By Bob McPhee,Staff Writer

RUMFORD – On senior night, it was fitting to have Kristen Arsenault steal the show.

Arsenault scored the eventual winning basket by putting back her own shot with 18 seconds left as the Mountain Valley girls’ team rallied for a 44-41 win over Mt. Abram at Puiia Gymnasium on Wednesday.

The Falcons made the plays down the stretch and ultimately held off Mt. Abram in a regular-season finale.

Mountain Valley (8-10) is in position to host a Class B preliminary playoff game next Wednesday.

“This was senior night and it meant a lot,”Arsenault said. “We’re on a mission. The playoffs are here, and we are peaking at the right time.”

Class C Mt. Abram (8-10), who will host a Class C playoff tilt, had taken a 41-39 lead on a Heather Hayes steal and lay-up, plus two free throws by Logan Walker (13 points, six rebounds, with one minute left. (points, rebounds).

Mountain Valley was paced by Arsenault who scored a game high 19 points and had eight rebounds. Devon Allen made some key plays down the stretch and Tanya Martin scored 14 points.

“We’ll be seeded seventh and that’s what we wanted,” Falcon coach Wade McLaughlin said. “We’ve got a prelim game here and we avoided playing 18-0 Gray-New Gloucester. Hopefully, we can get to play in Portland.”

The Falcons’ Taylor Smith (eight points) had scored off a Martin assist and then the Roadrunners turned the ball over on the ensuing possession.

Some time dwindled off the clock and Arsenault lofted a shot, it bounded off the front of the rim. She alertly followed her shot and grabbed the ball, out of a crowd.

“We showed a lot of patience tonight,” Arsenault said. “Practice is paying off. We worked hard on breaking the press and getting the ball up the court.”

Christine Volkernick, Vanessa Cayer and Kim Clark were solid contributors for Mountain Valley.

Mount Abram had led on baskets by Stephaine Coburn and Emily Stinchfield (seven points)

Mt. Abram shot 30 percent and, turned the ball over 10 times and made 14 of 21 free throws.

The Falcons shot 31 percent and had 13 turnovers The score was tied or the lead changed hands 12 times in the first half. Mt. Abram led 22- 21 at the break.