RUMFORD – When Liz LeBlanc spreads the basketball around the court, Jay makes things happen.

LeBlanc and Hillary Deane combined for 29 points, and the Tigers’ defense proved to be too much in a 40-34 win against Mountain Valley in an MVC girls’ basketball game Tuesday at at Puiia Gymnasium. The contest remained in doubt through out the fourth quarter, but Jay made six free throws and the defensive scheme prevented the Falcons from getting to the basket.

Jay (7-1), ranked No. 1 in Class C, relied on LeBlanc to direct the offense, and the senior constantly found an open teammate.

“Liz and Hillary (14 points) are quite a pair,” Jay coach Chris Bessey said. “When Liz is healthy, she really makes this team better. I felt we executed well in stages against the defense that Mountain Valley runs. They are physical on some possessions. We took time off the clock and other times we looked for the open shot.”

LeBlanc scored seven points, including a 3-pointer as Jay opened up it up.

Class B Mountain Valley (6-3), ranked third in Class B Heal Points, tried hanging in striking distance on a basket by Taylor Smith, but Beth Moore scored at the buzzer to give the Tigers a 32-20 lead after three quarters.

“Jay seemed to want the game more,” Falcon coach Rich Allen said. “At least through the first three quarters, but our girls picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter. The younger girls showed their youth and our shots (31 percent in game) were not falling.”

Mountain Valley trailed by eight points on two occasions in the fourth quarter. Seniors Venessa Cayer (12 points) drained a trey and made a turnaround basket, Lauren LePage (11 points, five assists) and Meagan Mailfeld each sank a pair of free throws. The Falcons had a chance to inch closer, but their motion offense was kept at bay.

“We wanted to (contest) out front,” Bessey said. “Any time you can get that type of effort defensively (Mallory Bonnevie and LeBlanc) then your going to be all right in high school basketball.”

The Falcons tried several combinations with Emily Knapp, Krista Lee, Ayla Allen, McKenzie Paterson, Lindsay Gallant and Smith. Unfortunately, careless turnovers prevented the offense from stringing baskets, together.

“We couldn’t drive against the defense,” Allen said. “When we tried, Jay would collapse on us and clog up the middle. Its some thing we definitely need to work on when we have to play Jay down there.”

The teams were tied or the lead or changed sides seven times in the first quarter. Deane scored three baskets and LeBlanc added a trey to open second quarter. LePage hit a trey, but the Falcons were held scoreless until Cayer scored, with 3:26 left before halftime.