ORFORD, NH- The Twin Valley boys’ basketball team is trudging along and their opponents are getting the best of them. Last Thursday, the Wildcats traveled to Rivendell and they were no match against the division IV powerhouse.

The Raptors led 16-4 in the early going but the Wildcats responded with a 9-2 run and cut Rivendell’s lead to five points, 18-13. But the Wildcats committed costly turnovers in the second quarter and the Raptors were back in control with a 33-21 lead at halftime.

The Wildcats cut it down to eight points but the Raptors were undaunted. They went back up by 12 points at the end of the third quarter and led 47-35.

In the final eight minutes, Wildcats’ power forward and co-captain Troy Birch was wide open for three easy layups and missed all of them. It cost them a chance to get back into the game and the Raptors held on for a 21-point victory, 67-46. “They all played hard but they have to be shot makers, not takers. That pretty much sealed our fate,” said Twin Valley boys’ basketball coach Chris Brown.

Birch scored 18 points and had 20 rebounds and two blocks; Trevor Appel had eight points and six rebounds; co-captain Ian Murdock scored five points and had six rebounds and two steals; Colin Lozito scored five points and had three assists and five steals; Brian Woods scored five points and had five rebounds; and Dal Nesbitt scored five points.

Kyle Huntington scored 21 points and Dylan Pelletier scored 17 points for the Raptors.

Brown credited Dal and Cade Nesbitt for their energetic play off the bench.

TV 33, Poultney 49

POULTNEY- A second half 11-0 run was all it took for Poultney to distance themselves from the Wildcats. The Blue Devils beat Twin Valley, 49-33, and earned their third victory of the season.

Poultney came out strong in the opening minutes. They controlled the tempo and never let the Wildcats get any lucky breaks. The Blue Devils held on to a commanding 12-4 lead after one.

Twin Valley went on a brief 4-0 run and cut the Blue Devils’ lead to four points. But the Wildcats were beating themselves by missing shots, making turnovers, and getting injured. In the second quarter, Lozito fell to the floor hard and never returned for the remainder of the game. “Colin tried to take a charge and the (Poultney player) knocked him down. He hit his head hard and got up under his own power but Colin looked dazed and confused when he made it to the bench,” said Brown.

Poultney led 23-15 at halftime and the Wildcats came out of the locker room ready to play. But it was the Blue Devils who were more prepared as they strung together an 11-0 run and distanced themselves from the Wildcats for good. Poultney led by 20 points at the end of three (38-18) and Twin Valley’s comeback chances were beginning to look dismal.

The Wildcats outscored the Blue Devils in the fourth quarter, but the damage was already done. Poultney sailed to victory and handed the Twin Valley boys their fifth straight loss of the season.

“Poultney played with energy and we beat ourselves by missing easy layups and free throws. It wasn’t a great game, but it also wasn’t our worst,” said Brown.

Bernard scored 13 points; Birch scored 10 points and had 13 rebounds; and Murdock scored eight points.

Poultney’s Sean Shepardson scored 13 points and had four rebounds and two assists; James Olsen scored 12 points; and Chris Loomis scored eight points and had seven rebounds and five steals.

The Wildcats are 1-7. On Tuesday, they play at home against Arlington. Tip-off is 7:30 pm.