Ryan Kelly (14) and Pike Ladago box out an opponent in the lane.
Brandon — Searching to reach the .500-mark on the season, the Otter Valley boys' basketball team recently took on a reeling Bellows Falls team that had lost eight games in a row, after winning their first seven. And something had to give, as the Terriers pulled away in the closing minutes for a 63-58 win in at Holland Gym in Westminster.
After a very close first quarter that saw three lead changes and two ties, BF sophomore Kendrick Mills scored eight early points as the teams were deadlocked at 14 headed into the second quarter. "Kendrick had a great first quarter and kept us close in the first half," Bellows Falls coach Evan Chadwick would say after the game.
Ryan Kelly had the hot hand for the Otters in the first half, driving to the basket while picking up eight points by halftime. Jim Winslow, Connor Gallipo and Nate Fitz also made their presence felt in the paint and on the boards.
The two teams would continue to go back-and-forth throughout the second quarter with more ties and lead changes, with BF senior Michael hall hitting back-to-back jump hooks in the lane, before Winslow scored on a couple put-backs inside of his own to give Otter Valley a three-point lead with under a minute left in the half.
However, as the second quarter wound down, BF senior Will Bourne dribbled the length of the court, scoring on a diving lay up and drawing a foul. He then hit the free throw to tie the game at 26 heading into the half.
This match up was indeed tight, and trend would continue in the third quarter as the Otters and Terriers would continue to see-saw back and forth, exchanging baskets without either side having more than a three-point lead until Otter Valley's Kevin Lefebre hot a 3-point bomb at the buzzer to give the Otters a 44-39 lead headed into the final stanza.
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