RUMFORD – There was an extra incentive for the Mountain Valley boys’ basketball team on Tuesday.

Senior Andy Shorey scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Falcons had all the answers in a convincing 65-49 win against previously unbeaten Winthrop at Puiia Gymnasium.

Class B Mountain Valley (8-1) had a mission Tuesday after having lost to Dirigo 52-51 last Friday. The Falcons had won 67 straight MVC games since Jan. 20, 2003.

“Most definitely,” Falcon guard DJ Gerrish said. “After the Dirigo game, we wanted to come in and show that we are a team to be reckoned with in the MVC. It was important for us to bounce back.”

Mountain Valley simply took control of the game in the second quarter and certainly proved it’s not one dimensional. The patience shown on offense produced numerous mismatches, and Shorey responded with a strong inside game.

Justin Staires (13 points) started a 7-0 run by draining a 3-pointer from the baseline, and following a Rambler turnover, Shorey scored. Owen Jones (eight assists and rebounds) stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a basket.

Winthrop (8-1), No. 2 in Class C, missed nine of 10 shots in the second period. The lone basket was a trey by Mike Gingras (12 points) with six minutes remaining. The Ramblers were outrebounded 41-16 and had three on the offensive end.

“We were very patient,” Mountain Valley coach Dave Gerrish said. “Not only on offense but also on defense. We wanted to work the ball inside, and whenever Winthrop tried pushing the ball, we had an answer.”

The Falcons seemingly iced the game by scoring 16 of the first 20 points in the third quarter. Shorey scored 10 points and a trey and a basket by Stairs (leg injury) put a nail in the coffin. Falcon reserves Dean McCrillis and Matt Laubauskas each contributed.

“We started out OK,” Winthrop coach Dennis Darcus said. “Then we had some mental lapses and couldn’t stop Shorey inside. We knew coming in that they were bigger and stronger, and we are not big enough to contend with it.”

After a timeout, Winthrop scored three baskets by Sam Leclerc (23 points) and Tim Gingras. The Falcons quickly responded with two power baskets by Shorey and a Gerrish trey.

The Falcons made 28 of 54 shots (51 percent) from the floor and committed 14 turnovers. The Ramblers shot 30 percent from the floor in the game. “We didn’t look to shut down a certain area on defense,” Gerrish said. “We knew that we needed to key on Leclerc and the Gingras (brothers). That was big for us.”