RUTLAND — It took an unbeaten VPA Division I foe to hand the D-II Hartford High boys basketball team its first loss of the season. Host Rutland erupted for 30 points in the first quarter and then held the Hurricanes at bay for a 70-50 win on Tuesday night, halting the Canes’ season-opening five-game winning streak.
“It seemed like Rutland couldn’t miss in the first half,” Hartford coach Jeff Thomas said.
Tarin Prior had 22 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Canes (5-1). Dylan Morse added 10 points.
Trailing 30-9 after one, Hartford rallied to take the second quarter, 13-11. The teams then played a tight second half as the Canes were not able to mount a serious comeback attempt against the still-unblemished Raiders (4-0).
Danny Bushway added six points for Hartford. The Canes will look to get back to their winning ways when they host Otter Valley on Friday night.
BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Patriots (2-3) held the Yellowjackets (2-3) to just two first-quarter baskets and got seven of Gavin Johnson’s game-high 16 points in the opening frame.
Windsor trailed at the break, 31-14. Owen Abrahamsen finished with a team-topping 12 points for the Jacks. Ben Gilbert and John Cook followed with eight apiece.
The Jacks host Thetford in the back end of a girls-boys varsity doubleheader on Friday night.
WOODSTOCK — The Blue Devils scored 34 points in the second half to pull away from the Wasps (0-5).
Cooper Jones led Woodstock with 13 points. Manny Pacheco added nine and Cooper Dorsogna had eight points. The Wasps led, 26-25, at halftime but couldn’t slow Poultney enough after the break.
Woodstock will hit the road to face MSJ on Saturday.
WEST RUTLAND, Vt. — A three-point second quarter doomed the Phoenix (0-4) to a fourth straight defeat to start the season.
Riley Eastman led TSA with 12 points, all in the second half. Jack Lloyd and Parker Bogardus contributed five apiece.
ORFORD — Adele Tilden had 15 points to match the entire Mill River team and help the Raptors improve to 4-1.
Savannah Gray added 10 points and five rebounds. Tilden also pulled down five boards. The Raptors built a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Rivendell visits Oxbow on Saturday.
NEWPORT — The Cougars knocked the Tigers (0-5) out of the first round of the NHIAA Division III playoffs. Newport graduates Maddie Miller, Morgan Roberts and Dalyce Meunier.