunderbirds tied the game in the middle stanza, but recent Massachusetts transfer Isabel Konijnenberg won it for the Wasps on a Mello assist midway through the third.
Goaltender Ava Dodson earned the win in goal for Woodstock, which visits Rice at Cairns Arena in South Burlington on Saturday.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Brianna Roberts scored two goals to help the Hurricanes (1-1-0) take down the host Colonels.
Roberts started the barrage with a power-play goal in the first period, assisted by Sophie Trombley. Ada Acker added the second goal with Isabel Stack picking up the first of her two assists on the night. Julie McDermid and Roberts added goals in the second period to help Hartford to a 4-0 lead.
The win gives Hartford as many wins as a season ago, when the Canes struggled to a 1-20-0 record. Optimism abounds with a trip to Essex looming on Saturday.
HOOKSETT, N.H. – Maeve Lee netted two goals and Sage McGinley-Smith and Sophia Brackett each tallied a goal and assist.
Kali McDonnell contributed a score while Natalie Morhun had a goal and two assists. Hanover (7-0-0) also saw help from Kaye Lindsay (two assists) and Lily Seelig and Gail Morse, who both had an assist.
Rebekah Rudd and Katie Smith split goaltending duties, combining for the shutout and 12 saves. The Marauders host Berlin on Thursday.
LANGDON, N.H. — Calvin Bates scored all 15 of his points in the second half as the Raiders escaped Fall Mountain with a victory.
The Raiders led, 32-23, entering the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats cut it to four with under two minutes remaining.
“Basketball, it’s always an adventure,” Lebanon coach Kieth Matte said. “You really never know what’s going to happen. This game was an example of that.”
Braeden Falzarano added 12 points, Karsten Hansen had six points and Jack Stone and Cole Fabry each finished with five.
Lebanon (8-0) turns around and hosts Fall Mountain on Thursday.
WEST CANAAN — Ben Seiler dropped 27 points. The junior only needs 13 more points to reach the 1,000-point mark.
The Royals led 24-13 after one quarter and 61-42 entering the final period. Zach Thompson had 11 points and Cole Moulton finished with nine.
Mascoma (6-4) travels to Sunapee on Thursday.
THETFORD — Up by six points at the half, the Panthers allowed the visitors to outscore them 22-7 in the third quarter.
Eli Dunnet poured in 20 points and Jacob Gilman had 13 for TA. Ryen Wolf capped off the Panthers effort with 11 points.
TA (0-1) hosts Lake Region on Friday.
HANOVER – The Marauders (7-1) outlasted Keene in a low-scoring battle.
Hanover built a 15-8 lead at halftime before Keene narrowed the gap to two points heading into the fourth quarter. The final frame then belonged to Hanover as the Marauders closed the game on a 13-4 run.
Will Cahoon led Hanover with 10 points. Max Galbraith added seven points and Brett Simmons had six. The Marauders and Blackbirds get another crack at each other on Friday night, this time in Keene.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Vt. – Bryce Ilsley had 19 points, but the Olympians (0-2) weren’t able to keep pace with the Blue Devils.
Williamstown took control with an 18-7 run in the third quarter to extend what had been a 26-22 lead at halftime. Andrew Emerson added six points for Oxbow.
The O’s will host Thetford on Thursday.
LEBANON — The Raiders huge 17-3 second quarter kept their perfect record intact, improving them to 8-0.
Molly Smith had 14 points and Catherine Cole added 13 as Lebanon knocked down seven 3-pointers as a team. Sophie Longacre had six.
The Raiders travel to Fall Mountain on Thursday.
KEENE, N.H. — Stella Galanes had 24 points and the Marauders routed the hosts thanks to taking a 40-18 lead into the break.
Melissa Whitmore contributed 13 points while Charlotte Johnson added 10. Caroline Adams finished with eight points.
Hanover (8-0) returns home to host Keene on Friday.
QUECHEE – Hayley and Sydney Goodwin combined for 36 points to lead the Eagles (2-0) over the Rebels.
“Tonight was a great opportunity to get our bench a lot of minutes and to work on a few things we need to tighten up,” MVCS coach Chris Goodwin said. “We’re not individually on the same page yet, but it’s early and I like the nucleus we have.”
Hayley Goodwin led the pace with 20 points. Sydney Goodwin added 16 and Rachel Horner-Richardson had eight points. MVCS will host Rivendell on Saturday.
WEST LEBANON — The Raiders scored two first-period goals and added a one in third to
Cesar Salcedo scored on a pass from Andrew Dannehy to put Lebanon (6-3-0) up 1-0. A second goal from Aidan Yates with a Salcedo assist had the Raiders up 2-0 entering the first intermission.
Andrew Duany scored in the second period, making it a 3-1 contest. Jake Kriplin and Yates tallied assists on the play.
The visitors added one in the final frame, but that was the closest they would get.
Toby Cromwell made 31 saves for the Raiders, who travel to Waterville Valley Ice Arena on Friday for a rematch with Kearsarge.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Entering the final five minutes of the second period trailing 3-0, the Hurricanes rallied to score two goals to enter the second intermission down a score.
Jacob Dwinell tallied the second period’s first goal from Aidan Boonyaharn. James McReynolds scored the second thanks to connecting with Ozzie DeFelice and Boonyaharn.
Missisquoi scored two in the third to cap the win. Hartford (1-1-0) travels to Harwood on Saturday.
HINESBURG, Vt. – The Wasps (1-1) visit Spaulding on Saturday.
WESTMORELAND, N.H. — Hanover’s Noah and Simon Phipps followed each other across the finish line again, powering the Marauders to a sweep of a 5K skate race at the Dublin School.
Noah Phipps won the boys race in 12:15.1, with Simon at 12:20.6. Luke Holmes followed in fourth place (13:30.7), and Taj Bagnato closed out the Marauders’ scoring in eighth (14:21.7).
Hanover dominated the girls race, taking seven of the top nine spots. Britta Arvold led the way in second (16:26.6) for the Marauders, who completed their scoring with a 4-5-6 result from Sage Gilbert-Diamond (16:28.8), Elsa May (17:14.9) and June Clark (17:20.4).
Boys team scores: Hanover 389, Keene 372, Winnacunnet 360.
Girls team scores: Hanover 387, Keene 346, Con-Val 335, Winnacunnet 330.
MERIDEN, N.H. – Ayla Weale (15:25.2) took first in the girls race as the Raiders boys and girls swept a race at Plainfield Elementary.
Maya Barnett (17:02.1), Sophie Longacre (17:28.0) and Zoe Chinn (17:32.8) finished 3-4-5 to cap off Lebanon’s scoring.
On the boys side, Daniel Mladek (14:15.4) placed second. Seth Carl (14:36.4) grabbed fourth while Sam Shipman (14:40.8) and John Bieszczad (14:43.3) finished back-to-back in fifth and sixth.
The Raiders are set to host an open meet next Wednesday at Plainfield Elementary.
Boys team scores: Lebanon 17, Fall Mt. 24, Plymouth 80, Bedford 88.
Girls team scores: Lebanon 13, Plymouth 41, Bedford 59.