RUMFORD – The Mountain Valley boys’ basketball team turned adversity into a positive Monday night.

Sophomore Cam Kaubris scored 13 points in the second half, and the Falcons opened the fourth quarter with 12-0 run which was enough in a 51-42 win against Jay at Puiia Gymnasium.

Mountain Valley (8-1) had led through out the game by relying on the outside shooting of senior Travis Ruff, who scored a game-high 22 points. This included five 3-pointers, but the desire to shoot long caused problems. The Falcons finally decided to settle down by penetrating and dishing the ball off to the open man.

A solid start ballooned a two-point lead into a 45-31 lead with four minutes left in the game. Matt Laubauskas (seven points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals) made two free throws and Kaubris drained a trey. The Falcons’ hustle paid off as reserve Cole Clark (nine rebounds) scored two baskets on power moves, but the run ended with a bang. Myles Mercier stole the ball and laid an ally-oop pass to Kaubris for a layup.

“We came in to this game realizing we are not unbeatable,” Laubauskas said. “We didn’t start well in that game, and I don’t feel we did tonight, either. We got by, but the guys need to focus and be ready for things to come (unbeaten Dirigo on Wednesday) and take it one game at a time.”

Jay (4-4) had crawled back in to the game with a strong third quarter, including a Jordan DeMillo (eight) trey from three-quarter court at the buzzer. Unfortunately, three costly turnovers shifted the momentum. The Tigers finally stopped the bleeding when Dylan Stefani (seven points, eight rebounds) scored with 3:45 left to play.

“The kids played hard,” said Jay coach Steve Hamilton, who returned to the helm this season. “They (Falcons) like to run and are a good team. We keyed on Kaubris and shut him down, but Ruff hurt us from outside.”

Jay only committed 14 turnovers, but shot 37 percent and made three of 18 free throws. A switch to a zone was effective in the third quarter. Kyle Storer scored four baskets in the first quarter and had 10 rebounds.

The Falcons had pulled ahead 27-14 on a pair of Ruff treys to start the third quarter. Beady Fergola had six rebounds. The Falcons (11 of 19 free throws) relied on their transition game off defense to create offensive opportunities, but were hindered by 27 percent shooting.

Both teams struggled during a second quarter on two field goals each. DeMillo scored twice on back door cuts, but Mercier’s buzzer beater gave the Falcons a 21-14 at halftime.

“We like to go inside-out,” Mountain Valley coach Dave Gerrish said. “But the shots just were not falling. Jay was killing us with back door baskets, but we adjusted and the kids played hard.”