Falcon boys fly past Rebels

RUMFORD -- When an opportunity presents itself, be prepared to take advantage and that's exactly what the Mountain Valley boys' basketball team did and it paid off.

The Falcons went on runs during the second and third quarters, sparked by Jake Theriault and Dom Haines, to pull ahead by a comfortable margin and never looked back in a 68-43 triumph against Telstar. The Falcons maintained steady pressure and the Rebels failed to answer at Mike Puiia Gymnasium.

The teams remained competitive throughout the first quarter, with MV holding a 15-8 lead. A pair of three pointers by Sean Murphy (10 points, two treys) and Haines started a run and Theriault (22 points, three treys) scored two baskets off an offensive rebound and a baseline drive.

"They were playing a zone,' said 'Haines, who had 13 points, including two treys. ''So we looked to pass the ball and get some open shots, and that was it.''

MV led 29-12 before Nick Mills (22 points, 11 rebounds) tapped in a rebound. Haines and Theriault each drained treys as the Falcons made four treys in the second quarter and had a insurmountable 38-19 lead at halftime.

''It was different,'' admitted Haines, regarding playing against his former teammates, after having transferred. ''I had to look at it as just another game and come in focused on what to do.''

MV refused to let up and scored the first five baskets of the third quarter. Ryan Nicols (8 points) converted an Adam Volkernick steal, Theriault buried a jumper and then scored again off a turnover, and Colin Merrill scored from in the paint. The Falcons turned up their defense, forcing the Rebels into 10 turnovers. They were held without a basket, until Maverik Griffin scored a fast break layup with 2:32 left in the third frame.

“I thought we took some better shots,” said Mountain Valley coach Tom Danylik. ''In the first half, we had rushed shots, so at halftime we talked about getting the ball down low and going inside out.''

The Falcons shot 40 percent and committed 15 turnovers in the game. They substituted freely throughout the second half.

Mountain Valley entered the new year 4-1.